Avast latest update.

justaquestion

Hello folks,


Anyone having problems since updating Avast to the latest program update on windows 10, seems to me freezing up my windows and internet explorer quite a lot.


I tried AVG but same problem, I know both are from the same company.


I have been using Avast for years without any problems but this latest one if it is that, seems to be causing plenty.


Anyways I'm trying Bitdefender free for the moment. Anyone have any views on it as a good antivirus?
Many thanks for any info.

Carrot007

I would recomend you just use the inbuilt and keep away from the free crap.


99% of people's issues are from installing malware themselves and it is so easy to defeat signitures that you are better of learning not to shoot yourself in the foot.


Anyone sane stopped using AVG when it:
A. Became bloatware. Near malware its self.
B. Tried a bait and switch upon renewal to get you to pay for it when there was still a free version.


Either use the inbuilt or pay for something decent. (something decent does not have a free version anymore, that is how you can tell).

esuhl

I used Avast until a year or so ago. I still think it's antivirus engine is fantastic, but it's become really bloated and inefficient -- really slowing down my PC.


I noticed that the last few updates automatically installed some components that I had deliberately not installed originally. If you want to stick with Avast, you could try running the installer (via the Control Panel applet) and de-selecting all the bloatware components.



I looked around for a decent free anti-malware solution, but (for the first time in decades of computing) couldn't find anything that performed/operated acceptably.


Then I tried MalwareBytes Premium. It claims not to be an antivirus, but an "antivirus replacement". It's quite clever how it works, it's incredibly lightweight and easy-to-use, and scans run quickly. Unlike traditional anti-viruses, there's no perceptible performance hit. I'm impressed.



The only downside is that it's £30 a year (or £50 for 3 devices). :-/

justaquestion

Well the latest update of Avast install didn't go that smoothly, and it was a pain to uninstall, got stuck at an image .png near end, drive was still busy. I had to end the uninstall manually and delete the remaining files with Revo uninstaller free.


Tried AVG same problem, I then tried Bitdefender free, computer seems fine so far, touch wood as they say.

DoaM

I use Bitdefender Free ... no issues here.

I also have MalwareBytes Corporate* ... also no issues (and blocks suspect IP addresses when streaming).

* I got it free a few years ago via a code offer here at MSE

pmduk

Updating to version 18.6 has just taken 5 minutes plus restart time. No issue here.

I'm aware of the arguments for and against anti-virus, I'm more comfortable using one, as long as it isn't impacting performance too much. I've not noticed Avast doing that, unlike AVG.

agrinnall

pmduk wrote: »

I'm aware of the arguments for and against anti-virus, I'm more comfortable using one...

I don't think anybody is suggesting using a Windows machine without AV, just that there's not a lot of benefit to using anything other than Windows Defender any more, and certainly not one that you have to pay for or that may have an impact on performance. I ditched Avast and Avira from my two laptops a while ago and turned on Defender instead, both have been fine since then .

esuhl

agrinnall wrote: »

I don't think anybody is suggesting using a Windows machine without AV...

I've been running Windows with MalwareBytes Premium instead of an antivirus for over a year. It works well, and the PC is so much faster without an antivirus.

agrinnall

esuhl wrote: »

I've been running Windows with MalwareBytes Premium instead of an antivirus for over a year. It works well, and the PC is so much faster without an antivirus.

So what happens when you do get a virus? Presumably Malwarebytes won't pick it up, so then you're into manual removal actions. Obviously taking care what sites you visit will minimise the possibility of a virus, but I don't think you'r be able to reduce that to zero.

esuhl

agrinnall wrote: »

So what happens when you do get a virus? Presumably Malwarebytes won't pick it up, so then you're into manual removal actions. Obviously taking care what sites you visit will minimise the possibility of a virus, but I don't think you'r be able to reduce that to zero.

The idea is that MalwareBytes stops the virus getting on to your system in the first place. Hence, no need for an antivirus.

agrinnall

esuhl wrote: »

The idea is that MalwareBytes stops the virus getting on to your system in the first place. Hence, no need for an antivirus.

But that's what AV does, are you suggesting that MB stops viruses from being downloaded? If so then surely it is acting as an AV too.