7/30/08

Testing the New Malware Removal


Once I launched avast! it began detecting malicious software in memory: I heard its siren and audible warning over and over again. In all but one test system it asked to run a boot-time scan. After the boot-time scan completed and Windows restarted, a couple of the systems requested another boot-time scan because they detected threats still running in memory. What the heck—I allowed it.

But on one system, avast! remained locked in combat with a particular sample, never actually able to remove it or even stop it from running. After four boot-time scans I had to admit that it wasn't going to get any better. I hadn't tested avast! against my malware collection before, because previous versions promised only to remove viruses. For this inaugural test run, I started by installing the app on a number of test systems infested with malware samples, including adware, spyware, worms, Trojan horses, rootkits, and rogue antispyware products. One of my samples tried to interfere with installation of security software, but avast! installed without any trouble. I hadn't tested avast! against my malware collection before, because previous versions promised only to remove viruses. For this inaugural test run, I started by installing the app on a number of test systems infested with malware samples, including adware, spyware, worms, Trojan horses, rootkits, and rogue antispyware products.
avast! antivirus 4.8 Home Edition I frequently see problems with system stability when a security product's installation requires a reboot. If a preinstall scan or real-time scanner deletes part but not all of a seriously entrenched malware program, the system may blue-screen on reboot or simply hang. While avast! does need to reboot to complete its installation, it caused no such problems. It did offer to run a boot-time scan during this initial reboot. To get a clearer view of the program's operation, I declined that offer. I frequently see problems with system stability when a security product's installation requires a reboot. If a preinstall scan or real-time scanner deletes part but not all of a seriously entrenched malware program, the system may blue-screen on reboot or simply hang.
While avast! does need to reboot to complete its installation, it caused no such problems. It did offer to run a boot-time scan during this initial reboot. To get a clearer view of the program's operation, I declined that offer. I frequently see problems with system stability when a security product's installation requires a reboot. If a preinstall scan or real-time scanner deletes part but not all of a seriously entrenched malware program, the system may blue-screen on reboot or simply hang. While avast! does need to reboot to complete its installation, it caused no such problems. It did offer to run a boot-time scan during this initial reboot. To get a clearer view of the program's operation, I declined that offer. Testing the New Malware Removal
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