How did they slip past AVAST?

Well it looks to me that if we were asked for a opinion on anti viruses NOT to use we would agree a lot more.

I don't want a anti virus program or any other program that argues with Windows 7 or me.
I don't want a anti virus program that I have to keep adjusting or changing every time I want to do something.

I use to read all the reviews and then go to the store and buy the so called best anti virus program. I used a lot of different ones and I just plain got tired of arguing with them. Just for the hell of it I tried Microsoft Security Essentials and I have been using it every sense. A little over 2 years.

I'm not going back to a older version, less secure version of a program or browser just because my anti virus doesn't like the new more secure version of a program.

I think that most of us understand that no 1 security program is 100% all the time so I do use other security programs in conjunction with Microsoft Security Essentials. These other programs I use would also be used if I had another branded anti virus program installed.

If one does some reading in the BSOD and the Security sections of this Forum it won't take long to figure out which anti virus programs don't get along with Windows 7 and other legal programs. That is a must. Any program of any kind must get along with the operating system and other legal programs.

I don't believe we will ever see great reviews of Microsoft Security Essentials.
Microsoft does not spread a bunch of money around advertising for the use of Microsoft Security Essentials. It appeared to me the more money spent on advertising the higher the ratings on a anti virus program was and I would go to the store and buy it. That formula did not work for me.

I have recommend several times to try Microsoft Security Essential
with the understanding if the user doesn't like it try another anti virus program.
The two active security programs I use are Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Anti Malware Professional.
Might not be to everybody's liking or meet their need but it does work for me.

zapp22 said:

HOW did it slip past the AVAST, which was full install, updated/latest, and all scanners running including mail scanner.???

It takes time for a virus to be identified.

When a new virus is released into the wild, it first has to be identified. Then, samples have to be submitted to the AV companies.

The AV companies then have to analyze the virus to find out how it works & how to identify/nullify it.

Then code has to be written & tested. After successful results, the updates to the virus defs have to be sent out. All this can take anywhere from a few hours to several days depending on the complexity of the virus. During this time, the virus is spreading to more systems.

If something new was just released 1/2 an hour ago & you come across it, chances are your AV won't flag it as a virus. (Unless it performs suspicious behavior, in which most cases an AV will flag it at the least, as a possible virus)

Nothing protects you 100%.

True MSE does not advertise. But non paid non profit highly respected test facilities declare MSE is pitiful.

It may be true from a bsod point, but that's like saying any program you use that isn't made from Microsoft can cause problems and bsods, so Don't use it!

I think its better to have protection thats good, (and very rarely causes some problems) compared to having a antivirus such as MSE with barely any protection. Sure you do not get bsods, but You definitely do not get any protection.
Having said that, anything is better then nothing.

But alas, its your system. Everyone will always have a opinion. The truth is, I look at facts. And the facts state that MSE is horrible for protection/detection.

For anyone that states that these testing companies get paid and are all false, then why do top brands like
Norton and such get bad ratings/scores sometimes? Avast and avg and avira are small companies, they would not have tons of money to throw their AVs higher in the results. Plus, there are more then 3 different companies that do these kinds of testing. They would not be able/want to throw money to all of these just to get a better score. The average consumer does not look at these anyway. MSE scores low on all tests. The highest marks it gets are for scanning speed and ease of use. That's great, but if your a antivirus you need to offer protection. And MSE does not offer it.

True some months are bad and some months are good for AV software. But you have to look at consistency. MSE fails in this regard almost constantly. Go to google and type in mse virus tests -lets just say the results are a bad sign. Type any other well known av and well yeah.

I always suggest checking these av testing sites once every 6 months to see if your product is going down hill and whether or not you should jump ship to a new AV.

Sources:
AV-Comparatives Comparatives & Reviews » AV-Comparatives
AV-TEST - The Independent IT-Security Institute: May/Jun 2013


@OP Avast is not a silver bullet. No antimalware program is. I also agree it was probably due to the java exploits going around.

Rule number 1 and 2 of computing:
Do not use/install adobe reader Get a 3rd party pdf reader (if you even need one, most browsers have built in support now)
Do not use/install java

andrew thank you for reading my post. We don't seem to agree but that is okay. Sometimes we will agree and sometimes we will not agree.
Happy computing.

Let's not forget MSE is designed around Internet explorer 9/ 10 and 11 preview..,
Because these versions have their own security features.
One would hope "grin" these would work together better without conflicting one another
"ie" Windows and Windows update friendly.

I'll get On board with Never installing Java
Reader XI ?
Disabling it works just fine for me and that goes for Flash player as well.
How to configure your Flash Player settings for maximum privacy and security

Gezz I even forgot that ie10.. also have this feature,
Where did ie 64 bit version go,
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ieinternals/archive/2012/03/23/understanding-ie10-enhanced-protected-mode-network-security-addons-cookies-metro-desktop.aspx


https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/280434-internet-explorer-10-enable-32-bit-64-bit-ie10-windows-7-a.html#post2312336

Layback Bear said:

andrew thank you for reading my post. We don't seem to agree but that is okay. Sometimes we will agree and sometimes we will not agree.
Happy computing.

Your welcome. And your right. That's okay though. All different opinions. I personally would not recommend MSE, while others do not recommend avast. It all comes down to what the person recommends. Another argument is since there is no such thing as security, for all we know our computers could be infected at any point and time without having any clue. It happens all the time. Also, I remember reading somewhere that antiviruses typically only catch around 40% of malware, because there is so much malware that's unknown, that while these tests I listed most AV's are catching 90% of what is known. But what about unknown? Makes you think about how dangerous it is out there.
Plus the 10% it doesn't see is thousands of viruses, not a couple or a few.

ThrashZone said:

Let's not forget MSE is designed around Internet explorer 9/ 10 and 11 preview..,
Because these versions have their own security features.
One would hope "grin" these would work together better without conflicting one another
"ie" Windows and Windows update friendly.

I'll get On board with Never installing Java
Reader XI ?
Disabling it works just fine for me and that goes for Flash player as well.
How to configure your Flash Player settings for maximum privacy and security

Gezz I even forgot that ie10.. also have this feature,
Where did ie 64 bit version go,
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ieinternals/archive/2012/03/23/understanding-ie10-enhanced-protected-mode-network-security-addons-cookies-metro-desktop.aspx


https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/280434-internet-explorer-10-enable-32-bit-64-bit-ie10-windows-7-a.html#post2312336

This is completely true. Ever since IE10 Microsoft has finally started to take security seriously. Internet explorer is finally at a point now where I do not need to shudder and tell the user not to use it. It actually has really great protection and privacy settings and that is great news. I understand MSE works with the built in security of windows and IE and that it would work better from the maker of the software.

But when People I know/not know constantly get a bad infection, or are having major issues for the first time, I get them a better AV. Why? Because whatever there solution is now, its obviously not working.
Now no AV catches everything, but when I discover that MSE/mcafee/avg is on their machine, turned on and updated and happily says everything is okay (even after a scan), and their system is plagued with malware; it indicates to me that what they are using is not working. So what do I do? I install Avast. I also uinstall java and adobe (except flash) And guess what? The support calls go away. (for viruses and popups at least) haha. I get calls about how do I do this, or I can't burn a cd etc. But those calls are way less and more about they do not know how to do something rather then something is not actually working.

I also sometimes see malware also disabling the security software all together. That is a concern for me. One of the great things about avast is you can set a password on certain settings so should avast ask to be disabled, it will let the user know and prompt them for the password. (It lets them know regardless, password just adds a extra step) Also, avast clearly states that a program is attempting to turn avast antivirus off, do you wish to do this? It also does the dim the screen like UAC does. But the lettering is bigger. This way if the protection is turned off, its the users fault. Not the software. Avast makes sure it is running unless you disable it. Of course not saying that it could be circumvented. It can, but at least it protects itself and the system as best as it can.

@ marsmimar

100% correct. Couldn't have said it any better.

marsmimar you are correct. Their are some people that can't be helped because they refuse to change the way they use their computer and the methods they use the internet. They will continue to get infected and spread it around the internet.