False positives

[Niall]

Avast says http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11979_6858797,00.html is a virus and won't let me read it.

I'm getting a bit annoying with all the false positives this thing is throwing up recently.

* Niall sighs

[Niall]

Christ, now it's saying the smilies on these forums are a virus. Bigsmilies or summut just popped up as blocked!

Ah, http://bestsmileys.com/music1/8.gif is apparently a virus. Yes, I'm sure. I get an avast update about an hour ago and suddenly everything is a virus.

ARGH!

[Niall]

Oh FFS, now it's saying the BBC site is a virus. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13020733.stm

[David]

Tried all of them Niall and weboot isnt showing any as any danger !

[Niall]

Guess what?

http://www.avast.com/en-gb/community

There's a virus on that page too according to Avast. Now, I KNOW there's nothing on my system, and this only started happening after the avast update. I've done nothing else tonight! It's blocking the pages, or gifs/images in IE and Firefox.

It's really getting on my nerves now. I've got no files or anything dodgy in temp folders as I always keep them on my desktop so I can monitor them (sad I know )

It's actually saying the Facebook portal is a virus on their own page, now I look into it more for that page. Honestly, you'd think they'd check on that before uploading an update


Anyone get to http://forum.avast.com/ ? I can't get there. Probably being flooded by people trying to post.

[gizmo71]

now it's saying the BBC site is a virus

I always said you couldn't trust them there communists!

[Niall]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2kstlzWsh8

Can't load that either. Not that I know what it is. My mate sent it me saying it's "goal of the season", so he could be lying to mock me

[David]

Im on the page Niall where to now ?

[Niall]

Which one? I can't load any of them because Avast is blocking everything!

[David]

Im loking for the forum link but cant find it, clicked on the community but that isnt it 

[David]

Ok Niall found it but the page wont load and the whole site is really slow (for me at any rate) ther forum page just isnt working for me at the moment

[David]

Niall I went the other way and followed the link on Facebook they site is having big issues pages timing out etc so there is your problem cant you disengage it for a while your end ?
It is them though for sure hope this at least explains .if you can get to FB you will see the comments 

Good luck

[Niall]

I've just turned it off. Clearly they're a bunch of morons. How on earth have they released something this bad. It's a total disgrace that a company that prides itself on security has released something that means people have to turn off their AV program. Christ!

That Youtube link is good by the way, it's a goal from the half way line

[David]

I uninstalled my Avast for this reason a while ago  but will take your word about the goal 
Football isnt my game Niall 

[Niall]

If you search Twitter for avast, you'll see lots of people that are equally pleased with Avast's latest update

[.Griff.]

http://www.facebook.com/avast

Lots of unhappy people lol

[David]

I got rid of them and the other one AVG I think it was am happy with the one I use now I wonder what this will result in ,

[David]

http://www.facebook.com/avast

Lots of unhappy people lol

oops you have to feel for them surely,Avast I mean

[.Griff.]

With such a widespread problem you'd think that Avast would at least have a sticky or locked thread on their forum explaining the situation but apparently not -

[David]

I have just switche my other machine on and forgot that its still got Avast on it and the little Red  box witha message about an update 

No I didnt 

[pctech]

Blimey something must have gone wrong for Avast to start behaving like *cough* Norton *cough*

I'm currently using the paid version of Prevx as Avast 5 wouldn't load on my system but then again its overdue for a reformat anyway.

[Niall]

This is ironic really. Only a couple of days ago I was considering buying it as it's been good, with the exception of a few false positives. This is a complete farce though, so I'll be keeping a keen eye out for a better AV, or watching closely to see what their response is to this gargantuan cock up.

[Simon]

http://www.f-secure.com/en_UK/products/home-office/antivirus/

Don't know what the cost of Avast is in comparison, but I've been using this (the full suite, actually) for about 6 years with no problems.

http://www.f-secure.com/en_UK/products/home-office/internet-security/

[.Griff.]

I've been using MSE for ages now without any issues.

Might be worth a try.

[Niall]

MSE has or had a lot of issues when I last looked at it. I forget what, but I'll have a nose again if the need arises. Basically if Avast just carry on without so much as batting an eyelid.

[john]

I recently loaded Avast 6 as it said that my previous version (I think it was 4.8) had expired. Since installing it it has been reporting suspicioius sites and even reports an issue when opening Windows Explorer. So far it hasn't actually blocked any sites so I'm persevering with it as it hot caused much of a problem but hopefully they'll have some updates for it soon. I've left Microsoft Security Essentials still running and this has blocked the occaisional threat before Avast. Avast also frequently reports issues with MSE files too and maybe there could be a conflict between them.   

[Gary]

Blimey something must have gone wrong for Avast to start behaving like *cough* Norton *cough*

Norton is not the beast it used to be Mitch, it has for the last few years now had stellar ratings and reviews, being close or on top with detection ratings on AV comparatives at points. Symantecs false positives are I believe also very low, much lower than Prevx, which is really good I use it on Justina's Laptop, but I hope webrot wont ruin it now they own it   Prevx is a great bow to the security arsenal.

[Gary]

I recently loaded Avast 6 as it said that my previous version (I think it was 4.8) had expired. Since installing it it has been reporting suspicioius sites and even reports an issue when opening Windows Explorer. So far it hasn't actually blocked any sites so I'm persevering with it as it hot caused much of a problem but hopefully they'll have some updates for it soon. I've left Microsoft Security Essentials still running and this has blocked the occaisional threat before Avast. Avast also frequently reports issues with MSE files too and maybe there could be a conflict between them.   

You cant have two AV's running on one machine, MSE is an AV in real time and so is Avast, I would think that could be a nightmare, unless you can turn MSE into an on demand only scanner maybe, its like having two software firewalls running, it would cause loads of issues.

[john]

I've had a previous version of Avast and MSE running happily for many months without any issues (that I've noticed anyway). In fact when I bought the laptop many years ago a trial version of Mcafee was installed and although the trial expired a few months after there still seems to be some basic features still running (and it sometimes prompts me to upgrade it).

[sparkler]

nortan has low false positives if you don't include WS.REPUTATION.1 that go's off when trying to download/install open source software

[Ray]

Norton is not the beast it used to be Mitch, it has for the last few years now had stellar ratings and reviews, being close or on top with detection ratings on AV comparatives at points. Symantecs false positives are I believe also very low, much lower than Prevx, which is really good I use it on Justina's Laptop, but I hope webrot wont ruin it now they own it  Prevx is a great bow to the security arsenal.

I agree, Gary, there's no problem with Norton now I've been running it for just over a year now on my 3 machines with no problem and no false positives, it's also very light on system resources now as well.

[Technical Ben]

I've been using MSE for ages now without any issues.

Might be worth a try.

This. It's so fast (cheeky MS API insider information and coding ) and had no false positives. Especially handy as my version of Java keeps picking up trojans. 

[Technical Ben]

I've had a previous version of Avast and MSE running happily for many months without any issues (that I've noticed anyway). In fact when I bought the laptop many years ago a trial version of Mcafee was installed and although the trial expired a few months after there still seems to be some basic features still running (and it sometimes prompts me to upgrade it).

You can run your diesel engine on unleaded for a few days without any issues. It's not recommended though.

[john]

Hardly the same thing and more than one AV has been running on my laptops for well over a year (maybe even two) rather than a few days. If there had been any issues I would have decided on just one.

Anyway I haven't got a diesel engine 

[pctech]

Would definitely recommend Prevx £25 for a year, its server based so constantly updated and has caught a few things.

As for Avast, have you tried removal and reinstallation Niall as the new engine may work provided its not been installed over previous installs.

[Technical Ben]

I'm not causing trouble John, I hope you realise. It is honest concern. For example, http://www.avast.com/en-gb/free-antivirus-download#tab2 The bottom has the warning.
Plus Microsoft's page as well. http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/security_essentials/Support/4cae1455-6ead-493c-b5d8-7c88f39c0656.aspx
Granted, Microsoft say "may" not "will". But it still stands that it's not a safe operation of software.

[pctech]

Dealt with quite a few people running more than one AV and it creates quite a performance hit on the system and in some cases has caused O/S instability due to the file system drivers conflicting with each other.

[JB]

This is a bit weird. I'm running the free version of Avast on a couple of machines here and I haven't seen any reports at all over the last 48 hours. Currently my virus definitions are 110412-0 and as far as I can tell this has been updated every day.

If I hadn't spotted this thread I wouldn't have had any idea anything was up.

[john]

I'm not causing trouble John, I hope you realise. It is honest concern.

I hope I haven't unintentionally given the wrong impression, I didn't think for a moment you were causing trouble and thanks for your concern.

I am aware of potential software conflicts but I was prepared to try it on my own laptops and haven't noticed any problems and the machines run perfectly okay. If they start to run slowly or other problems manifest themselves then I'll certainly consider removing one of them.

Dealt with quite a few people running more than one AV and it creates quite a performance hit on the system and in some cases has caused O/S instability due to the file system drivers conflicting with each other.

Thanks, I appreciate there is the potential for a performance hit but both laptops respond okay. My eldest daughter has a more recent laptop which I haven't loaded any additional AV software on and I haven't noticed that it runs any faster. Maybe if I was using more demanding applications then any performance issues would indeed be noticable.

[Technical Ben]

Oh, I never thought you were giving the wrong impression. Just that I was going on about it a bit too much, so thought I'd mention it. You should see me when I get hold of a the family PC and the Smiley Software pops up. Thanks. 

[Technical Ben]

Oh, I never thought you were giving the wrong impression. Just that I was going on about it a bit too much, so thought I'd warn you what I get like. You should see me when I get hold of a the family PC and the Smiley Software pops up. Thanks. 

[Lance]

It's never good when you start quoting your own posts!

[Simon]

[Technical Ben]

Must have clicked the wrong button. 
Buttons will be the death of me.

[Ray]

 

[Gary]

I hope I haven't unintentionally given the wrong impression, I didn't think for a moment you were causing trouble and thanks for your concern.

I am aware of potential software conflicts but I was prepared to try it on my own laptops and haven't noticed any problems and the machines run perfectly okay. If they start to run slowly or other problems manifest themselves then I'll certainly consider removing one of them.

Thanks, I appreciate there is the potential for a performance hit but both laptops respond okay. My eldest daughter has a more recent laptop which I haven't loaded any additional AV software on and I haven't noticed that it runs any faster. Maybe if I was using more demanding applications then any performance issues would indeed be noticable.

The problem is really you are meant to use one AV, its that simple, the hooks they put in could mean you end up with less protection nas they can cancel each other out, or worse, saw MSE finds a baddy then Avast will see MSE as a threat and try to delete what MSE has tried to deal with thus causing hell as it may take down MSE which in turn will fight back, running two AV's in my opinion is just pointless, one  plus a program like prevx and/or an on demand scanner is the best option. Anywhere you go on the net they generally say never run two AV's its a ticking time bomb, and as I siad, you may end up with less protection than you think, less is more sometimes. 

[pctech]

Had that debate with many folks myself Gary but in a lot of cases they don't tend to listen until they get bitten.

[David]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/12/avast_update_snafu/

[sparkler]

ive got you antivirus/firewall software installed on my pc and no conflicts what so ever i just shove one into a vm

[pctech]

But it cant 'see' outside the VM though so does not increase overall system protection.

[Steve]

But you wouldn't want to run  Windows as a vm client without AV either.

[armadillo]

The problem is really you are meant to use one AV, its that simple, the hooks they put in could mean you end up with less protection nas they can cancel each other out, or worse, saw MSE finds a baddy then Avast will see MSE as a threat and try to delete what MSE has tried to deal with thus causing hell as it may take down MSE which in turn will fight back, running two AV's in my opinion is just pointless, one  plus a program like prevx and/or an on demand scanner is the best option. Anywhere you go on the net they generally say never run two AV's its a ticking time bomb, and as I siad, you may end up with less protection than you think, less is more sometimes. 

Very well put. People with two AV's may not be inconvenienced at all until some virus or trojan causes one AV to block the other one and give a free pass to the malware.

[pctech]

But you wouldn't want to run  Windows as a vm client without AV either.

Quite Steve but I was just pointing out that it does not offer double the protection.