Antivirus?

Pepi93 · Jan 17, 2015

Hi Everyone,

I'm a bit out of the loop on the whole antivirus topic because frankly I haven't used one for years.

I used to use AVG but then they changed the interface from what I remember which didn't allow me to run manual scans without the program running in the background? I could have mixed this up with another program.

I also used to use MalwareBytes but they did the same thing I believe? You had to pay to control those functions.

Here's what I use:

Win7Pro 64 with stock firewall
HOST files always updated
SuperAntispyware, doesn't run in the background
CCleaner

I do scans manually and that's pretty much it.

I never have issues (knocks on this head ie: wood)...but I'm considering installing a free antivirus.

Sure I've had viruses in the past but using the above system has worked really well for me.

I don't much believe reviews online because the of author credibility (who's funding the review?) so I ask my trusted fellow OC'ers

Here's what I want:

1) Free forever version.
2) Can choose to turn off auto monitoring/scans, running in the background
3) I want to do all my scans manually, updates, settings etc
4) Free

Thanks in advance

JLK03F150 · Jan 17, 2015

MS Security Essentials is one option. It doesn't have the greatest zero-day threat protection, but it does good otherwise. It's free too.
The other free one I use is Avira Antivir free. It has better a level of protection than MSSE, but I don't like the interface as much.

Pepi93 · Jan 17, 2015

Seems Antivir is getting better feedback than AVG these days. Does it have all the features/requirements that I am looking for?

JLK03F150 · Jan 17, 2015

I've kind of "set it & forget it" on the PC's running Avira, so I've never turned off auto monitoring - I think you can though. I know you can manually scan files, or folders, or hard drives. It can also be scheduled.

Pepi93 · Jan 18, 2015

Tried Avira, don't like it because you can't permanently disable real time protection, it turns itself on after each boot and I don't feel like messing with registries to fix something that should be a normal option within the program.

I'll keep looking

Ajay57 · Jan 18, 2015

These 2 in combo both free one monitors your system the other checks for nasty things and kills them stone dead! :attn:

1, http://filehippo.com/download_bitdefender_antivirus/

2, http://filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware

Best free combo that i have found and this works for me.

P.S. They do not burn up resources on your equipment very light weight.

Ajay.

Celeron_Phreak · Jan 20, 2015

Been is my clamwin for the past seven years without any issues. Security updates are regularly release as well.

c627627 · Jan 26, 2015

Pepi93 said:
Tried Avira, don't like it because you can't permanently disable real time protection, it turns itself on after each boot and I don't feel like messing with registries to fix something that should be a normal option within the program.

I'll keep looking

Two things. You can set Action on Detection in Avira. That way you can do a scan of a folder and just have a list of malware at the end with no other action being taken, just set it to Ignore like this:

[Same option is available for Real Time Protection underneath.]

Real Time Protection can also be disabled in these two ways, although perhaps not permanently:

Finally, Avira is a NIGHTMARE to install, but their definitions are among the best, if not the best out there... and it's free.

Avira AntiVir Personal 14.0.7.468

UNINSTALL AVIRA ESSENTIALS after installation complete - it is the first Avira entry in Add Remove Programs list (if there are two entries).
DO NOT ALLOW AVIRA TO UPDATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER UNINSTALLING THIS ENTRY or else Avira Essentials will be reinstalled.

DO NOT CLICK ON Accept and Update when prompted immediately after set up finishes. Click on X to close the window > Cancel? > Yes

Double click on Web-based Setup.exe to install the program.

Click on Next, ignoring Avira's warnings to uninstall Comodo Firewall or similar programs which intercept phone-home attempts.

SELECT: Custom
UNCHECK: I want to improve my protection using Avira Protection Cloud
CHECK: I accept the End User License Agreement > Next > Next

CHECK: Confirm manually when sending suspicious files to Avira > Next > Next

Welcome to the Configuration Wizard > Next > Next >

Allow the configuration wizard to keep the default Express Setup options. [Do not Select All.]
(LEAVE UNCHECKED: Application, Games, Jokes, Programs that violate the private domain, and Unusual runtime compression.) > Next > Next >

UNCHECK: Performs a quick systems scan after the installation

DO NOT CLICK ON Accept and Update when prompted immediately after set up finishes. Click on X to close the window > Cancel? > Yes

Subscription to new virus definitions for this program is renewed automatically when you right click on Avira icon in the task bar > Start update

or download the latest key file from:
http://personal.avira-update.com/package/peclkey/win32/int/hbedv.key

and either copy it to
C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop
and restart or go to Help > License management > click on the blue License file link > browse to the new downloaded hbedv.key > Open.

Options:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avcenter.exe

System Scanner (upper left) > Configuration (upper right) > Yes >
UNCHECK: Follow symbolic links (on right) > System Scanner > Scan > Action on detection >
Set for Automatic, Primary action: Ignore [if you want to just scan folders and get a scan report without deleting files or being prompted what to do if virii/malware are found.]

> General > Security >
Disable being notified every time USB drive has an AUTORUN.INF file:
UNCHECK: Block autorun function
> General > Events > Select: Limit size to max. >
> General > Reports > Select: Limit number to max. >
> General > Warnings > UNCHECK everything except Dial-up connection is used

> First click on OK

> Scheduler [on lower left] > UNCHECK everything.

Set Avira Free Antivirus to Always show in Windows Taskbar.

Also block this Avira messaging popup nag file from accessing the internet, using Comodo Firewall or similar software:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\ipmgui.exe
or
C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\ipmgui.exe

To disable Notifier nag screen: Windows 2000/XP Control Panel > [in Windows 7/8, click on (view by Category) System and Security first] > Administrative Tools [fourth from bottom] > Local Security Policy > Right click on Software Restriction Policies > Create New Policies SO THAT ADDITIONAL RULES SHOWS UP UNDERNEATH > Right click on Additional Rules > New Path Rule... > Browse... to the path of avnotify.exe default is
C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avnotify.exe
or
C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avnotify.exe

> Set the security level to Disallowed > OK

For Windows XP Home or Windows 8 (non-Pro version) you would need to boot into Safe Mode and log in as Administrator, then
go to
C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avnotify.exe
and right click on it >
Properties > Security TAB >
[Under Group or usernames] SYSTEM > Edit button > CHECK: Deny for Read & execute > Apply > OK > OK

Make sure SYSTEM is set to Deny for Read & execute before rebooting.

Security TAB will only show up on NTFS formatted drives.

To submit a suspected virus, go to
http://analysis.avira.com/samples/
to upload it.

You can scan multiple drives inside program options: Local Protection > Scanner > CHECK drives you wish to scan. The premium version also offers the option to scan multiple folders here. The free version does not.

In case of error message:

The procedure entry point ?_Xbad@tr1@std@@YAX4error_type@regex_constants@12@@Z could not be located in the dynamic link library MSVCP90.dll

download and install Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...FamilyID=a5c84275-3b97-4ab7-a40d-3802b2af5fc2

Manual updates can be downloaded from:
http://dl.antivir.de/down/vdf/ivdf_fusebundle_nt_en.zip
Unzip the downloaded file and copy all the contents to
C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop

Using two Antivirus programs at the same time:
If there are two Antivirus programs installed, you should not have two Antivirus *Guard* programs active at the same time because this would slow the system down, Windows may even have problems booting with two Antivirus guard components being active. So if installing AntiVir on a system where there already is an Antivirus program installed, do not install AntiVir guard.

Also disable the guard component of one program if using another program to scan an entire disk drive.

Default log file location is
C:\ProgramData\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\LOGFILES
or
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\LOGFILES

For older versions:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\LOGFILES
C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic
or
C:\Program Files\Avira AntiVir Personal\
C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Avira AntiVir Personal\LOGFILES

Pepi93 · Jan 30, 2015

I used to use malware bytes antimalware until they made it only possible to turn off real time protection by buying a pro version.

I'm going through this Avira install guide and you say that I can turn off real time protection? However, each time I would boot up the system it would default back to being enabled and I'd have to turn it off again. Does this install method fix that?

Thanks!

rpjkw11 · Jan 30, 2015

Once upon a time I used AVG and Avast. Avast made my rig run very slow and AVG started acting crazy. This was a couple of years ago. Now I use MSE and Malwarebytes 2.0 (free version) along with Crap Cleaner. Knocking on wood, I've not had any problems with any of my rigs and laptops. I also run weekly TDSS Killer and MSFTs Malicious Tool Remover.

Of course I'm fairly careful how and where I surf, but I'm not sure how much help that is. A year ago I googled and viewed pics of Star Trek TNGs Dr. Beverly Crusher and received I virus warning. And she wasn't even nekkid!

Anyway, the bare essentials seem to work OK, but then we don't have teenagers living with us, thank God!

c627627 · Jan 30, 2015

Pepi93 said:
I'm going through this Avira install guide and you say that I can turn off real time protection? However, each time I would boot up the system it would default back to being enabled and I'd have to turn it off again. Does this install method fix that?

Thanks!

Yours is an interesting question. Usually the objective is to have Avira intercept malware.
I am assuming that you wish to *only* manually scan for malware and not have Avira protect you as malware is encountered through browsing your files or web?

In that case, simply set Action on Detection in Avira to ignore. There are two places in the screen shot above where you can do that.
under System Scan and under Real Time protection.

Or else, maybe clarify why you want to install Avira then disable it from actually working...
You can also white-list detections so they are no longer displayed as malware.

Antivirus?

Pepi93

Member

JLK03F150

What have I done! Member

Pepi93

Member

JLK03F150

What have I done! Member

Pepi93

Member

Ajay57

Member

Celeron_Phreak

Member

c627627

c(n*199780) Senior Member

Pepi93

Member

rpjkw11

Member

c627627

c(n*199780) Senior Member

Similar threads