Inactive Dissatisfied with Avira Free AV for XP SP3

[B00kWyrm]

Hi all... (any of the Anti-malware team are welcome to weigh in on this.)

As noted, my system is running XPSP3, fully updated, with Online Armor for firewall.

The system is an older Gateway laptop, Original Specs
I have fully expanded the memory a couple years ago,
and replaced the hard drive about the same time.
(Western Digital 128gb, now with about 56gb free)
I also have a Toshiba USB external drive. (150gb, with about 20gb free)
Other than that, stock (no overclocking etc).

Crystaldiskinfo is reporting drive health (both drives) as good.
Everest reports cpu temp at 60c/140f right now, usually it will be lower.

I have used Avira for AV with great satisfaction for a couple of years, BUT...
With recent updates ...
I thought boot-time had become significantly extended.
And NOW... I cannot get a full scan. What???

Here's what I mean...
I used to be able to start a (full) scan, and go to bed,
and have my report when I got up in the morning.
Now, Avira is not even getting to the 30% point.
I did not have this problem until this calendar year.

Since I practice safe surfing,
I generally would run a full scan every couple of weeks.
But if I cannot complete a scan, then the AV is not doing me any good.

Additionally, Avira's pop-up ads have become significantly more annoying.

I am ready to dump Avira and try Avast.

Any thoughts?

=====More Hardware Info=====
HWInfo reports clock at max (1495mghz), and temp OK.

 

[Broni]

Personally I stopped recommending Avira when they started to force users to install Ask toolbar along with their software.
To me it's absolutely not acceptable.

 

[B00kWyrm]

I guess I opted out, or was using Avira before they started it,
In any case, I don't have Ask.

But, another issue now is that Avira takes over when it want's to update.
It used to be that updates would be done in the background
and would not be a noticeable load on system performance.
Now, when it tries to do an automatic update, I have to quit what I am doing and wait.
So, I had gone to the manual updates.

 

[Bobbye]

Hey Book!!! Good to see you. I no longer include Avira in recommended AV. Advise you remove and install one of these instead: There are the free ones.

[o]Microsoft Security Essentials
[o]Comodo AV
[o]Avast! Free Antivirus

I think it's pretty shameful for a security program to include foistware with their download. They are also including an undesirable Toolbar.

If you decide to get a paid AV, I recommend the Eset Nod32. I have been very please with this. It cost, but it has Support available if needed. I have a 2 user license for $38.

 

[B00kWyrm]

Thanks Bobbye.
Nice to see you too!

I have had an interesting journey making a migration.
But, looks like I finally have Avast up and running.
I want to do a second boot scan with it.
It has found some stuff that, while not a threat as
a. some of it was in email archives from a win98 system three computers back, and
b. some was false positive relating old scanners not now installed.
Still the fact that it has found this stuff, and Avira did not is yet one more reason for me to dislike Avira.
Reminds me of my migration away from ZoneAlarm.
Early I liked it, but gradually it became bloated, and (blah blah blah), so I moved on.
Avira's developers have to pay the bills,
(hence the unfortunate choice to partner with foistware)
but (imo) they won't keep a viable base if they don't do better by them!
After I run the next boot scan I will post more...

 

[Bobbye]

Give try to an online virus scanner to compare with what your resident AV turns up. We usually use Eset- I'll leave the instructions as it depends on browser user:

To run the Eset Online Virus Scan:
If you use Internet Explorer:

1. Open the ESETOnlineScan
2. Skip to #4 to "Continue with the directions"
   
   If you are using a browser other than Internet Explorer
3. Open Eset Smart Installer
   [o] Click on the esetsmartinstaller_enu.exelink and save to the desktop.
   [o] Double click on the desktop icon to run.
   [o] After successful installation of the ESET Smart Installer, the ESET Online Scanner will be launched in a new Window
   
4. Continue with the directions.
   
5. Check 'Yes I accept terms of use.'
6. Click Start button
7. Accept any security warnings from your browser.
   
   
8. Uncheck 'Remove found threats'
9. Check 'Scan archives/
10. Leave remaining settings as is.
11. Press the Start button.
12. ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please wait for the scan to finish.
13. When the scan completes, press List of found threats
14. Push Export of text file and save the file to your desktop using a unique name, such as ESETScan. Paste this log in your next reply.
15. Push the Back button, then Finish

NOTE: If no malware is found then no log will be produced.
======================================
I have seen scans turn up with saved email having Worms- some from several previous years.

 

[B00kWyrm]

Thanks Bobbye...
After removing the questionable files, the second boot scan and the full scan reported clean.
The email file was part of a damaged archive which I had not managed to repair, and which I decided I could now live without... (ancient history, no longer important). So I deleted it.

BUT... maybe if you could review the scan logs for me?
Before pasting... For the ESET online scan
Should I disable either Online-Armor, or Avast?
ESET detects OA, but calls it an Anti-Virus (not! just FW), and says it could affect the quality of the scan.

 

[Bobbye]

Okay, I'm going to change the thread status to Active. Go ahead and paste the log(s).

Should I disable either Online-Armor, or Avast?

Yes- both.

FYI: Remember you need to disable the security when you run the Eset scan. If it's complaining about the Online Armour firewall, it must be running..
------------------------------------
Would you like to throw out a Mbam Full Scan also?
Update and rescan with Malwarebytes: Note: On the Scanner tab, make sure the the Perform Full Scan option is selected and then click on the Scan button.
When scan has finished, you will see this image:

• Click on OK to close box and continue.
• Click on the Show Results button.
• Click on the Remove Selected button to remove all the listed malware.
• At end of malware removal, the scan log opens and displays in Notepad. Be sure to click on Format> Uncheck Word Wrap before copying the log to paste in your next reply.