Cloud antivirus softwares and a new Avast

comp_ali · Mar 30, 2011, 10:30 PM

Recently I noticed the new user interface in the new Avast 6 and i feel it is much better than the old ones (last one I used was Avast 4) and I read the reviews which also say the program itself is much better in detecting and cleaning with some sites claiming Avast to be the best free antivius. I will give it a try and see.
Also, I have noticed some Cloud antivirus softwares which is supposed to be much faster than the normal ones but I don't know how much reliable is those. What do you guys think of both (the new Avast and Cloud antivirus softwares)

IvanV · Mar 30, 2011, 10:48 PM

I'm not sure how a cloud antivirus is supposed to work. To my understanding, in cloud computing, you're using a service and the processing is being done somewhere "out there". Obviously, though, you can't just send your whole hard drive over the Internet to be checked out so I'm guessing it's more like PC Cillin Housecall or something like that where antivirus software is loaded from the web on demand, but does all the work locally. That's only faster if the scanning algorithm itself is faster than on competing products, but I'd rather trust a well established name than some newcomer to the field promising some hocus pocus.

EDIT: I'm using Avast 6 Free myself, so far so good.

Tipstaff · Mar 31, 2011, 12:42 AM

The only issue I have with Avast right now is their required installation of the Avast gadget. It should be selectable. I hate that thing, and if you don't want it you first have to install Avast, then run the uninstaller, choose to do a custom uninstall, and unclick the gadget. They say you can just go into the Gadgets, and uninstall it from there, but I've noticed it comes back sometimes. It's a stupidly annoying gadget.

IvanV · Mar 31, 2011, 12:57 AM

Thanks a lot, I never saw that thing until I read your post and then opened Windows Gadgets, at which point it magically appeared on my desktop for the first time ever.

Tipstaff · Apr 1, 2011, 05:59 AM

Looks like I was wrong about the gadget. Or at least wrong as of now as I could swear they didn't allow this before.

You can, during installation, uncheck that gadget if you do a custom installation. Thank God.

mkk · Apr 2, 2011, 01:24 PM

Yeah they got some user response on their forum about that, and listened.

I've been using Avast Antivirus Pro for a year and been happy with performance and protection. Though I haven't installed all modules, like the web scan engine part since I don't feel I need it in comparison to any risk of slowing down the web. Known malicious websites are blocked anyway through the networking protection module. The latest interface is certainly very practical.

Mar 30, 2011, 10:30 PM	#1
comp_ali Sniper Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Egypt Posts: 10,469 Rep Power: 339 System Specs	Cloud antivirus softwares and a new Avast Recently I noticed the new user interface in the new Avast 6 and i feel it is much better than the old ones (last one I used was Avast 4) and I read the reviews which also say the program itself is much better in detecting and cleaning with some sites claiming Avast to be the best free antivius. I will give it a try and see. Also, I have noticed some Cloud antivirus softwares which is supposed to be much faster than the normal ones but I don't know how much reliable is those. What do you guys think of both (the new Avast and Cloud antivirus softwares) __________________

Mar 30, 2011, 10:48 PM	#2
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,908 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: Cloud antivirus softwares and a new Avast I'm not sure how a cloud antivirus is supposed to work. To my understanding, in cloud computing, you're using a service and the processing is being done somewhere "out there". Obviously, though, you can't just send your whole hard drive over the Internet to be checked out so I'm guessing it's more like PC Cillin Housecall or something like that where antivirus software is loaded from the web on demand, but does all the work locally. That's only faster if the scanning algorithm itself is faster than on competing products, but I'd rather trust a well established name than some newcomer to the field promising some hocus pocus. EDIT: I'm using Avast 6 Free myself, so far so good. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Mar 31, 2011, 12:42 AM	#3
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 190 System Specs	Re: Cloud antivirus softwares and a new Avast The only issue I have with Avast right now is their required installation of the Avast gadget. It should be selectable. I hate that thing, and if you don't want it you first have to install Avast, then run the uninstaller, choose to do a custom uninstall, and unclick the gadget. They say you can just go into the Gadgets, and uninstall it from there, but I've noticed it comes back sometimes. It's a stupidly annoying gadget. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Mar 31, 2011, 12:57 AM	#4
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,908 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: Cloud antivirus softwares and a new Avast Thanks a lot, I never saw that thing until I read your post and then opened Windows Gadgets, at which point it magically appeared on my desktop for the first time ever. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Apr 1, 2011, 05:59 AM	#5
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 190 System Specs	Re: Cloud antivirus softwares and a new Avast Looks like I was wrong about the gadget. Or at least wrong as of now as I could swear they didn't allow this before. You can, during installation, uncheck that gadget if you do a custom installation. Thank God. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Apr 2, 2011, 01:24 PM	#6
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,487 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Re: Cloud antivirus softwares and a new Avast Yeah they got some user response on their forum about that, and listened. I've been using Avast Antivirus Pro for a year and been happy with performance and protection. Though I haven't installed all modules, like the web scan engine part since I don't feel I need it in comparison to any risk of slowing down the web. Known malicious websites are blocked anyway through the networking protection module. The latest interface is certainly very practical.