Windows 7: Avira

I installed this AV a few days ago, and am probably going to uninstall it, unless someone can advise me on how to deal with a couple of problems. First, is that each day, when it scans, it looks at all volumes, including my archives, which I know contains some files that are in the malware category, but I do not want them removed by the AV. When it pops an alert, there is no option to exclude the file from future scans, so I have to cancel out the alerts daily. I looked through the configuration options and found no way to exclude any specific files.



When it is scanning, and when it updates itself, it causes other problems, like freezing everything until it finishes updating, or other things to go haywire when it is scanning.

If no one can offer solutions, then I would like recommendations for any other free AV that works better.

I had a similar problem with a friend that had installed it.
I finally managed to hack a few settings but apparently most of them are reserved for the pay to use version.
You weren't clear on which version you were using.

No, I have the free version, and considering how it works, I'm not inclined to pay for the full version.

Yeah that was the hurdle for me as well. Unless they have changed anything since then the free version is pretty much as-is.

Fortunately, Agnitum's internet security suite (OSS) works properly on my HTPC, as it has always done before, but not on my regular PC, since I upgraded hardware on it. Now I have to find something that does work on it.

No problem as you know the files not to scan with the free version of Avira.

Launch Configure Avira.



Check the Expert Mode box.

In the left navigation pane, expand Scanner.

In the left navigation pane, expand Scan.

In the left navigation pane, select (click on) Exceptions.



Click the ... button near the center of the right pane; the Browse for Files or Folders window opens.



Locate and select (click on) the file/folder to omit from scanning then click the OK button.

The text box is populated with the path you selected, now click the Add>> button; your selection is moved to the list box.

Repeat adding files/folders if desired.

Click the Apply button.



When you are done adding your exceptions, click the OK button; Avira configuration closes.

Done!

Regards,
GEWB

I've tried Avira on my W8 installation, mainly because Avast! doesn't yet work properly with it (I do have Avast! on all my other Windows installs), but I found that it was very limited in functionality and that to gain more I would need to purchase the full version. I wasn't too happy with the interface, so I uninstalled it and am now using AVG with W8, although when Avast! becomes W8-compliant, I'll be switching over to it as I much prefer it.

GEWB,

Thanks very much. I had looked for something like that, but somehow I had missed it. Being able to exclude files will make the AV tolerable, but I would prefer to be able to exclude drives. The only drive that I want it to scan is C:.

In addition to curing the other problems that I alluded to, one more fix would be very good...a way to disable their nag screen, that pops open occasionally. It is nearly a full screen window spamming one to pay them for the full version.

I received an installation disc for a 6 month subscription of AVG with the purchase of my CPU, but never installed it, because I thought that I could fix the problems with OSS. Even when I started looking for an alternative, I still didn't use it, because I remembered reading some very derogatory remarks about it. What has your experience with it been?

No problem with two areas:
> Turn off the daily scan
> Select drives to be scanned

Turn off the default daily scan
Start Avira (main program)
Click on Administration in the left navigation pane.
Click on Scheduler in the left navigation pane.
Uncheck Enabled in the right schedule pane.


Done with that one!

Select drives to be scanned
Start Avira (main program)
Click on Local protection in the left navigation pane.
Click the + to expand Manual Selection in the right pane.
Check only those drive you want to be scanned.


Done with that one!

As to the nag screen at startup, I see that as my "cost" for the free service. (Note that I worked around the dreaded toolbar and webguard fiasco.)

Regards,
GEWB