Question for Raven about Avast anti-virus

5 years ago

Raven, I want to get rid of Avast (paid versions) anti-virus. Do I need to do anything besides uninstall it, like you told us we needed to for Norton? Avast is causing me to many issues to keep. Going to PCmatic. I appreciate your advice!

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Comments (7)

WalnutCreek Zone 7b/8a
5 years ago
I, too, did not care for Avast, @tami_ohio, nor Norton or that other one (the name eludes me right now). They are detrimental to computers IMO. Now pay for Malwarebytes Premium and absolutely love it. It does a wonder job of keeping my computer clean of bad stuff. I believe @ravencajun Zone 8b TX, is the one who recommended it.
Richard (Vero Beach, Florida)
5 years ago
I'm not a Windows user so this might not mean anything to you...

Since I had never heard of PCmatic, I did a quick search.

First, their site's WOT rating, not scientific but... their site is rated 1.5 out of 5. Not good. Yet reading a few reviews leads one to believe their software is the most marvelous thing since butter. Clicking on some of those reviewers, I found their glowing review of this one software to be their only review ever. Which makes me suspicious that their review and probably many of the others are fake. That causes me to lose respect for the company. (that they would use/encourage/buy/whatever fake reviews) (But maybe I just didn't check enough reviewers?)

But despite likely fake reviews, it could still be good. Is it? Maybe. I don't know. It seems safe and at least "okay": https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/pc-pitstop-pc-matic

As to uninstalling Avast, I don't know but they do offer a special uninstall utility: https://www.avast.com/en-us/uninstall-utility
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the key last about a year then you just have to do what you did and get a new key and insert it, it does get the virus definition updates automatically daily, it can be set in the settings to also auto update the program too other wise it will pop up saying there is one and she has to ok it, now with a big version update like the current one from 4.8 to 5 that has to be done manually by going to the site and downloading the new one and installing it just like it was done originally and a new key will have to be installed. However you do not have to rush and get version 5 because they will continue support for 4.8 for quite a while. to change the settings in it to have it get everything she can automatically go to the avast ball in the systray right click and select settings in teh avast settings box click on update(basic) on the left that will open your options in there you want to set both of those options to automatic, virus database and program then click ok. Now you do have to do a full scan manually but with avast that is not really as needed as other programs since it scans everything continually. But what I do is set the screen saver up in scan mode and leave my computer setting with the screen saver running and just let it scan, to do that go to the desktop and right click choose properties and go to the screen saver tab, look through the list of options and select avast then you can click on settings to select which screen saver to set for avast to use just pick a simple one so it won't use much resource (I use starfield i think) leave everything else as it is set, you can change how long to wait till the screen saver comes on if you want. click ok apply and now anytime the pc sits long enough for the screen saver to come on it will automatically begin doing a scan and will continue till done if un interrupted, if interrupted it will begin from where it left off the next time. there is a method to set up the windows task manager to run a scheduled scan also if you want those directions let me know I can link them
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'The latest reviews on the updated version of Avast are not good! Is there a way she can download the older version? Or should she just go with a different antivirus?' I read the complete review, and I fail to see just what you mean. In fact, the new UI is mentioned as being easier to use than the old, and I have to agree with that. The final sentence goes on to say that Avast is the best free AV program available. Now, I do use Microsoft Security Essentials on my Windows 7 laptop, but I have Avast version 5 on my desktop, and I find both to be top-notch.
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Raven, the scan with F-Secure came up clean. Thanks, Mikie. I highlighted and deleted all the files that were from partition D. Then I highlighted the 4 files from C (all were dated May 2005)and clicked to restore. A pop up message said they were successfully restored, yet they still show up in the chest as infected files, even after a reboot. That I do not understand. I think I will send them to Alwil to be checked, since I am almost 100% sure they are not infected files. I followed the file path on each one and found them in the proper places, so I guess that means they were restored. Tomorrow I will run another scan with F-Secure, and if these files are, in fact, restored that should indicate if they are infected. I think I've tried to make a mountain from a molehill, but that's just the way I am, a stickler for details.
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Tom, To reassure you that a DUN connection is OK with AVG: I am a rural America resident on an antique DUN with a download speed of 5kb/sec. (Laughing is now allowed) I use AVG on this Vista system and Avast on a Win98 system out in the garage. Updating is not a concern with either application. They are rarely over perhaps 200kb unless I have been negligent as I do them manually. There is a time once in a while when application upgrades are released and the download takes a while; perhaps 15-20 minutes. As far as downloading the application itself, any time I have something of size I do it first thing on a Sunday morning. Even before shower and coffee. By the time the rest of the world is up I am finished. Patience is a virtue. :) DA All in all I have to say no problem.
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pudgeder
5 years ago
Richard, are you a Mac user?

If so, what do you suggest for a mac?
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
5 years ago
I agree Richard, I am not a fan of PCMatic. I currently have AVG on my windows laptop. Malwarebytes is an excellent program.

Use the tool Richard posted for removal.
Richard (Vero Beach, Florida)
5 years ago
"Richard, are you a Mac user?"

No, I use Linux.
Elmer J Fudd
5 years ago
PCmag, a trusted and independent magazine now website, has been around for decades. It rates Free and Not Free antivirus programs based on its own use and testing by multiple independent testing labs.

About Malwarebytes, it says "It earns excellent scores in some of our hands-on tests, but still doesn't rate well with the independent testing labs."

Note that in the Not Free category, both McAfee and Norton are highly rated. I've used both very successfully over the past several years and I like them both. Both have a light presence and are nearly invisible. Between the two, I like Norton better. There are other top choices too. It's always a puzzle to me why some people dislike Norton and McAfee, they've been leaders for a long time. If you want to talk about dislikes, I've had poor experiences with both Avast and AVG and won't consider using them anymore.

Ratings of free programs

Ratings of not free programs
tami_ohio
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you.

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Question for Raven about Avast anti-virus

Comments (7)

WalnutCreek Zone 7b/8a

Richard (Vero Beach, Florida)

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ravencajun Zone 8b TX

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Question for Raven about Avast anti-virus

Comments (7)

WalnutCreek Zone 7b/8a

Richard (Vero Beach, Florida)

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pudgeder

ravencajun Zone 8b TX

Richard (Vero Beach, Florida)

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