Avast database reducing

[amz]

After each update, number of virus definitions shown in avast is reducing. It never increases. Is this normal or any probs with avast update?

 

[viktik]

Total malwares is skyrocketing in recent years

New Malware is also increasing

So there is no reason that malware database should decrease.

 

[Deleted member 178]

it is normal, they fuse several different signatures that belong to the same malware family into one ; every vendors do that if not you will have dozen of billions of signatures.

 

[MalwareDetective]

I agree with Umbra. I'm a member in their forum and they are trying to focus on prevention and not on database (like norton did).
For example in AVAST 2014 they have Deep Screen that analyze some files before opening them

 

[amz]

When I installed avast it had about 244xxxxx definitions and now around 240xxxxx within a week.

 

[Ink]

They've been practising this for a few years now, and probably still are by the looks of it.
https://blog.avast.com/2010/09/06/spring-cleaning-in-our-virus-database/

Initially, each group began as small, as just one sample. As this grows, we deploy polymorphic detections which cover hundreds to thousands of previously machine generated detections.

Now it is time to clean up and reduce the number of unnecessary detections. The main reason for this is to decrease the size of our virus database updates sent to users around the globe. This will reduce the amount of transferred data, subsequently reducing the amount of needed energy and helping, of course, our forests.

 

[yigido]

More generic sigs maybe

 

[Deleted member 178]

More generic sigs maybe

not maybe but surely