AVG 8

[kaloochi]

I've just upgraded to AVG 8[from 7.5] and I'm absolutely amazed at the amount
of viruses, threats, warnings that it found. 14 trojans and a truck load of
adware. What has 7.5 been doing all this time? Are the threat databases
completely reliable. On more than one occasion AVG has'found' a threat
that's been on my comp for some time and suddenly decides it's a virus.

 

[Root Kit]

On Thu, 5 Jun 2008 00:56:01 -0700, kaloochi
<kaloochi@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I've just upgraded to AVG 8[from 7.5] and I'm absolutely amazed at the amount
>of viruses, threats, warnings that it found.

Why? - Wasn't that the reason you installed it in the first place?

>14 trojans and a truck load of adware.

Ouch....

>What has 7.5 been doing all this time?

What have YOU been doing?

>Are the threat databases completely reliable.

Probably not. Any security company will probably do the outmost to
make their products look valuable.

>On more than one occasion AVG has'found' a threat
>that's been on my comp for some time and suddenly decides it's a virus.

I see two possibilities:

1) You are experiencing the time slot between infection and detection
- which is one of the main reasons for malware scanning to be close to
useless.

2) You are experiencing AVG boosting their detection rate in order to
achieve previously mentioned company goal.


Bottom line is that you have a serious security problem. The simple
fact that AVG finds anything proves that you have security issues
that, in the end, no security app will protect you from. Just like 8.0
found things 7.5 didn't, you must assume to also have malware on your
system that 8.0 does not recognize.

You need to revert your machine to a known clean state - which
ultimately means flatten and rebuild. And then you need to put in
place security measures that keep malware out instead of relying on
questionable security apps and malware scanning.

 

[kaloochi]

Nearly all those trojans were from PSW. online games. all the adware was
coolwebsearch, but I hear what you're saying. I installed purely because avg
update from time to time and the older version ceases to be. All i'm getting
at is if v.8 found it why didn't v.7.5. Surely the databases are the same.

"Root Kit" wrote:

> On Thu, 5 Jun 2008 00:56:01 -0700, kaloochi
> <kaloochi@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I've just upgraded to AVG 8[from 7.5] and I'm absolutely amazed at the amount
> >of viruses, threats, warnings that it found.
>
> Why? - Wasn't that the reason you installed it in the first place?
>
> >14 trojans and a truck load of adware.
>
> Ouch....
>
> >What has 7.5 been doing all this time?
>
> What have YOU been doing?
>
> >Are the threat databases completely reliable.
>
> Probably not. Any security company will probably do the outmost to
> make their products look valuable.
>
> >On more than one occasion AVG has'found' a threat
> >that's been on my comp for some time and suddenly decides it's a virus.
>
> I see two possibilities:
>
> 1) You are experiencing the time slot between infection and detection
> - which is one of the main reasons for malware scanning to be close to
> useless.
>
> 2) You are experiencing AVG boosting their detection rate in order to
> achieve previously mentioned company goal.
>
>
> Bottom line is that you have a serious security problem. The simple
> fact that AVG finds anything proves that you have security issues
> that, in the end, no security app will protect you from. Just like 8.0
> found things 7.5 didn't, you must assume to also have malware on your
> system that 8.0 does not recognize.
>
> You need to revert your machine to a known clean state - which
> ultimately means flatten and rebuild. And then you need to put in
> place security measures that keep malware out instead of relying on
> questionable security apps and malware scanning.
>

 

[Shenan Stanley]

kaloochi wrote:
<snip>
> Surely the databases are the same.

Why?

If nothing was changing - why would there be a new version. Sometimes the
antivirus engine needs to be updated to take care of some things. Many
times that means the old database (especially if a product is no longer
supported) won't work with the new version of the product.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Post here instead: http://freeforum.avg.com

Also see:

Infection detected in "ActiveX Compatibility" registry key
http://free.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1319
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


kaloochi wrote:
> I've just upgraded to AVG 8[from 7.5] and I'm absolutely amazed at the
> amount of viruses, threats, warnings that it found. 14 trojans and a
> truck
> load of adware. What has 7.5 been doing all this time? Are the threat
> databases completely reliable. On more than one occasion AVG has'found' a
> threat that's been on my comp for some time and suddenly decides it's a
> virus.

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

The databases are different, especially since the AV engine has changed in
8.

Tom
"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23bv7G%23yxIHA.2068@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
: kaloochi wrote:
: <snip>
: > Surely the databases are the same.
:
: Why?
:
: If nothing was changing - why would there be a new version. Sometimes the
: antivirus engine needs to be updated to take care of some things. Many
: times that means the old database (especially if a product is no longer
: supported) won't work with the new version of the product.
:
: --
: Shenan Stanley
: MS-MVP
: --
: How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
:
:

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

And AVG 8.0 includes AVG Anti-Spyware technology now...but, sadly, not it's
UI.

Tom [Pepper] Willett wrote:
> The databases are different, especially since the AV engine has changed in
> 8.
>
> Tom
> "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:%23bv7G%23yxIHA.2068@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> kaloochi wrote:
>> <snip>
>>> Surely the databases are the same.
>>
>> Why?
>>
>> If nothing was changing - why would there be a new version. Sometimes
>> the
>> antivirus engine needs to be updated to take care of some things. Many
>> times that means the old database (especially if a product is no longer
>> supported) won't work with the new version of the product.
>>
>> --
>> Shenan Stanley
>> MS-MVP
>> --
>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

I abhor the anti-spyware portion of it, and do not use it. It's extremely
resource heavy.

I was quite disturbed when the forced the antispyware crap into the program.
One reason I went to AVG was because you didn't have to have a suite of crap
you didn't want. Now, that has changed. It's hard these days to find a
decent (paid for) AV that doesn't included the junk.

Tom
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:eqIjFjzxIHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
: And AVG 8.0 includes AVG Anti-Spyware technology now...but, sadly, not
it's
: UI.
:
: Tom [Pepper] Willett wrote:
: > The databases are different, especially since the AV engine has changed
in
: > 8.
: >
: > Tom
: > "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
: > news:%23bv7G%23yxIHA.2068@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
: >> kaloochi wrote:
: >> <snip>
: >>> Surely the databases are the same.
: >>
: >> Why?
: >>
: >> If nothing was changing - why would there be a new version. Sometimes
: >> the
: >> antivirus engine needs to be updated to take care of some things. Many
: >> times that means the old database (especially if a product is no longer
: >> supported) won't work with the new version of the product.
: >>
: >> --
: >> Shenan Stanley
: >> MS-MVP
: >> --
: >> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
: >> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
:

 

[Ken]

Tom [Pepper] Willett wrote:
> I abhor the anti-spyware portion of it, and do not use it. It's extremely
> resource heavy.
>
> I was quite disturbed when the forced the antispyware crap into the program.
> One reason I went to AVG was because you didn't have to have a suite of crap
> you didn't want. Now, that has changed. It's hard these days to find a
> decent (paid for) AV that doesn't included the junk.
>
> Tom
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:eqIjFjzxIHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> : And AVG 8.0 includes AVG Anti-Spyware technology now...but, sadly, not
> it's
> : UI.
> :
> : Tom [Pepper] Willett wrote:
> : > The databases are different, especially since the AV engine has changed
> in
> : > 8.
> : >
> : > Tom
> : > "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
> : > news:%23bv7G%23yxIHA.2068@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> : >> kaloochi wrote:
> : >> <snip>
> : >>> Surely the databases are the same.
> : >>
> : >> Why?
> : >>
> : >> If nothing was changing - why would there be a new version. Sometimes
> : >> the
> : >> antivirus engine needs to be updated to take care of some things. Many
> : >> times that means the old database (especially if a product is no longer
> : >> supported) won't work with the new version of the product.
> : >>
> : >> --
> : >> Shenan Stanley
> : >> MS-MVP
> : >> --
> : >> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> : >> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
> :
>
>
So what do YOU use to prevent SpyWare from being installed?

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

: >
: >
: So what do YOU use to prevent SpyWare from being installed?

Other programs that aren't such resource hogs -)

 

[kaloochi]

I've just read the 'Activex compatibility' link. I do have S&D installed so
I didn't have the adware after all. If AVG sees a key it considers adware and
deletes it does this mean the Spybot immunization is undone? I'll be
rescanning with S&D.
I've tried registering on AVG's forum and it's given me so much hassle with
passwords/emails that i've given up for now. Even googling for the login
page comes up with posts from people having the same problem.


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Post here instead: http://freeforum.avg.com
>
> Also see:
>
> Infection detected in "ActiveX Compatibility" registry key
> http://free.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1319
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>
>
> kaloochi wrote:
> > I've just upgraded to AVG 8[from 7.5] and I'm absolutely amazed at the
> > amount of viruses, threats, warnings that it found. 14 trojans and a
> > truck
> > load of adware. What has 7.5 been doing all this time? Are the threat
> > databases completely reliable. On more than one occasion AVG has'found' a
> > threat that's been on my comp for some time and suddenly decides it's a
> > virus.
>
>

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

> ...If AVG sees a key it considers adware
> and deletes it does this mean the Spybot immunization is undone?

Yes.
--
~PA Bear


kaloochi wrote:
> I've just read the 'Activex compatibility' link. I do have S&D installed
> so
> I didn't have the adware after all. If AVG sees a key it considers adware
> and deletes it does this mean the Spybot immunization is undone? I'll be
> rescanning with S&D.
> I've tried registering on AVG's forum and it's given me so much hassle
> with
> passwords/emails that i've given up for now. Even googling for the login
> page comes up with posts from people having the same problem.
>
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Post here instead: http://freeforum.avg.com
>>
>> Also see:
>>
>> Infection detected in "ActiveX Compatibility" registry key
>> http://free.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1319
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>
>>
>> kaloochi wrote:
>>> I've just upgraded to AVG 8[from 7.5] and I'm absolutely amazed at the
>>> amount of viruses, threats, warnings that it found. 14 trojans and a
>>> truck
>>> load of adware. What has 7.5 been doing all this time? Are the threat
>>> databases completely reliable. On more than one occasion AVG has'found'
>>> a
>>> threat that's been on my comp for some time and suddenly decides it's a
>>> virus.

 

[LadyDungeness@Fish.Net]

Yes, AVG 8 has a spyware component now. I can't figure out how to turn it off. Can someone help me? A regedit or such?


Lady Dungeness
Out of Danger until September
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~



On Thu, 5 Jun 2008 14:17:50 -0500, "Tom [Pepper] Willett" <tom@youreadaisyifyoudo.com> wrote:

>I abhor the anti-spyware portion of it, and do not use it. It's extremely
>resource heavy.
>
>I was quite disturbed when the forced the antispyware crap into the program.
>One reason I went to AVG was because you didn't have to have a suite of crap
>you didn't want. Now, that has changed. It's hard these days to find a
>decent (paid for) AV that doesn't included the junk.
>
>Tom
>"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:eqIjFjzxIHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>: And AVG 8.0 includes AVG Anti-Spyware technology now...but, sadly, not
>it's
>: UI.
>:
>: Tom [Pepper] Willett wrote:
>: > The databases are different, especially since the AV engine has changed
>in
>: > 8.
>: >
>: > Tom
>: > "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
>: > news:%23bv7G%23yxIHA.2068@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>: >> kaloochi wrote:
>: >> <snip>
>: >>> Surely the databases are the same.
>: >>
>: >> Why?
>: >>
>: >> If nothing was changing - why would there be a new version. Sometimes
>: >> the
>: >> antivirus engine needs to be updated to take care of some things. Many
>: >> times that means the old database (especially if a product is no longer
>: >> supported) won't work with the new version of the product.
>: >>
>: >> --
>: >> Shenan Stanley
>: >> MS-MVP
>: >> --
>: >> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>: >> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>:
>

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

AVG Free Support Forums
http://freeforum.avg.com/
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

LadyDungeness@Fish.Net wrote:
> Yes, AVG 8 has a spyware component now. I can't figure out how to turn it
> off. Can someone help me? A regedit or such?

 

[S. Pidgorny]

And no, it's not a spyware component.

--
Svyatoslav Pidgorny, MS MVP - Security, MCSE
-= F1 is the key =-

* http://sl.mvps.org * http://msmvps.com/blogs/sp *

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23dF44ka3IHA.4332@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> AVG Free Support Forums
> http://freeforum.avg.com/
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>
> LadyDungeness@Fish.Net wrote:
>> Yes, AVG 8 has a spyware component now. I can't figure out how to turn
>> it
>> off. Can someone help me? A regedit or such?
>

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Mine says: "Anti-Spyware Component". So, what is it, then?

"S. Pidgorny <MVP>" <slavickp@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:OmOgqpA4IHA.212@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
: And no, it's not a spyware component.
:
: --
: Svyatoslav Pidgorny, MS MVP - Security, MCSE
: -= F1 is the key =-
:
: * http://sl.mvps.org * http://msmvps.com/blogs/sp *
:
: "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
: news:%23dF44ka3IHA.4332@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
: > AVG Free Support Forums
: > http://freeforum.avg.com/
: > --
: > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
: > MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
: > AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
: > DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
: >
: > LadyDungeness@Fish.Net wrote:
: >> Yes, AVG 8 has a spyware component now. I can't figure out how to turn
: >> it
: >> off. Can someone help me? A regedit or such?
: >
:
:

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

BTW, the antispyware component of AVG 8 installs by default, and you can't
change it. But, you *can* turn it off in Advanced AVG Settings for Resident
Shield and Scheduled Scans, or other Scans:

Uncheck: "Scan potentially unwanted programs & Spywere threats"

Tom

"Tom [Pepper] Willett" <tom@youreadaisyifyoudo.com> wrote in message
news:uz0UipE4IHA.2348@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
: Mine says: "Anti-Spyware Component". So, what is it, then?
:
: "S. Pidgorny <MVP>" <slavickp@yahoo.com> wrote in message
: news:OmOgqpA4IHA.212@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
:: And no, it's not a spyware component.
::
:: --
:: Svyatoslav Pidgorny, MS MVP - Security, MCSE
:: -= F1 is the key =-
::
:: * http://sl.mvps.org * http://msmvps.com/blogs/sp *
::
:: "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
:: news:%23dF44ka3IHA.4332@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
:: > AVG Free Support Forums
:: > http://freeforum.avg.com/
:: > --
:: > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
:: > MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
:: > AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
:: > DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
:: >
:: > LadyDungeness@Fish.Net wrote:
:: >> Yes, AVG 8 has a spyware component now. I can't figure out how to
turn
:: >> it
:: >> off. Can someone help me? A regedit or such?
:: >
::
::
:
:

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I disagree: AVG Anti-Spyware (AKA ewido) is included by default in AVG v8.x.
As Tom points out, one cannot opt out of installing the anti-spyware
component, even when doing a Custom install. Also, there is no UI for the
anti-spyware component.
--
~PA Bear

S. Pidgorny <MVP> wrote:
> And no, it's not a spyware component.
>
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:%23dF44ka3IHA.4332@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> AVG Free Support Forums
>> http://freeforum.avg.com/
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>
>> LadyDungeness@Fish.Net wrote:
>>> Yes, AVG 8 has a spyware component now. I can't figure out how to turn
>>> it
>>> off. Can someone help me? A regedit or such?

 

[S. Pidgorny]

Opposite to spyware?

--
Svyatoslav Pidgorny, MS MVP - Security, MCSE
-= F1 is the key =-

* http://sl.mvps.org * http://msmvps.com/blogs/sp *

"Tom [Pepper] Willett" <tom@youreadaisyifyoudo.com> wrote in message
news:uz0UipE4IHA.2348@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Mine says: "Anti-Spyware Component". So, what is it, then?
>
> "S. Pidgorny <MVP>" <slavickp@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:OmOgqpA4IHA.212@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> : And no, it's not a spyware component.
> :
> : --
> : Svyatoslav Pidgorny, MS MVP - Security, MCSE
> : -= F1 is the key =-
> :
> : * http://sl.mvps.org * http://msmvps.com/blogs/sp *
> :
> : "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
> : news:%23dF44ka3IHA.4332@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> : > AVG Free Support Forums
> : > http://freeforum.avg.com/
> : > --
> : > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> : > MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> : > AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> : > DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
> : >
> : > LadyDungeness@Fish.Net wrote:
> : >> Yes, AVG 8 has a spyware component now. I can't figure out how to
> turn
> : >> it
> : >> off. Can someone help me? A regedit or such?
> : >
> :
> :
>
>

 

[S. Pidgorny]

My point is simple: the anti-spyware component is not a spyware component.
There are many software packages that contain spyware components and the
like, AVG is not one of them.

I'm not sure why but I think that is an important distinction.

--
Svyatoslav Pidgorny, MS MVP - Security, MCSE
-= F1 is the key =-

* http://sl.mvps.org * http://msmvps.com/blogs/sp *

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23OH2EVF4IHA.3480@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I disagree: AVG Anti-Spyware (AKA ewido) is included by default in AVG
>v8.x. As Tom points out, one cannot opt out of installing the anti-spyware
>component, even when doing a Custom install. Also, there is no UI for the
>anti-spyware component.
> --
> ~PA Bear
>
> S. Pidgorny <MVP> wrote:
>> And no, it's not a spyware component.
>>
>>
>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:%23dF44ka3IHA.4332@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> AVG Free Support Forums
>>> http://freeforum.avg.com/
>>> --
>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>>
>>> LadyDungeness@Fish.Net wrote:
>>>> Yes, AVG 8 has a spyware component now. I can't figure out how to turn
>>>> it
>>>> off. Can someone help me? A regedit or such?
>