Latest version of Avast Antivirus

[Buddahfan]

Not sure if this has been covered but the new version has an annoying Gadget which can't be closed unless you go into the Control Panel>Programs & Features and click Change on Avast, then uncheck the gadget. You can also do this during a Custom install.

Other than that, works great and especially like it's boot scan in 32 bit. Otherwise on par with MSE.

Even though Avast works closely with MSFT in Avast's product designs I would think that MSE is better integrated with Windows 7 then Avast products are. At least I would hope so.

I have run into some issues with respect to Avast and the W7 Repository but was able to fix them. Other than that I can't recall any conflicts between Avast AIS and W7. No conflicts with the Windows 7 and Avast AIS firewall though I never tinker with default firewall settings.

Avast does have the ability to do a boot scan and also customizable scans. In addition daily scans can be scheduled on any day or multiple days of the week. It seems to me that there is a lot more flexibility in Avast scans than in MSE. Someone please correct me if I am wrong on this.

Right now I have ten different Scans available including default scans and customized scans that I can schedule or run on demand including a very quick Memory only scan. I really like the scanning flexibility in Avast. Easy to set up and use.

 

[Dave76]

Just installed the latest version, no problems like I had with the previous version.

Running good, no issues.

 

[damien76]

Sandbox is a nuisance - turned the thing off - much better.

I agree also.

It was on AutoSandbox>Ask for me but still a nuisance. It's behaving like a HIPS though it's not. I like Comodo's HIPS+ doing that or OA Premium's HIPS calling you attention to something untoward.

In contrast take at look at the Behavioral Shield which is supposed to be Avast's HIPS. No pop-ups...seems to be a urban legend. Uninstalled that too.

Today WebRep servers is down that's 3 or 4x now. Though it's still new this community based reputation scoring this is only a "guide" for us. So if you don't need it or you have WOT or BitDefender Trafficlight uninstall this one also.

Just my two cents.

 

[DBone]

Sandbox is a nuisance - turned the thing off - much better.

It was on AutoSandbox>Ask for me but still a nuisance. It's behaving like a HIPS though it's not.

Wow. What are you downloading? I have had avast! 6.0 since beta, and I have yet to activate the sandbox. You must be going download crazy.

 

[damien76]

Not download crazy Dbone. Just are regular download for me. At that time I turned on AutoSandbox because a friend at Facebook was complaining about it. I was downloading:

a) EASEUS Todo Backup Pro offer that I availed.
b) Avira vdf
c) Avast manual updates
d) Latest Adobe Flash
e) Panda USB Vaccine at softpedia
f) Superantispyware database definitions(manual)

Just that. And it wanted to sandbox a, b,c,e, and f. It didn't lift a finger in d.

Just for fun, after the download transfered it to a pendrive, turned-off AutoSandbox and used Comodo sandbox. It only alerted "e" which when submitted classified as Safe.

There are still many experiences with the AutoSandbox by other users. Was just an example of how it behaved on mine. Yours as you say, since beta, differs from others as mine as also on the different posts in the avast forums about it. As popular as the program is the need to inform/teach the ordinary users about it should be considered. Take the case of comments at Facebook. I surmise that 5 out of 10 users don't like it because because they don't know what it is.

Example of AutoSandbox flagging Adobe Flash as compared with others that are not alerted like me.

AutoSandbox sensitivity.

Interesting topic on Sandbox (though not yet finished).

Some interpretations of Autosandbox by users in relation to Comodo sandbox.

Personally, I'd stay with Sandboxie paid(versus Avast Sandbox), Comodo D+ HIPS/and sandbox /Online Armor HIPS and RunSafer (versus Avast Behavioral Shield and AutoSandbox), but that's just me

Cheers

 

[SIW2]

Never had it bother me on downloads.

The darn thing kept sanboxing my programs - just the 32 bit versions.

Sandbox is a nuisance - turned the thing off - much better.

It was on AutoSandbox>Ask for me but still a nuisance. It's behaving like a HIPS though it's not.

Wow. What are you downloading? I have had avast! 6.0 since beta, and I have yet to activate the sandbox. You must be going download crazy.

 

[mitchell64]

New Beta version 6.0.1184 of Avast available for Beta testers;

This is hopefully going to be a smooth service release, designed really just to fix some of the issues of the previous v6.0 builds.

Here's the list of the most important changes:
- improved compatibility with Windows Vista SP0/SP1
- attempt to solve the "Windows Media Player using a red skin" problem
- Firewall: improved compatibility with uTorrent
- improved the sample submission process
- introduced new CreditAlert feature (US customers only)
- improved load time of WebRep IE plugin
- improvements in the silent installer
- improvements in the sandbox module
- added Thai and Serbian language packs

** INTRODUCING: NEW BETA VERSION OF AVAST - 6.0.1184 **

 

[Brink]

Thank you Darryl. First post updated.

 

[Thomas]

New Beta version 6.0.1198 of Avast is available.

   Information

And new in 6.0.1198:

• Firewall: the long-standing uTorrent compatibility problem should now be finally resolved
• improved tracking of file sources
• improvements in the installer
• fixes of bugs reported in the previous beta

** INTRODUCING: NEW BETA VERSION OF AVAST - NOW 6.0.1198 **

 

[Brink]

Thank you Thomas. First post updated.

 

[A Guy]

Ver. 6.0.1203 Released

it's my pleasure to announce the general availability of a new official build of avast, version 6.0.1203.

Here's the list of most important changes:
- improved compatibility with Windows Vista SP0/SP1 (activation issues)
- attempt to solve the "Windows Media Player using a red skin" problem
- Firewall: solved the compatibility problem with uTorrent
- improved load time of WebRep IE plugin
- fixed a bug in Google Chrome WebRep plugin causing excessive CPU usage
- improvements in the silent installer
- improved the CommunityIQ sample submission process
- various stability and compatibility improvements in the sandbox module
- added new CreditAlert feature (US customers only)
- added Thai and Serbian language packs


You can use the built-in product updater or download links on our main website.

Source

A Guy

 

[Brink]

Thank you Bill. First post updated. Looks like everyone is having updates today.

 

[Airbot]

Avast Beta 6.0.1270
August 24, 2011

   Information

we will soon be releasing a new program update of avast. And as usual, we're making it available for public testing a few days before the official release. The current version number is 6.0.1270.

This is hopefully going to be a smooth service release, mainly designed to fix some of the issues of the previous v6.0 builds.

Here's an [incomplete] list of the most important changes:
- New Script Shield - so far, it works in IE 32-bit and in Firefox. Chrome support coming soon!
- Web Shield now scanning all processes by default
- Stability improvements in aswSP.sys
- Better tracking of file sources
- Under-the-hood improvements in the Behavior Shield and Sandbox modules
- Slight improvements in the product UI

NEW BETA VERSION OF AVAST - v6.0.1270

 

[Brink]

Thank you Aaron. First post updated.

 

[Dave76]

Thanks Aaron, hope they get Chrome support soon.

 

[Hopalong X]

Thanks Aaron. Updated.

 

[Airbot]

Avast Beta 6.0.1273.
August 26, 2011

   Information

Here's an [incomplete] list of the most important changes:
- New Script Shield - so far, it works in IE 32-bit and in Firefox. Chrome support coming soon!
- Web Shield now scanning all processes by default
- Stability improvements in aswSP.sys
- Better tracking of file sources
- WebRep now working in Firefox 6
- Under-the-hood improvements in the Behavior Shield and Sandbox modules
- Slight improvements in the product UI

And new in build 6.0.1273:
- Solved the Firefox crash issue
- A few stability improvements in the sandbox module (e.g. PDF reader support)
- Cosmetic changes in the UI

BETA VERSION OF AVAST - NOW 6.0.1273

 

[Brink]

Thank you Aaron. First post updated.

 

[Dwarf]

Thanks for the heads up. Just out of curiosity, I decided to try it on my W8 7989. Unfortunately, still no go on there.

 

[Airbot]

Avast Beta 6.0.1279.

   Information

Here's an [incomplete] list of the most important changes:
- New Script Shield - so far, it works in IE 32-bit and in Firefox. Chrome support coming soon!
- Web Shield now scanning all processes by default
- Stability improvements in aswSP.sys
- Better tracking of file sources
- WebRep now working in Firefox 6
- Under-the-hood improvements in the Behavior Shield and Sandbox modules
- Slight improvements in the product UI

And new in build 6.0.1273:
- Solved the Firefox crash issue
- A few stability improvements in the sandbox module (e.g. PDF reader support)
- Cosmetic changes in the UI

And new in build 6.0.1279:
- Solved a compatibility problem with QQ
- Solved a compatibility problem with certain Steam-based games
- Script Shield: Implemented a scanning cache which should prevent redundant/repetitive scans
- Script Shield: Implemented scan exclusion settings
- Script Shield: Now works with Firefox 7/8/9 betas
- Web Shield: scanning of all processes can now be disabled in shield's Expert Settings
- Cosmetic changes in the UI