new user's config

[Ink]

Thanks for the suggestions guys I'll go with Avast + Comodo but I'm having another security related issue...... Win7 SP1 won't install. The error code it gives me is common with people who dual boot Linux. I can't find a fix (one that works). Except for replacing the Windows boot-loader. So until I get SP1 I'll keep Mcafee. I'll try installing it now.

You could try removing your current McAfee security with MCPR.exe, then try to install SP1 for Windows 7.
Either using Windows Update (recommended) or Service Pack Center (manual download).

If you have further problems, visit our Troubleshooting Software/Hardware Issues for more help for installing SP1.

 

[Mark]

the Avast sandbox automatically sandbox unknown programs
or files that are downloaded.

Only if they are considered suspicious by avast!

 

[Ramblin]

the Avast sandbox automatically sandbox unknown programs
or files that are downloaded.

Only if they are considered suspicious by avast!

Hey Mark, to the Avast sandbox, anything that's unknown, it is suspicious.
Mark, remember, the Avast sandbox is in baby stage and its sandboxing
many programs that are good programs.
Some of this programs are being auto sandboxed only because they
are unknown to Avast. If this programs were harmful, Avast would have a
definition and would have the file or behavior shield detect them.
This is how I see it, I am not using Avast.

Bo

 

[new user]

Stromgtr, Win7 SP1 failure had to do with Linux and the boot loader. I was able to install using the standalone file from MS website.
I am now running Avast + Comdo

 

[jamescv7]

You can add EMET (Enhanced Mitigation Experienced Toolkit) pretty useful tool, protection against exploit for the application that are vulnerable.

 

[Deleted member 178]

I am now running Avast + Comdo

without the hips i suppose?

 

[new user]

I am now running Avast + Comdo

without the hips i suppose?

Of course. I despise HIPS.

 

[Deleted member 178]

do you use the Behavior Blocker of Avast?

 

[new user]

do you use the Behavior Blocker of Avast?

The only thing I changed with Avast is that I enabled PUP scanning and Increased Heuristics sensitivity. I also had it scan all packers.

 

[Ink]

I might be wrong, but the Behaviour Shield and Heuristics are used with the AutoSandbox in Avast 6 Free.

If you don't use a desktop-based email client, you don't necessarily need the Mail Shield. Same applies for P2P and IM Shield. However, it's up to you and others may recommend different opinions.

I may have missed this, but what are your primary purposes for using Windows?

 

[new user]

I might be wrong, but the Behaviour Shield and Heuristics are used with the AutoSandbox in Avast 6 Free.

If you don't use a desktop-based email client, you don't necessarily need the Mail Shield. Same applies for P2P and IM Shield. However, it's up to you and others may recommend different opinions.

I may have missed this, but what are your primary purposes for using Windows?

My Primary Reasons for Windows:
I do amateur C++ programming, so I need Windows to compile my programs to create a Windows version.
Microsoft Office
Games/Steam
If I Boot up Windows for either of these tasks, I usually do some light web browsing.

 

[jamescv7]

Well stormgtr your correct, Autosandbox from Avast was used by heuristics to detect an application that was unknown and needs to run in sandbox.

 

[Mark]

the Avast sandbox automatically sandbox unknown programs
or files that are downloaded.

Only if they are considered suspicious by avast!

Hey Mark, to the Avast sandbox, anything that's unknown, it is suspicious.
Mark, remember, the Avast sandbox is in baby stage and its sandboxing
many programs that are good programs.
Some of this programs are being auto sandboxed only because they
are unknown to Avast. If this programs were harmful, Avast would have a
definition and would have the file or behavior shield detect them.
This is how I see it, I am not using Avast.

Bo

Heuristics determine if a file is suspicious: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=72517.0

 

[Ramblin]

Mark, unknown programs are being sandboxed by the Avast sandbox.
Marfaw asked:
"Does Sandboxing an unknown (but harmless) program
affect its performance, or is it negligible or what happens?"

The answer by Tech:
"Well... it affects the program itself (what it can
do, etc.) but, performance is not that much affected."

So, the Avast sandbox is sandboxing unknown programs as well as...
suspicious programs. Is that fair? I never said that suspicious programs
are not sandboxed, I said unknown programs are being sandboxed
and indeed, they are being sandboxed.OK.

This quotes are on the second page of the link posted by you.
Bo

 

[Mark]

That is fair, considering all files are unkown to the avast! sandbox.

 

[Ramblin]

That is fair, considering all files are unkown to the avast! sandbox.

Personally, I think the AS is great, even if it sandboxes programs that
I know that are good programs. I don't use a real time AV but if I was
using Avast, I would use the sandbox. What I would do is, when I first
install Avast, I would set the sandbox to "ask"so i ll know the programs
in my PC that the AS likes to sandbox. Then I would exclude them all.
After a week or so, I ll have run all files on my PC and the AS will be
working perfectly, not asking to sandbox "clean programs" anymore.

I think that's an easy way to make the AS do what its supposed to do
and if I was not using SBIE and was using Avast, that's what I would do.

Are you using Avast? If so, are you using the sandbox? do you like it?

Sandboxing works, the Avast sandbox being strong its actually good,
in my opinion. I prefer the sandbox to be strong even if there are false
positives like the one shown in the picture by Marfaw. Dealing with
false positives as such its a lot easier than dealing with a bad infection.
Sandboxing is a great tool for prevention. People using Avast that are
not using the sandbox because it is asking to sandbox good, unknown
files, are missing the boat.

Bo