Is AVAST messing around?

I went on line to order the full Avast program while it was on special offer of $34.99. They billed me $79.99 so I cancelled the order.

Today they told me the refund had gone through so I went to order the $34.99 version they had on offer. It is no longer on offer.

Is Avast playing at something here? I hate to think it of them because I have trusted the free version for years.

Anyone else had a similar problem?

Any suggestions on an alternative anti-virus pprogram?

 

I personally use and love Comodo Internet Security. It's free, and has antivirus and firewall. They also have just Antivirus if you don't want the firewall portion. It's VERY configurable, but also extremely easy and simple to use.

I personally do NOT install the Geek Buddy thing (it's a trial that wants you to pay for it later) when doing the installation, and disable the Sandbox feature and turn off the Comodo Message Center in Preferences (it pops up with random advertisements).

I've tried all the major AVs, and Comodo wins every time. It's also very light on system resources and disk usage. For me, it's better than Avira, Avast, NOD32, AVG, etc.

Also, it offers to have you use Comodo DNS servers, which keep most of the virus sites out of the equation. I personally opt out, as my browsing habits are safe enough, but I've used them before with no issues for legitimate browsing.

 

Many thanks.

Comodo sounds wonderful. I googled it and there are so many places from where to download, and there are different versions, many of them free for the first year. Could you sugegst a link where I can get the anti-virus and the Firewall? If I end up paying at the end of the year, so be it. As long as I can feel safe.

My Gmail was hacked and my Internet supplier is on the watch and vetting all emails to Nucleus. It's great when you have that sort of back up.

 

Okay, I'm going with this one:
http://www.comodo.com/home/internet-security/free-internet-security.php

Thank you so much for your help. I've always trusted MG and you guys know what you're doing.

 

Sorry, I shoulda provided the links. MG hosts it (Tim's link) and the official Comodo site is the one you linked to, which is fine as well.

 

Darn! I always prefer to download from MG, but it's done now.

I didn't sign up for their Geek help because I'd rather trust you guys. You've never let me down yet.

I tried running a scan and it found 3 items. After two hours, I have up and will run it again. I don't know why it took so long, but it seems like an excellent program. (Something on my computer is slowing me down. The Ask toolbar invited itself in so I must check if it's back again.)

Thank you again for the referral.

 

I must have done something wrong, because Comodo will not finish a scan. Avast and ADC4 can complete in between 20 and 35 minutes. Comodo also stops responding frequently while running a scan.

I'll check the malware scans MG offers to see if I can find anything. My computer is running far too slowly. I know Gmail was hacked, and by whom, but he may have delved into other things.

Wish me luck.

 

Just curious.

Why is the free download at the Comodo site 60.6 MB, but the download from MG is only 34.6 MB? What's the difference, besides the sizes of the DL's.

Thanks people.

I'm currently running Avast Free and they are offering the Pro version for only $9.99 'til July 31st.

 

The link Tim posted is for just the antivirus program. The antivirus/firewall combo is the larger installation file.

 

Yes - Avast and Advanced System Care 4, which I've just run. I deleted Comodo.

I'm scared to disengage Avast until I know Comodo is up and running. Avast Pro is still on here while we argue why I can't have the special price they offered. I truly feel they scammed me, and that's not a nice feeling about a program I've trusted for years. I know the person who hacked my Gmail and those of several friends and colleagues, and he's trying to get into my comptuer. Avast sends a pop-up message every time he tries. It's happening frequently.

I changed my email and the provider is vetting incoming mail because the person is also one of their clients. He's also known to the police and has to appear in court today on various charges, including stalking a young girl. That should give you a picture of him.

I am terrified of disengaging Avast while Comodo does it's thing. Safety is a big issue, because I could lose years of work and research.

I have downloaded Comodo's browser but not used it yet.

I know I shouldn't have two virus checkers installed because of conflicts. Please tell me how I can safely download the Comodo virus-checker and firewall, and still remain safe on line.

 

I have always known that.

While I'm under attack, how do I stay safe? Should I download Comodo but not run it, and then disengage Avast? And how do I disengage Avast? Must I remove it completely?

 

Proper steps for changing your AV software:

UNINSTALL current software (Avast in your case, and if ASC4 has real-time virus scanning, disable the real-time protection)
Reboot
INSTALL new software (Comodo in your case)
UPDATE new software virus definitions

You don't need protection if you're not surfing the web while you're doing all of this.

If for some reason Comodo doesn't work (which has never been an issue for me, but just throwing this in), then you will need to repeat the above steps, except uninstall Comodo and then install Avast.

Also, if you're having constant attacks, you can always disconnect from the internet while uninstalling Avast and installing Comodo. Comodo's firewall will protect you just fine when you connect back to the internet, again the only thing it will need to update is virus definitions, which don't apply to "hacker" attacks on your system -- that's the firewall's job.

 

Hence my edit

It's really not an issue unless it's intrusion attempts which a firewall will protect against, or if you are trying to utilize the internet without an active AV.

 

Many thanks, both of you. I'll give it a shot.

I know the guy is in court answering charges right now, so - unless he's set up something automatically, I should be safe.

I'll come back and let you know how I get on.

 

Okay, Avast uninstalled and Comodo AV and FW installed.

Scan ran in 45 minutes and showed 4 infections. A message came up to call Geek Buddy, which I did NOT install. I called and they refused to help unless I installed the paid version. Not a favourable first contact with this company.

I watched the scan part of the time. I believe the infections are:

3 in R182906 (R180772.exe) which is an audio program I believe.
1 in MSOCache

Any suggestions? Delete, repair, replace?

 

LOL Comodo Browser tells me my Internet supplier's site is unsafe! This is BS. If that's how their browser works, I'm booting it.

This is the second unfavourable meeting with Comodo.

 

I've been running Avast and Comodo - Firewall ONLY (both FREE versions) since at least 2005. I've never had a problem.

When I attempt to download or run a program avast or comodo deems as "unsafe", and I know it is, I simply tell the program to accept it. (Such as files/programs that will alter boot or login or RUN elements etc.) They are just doing their job.

 

You can tell Comodo to ignore files you know aren't malicious. It flags them if they contain code that is used in malicious virus files. Not everything an antivirus flags is necessarily a virus.

I would delete the one in MSOCache, and ignore the audio files (if they're legit).

Your internet supplier's site probably is unsafe. Regardless, I don't use their browser... just their AV and firewall.

Anyway, if you don't like Comodo, don't use it. I've had great success with it for years, like I said before.

 

Thank you both.

Yes, as far as I know the audio file is legit. I probably downloaded it from MG, because that's where I try to get all my downloads. There was an audio problem with this PC but that download and speakers sorted it.

If it's a program I don't need, please let me know. I have loads of free space on my computer, but I still don't like carrying extra programs because they could represent an opening for something malicious.

How do I find MSOCache to delete it? I ran a search but it isn't found.

 

Comodo should've given you the options of what you wanted it to do with the file. No need to locate it yourself... if nothing else, run a scan again, and select to Quarantine the problematic file, and add the audio file(s) to the safe files list.

 

Many thanks. I'll run a scan when I get back. I'm going to close down for now.

I truly appreciate all the help I'm given on this site. I don't think I could exist on the Internet without you.

Cheers.