Avira AntiVir

Tuomas · Sat 29/12/2007 17:59:15

Yeah hi. Sorry to bother you again, and I know this isn't prbably the best place for this topic, but I just wanted to ask a few questions:

Do you use this program/have you used it?
Why?
How do you feel about it?
Do you trust it?
Have you had problems recently, like trojans/spyware?

This because before christmas my computer go infected, and yeah, there were trojans allover. I have yet to find a solution how to remove them etc. Well, I thought I had it messed up, but now it seems quite a few people are suffering from these same trojans in their system32 folder that cannot be removed because they're being used by explorer.exe. Every .dll seems to have a different name, yet when you search them, google links almost always to an antiVir troubleshooting forum with a similar situation as mine, or ours, and mostly with no real solution to it. AntiVir seems to be the only one to recognise them. Could it be, that the problem is not a trojan, but a failure in the anti-virus program? Or is this just an epidemy going through computers all over the place?

DoorKnobHandle · Sat 29/12/2007 18:27:50

I use it, because of the protection it offers (duh). I feel good about it so far - I can safely say I trust it, because it has kept my computer (together with the Windows Firewall) away from any bad software for six years and counting. And I look at naughty stuff. A lot.

Only gripe: the only pop-up I get is by an ad by Antivir - they even advertise on that same pop-up with "buy the full version and you'll never see this pop-up again".

tube · Sat 29/12/2007 19:06:28

Yeah, Avira AntiVir does the job relatively well without hogging your resources. I've installed it on a couple of my Windows using relatives' computers and they've had no virus related problems. As dkh said, the free version shows a largish pop-up ad every time the software updates it's virus definitions and I have seen one false alarm, but it's fine for a free program.

EDIT: Ah, yeah. Should've read your post properly before answering. Yes, I think those could very well be false warnings if AntiVir is the only software that detects them. Maybe you should install another antivirus package and try it out, or have you done that already? As I said, I have seen one false alarm myself.

Barbarian · Sat 29/12/2007 22:14:29

I've been using the free version of AntiVir for several years now with good success. It's quick and only takes little memory compared to many other popular antivirus programs. On a rare occasion I may have a false-positive (false alarm) from a program that I know is safe, but you can just set it to "ignore" a program when you're sure it's a false alarm.

If you just had your problems around Christmas time, you may be able to do a system-restore to correct things. Usually by clicking Start, All-Program, Accessories, System Tools, and System Restore. Then select a checkpoint to before when your problems started occuring. If successful, then it may "turn back the registry" to before your computer was infected and therefore prevent the virus / trojan from loading in.

Some viruses and trojans will try to protect themself of course, so if you think you have such, try running a virus-scan from safe-mode instead. Upon starting your computer, and before the Windows logo appears, tap the F8 key a few times, which should bring up a boot-menu. One of the options should be Safe-Mode. In safe-mode, Windows only loads in the bare-minimum drivers and such, so sometimes this will prevent any virus and/or trojan from loading in, then you'll better be able to do a virus scan.

I would also suggest you download and run a scan with "Ad-Aware", which is a well-trusted utility that will scan for most known spyware / malware, and help you to remove it. You can get a free version of it over at: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
Once you install and run it, check for updates so you have the most current definitions. Also scanning again in safe-mode is the best bet.

If you're still having problems after that, then let us know and I'm sure there's other suggestions we can give you that may help.
Good luck!

LimpingFish · Sat 29/12/2007 22:26:17

I use AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition. I'm not overly worried about viral infection, but since it's free and not a resource hog, it can't hurt to have it installed. Beyond updating it's database, though, I've never really had any cause to actively use it.

Most malware/trojans are installed via unwanted downloads or by visiting malicious websites. Constantly running anti-virus software on your system is, by and large, fairly pointless; most virus types are spread via email attachments and/or instant messaging programs. You don't really need a program to tell you when you have suspect email. It's fairly easy to spot and to delete it unopened. And most anti-virus programs don't usually feature an instant messaging scanning system, so they're no use there.

(knocks on wood...)
I've never been infected with malware or trojans because I pay attention to my browsing and download habits.

My system security consists of ZoneAlarm, SpyBot and AVG Anti-Virus. And common sense.

I've never had a virus warning, beyond "Your virus database may be outdated.", and SpyBot has never suddenly interupted my browsing with screams of "Danger! Danger!".

Torrents and the like are usually swimming with malicious software; the more public torrents at least, and any malware you picked up probably came from somewhere similar.

Most anti-virus software is counter-productive at best, and downright dangerous at worst.

Go with a reputable, and free, AV package. Norton and McAfee cause far more problems than they cure.

EDIT: Wiki: According to a evaluation of anti-virus programs in the Scandinavian software magazine "PC Denutch", Avira AntiVir was assigned a rating of 1/5 stars due to the program's tendency to report false positives. The article referred to the software as "worse than having an actual virus."

The Classic version (ie.free) doesn't contain the ability to recognise ad/spy-ware.

So it's basically useless. Handy.

MrColossal · Sat 29/12/2007 22:46:33

I use it. It seems to do a good job. Noting that that quote from Wiki LimpingFish highlights is of the dubious and non cited kind all I can say is the only times I've had problems with Avira was when I was trying to run keygens from warez sites and it wouldn't let me because they had trojans on them. I've never had a false positive.

I had to switch from AVG because it caused horrendous stuttering issues with Team Fortress 2.

Galen · Sat 29/12/2007 22:49:00

Avast!, ZoneAlarm, and the occasional AdAware sweep. 'Nuff said.

tube · Sat 29/12/2007 23:15:22

Quote from: MrColossal on Sat 29/12/2007 22:46:33
...when I was trying to run keygens from warez sites and it wouldn't let me because they had trojans on them. I've never had a false positive.

Unless those were false positives. That could even be intentional, as I'd imagine a software company like Avira would dislike keygens enough to include something like the string "keygen" as a detection signature for a made up trojan or whatever.

Just in case someone wondered, that wasn't meant to be taken seriously.

DoorKnobHandle · Sat 29/12/2007 23:16:40

Quote from: LimpingFish on Sat 29/12/2007 22:26:17According to a evaluation of anti-virus programs in the Scandinavian software magazine "PC Denutch", Avira AntiVir was assigned a rating of 1/5 stars due to the program's tendency to report false positives. The article referred to the software as "worse than having an actual virus."

The Classic version (ie.free) doesn't contain the ability to recognise ad/spy-ware.

So it's basically useless. Handy.

That is ridiculous and absolutely wrong. The article must have been biased as literal hell, maybe paid for by competitors or something.

I haven't read it, I suppose it's not available online, but from my experience, AntiVir is the best you can get for free. Giving it 1/5 is unfair just like that, but trying to reason this rating with it's very, very rare false alarms is even more laughable. I'd rather have one or more false alarms than one too little. Stating that having AntiVir on your system is worse than having a virus is equally... well... dumb. To say the least. That from a somewhat professional magazin is a scandal if you ask me.

LimpingFish · Sat 29/12/2007 23:36:43

Quote from: MrColossal on Sat 29/12/2007 22:46:33
Noting that that quote from Wiki LimpingFish highlights is of the dubious and non cited kind...

Indeed. Duly noted.

This comparative study (PDF file) might be of more use.

Avira seems to score high in detection, but also high in it's level of false positives.

Quote from: dkh on Sat 29/12/2007 23:16:40
Quote from: LimpingFish on Sat 29/12/2007 22:26:17According to a evaluation of anti-virus programs in the Scandinavian software magazine "PC Denutch", Avira AntiVir was assigned a rating of 1/5 stars due to the program's tendency to report false positives. The article referred to the software as "worse than having an actual virus."

The Classic version (ie.free) doesn't contain the ability to recognise ad/spy-ware.

So it's basically useless. Handy.

That is ridiculous and absolutely wrong. The article must have been biased as literal hell, maybe paid for by competitors or something.

The ability to detect ad/spyware isn't available in the Classic version of AntiVir. This much is a fact.

The rest of that wiki quote may or may not be based on one person's opinion of the product. We can take or leave it.

DoorKnobHandle · Sun 30/12/2007 00:20:27

Quote from: LimpingFish on Sat 29/12/2007 23:36:43
The ability to detect ad/spyware isn't available in the Classic version of AntiVir. This much is a fact.

I know, but you can't reduce points from a program for not doing sth. when it never said it would do it. Just like you can't rate AGS with 1/5 because it has no native 3d support.

Quote from: LimpingFish on Sat 29/12/2007 23:36:43
The rest of that wiki quote may or may not be based on one person's opinion of the product. We can take or leave it.

Of course, this review is written by a single guy who has his own opinion, and we can take or leave that opinion, but that also stands in contrast with the sense of a review. When a review yields such unreasonable results, it's highly likely that the writer is either a very, very bad journalist or it's corrupted. In both cases, it isn't exactly advertisement for the publishing magazine - and the review should maybe not be posted further. The rating is misleading, I'd hate to see people turn away from using a good and working program because of one bad review and rather install something like McAffe (which incidentally deserves 1/5 or less).

All in all, I think we all agree that the rating is unreasonable to one degree or the other (?), so, no point in discussing further - especially since this doesn't have much to do with the topic itself anymore.

LimpingFish · Sun 30/12/2007 01:09:16

Indeed.

Overall, imho, most anti-virus software is superfluous.

Just because a system with anti-virus software installed hasn't become infected, it may or may not have anything to do with said software. I could claim my lucky jockstrap keeps away cancer, and seeing as I don't have cancer, who can disagree with me?

Actually paying for such a service is akin to paying somebody to stand outside your house to remind you to wear a hat when it's raining.

Don't open suspicious emails/download suspious software. Install a secure browser, with the ability to block websites from running malicious code.

I don't actually have AVG running in the background. I only run it, now and again, to scan files that I may have downloaded from somewhere new to me. Otherwise it stays disabled.

Number of infections: zero. Maybe I'm just lucky.

Tuomas · Sun 30/12/2007 10:44:36

Quote from: Barbarian on Sat 29/12/2007 22:14:29
Some viruses and trojans will try to protect themself of course, so if you think you have such, try running a virus-scan from safe-mode instead. Upon starting your computer, and before the Windows logo appears, tap the F8 key a few times, which should bring up a boot-menu. One of the options should be Safe-Mode. In safe-mode, Windows only loads in the bare-minimum drivers and such, so sometimes this will prevent any virus and/or trojan from loading in, then you'll better be able to do a virus scan.

I would also suggest you download and run a scan with "Ad-Aware", which is a well-trusted utility that will scan for most known spyware / malware, and help you to remove it. You can get a free version of it over at: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
Once you install and run it, check for updates so you have the most current definitions. Also scanning again in safe-mode is the best bet.

If you're still having problems after that, then let us know and I'm sure there's other suggestions we can give you that may help.
Good luck!

Funny thing, these I've tried already, all of them...

But yeah, aspite of this current occasion, I've been very satisfied with AntiVir +spybot+adaware+zonealarm.