Windows Security Centre

Tabitha_T

Hi all,

Woke up this morning to a message on my desktop saying that Avast Security is turned off and my PC is at risk. This message is via the Windows Security Centre and will not let me turn the Virus Protection status from OFF to ON. The only option is 'Recommendations', but within this the only 'working' option is to manually monitor the system myself.

However, when I go to my Avast Security it tells me that the condition of my PC is Good and everything is working fine.

Is this the start of XP's demise from Windows support? If so, there's no add-on message to that effect. Apols if this has been covered but I'm in a tearing hurry and was worried! I have a hosp appointment and need to go catch my train. Thanks guys, Tabs

GunJack

possible malware... quick scan with MalwareBytes to start..

danthemoneysavingman

It could be slow boot times where it thinks your anti-virus is off but it has checked status before antivirus has been enabled.
If avast says all is good, then it more than likely is.
Do an avast scan perhaps if you're concerned (perhaps even go crazy and do a boot-time scan)

macman

It's nothing to do with the end of XP support-that is on 8/4/14.

Tabitha_T

Hi, many thanks for all your assistance. I'm now back home and have checked this out. I ran the Malware scan and it detected 65 x PUP.optionals. So, I have removed these, restarted my machine and the problem has gone away. Security Centre now tells me that my Security is ON.

I have recently started using Chrome, could this have triggered the problem in some way?

Also, with the removal of Microsoft support for XP on 8 Jan 14, I'm unsure how this will affect my XP desktop. Will it still work? What will change? Will the withdrawal of support also cause me a problem on my laptop which runs Vista?

Many thanks, Tabs x

aerostar

XP will still work - the word is SUPPORT that is being stopped.

All that means is that there will be no updates for XP. Just make sure you have decent AV and malware progs installed and updated - and that you practise safe surfing.

Treat every e-mail, pop up messages and freeby programs as suspicious - half the problem with people getting malware/virus is they are "Click Happy!" and believe everything that appears and never read/scan the license for software you install, that is also how you get unwanted toolbars and searches.

You should always choose custom installs for programs - that way you have a chance of refusing toolbars/searches etc.

I still use Win98 machine for certain programs that object to newer operating systems, and I have had no problems.

Tabitha_T

Fantastic, thanks so much for your reply, that's very illuminating! Tabs x

danthemoneysavingman

Just as it wasn't specifically stated: chrome wouldn't trigger anything dodgy, just to echo the above, don't be click-happy!

waddler_8

Tabitha_T wrote: »

....with the removal of Microsoft support for XP on 8 Jan 14, I'm unsure how this will affect my XP desktop. Will it still work? What will change?

aerostar wrote: »

XP will still work - the word is SUPPORT that is being stopped.

All that means is that there will be no updates for XP. Just make sure you have decent AV and malware progs installed and updated - and that you practise safe surfing....

....half the problem with people getting malware/virus is they are "Click Happy!"....

XP without support means you're vulnerable to exploit, which is currently the No.1 way to infect a PC. You could be infected without any interaction from yourself other than just browsing a site that is somehow compromised - this includes normally reputable sites.

Just browsing popular sites like ebay could leave you infected.

http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=ebay.co.uk

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63994594#Comment_63994594