An initial observation: The shields have been combined/reduced to just 3: File shield, Web shield, Mail shield.
(In other words, there are no longer separate Network, P2P, Instant Messenger, Behavior, nor Script shields).
EDIT: The Behavior, IM and P2P shields have been merged into the new File shield; and the Network and Script shields have been merged into the new Web shield.
First, I'd strongly advocate that existing users of Avast 8 backup/save/export all their customized settings to have them available, whether you're doing an internal update from 8 to 2014, or a complete install of 2014 (after which you should be able to import those settings back). To do so: Open the Avast interface, click on SETTINGS (in the upper right hand corner), then the Maintenance tab, scroll down to SETTINGS BACKUP, click on Back Up Settings, be sure ALL the boxes are checked, click on Continue, Save the file, and click OK.
The complete installer [for the free version] is 81.3 MEG. After downloading it, I went offline to remove any prior antivirus, and then proceed with avast's installation. (By staying online, you risk infection until avast is fully/successfully installed...)
Remark: The procedure/testing described here was performed on a Win7x32 SP1 system, in case that makes a difference.
Continuing its "partner policy", the first screen displayed includes PRE-CHECKED options for installing Google Chrome & making it your default browser, and for installing the Google Toolbar in IE. Be sure to UNcheck these (unless you really want them)!!
(If the picture isn't clear, just click on it to enlarge everything. When done, hit your browser's "BACK" button/arrow to get back here.)
You are also offered the choice of the default "Regular" Installation (large highlighted blue box), or a "Custom" Installation [which is so poorly contrasted, I think many people will miss it]. The Custom install gives you control over which components you want to install, and is the safer choice for experienced users.
On the second screen, you are offered to select where you want avast to be installed; the default is C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast ; and this default should suffice for just about everyone.
On the third screen [for Custom installation], you can pick-and-choose which avast shields [File, Web, Mail] and components/"tools" [Browser protection, Software Updater, Remote Assistance, Secure Line, Rescue Disk, Browser Cleanup, Avast Gadget, Simple Management Connector] you wish to install. You are also offered your choice of language. Please stress that some of these tools (such as "Secure Line"), despite being offered as options in the "free" installer, are only available for a charge: By installing a "paid" option now, it will be "available" if/when you wish to purchase it; whereas by bypassing it now, it will not appear even as an option in the program's User Interface [unless you subsequently "change" the program's installation].
After a screen confirming my customized choices, and another screen consenting to avast's privacy policy, the installation began. Upon completion, it advised me that avast would then launch a Quick Scan. I'm not thrilled by this, as the paranoia in me always fears the possibility of a False Positive. At least, one can interrupt this scan if you wish. However, I opted to let the Quick Scan complete itself on this test system, and fortunately, no infected files (nor F/P's) were found.
If you had saved/exported your avast8 customized settings, this would be a good time to load/import them: Go to the SETTINGS tab / General / scroll-down to Settings Backup, and click on Restore Settings. Navigate to your saved settings file, and Open it.
At this point, I reconnected the system to the internet, and made sure to manually update the virus definitions.
One of the first things you'll notice is that the avast "ball" in the system tray indicates avast's activity by "flipping pages backwards", alternating its color between orange and blue. [In previous versions, the ball would simply "spin".]
The avast User Interface has a new look:
The STATUS tab/screen contains "tiles" which serve as shortcuts to avast features. In an exceptionally user-friendly move, one can add, delete, or change these tiles/shortcuts so as to gain instant access to whichever avast features one feels most useful/important :emotion-2: .
The SCAN screen offers a drop-down menu to select the type of on-demand scan (Quick, Full, Removable Media, Folder, or Boot-time) you'd like to run. Each scan offers settings which can be customized for that particular scan, such as how avast should react upon finding an infected file: Fix automatically, Move to Chest, Repair, Delete, take No Action. It is unclear at this point what the difference is between "Fix" and "Repair". It is also unclear whether "No action" simply means to ignore without even reporting it, or if it will report the issue for the user's consideration (while taking no action to change anything). "Power" users, who like to tweak/control everything, should carefully take the time to check-out all the settings available here. EDIT: Specification of any action is optional... I just checked my avast8 settings, and realized I had left the automatic action box UNchecked. Avast will simply report its findings, but not change anything --- pending subsequent decisions to be made by the user upon review of the scan's log.
The TOOLS screen offers access to the Software Updater, Secure Line (paid VPN service), Browser Cleanup, Access Anywhere (premium service), and Rescue Disk. The Software Updater is somewhat analogous to the Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI): it monitors a few programs (including IE, Flash, Java, and iTunes) to let you know whether a newer version is available. The Browser Cleanup offers an easy way to remove unwanted toolbars and other browser extensions.
Among other features, the HELP screen allows "Remote Assistance", through which two avast users can mutually consent for one to take-control of the other's system. This is a particularly nice feature when one person wishes to assist their off-location (e.g., out-of-state) relatives and friends
The SETTINGS screen offers a plethora of settings which can be tweaked/controlled by the "power user". To mention just a few: Under SETTINGS / Antivirus , one finds the new DeepScreen technology [pre-checked/enabled], which "allows avast! to make more intelligent real-time decisions when executing new/unknown files. (DeepScreen is the successor of AutoSandbox)". There's also the new Hardened Mode [NOT pre-checked], to "further lock down the security of your computer: Moderate level automatically blocks execution of programs that would normally be DeepScreened, while Aggressive level allows execution only of programs that are well-known to [i.e., white-listed by] Avast's FileRep".
With acknowledgements to Hernan (who posted this information lower in this thread), the three active shields [File, Web, Mail] can be tweaked under Settings > Active protection > (File System) shield > [click the gear icon]. For example, you can customize each shield's Actions upon encountering a "problem", choosing between Fix automatically, Move to Chest, Repair, ASK, Delete, or take No Action. I'm very glad to see that ASK is available here :emotion-1: , as it gives the knowledgeable user complete control over the decision-making process [thereby nullifying automated catastrophes resulting from false-positive detections].
The initial FULL system SCAN took 29 1/3 minutes, testing 53.8 GB of data ( 228,929 files in 22,950 folders). Keep in mind that avast offers a "persistent cache" option, which if enabled, allows it to "remember" file information, which in turn makes subsequent scans run faster. Indeed, a second FULL scan took only 17 1/4 minutes to re-test essentially the same data.
Avast includes an Online Security browser plug-in (which used to be called "WebRep"). In avast8, you could install/uninstall WebRep from within the avast User Interface. In avast 2014, the plug-in is automatically installed into IE and FF.
Avast can be UNinstalled from the Control Panel. You actually have 4 choices there: Update, Change, Repair, and Uninstall. The Change option takes you back to the Custom Install screen, so that you can easily modify/adjust the avast components. For example, if you hadn't included the Rescue Disk component earlier, you can do so now. Likewise, you can remove a component that you had previously installed but no longer want.
Upon clicking on UNinstall, and confirming that selection, Avast was uninstalled [on this test system]. A reboot was required.
Avast also offers a dedicated removal tool, avastClear. This uninstaller is a VERY DANGEROUS program, as it asks the user to specify Avast's directory for permanentdeletion. Apparently, no check is made, and should the user be foolish enough to specify something like C:\, C:\Windows, C:\Windows\System, or c:\Program Files, avast will proceed to totally decimate those directories (i.e., even the entire operating system)! In fact, I didn't find any entry for avast under Program Files, so I simply bypassed using this removal tool. [Yes, there may be remnants of avast somewhere on my system, but I'm not going to go crazy seeking them out. Suffice it to say that enough was removed that I was able to install another anti-virus program without incident.]
Of course, time will tell how avast ultimately behaves. But this initial experiment was pleasant enough. Please note that my details typically focused on new features of avast 2014, assuming people were already familiar with avast8. My experience with avast8 can be found here: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/virus-spyware/f/3522/t/19494267.aspx
Thanks for updating us. I was just searching for antivirus software for my new laptop. so found some of the antivirus good. like McAfee, Techgenie, Norton. Suggesting me Which Antivirus software i should download ?
A word of cuation. Avast! usually releases a second improved version a week or so after so it is better to wait for it. More if you are still running XP or Vista machine with some old softwares that may have outdated certifications. Because I help in avast! forum I am in need to install it so I can give appropiate responces in the Forums.
Though avast! insists that this new version can be installed from the UI over the old version, and many reported no problems, I did a clean install ( Ran avast! uninstaller tool for v. 8 first ) to avoid any mishap.
The installation was unevenful. I did uncheck the Google offering and chose to do a custom install. Unchecked Mail Shield since a I do not use a mail client and checked English language since the installation detects automatically your region location and start to install avast! in the appropiate language.
For avast! users the first thing one notice is the avast! orange icon in the toolbartray. It does not spin anymore. A sure way to know avast! was doing its thing. Now it has an animation like pages in a book being turned one by one and changing colors between orange and blue. Hmmm... wierd.
As a default avast! is set to send to quarantine ( Virus chest ) any file that detects as suspicious or malicious. As said above avast! detected an old program ( DLG.exe ) to quarantine without any alerts. This I did not like since there are many users who will have no idea what happened to programs that do not work anymore. Right clicking the file in quarantine give many options. One I am fond of is " Submit to virus lab ". It give the opportunity to tell avast! that the detection might be a false/positive, and they should examine the file and exclude it from detection is everything checks OK. Another option is to restore the file and exclude it automatically. It is always better to report it first to avast!, and wait a couple of days, and rescan the file in quarantine (another right click option of Virus chest) to see if it is still detected as malicious. If it is not, you can restore the file safely. Two points to take notice. 1.) Evo-gen ( the way the program behaves and ) detections will not be seen as virus so any scan you do in quarantine will result in no virus detection, and 2.) avast! will leave a copy of the file in quarantine after you restore it to your system. avast! does this because it is waiting for next update connection to send the file to its lab for analysis.
There is a new feature called Hardened Mode and it is off by default.
Open avast! > Settings > antivirus
It has two settings; Moderate and Agressive. This new feature is supposed to be a way to increase security in your system and useful to less computer savvy operators. If set to Moderate mode, it will stop any suspicious, poor rating program from running. If set to Agressive, it will only allow to run programs included in avast! white list.
Now I have no idea if avast! will alert or not if any program was stopped by this feature. This feature for a novice user could lead to many questions on why he/she is trying to run a program and nothing is happening. I need to take a better look at this and see if it is that simple as avast! states.
Another feature I like is the option to interchange the main page tiles. I can choose 4 different tiles and get at the touch of a click whatever I am looking for in avast!. My choices are Quick scan, Updates, Software updater, and Select folder to scan.
This version feels good and it is fast to open. My CPU and RAM usuability has not increase and the same files for avast! are still running in my Task Manager. Though I particularly do not like the colors and the Windows 8 looks, it is behaving well in my old work horse and playing nicely with my other security programs. Like anything new it is a thing to get used to and to know the new location of its features.
As a rule, I only recommend free anti-virus products. At present, my recommendations are Avast 8 (for advanced users who prefer to "tweak" lots of settings) --- or else, either Microsoft Security Essentials, or Panda Cloud, for users who just like to "set it and forget it".
Since Avast 2014 is brand new --- and I haven't tested it yet --- I don't feel comfortable recommending it at this time.
I believe all of these antivirus programs can be supplemented by (and benefit from) adding the realtime protection of MBAM (MalwareBytes Anti-Malware) PRO.
My review is far from complete... I have yet to fully install avast on any system. Hope to do so (on at least one system) by this weekend.
Re: your "word of caution", I clearly did "suggest people wait a few weeks, until this new product is fully tested".
"As a default avast! is set to send to quarantine any file that detects as suspicious or malicious"... I trust that the usual options, specifically "Ask me", are still available for users who wish to do so???
Thanks for updating us. I was just searching for antivirus software for my new laptop. so found some of the antivirus good. like McAfee, Techgenie, Norton. Suggesting me Which Antivirus software i should download ?
annoyeddudette,
If you can start a new topic at the top of the forum, requesting suggestions for security for your new laptop we can give you more details. Please let us know if your new laptop has an anti-virus software pre-installed by the manufacturer, and what operating system is installed. Thanks.
OK. Hardened mode has alerts and that, for me, beat the porpuse of what is said abou it.
" There are two settings available in Hardened Mode. The moderate setting means no files with poor reputation will be allowed to run. The aggressive setting means that only whitelisted files will open. These two settings provide greater control and security to a PC and are especially useful for novice users who may not be aware that opening certain files can bring great risk "
The more alerts you throw to a novice computer user the less he/she will know what to do. yes you can exclude the file and run it, but the exclution is set in the all around exclution tab, and that is not good since the file once there will not even get scan by the regular manual scanning ever.
I have finished my initial testing of avast 2014, and have significantly edited my post above (starting date/time Oct 15, 2013 2:10 PM). If anyone read fragments of it, you may want to reconsider it in its entirety now.
That is the most thorough description/review of a new AV version that I can recall in all my years here. It must have taken a lot of your time. I offer my congrats, and my thanks.
My observations:
- As a long-time user of avast! Free, I can't help but notice how it has increased in complexity over the years. I remember when its GUI was just similar to a basic media player, with more intuitive use. Well, times change. I'm not sure that a default installation of this product is suitable for the average (non-security conscious) user.
- That said, I will likely upgrade shortly, using your instructions, on my XP system.
Really, one of the best review for a program I have read in the forum in 6 years. Very well detail, step by step, of what one would expect when installing avast! 2014.
Really, one of the best review for a program I have read in the forum in 6 years. Very well detail, step by step, of what one would expect when installing avast! 2014.
ky331
3 Apprentice
•
15.6K Posts
1
October 15th, 2013 08:00
Instructional Video re: avast 2014 installation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYLMZoOnGUc
==================================================================
An initial observation: The shields have been combined/reduced to just 3: File shield, Web shield, Mail shield.
(In other words, there are no longer separate Network, P2P, Instant Messenger, Behavior, nor Script shields).
EDIT: The Behavior, IM and P2P shields have been merged into the new File shield; and the Network and Script shields have been merged into the new Web shield.
joe53
2 Intern
•
5.8K Posts
0
October 15th, 2013 12:00
Good info and links, ky. Thanks!
Seems promising, but like you I plan to wait. Avast! 8 has worked well for me, and if it ain't broke etc.
ky331
3 Apprentice
•
15.6K Posts
2
October 15th, 2013 12:00
First, I'd strongly advocate that existing users of Avast 8 backup/save/export all their customized settings to have them available, whether you're doing an internal update from 8 to 2014, or a complete install of 2014 (after which you should be able to import those settings back). To do so: Open the Avast interface, click on SETTINGS (in the upper right hand corner), then the Maintenance tab, scroll down to SETTINGS BACKUP, click on Back Up Settings, be sure ALL the boxes are checked, click on Continue, Save the file, and click OK.
The complete installer [for the free version] is 81.3 MEG. After downloading it, I went offline to remove any prior antivirus, and then proceed with avast's installation. (By staying online, you risk infection until avast is fully/successfully installed...)
Remark: The procedure/testing described here was performed on a Win7x32 SP1 system, in case that makes a difference.
Continuing its "partner policy", the first screen displayed includes PRE-CHECKED options for installing Google Chrome & making it your default browser, and for installing the Google Toolbar in IE. Be sure to UNcheck these (unless you really want them)!!
(If the picture isn't clear, just click on it to enlarge everything. When done, hit your browser's "BACK" button/arrow to get back here.)
You are also offered the choice of the default "Regular" Installation (large highlighted blue box), or a "Custom" Installation [which is so poorly contrasted, I think many people will miss it]. The Custom install gives you control over which components you want to install, and is the safer choice for experienced users.
On the second screen, you are offered to select where you want avast to be installed; the default is C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast ; and this default should suffice for just about everyone.
On the third screen [for Custom installation], you can pick-and-choose which avast shields [File, Web, Mail] and components/"tools" [Browser protection, Software Updater, Remote Assistance, Secure Line, Rescue Disk, Browser Cleanup, Avast Gadget, Simple Management Connector] you wish to install. You are also offered your choice of language. Please stress that some of these tools (such as "Secure Line"), despite being offered as options in the "free" installer, are only available for a charge: By installing a "paid" option now, it will be "available" if/when you wish to purchase it; whereas by bypassing it now, it will not appear even as an option in the program's User Interface [unless you subsequently "change" the program's installation].
After a screen confirming my customized choices, and another screen consenting to avast's privacy policy, the installation began. Upon completion, it advised me that avast would then launch a Quick Scan. I'm not thrilled by this, as the paranoia in me always fears the possibility of a False Positive. At least, one can interrupt this scan if you wish. However, I opted to let the Quick Scan complete itself on this test system, and fortunately, no infected files (nor F/P's) were found.
If you had saved/exported your avast8 customized settings, this would be a good time to load/import them: Go to the SETTINGS tab / General / scroll-down to Settings Backup, and click on Restore Settings. Navigate to your saved settings file, and Open it.
At this point, I reconnected the system to the internet, and made sure to manually update the virus definitions.
One of the first things you'll notice is that the avast "ball" in the system tray indicates avast's activity by "flipping pages backwards", alternating its color between orange and blue. [In previous versions, the ball would simply "spin".]
The avast User Interface has a new look:
The STATUS tab/screen contains "tiles" which serve as shortcuts to avast features. In an exceptionally user-friendly move, one can add, delete, or change these tiles/shortcuts so as to gain instant access to whichever avast features one feels most useful/important :emotion-2: .
The SCAN screen offers a drop-down menu to select the type of on-demand scan (Quick, Full, Removable Media, Folder, or Boot-time) you'd like to run. Each scan offers settings which can be customized for that particular scan, such as how avast should react upon finding an infected file: Fix automatically, Move to Chest, Repair, Delete, take No Action. It is unclear at this point what the difference is between "Fix" and "Repair". It is also unclear whether "No action" simply means to ignore without even reporting it, or if it will report the issue for the user's consideration (while taking no action to change anything). "Power" users, who like to tweak/control everything, should carefully take the time to check-out all the settings available here. EDIT: Specification of any action is optional... I just checked my avast8 settings, and realized I had left the automatic action box UNchecked. Avast will simply report its findings, but not change anything --- pending subsequent decisions to be made by the user upon review of the scan's log.
The TOOLS screen offers access to the Software Updater, Secure Line (paid VPN service), Browser Cleanup, Access Anywhere (premium service), and Rescue Disk. The Software Updater is somewhat analogous to the Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI): it monitors a few programs (including IE, Flash, Java, and iTunes) to let you know whether a newer version is available. The Browser Cleanup offers an easy way to remove unwanted toolbars and other browser extensions.
Among other features, the HELP screen allows "Remote Assistance", through which two avast users can mutually consent for one to take-control of the other's system. This is a particularly nice feature when one person wishes to assist their off-location (e.g., out-of-state) relatives and friends
The SETTINGS screen offers a plethora of settings which can be tweaked/controlled by the "power user". To mention just a few: Under SETTINGS / Antivirus , one finds the new DeepScreen technology [pre-checked/enabled], which "allows avast! to make more intelligent real-time decisions when executing new/unknown files. (DeepScreen is the successor of AutoSandbox)". There's also the new Hardened Mode [NOT pre-checked], to "further lock down the security of your computer: Moderate level automatically blocks execution of programs that would normally be DeepScreened, while Aggressive level allows execution only of programs that are well-known to [i.e., white-listed by] Avast's FileRep".
With acknowledgements to Hernan (who posted this information lower in this thread), the three active shields [File, Web, Mail] can be tweaked under Settings > Active protection > (File System) shield > [click the gear icon]. For example, you can customize each shield's Actions upon encountering a "problem", choosing between Fix automatically, Move to Chest, Repair, ASK, Delete, or take No Action. I'm very glad to see that ASK is available here :emotion-1: , as it gives the knowledgeable user complete control over the decision-making process [thereby nullifying automated catastrophes resulting from false-positive detections].
The initial FULL system SCAN took 29 1/3 minutes, testing 53.8 GB of data ( 228,929 files in 22,950 folders). Keep in mind that avast offers a "persistent cache" option, which if enabled, allows it to "remember" file information, which in turn makes subsequent scans run faster. Indeed, a second FULL scan took only 17 1/4 minutes to re-test essentially the same data.
Avast includes an Online Security browser plug-in (which used to be called "WebRep"). In avast8, you could install/uninstall WebRep from within the avast User Interface. In avast 2014, the plug-in is automatically installed into IE and FF.
=====================================================
Avast can be UNinstalled from the Control Panel. You actually have 4 choices there: Update, Change, Repair, and Uninstall. The Change option takes you back to the Custom Install screen, so that you can easily modify/adjust the avast components. For example, if you hadn't included the Rescue Disk component earlier, you can do so now. Likewise, you can remove a component that you had previously installed but no longer want.
Upon clicking on UNinstall, and confirming that selection, Avast was uninstalled [on this test system]. A reboot was required.
Avast also offers a dedicated removal tool, avastClear. This uninstaller is a VERY DANGEROUS program, as it asks the user to specify Avast's directory for permanent deletion. Apparently, no check is made, and should the user be foolish enough to specify something like C:\, C:\Windows, C:\Windows\System, or c:\Program Files, avast will proceed to totally decimate those directories (i.e., even the entire operating system)! In fact, I didn't find any entry for avast under Program Files, so I simply bypassed using this removal tool. [Yes, there may be remnants of avast somewhere on my system, but I'm not going to go crazy seeking them out. Suffice it to say that enough was removed that I was able to install another anti-virus program without incident.]
Of course, time will tell how avast ultimately behaves. But this initial experiment was pleasant enough. Please note that my details typically focused on new features of avast 2014, assuming people were already familiar with avast8. My experience with avast8 can be found here: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/virus-spyware/f/3522/t/19494267.aspx
annoyeddudette
2 Posts
0
October 16th, 2013 07:00
Thanks for updating us. I was just searching for antivirus software for my new laptop. so found some of the antivirus good. like McAfee, Techgenie, Norton. Suggesting me Which Antivirus software i should download ?
iroc9555
2 Intern
•
1K Posts
1
October 16th, 2013 08:00
Good review David. Thanks.
A word of cuation. Avast! usually releases a second improved version a week or so after so it is better to wait for it. More if you are still running XP or Vista machine with some old softwares that may have outdated certifications. Because I help in avast! forum I am in need to install it so I can give appropiate responces in the Forums.
Though avast! insists that this new version can be installed from the UI over the old version, and many reported no problems, I did a clean install ( Ran avast! uninstaller tool for v. 8 first ) to avoid any mishap.
The installation was unevenful. I did uncheck the Google offering and chose to do a custom install. Unchecked Mail Shield since a I do not use a mail client and checked English language since the installation detects automatically your region location and start to install avast! in the appropiate language.
For avast! users the first thing one notice is the avast! orange icon in the toolbartray. It does not spin anymore. A sure way to know avast! was doing its thing. Now it has an animation like pages in a book being turned one by one and changing colors between orange and blue. Hmmm... wierd.
As a default avast! is set to send to quarantine ( Virus chest ) any file that detects as suspicious or malicious. As said above avast! detected an old program ( DLG.exe ) to quarantine without any alerts. This I did not like since there are many users who will have no idea what happened to programs that do not work anymore. Right clicking the file in quarantine give many options. One I am fond of is " Submit to virus lab ". It give the opportunity to tell avast! that the detection might be a false/positive, and they should examine the file and exclude it from detection is everything checks OK. Another option is to restore the file and exclude it automatically. It is always better to report it first to avast!, and wait a couple of days, and rescan the file in quarantine (another right click option of Virus chest) to see if it is still detected as malicious. If it is not, you can restore the file safely. Two points to take notice. 1.) Evo-gen ( the way the program behaves and ) detections will not be seen as virus so any scan you do in quarantine will result in no virus detection, and 2.) avast! will leave a copy of the file in quarantine after you restore it to your system. avast! does this because it is waiting for next update connection to send the file to its lab for analysis.
There is a new feature called Hardened Mode and it is off by default.
Open avast! > Settings > antivirus
It has two settings; Moderate and Agressive. This new feature is supposed to be a way to increase security in your system and useful to less computer savvy operators. If set to Moderate mode, it will stop any suspicious, poor rating program from running. If set to Agressive, it will only allow to run programs included in avast! white list.
Now I have no idea if avast! will alert or not if any program was stopped by this feature. This feature for a novice user could lead to many questions on why he/she is trying to run a program and nothing is happening. I need to take a better look at this and see if it is that simple as avast! states.
Another feature I like is the option to interchange the main page tiles. I can choose 4 different tiles and get at the touch of a click whatever I am looking for in avast!. My choices are Quick scan, Updates, Software updater, and Select folder to scan.
This version feels good and it is fast to open. My CPU and RAM usuability has not increase and the same files for avast! are still running in my Task Manager. Though I particularly do not like the colors and the Windows 8 looks, it is behaving well in my old work horse and playing nicely with my other security programs. Like anything new it is a thing to get used to and to know the new location of its features.
ky331
3 Apprentice
•
15.6K Posts
1
October 16th, 2013 08:00
annoyeddudette:
As a rule, I only recommend free anti-virus products. At present, my recommendations are Avast 8 (for advanced users who prefer to "tweak" lots of settings) --- or else, either Microsoft Security Essentials, or Panda Cloud, for users who just like to "set it and forget it".
Since Avast 2014 is brand new --- and I haven't tested it yet --- I don't feel comfortable recommending it at this time.
I believe all of these antivirus programs can be supplemented by (and benefit from) adding the realtime protection of MBAM (MalwareBytes Anti-Malware) PRO.
ky331
3 Apprentice
•
15.6K Posts
0
October 16th, 2013 09:00
Hernan:
My review is far from complete... I have yet to fully install avast on any system. Hope to do so (on at least one system) by this weekend.
Re: your "word of caution", I clearly did "suggest people wait a few weeks, until this new product is fully tested".
"As a default avast! is set to send to quarantine any file that detects as suspicious or malicious"... I trust that the usual options, specifically "Ask me", are still available for users who wish to do so???
joe53
2 Intern
•
5.8K Posts
1
October 16th, 2013 10:00
Thanks Hernan.
I will be following this thread closely.
iroc9555
2 Intern
•
1K Posts
1
October 16th, 2013 11:00
Hi David.
As review goes yours are more complete and better since English is not my native language.
Nothing wrong to remind users to wait a little longer for a better bug free version. Does it ?
And yes you can set the scans, File System Shield, and Web Shield as you want.
I do not touch scans, you know. Quick or Regular scans. I just change the way it shows the results.
Open avast! > Settings > Appearence > SCAN RESULTS > Automatically open the scan results when scan is finnish.
This way if avast! finds something, it will give you the opportunity to do what you want with the results:
http://antivirus.about.com/b/2007/03/11/clean-quarantine-or-delete.htm
Never ever choose " Delete ". It is better to find qualify help before doing something one is not sure of.
For File System Shield it has the same choices that of version 8. However it is located someplace else.
Open avast! > Settings > Active protection > File System shield > Click the gear icon > Actions
As for web Shield, like always, it is set to abort connection as it is best accion to take if a malicious URL is encountered.
Bugbatter
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October 16th, 2013 13:00
If you can start a new topic at the top of the forum, requesting suggestions for security for your new laptop we can give you more details. Please let us know if your new laptop has an anti-virus software pre-installed by the manufacturer, and what operating system is installed. Thanks.
iroc9555
2 Intern
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1K Posts
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October 16th, 2013 19:00
OK. Hardened mode has alerts and that, for me, beat the porpuse of what is said abou it.
" There are two settings available in Hardened Mode. The moderate setting means no files with poor reputation will be allowed to run. The aggressive setting means that only whitelisted files will open. These two settings provide greater control and security to a PC and are especially useful for novice users who may not be aware that opening certain files can bring great risk "
The more alerts you throw to a novice computer user the less he/she will know what to do. yes you can exclude the file and run it, but the exclution is set in the all around exclution tab, and that is not good since the file once there will not even get scan by the regular manual scanning ever.
Sample of alert:
ky331
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October 17th, 2013 13:00
I have finished my initial testing of avast 2014, and have significantly edited my post above (starting date/time Oct 15, 2013 2:10 PM). If anyone read fragments of it, you may want to reconsider it in its entirety now.
joe53
2 Intern
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5.8K Posts
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October 17th, 2013 14:00
ky:
That is the most thorough description/review of a new AV version that I can recall in all my years here. It must have taken a lot of your time. I offer my congrats, and my thanks.
My observations:
- As a long-time user of avast! Free, I can't help but notice how it has increased in complexity over the years. I remember when its GUI was just similar to a basic media player, with more intuitive use. Well, times change. I'm not sure that a default installation of this product is suitable for the average (non-security conscious) user.
- That said, I will likely upgrade shortly, using your instructions, on my XP system.
Bugbatter
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October 17th, 2013 17:00
iroc9555
2 Intern
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1K Posts
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October 17th, 2013 17:00
Hi joe.
I were you I would wait. There are reports and I have experienced it myselft of problems when shutting down XP system.
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=136879.msg1001192#msg1001192
@ ky331
Really, one of the best review for a program I have read in the forum in 6 years. Very well detail, step by step, of what one would expect when installing avast! 2014.