Caution re Avast antivirus

This was user error (my error), but I'm posting just in case others
might have made the same mistake.

I noticed a few days ago that my virus definitions were a week old.
There was no problem connecting to the site; I could do a manual
update without problem. But I had "Automatic update" selected, and
that wasn't happening.

The problem was in the "Update parameters" section of Settings »
Updates. There are two check boxes, "I only connect to the Internet
using a dial up [sic] modem." and "My computer is permanently
connected to the Internet." Well, neither of those is true: I have
broadband not dial-up, but I disconnect it when I'm not using it.

So I checked "dial up" because I thought Avast would check for
updates when I connected. WRONG! The correct setting is to check
neither of those boxes. After I unchecked both of them, Avast now
updates automatically a couple of times a day, as desired.

As I say, this was user error. But if you have Avast, you might
check that your updates are happening automatically, and if they're
not then that section of the settings may be the problem.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Shikata ga nai...

On Sat, 25 Dec 2010 18:08:33 -0500, Stan Brown
wrote:

The problem was in the "Update parameters" section of Settings »
Updates. There are two check boxes, "I only connect to the Internet
using a dial up [sic] modem." and "My computer is permanently
connected to the Internet." Well, neither of those is true: I have
broadband not dial-up, but I disconnect it when I'm not using it.

The best thing about an always-on connection is that it's always on.

--

Char Jackson

On Sat, 25 Dec 2010 18:28:02 -0600, Char Jackson wrote:

On Sat, 25 Dec 2010 18:08:33 -0500, Stan Brown
wrote:

The problem was in the "Update parameters" section of Settings »
Updates. There are two check boxes, "I only connect to the Internet
using a dial up [sic] modem." and "My computer is permanently
connected to the Internet." Well, neither of those is true: I have
broadband not dial-up, but I disconnect it when I'm not using it.

The best thing about an always-on connection is that it's always on.

Okay, help me out here. Why is that a good thing? I'm not being
belligerent; I truly don't understand why an always connection is
better than one you establish when you want it and disconnect when
you've finished.

Mind you, we're not taking about anything very onerous: it's just a
two-key combination to turn my computer's wireless on and off.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Shikata ga nai...

On Sat, 25 Dec 2010 21:21:59 -0500, Stan Brown
wrote:

On Sat, 25 Dec 2010 18:28:02 -0600, Char Jackson wrote:

On Sat, 25 Dec 2010 18:08:33 -0500, Stan Brown
wrote:

The problem was in the "Update parameters" section of Settings »
Updates. There are two check boxes, "I only connect to the Internet
using a dial up [sic] modem." and "My computer is permanently
connected to the Internet." Well, neither of those is true: I have
broadband not dial-up, but I disconnect it when I'm not using it.

The best thing about an always-on connection is that it's always on.

Okay, help me out here. Why is that a good thing? I'm not being
belligerent; I truly don't understand why an always connection is
better than one you establish when you want it and disconnect when
you've finished.

Mind you, we're not taking about anything very onerous: it's just a
two-key combination to turn my computer's wireless on and off.

I have things scheduled to take place when I'm not physically in front
of my computer that require a network connection. Those things would
fail if the connection wasn't available and would have to be
rescheduled for when I'm trying to get something done.

The more selfish reason is that I've been completely spoiled since I
moved from dial-up to cable in late 1996 or early 1997. Disabling a
connection is a step backwards for me, which is not the direction I
wish to go.

Even if restoring a connection takes only 10 seconds, it's time
wasted. Presumably, when I sit down at the computer, it's because I'm
ready to do something, so I expect my computer to be ready, as well.
With that in mind, when I walk away I don't turn it off, I don't
disable its network connection, I don't close any programs or windows,
etc. When I come back, it's just how I left it, ready to go.

--

Char Jackson

"Char Jackson" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 26 Dec 2010 11:44:33 -0800, "Alex Clayton"

That seems like a valid concern to me. If an unknown person has gone
to the trouble of defeating your wireless security, it's not a big
stretch to assume they have some bad behavior in mind.

--

Char Jackson

As time has gone on I have gotten less and less "worried" about it. I guess
if it ever happens they would look over our computers and be able to tell it
was not us. The password is just a random bunch of letters and numbers I
made up when I first set it. I have to keep it written down as I can in no
way remember it when I get a new computer. I can't even remember now which
kind it was, I know when I did it I could not get on the net without calling
the tech support to do it again with me. G
I figure when it finally wears out I will buy a new one which will of
course have the newest security, which I am sure I will be told most kids in
Jr High can get past. G
--
Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer.
Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does
not go nearly as well with pizza.
--Dave Barry

On 26/12/2010 11:19 PM, Alex Clayton wrote:
"Char Jackson" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 26 Dec 2010 11:44:33 -0800, "Alex Clayton"

That seems like a valid concern to me. If an unknown person has gone
to the trouble of defeating your wireless security, it's not a big
stretch to assume they have some bad behavior in mind.

--

Char Jackson

As time has gone on I have gotten less and less "worried" about it. I
guess if it ever happens they would look over our computers and be able
to tell it was not us. The password is just a random bunch of letters
and numbers I made up when I first set it. I have to keep it written
down as I can in no way remember it when I get a new computer. I can't
even remember now which kind it was, I know when I did it I could not
get on the net without calling the tech support to do it again with me. G
I figure when it finally wears out I will buy a new one which will of
course have the newest security, which I am sure I will be told most
kids in Jr High can get past. G

All a hacker requires is a laptop computer and widely available software
to steal access to emails, social networks, and online banking sites and
even to assume the online identity of victims. Individuals should think
very carefully about network security and what information they provide
when going online because hackers are able to breach a typical password
in seconds. Security won't stop criminal gangs but it will stop your
average geek down the road.

..

On 12/26/2010 7:21 PM, Boscoe wrote:
in seconds. Security won't stop criminal gangs but it will stop your
average geek down the road.

.

Most people won't have to worry about either one, if they have to worry
at all.

"Stan Brown" wrote in message
t...

This was user error (my error), but I'm posting just in case others
might have made the same mistake.

I liked Avast until last year when after one automatic update it promptly
started seeing malware all over the place. I did some research, but not
enough, and then most unwisely allowed Avast to fix the problems it was
seeing. Well it turned out the update had a bug which was causing Avast to
report false positives, and letting it run amok with a meat cleaver was a
big mistake. Anyway, I no longer use Avast, it was a bruising experience
even if it was partly due to my own foolishness.

DGDevin wrote:

"Stan Brown" wrote in message
t...

This was user error (my error), but I'm posting just in case others
might have made the same mistake.

I liked Avast until last year when after one automatic update it promptly
started seeing malware all over the place. I did some research, but not
enough, and then most unwisely allowed Avast to fix the problems it was
seeing. Well it turned out the update had a bug which was causing Avast to
report false positives, and letting it run amok with a meat cleaver was a
big mistake. Anyway, I no longer use Avast, it was a bruising experience
even if it was partly due to my own foolishness.

There had to be more to it than that, of course, as we all had the same
updates, and I haven't heard of it happening to anyone else - it certainly
didn't here.
--
Regards, Bob

It's not the pace of life that concerns me, it's the sudden stop at the
end.

On Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:47:14 +0000, Bob Henson
wrote:

DGDevin wrote:

"Stan Brown" wrote in message
t...

This was user error (my error), but I'm posting just in case others
might have made the same mistake.

I liked Avast until last year when after one automatic update it promptly
started seeing malware all over the place. I did some research, but not
enough, and then most unwisely allowed Avast to fix the problems it was
seeing. Well it turned out the update had a bug which was causing Avast to
report false positives, and letting it run amok with a meat cleaver was a
big mistake. Anyway, I no longer use Avast, it was a bruising experience
even if it was partly due to my own foolishness.

There had to be more to it than that, of course, as we all had the same
updates, and I haven't heard of it happening to anyone else - it certainly
didn't here.


Same here. Three of my five machines run Avast, and neither had that
problem.

On Tue, 28 Dec 2010 08:00:33 -0700, Ken Blake
wrote:

On Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:47:14 +0000, Bob Henson
wrote:

DGDevin wrote:

I liked Avast until last year when after one automatic update it promptly
started seeing malware all over the place. I did some research, but not
enough, and then most unwisely allowed Avast to fix the problems it was
seeing. Well it turned out the update had a bug which was causing Avast to
report false positives, and letting it run amok with a meat cleaver was a
big mistake. Anyway, I no longer use Avast, it was a bruising experience
even if it was partly due to my own foolishness.

There had to be more to it than that, of course, as we all had the same
updates, and I haven't heard of it happening to anyone else - it certainly
didn't here.


Same here. Three of my five machines run Avast, and neither had that
problem.

Yes, but it made a great Usenet anecdote. ;-)

--

Char Jackson

On 12/27/2010 1:51 PM, Alex Clayton wrote:
So if someone hacks into my computer I could really care less. I don't
have any national secrets on there. As I said when the wireless router
finally wears out I will go out and buy another one that will no doubt
have the latest and greatest security, which many "experts" will tell me
is easy to get past.
I just don't care enough to lose sleep over it.

Best way to go about it. For the most part, hackers have no interest in
your computer. They are interested in bank computers, online stores, and
other such businesses where they can get personal information, credit
card numbers and such.

On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:55:58 -0600, milt
wrote:

On 12/27/2010 1:51 PM, Alex Clayton wrote:
So if someone hacks into my computer I could really care less. I don't
have any national secrets on there. As I said when the wireless router
finally wears out I will go out and buy another one that will no doubt
have the latest and greatest security, which many "experts" will tell me
is easy to get past.
I just don't care enough to lose sleep over it.

Best way to go about it. For the most part, hackers have no interest in
your computer. They are interested in bank computers, online stores, and
other such businesses where they can get personal information, credit
card numbers and such.

I look forward to a time when ISPs proactively scan and test each of
their customers' computers in real time and instantly cut their net
access when malware infection and/or hacking is discovered. The two
attitudes expressed above are part of the reason why hundreds of
millions of personal computers are sitting there, waiting for
instructions from a kid in an IRC channel somewhere to participate in
a DDOS attack or spam relay or whatever. Some people don't seem to
realize that it's the computer itself, along with it's Internet
access, that some of the bad guys are after.

--

Char Jackson

"Alex Clayton" wrote:

So if someone hacks into my computer I could really care less.

I care a whole bunch, what if someone hacks into my financial
information and logs on to my utility account and gasp! PAYS MY BILL?

I have to agree with you, there's a hint of paranoia about computer
security from people who will dine in a restaurant and give the waiter
their credit card and cheerfully watch him disappear with it......

--
XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project:
http://twovoyagers.com/improve-usenet.org/

Char Jackson wrote:

The two attitudes expressed above

Make that three attitudes.

hundreds of millions of personal computers are sitting there,
waiting for instructions from a kid in an IRC channel somewhere to
participate in a DDOS attack or spam relay or whatever. Some
people don't seem to realize that it's the computer itself, along
with it's Internet access, that some of the bad guys are after.

Almost any AV will protect against that as will regular scans with some
malware detector however the main defense against such is an educated
user and that's just not going to happen.

--
XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project:
http://twovoyagers.com/improve-usenet.org/