Advice Request How good is Avira now?

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hjlbx

As a student+home user, is that good to having avira free or pro to running in my laptop alone?

Avira free is better than WIndows Defender.

Is it enough to protect your system ?

For high-risk computing - no; For conservative\safe computing habits - likely.
 
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Melisa

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Nov 1, 2015
13
Avira free is better than WIndows Defender.

Is it enough to protect your system ?

For high-risk computing - no; For conservative\safe computing habits - likely.

i dont know.....thats why i am here for help....
 
H

hjlbx

i dont know.....thats why i am here for help....

Sorry for not explaining more clearly @Melisa.

Avira free is good antivirus. Essentially it is only an antivirus scan engine. However, it is better at detection than Windows Defender. On W10 one might want to keep Windows Defender since Microsoft added malicious script protections - and Avira products have virtually none other than detection.

This all just means that Windows Defender on W10 will block execution of some malicious scripts (code) whereas Avira free will only block them if it detects the script via signature.

Any how, overall, I would say Avira is better than Windows Defender during typical computing. No security softs are perfect - some are really strong in some areas, and quite weak in others. That is just how it is...

I think what you are looking for is this general guide-line:

If you visit many unknown websites, download a lot of files, then it is likely Avira will eventually miss something and your system will be infected.

If you are relatively safe user, download few files, then Avira free will likely do a good job of protecting system.

If you do not know the difference between safe and risky computing, then you need something more capable and comprehensive than Avira free. Avast free or 360 Total Security Essentials (Qihoo - free also) will offer better protection if you are novice. I recommend only 360 Total Security Essentials - the version without System Speed Up and Cleaner. System Speed Up can mess up your system and you might not be able to reverse the changes it makes to your system; I really don't recommend that version... but the Essentials version is quite good and stable for novice.
 
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Chromatinfish 123

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May 26, 2014
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@Melisa pretty much what @hjlbx said was that Avira is better than the built-in Windows Defender, but something more capable than Avira free might be needed if you don't know the difference between safe and risky computing.

I agree, but I would say that you can't really do wrong with Avira or Avast Free unless you visit shady websites or download torrented stuff. When on a test testing Avast, I downloaded a random AVG "Keygen" that I knew was malware and tried cleaning it up. It didn't work so I did Avast Boot Mode which did take a night but did remove the malware (don't worry this was all on a VM and even that was on a trashy old desktop). Therefore, I'll go ahead and say that Avast and Avira will work just fine on any system.

You should be told that some things might be missing from free avs vs paid ones (in your case Avira Pro). According to the website, Avira Pro has some features like tackling malware in the cloud, auto-scanning of email attachments, and support included.
 
H

hjlbx

@Melisa pretty much what @hjlbx said was that Avira is better than the built-in Windows Defender, but something more capable than Avira free might be needed if you don't know the difference between safe and risky computing.

I agree, but I would say that you can't really do wrong with Avira or Avast Free unless you visit shady websites or download torrented stuff. When on a test testing Avast, I downloaded a random AVG "Keygen" that I knew was malware and tried cleaning it up. It didn't work so I did Avast Boot Mode which did take a night but did remove the malware (don't worry this was all on a VM and even that was on a trashy old desktop). Therefore, I'll go ahead and say that Avast and Avira will work just fine on any system.

You should be told that some things might be missing from free avs vs paid ones (in your case Avira Pro). According to the website, Avira Pro has some features like tackling malware in the cloud, auto-scanning of email attachments, and support included.

@Chromatinfish 123

I get impression she is novice. Most of what we say she probably apt not to understand.
 
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Cats-4_Owners-2

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Dec 4, 2013
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As a student+home user, is that good to having avira free or pro to running in my laptop alone?
@Melisa, although it may seem like a lot of information is in the balance, both @hjlbx & @Chromatinfish 123 have summed up Avira being a worthy choice which is to say that you can feel confident it does what it's designed for, that is relying on traditional virus file updates.
Should it be enough running on your computer alone?o_O
No.
In fact, as has already been mentioned, it depends on ones exposure as well as online practices. In my humble opinion, you can never be too safe; though finding this out after the fact:confused: is never enjoyable.:(
In our home, one alternative we've added to traditional AV/Firewall protections is virtualization.
Simply worded: It's a reset button for when/if something goes awry.
A free program which protects you from Trojans & Cryto-locker infections (primarily during browsing) is called Sandboxie. Just think of it as wearing a raincoat:cool: that keeps you dry during a downpour.:rolleyes: Changes, and some you might not be aware of, are only kept as long as one is using the "sandbox". When it is closed (deleted) everything's reset, so changes you want (browser updates & themes) must be done without using the program.
Check out this thread that has lots of good tips including a video review for Sandboxie (on Jack's post).;)
It's safer to download programs directly from their developers' sites. Here's Sandboxie's:
PS If you are already decided upon using Avira, PM me if you need a Pro license.
 
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Kuttz

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May 9, 2015
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If you are looking for set it and forget approach, without needing to learn new techniques in malware protection I suggest you to go with NOD32 Anti Virus if paid is not an option for you then Avast Free (with PUP option enabled) works good for you. Also make it a habit to scan your computer for malware in every week or so.
 
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jamescv7

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Mar 15, 2011
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Avira is one of the common security products installed around the world so the performance as protection is still in wise but differ from many previous version where it increase and decrease from rate.

Way back here are some overview timeline for Avira's improvements *
  • Avira version 7-8 is classy on interface yet effective on performance, pure in signatures/heuristics. However the alerts will be annoying when removal feature is failed.
  • Avira version 9 incorporates ProAktiv (BB) but the effectiveness is poor yet rely on the signatures.
  • Between version 9 or 10, it incorporates the toolbar (Ask) for the Web Shield in free version + the unpractical removal procedure that conducts a scan every time.
  • Version 11 onwards, Cloud functionality is enabled.
* Actually those older version before are quite effective unlike now although the presence of being strong is still exist. For careful matter then Avira can provide at least more than 90% of protection.

Since you are a student user, you should aware that autorun viruses are sometimes bypass by majority vendors including Avira so recommen to have a tool like McShield and USB Protection Tool to turn off the autorun
 
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Melisa

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Nov 1, 2015
13
Thanks all of ya for spending time to explaining how those anti-virus works and protecting my computer. in few hours ago, i decided to get Avira Pro and malwarebytes anti-malware paid version to protect my computer(windows 7 64), are they good enough for me? btw, i installed free avira verison and malwarebytes anti-malware free version on my dad's computer, which is windows 8.1, are they good enough to protect my dad's computer?

sorry for asking too many questions.

@hjlbx @Chromatinfish 123 @Cats-4_Owners-2 @kuttan @jamescv7
 

jamescv7

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@Melisa: There's nothing wrong on that combination, just be cautious and as possible stay away from crack programs which are illegal and may bundled some malicious code that can infect instantly and bypass your security programs.
 
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Online_Sword

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If you want to use Avira, here are some tips that might be useful:
  • Please enable APC (Avira Protection Cloud). It can significantly increase the protection capability of Avira against zero-day threats. When APC was added to Avira, the rank of Avira in 3-rd party antivirus tests was improved a lot.
    • However, APC will not be triggered by file reading/writing or on-demand scanning. It will only be triggered by execution of unknown file, as well as re-scanning files in the quarantine.
    • So, if you think a file is suspicious, you can just add it to the quarantine and re-scan it there. In such case, that file will be checked by APC.
  • As mentioned by @aaa839 in wilderssecurity, the Proactive module of Avira has caused many problems to the users. But now you do not need to worry about it, because it has been removed from Avira permanently.
  • Some posts show that, sometimes the self-protection of avira will prevent malwarebytes antimalware (mbam) from deleting registry items. I guess those items might be essential for avira. So when you use mbam with avira, please do not disable the self-protection of avira (of course it has been enabled by default).
 

Rajat

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Oct 20, 2015
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It's one of the best in signatures. Add something like comodo firewall with it. As it doesn't have any firewall or Behavior Blocker Protection.
 
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Melisa

New Member
Thread author
Nov 1, 2015
13
It's one of the best in signatures. Add something like comodo firewall with it. As it doesn't have any firewall or Behavior Blocker Protection.

So i still need a comodo firewall, even i have avira pro(with windows firewall) and Malwarebytes anti-malware?
 

Melisa

New Member
Thread author
Nov 1, 2015
13
If you want to use Avira, here are some tips that might be useful:
  • Please enable APC (Avira Protection Cloud). It can significantly increase the protection capability of Avira against zero-day threats. When APC was added to Avira, the rank of Avira in 3-rd party antivirus tests was improved a lot.
    • However, APC will not be triggered by file reading/writing or on-demand scanning. It will only be triggered by execution of unknown file, as well as re-scanning files in the quarantine.
    • So, if you think a file is suspicious, you can just add it to the quarantine and re-scan it there. In such case, that file will be checked by APC.
  • As mentioned by @aaa839 in wilderssecurity, the Proactive module of Avira has caused many problems to the users. But now you do not need to worry about it, because it has been removed from Avira permanently.
  • Some posts show that, sometimes the self-protection of avira will prevent malwarebytes antimalware (mbam) from deleting registry items. I guess those items might be essential for avira. So when you use mbam with avira, please do not disable the self-protection of avira (of course it has been enabled by default).
  • So, if you think a file is suspicious, you can just add it to the quarantine and re-scan it there. In such case, that file will be checked by APC.
  • how do i know if the file is suspicious?
  • for example: if i download a file from email,which is sent from one of my friend, and it has virus with it,will avira find the virus and block it for me?
  • i am pretty sure APC is enabled by default.
 

Online_Sword

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i download a file from email,which is sent from one of my friend, and it has virus with it,will avira find the virus and block it for me?

Here I assume that you are using the Pro version with the Mail Protection module.

The mail protection module will be the first layer of protection against malwares in the attachment. It will scan the incoming network traffic corresponding to Emails. It will slow down your outlook to some extent, but it will not be a serious problem.

If that malicious letter bypasses the Mail Protection module, it will then be checked by the on-access detection module of Avira. This is the second layer of protection. The real-time monitoring module of Avira is very sensitive. It will use both signature database and the famous heuristic techniques of Avira (AHEAD) to detect the malwares.

If the first two layers are bypassed, and you double click the attachment to execute it, APC might be triggered if it considered the attachment suspicious. I don't know how Avira determine whether a file is suspicious or not...In my own tests, I have ever added many SUD malwares to the quarantine of Avira and re-scanned them, many of them could trigger APC.

When a suspicious file is identified as malware by APC, it will be blocked and quarantined / deleted.
 

Online_Sword

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So i still need a comodo firewall, even i have avira pro(with windows firewall) and Malwarebytes anti-malware?
I was using the combo "Avira Pro + Malwarebytes Free + Sandboxie Free" in the first two months this year. It protected me well. :)

Comodo is a good product, and "Avira + Comodo" is a famous combo in some forums in my country. We call it "Red Bean". :D
But, as mentioned by @hjlbx , combining comodo firewall with other antivirus can significantly slow down the start up of some computers...
I have such experience...
 
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D

Deleted member 2913

Suppose a file as per Avira is suspicious & will be uploaded to APC.
But suppose that file was run offline i.e internet disconnected & the file is still running in memory & you connect to net, will the file be uploaded to APC?
 
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Online_Sword

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the file is still running in memory & you connect to net, will the file be uploaded to APC
I should say I have not tested this.
But I have never heard that Avira has such ability, so, maybe it could not.
 
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