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Computer newbies: How can I test to see if my av program is working?
antivirus program
by pushkar - 6/3/05 5:34 AM In reply to: How can I test to see if my av program is working? by Alphalutra1I would say if you dont get any viruses your antvirus program is working
Only the pros need that...
by Willy - 6/3/05 5:56 AM In reply to: How can I test to see if my av program is working? by Alphalutra1I haven't to date ever seen or heard a test pgm. for any AV pgm.. There *maybe* something out there but for the typical user, it would be in practical terms, unwanted results. No telling what could happen plus it could get ugly fast.
In my experience the best test, is real life usage. Visit websites that in all likleyhood will try what they may to get something on you or are the vehicle for malware. You goto the "dark side" of the web 
. However, doesn't expect any one AV pgm. to be enough, I've found repeated instances where some malware gets through, but the effect is lessen or dampen abit but never-the-less a PITA for a time. Remember. all AV pgms. can protect against *known* attacks and possible known weakness, so always update the OS, the AV itself and use multiple scanners whether you use or online provided. Plus turn-OFF Active-X and Java process but allow the browser to ask for use and/or know where you're going, thus "trust the website" sort of thing.
good luck -----Willy 
Do NOT Follow that Recommendation
by Kinda Geeky - 6/3/05 8:39 AM In reply to: Only the pros need that... by WillyI strongly disagree with Willy's post and urge you to NOT visit the "dark side of the web" or try to get any malware installed on your machine just to see if your AV program is working. That's like shooting yourself to see if the gun is working.
The earlier recommendations for non-virus testing of your AV program are correct and will let you know if your AV program is working without exposing you to the actual chance of an infection.
If you keep the AV definition files up to date, keep the scanning programs for email, etc. active, and regularly scan your computer (weekly has always worked for me), you'll have a good line of defense in place. Additionally, if you can passoword-protect your AV program, I would recommend doing that. Some virus programs can disable AV programs, but usually not if the AV program is password protected.
Brent
The real world
by Willy - 6/5/05 4:35 PM In reply to: Do NOT Follow that Recommendation by Kinda GeekyYou can test all you want, but the real world is the "final test". One reason any fake or trial test can work is that the "known signature" is simply known. In no way is that a real test other than to say, its works for that, gee wasn't it suppose to. The real world provides what is "unknown" but many fall even in the simplest protection phase, they're too trusting. Yes, there can be hardship but at least go into it with some protection and forethough and try to be ready. One reason, I say only the pros should worry about such things and then pass on the info as updates and possible removal tools.
enjoy -----Willy
How can I test if my a/v is working ?
by tigger2000 - 6/3/05 10:25 AM In reply to: How can I test to see if my av program is working? by Alphalutra1The best way without a doubt is to go to www.symantec.com and run their 'security scan'. If your pc is vunerable this scan will tell you what the issues are. Dont forget that a firewall is an essential part of your pc security too if you want a free firewall I suggest that you check out www.zonelabs.com. You can download their personal firewall for free. Peter (UK)
(NT) ...the same way you test the airbags on your car...
by jstropp - 6/3/05 11:13 AM In reply to: How can I test to see if my av program is working? by Alphalutra1AVG working too well.
by DCLord - 6/3/05 7:21 PM In reply to: How can I test to see if my av program is working? by Alphalutra1I also am using the Free AVG av program. I do like that it does an update as soon as I turn the computer on. (I presume that Norton antivirus and Microsoft AntiSpyWare is also active, but not 'boasting' about it).
My problem with AVG is that is has stopped letting me retrieve my e-mail (Mozilla Thunderbird) nor does Thunderbird tell me I have new mail (I do get a few daily via subscriptions). AVG puts up a banner "AVG e-mail scanner / AutoPOP3: connecting to mail.flintrockstables.com" (the .com was different yesterday). Since this is a FREE program there does not seem to be any tech support available. I have been getting my e-mail through my DSL ISP (using Mozilla Foxfire). I do not think it is related, but this started after I was off line for about 12 days for vacation and had about 45 messages in queue. Any suggestions on how to let AVG let me to retrieve my e-mails via my e-mail account.
DC, You Have Norton AND AVG Running?
by Grif Thomas
- 6/3/05 7:42 PM
In reply to: AVG working too well. by DCLord
If that is the case, then I suggest you uninstall one or the other. Conflicts, especially with Norton Antivirus can easily cause the issue you are seeing..Norton's installation instructions request that ALL other antivirus programs be removed before installation of NAV.
Hope this helps.
Grif
(NT) 2 AV programs okay?
by seagullplyr - 6/4/05 2:27 PM In reply to: How can I test to see if my av program is working? by Alphalutra1I've read that if you run more than one AV program, one compromises the other. Is this like oil and water??(I use McAfee with updates automatic. Comes w/MSN Plus browser).
McAfee Instructions Say...
by Grif Thomas - 6/4/05 3:37 PM
In reply to: (NT) 2 AV programs okay? by seagullplyr
...to uninstall all other antivirus programs before installing McAfee Virus Scan..In fact, the recent versions of McAfee won't install correctly if another version is running on the machine.
That said, some users successfully have two different antivirus programs installed at the same time, BUT it's best if they aren't ''running'' at the same time. One version is better left for use as a stand-alone scanner. If they're both running, then yes, there are normally problems with conflicts..
My recommendation is to install a single, effective ''on board'' antivirus program and occasionally use the various ONLINE scanners as a ''second opinion''. Here are just a few of the excellent, FREE, online scanners:
Symantec Online Virus Scanner
Housecall Online Scanner
Panda Online Scanner
McAfee Online Scanner
Hope this helps.
Grif
AVG doesn't like Thunderbird
by zeterian - 6/4/05 8:25 PM In reply to: McAfee Instructions Say... by Grif Thomas
I knew you weren't supposed to have 2 AV programs running at the same time so I disabled the norton AV scanner when I installed PCcillin. Norton had let in a disabling worm that took over my modem & wanted $$$ to help me get rid of it. Trendmicro phone support sent me a cleaner by email that I ran in safe mode that eliminated it, & I wasn't even a customer at the time!!! I did purchase their suite right after, and have had no problems since.
I saw good reviews of AVG here & decided to try it. I thought I'd try it at first with both it & PCcillin running at the same time. I had AVG running with PCcillin with no problems for weeks. The AVG scanner would pop up immediately upon querying the hosts, whereas TrendMicro wouldn't scan until the emails were actually being logged. It seemed they were staying out of each others way.
Then a 2weeks or so?? ago Thunderbird wouldn't access either of my email accounts, similiar to what DCLord posted. I should add that this happened immediately after a VERY long update that morning, possibly that was the new version being downloaded. I don't have much patience with being delayed so after some reflection of the possible causes I decided that the AVG scanner was blocking the mail. (Their bubble popped up TM's didn't). Since they don't have the ability to disable their email scanner I uninstalled the program, which fixed the problem.
Curiously I got an email the next day from abuse@safepages.com, which I thought was an AVG spam filter, saying they had added gigabyte.com.tw to their whitelist. I never configured spam filters so it was an unusual email. My delayed email from gigabyte arrived right after it. I was starting to think that a conflict with the gigabyte email caused the problem till I saw DCLord had the same problem with Thunderbird & AVG. I'm now tending to believe it's a tbird AVG conflict.
I liked the idea of having 2 scanners. I checked the email test center E. O'Daniel provided:
http://www.webmail.us/testvirus
and sent all 26 email tests to me. TM blocked 18, quarantined 1, but allowed 7, which got me worried. TM updates once a day or more. I'm thinking of trying Avast with TMicro. I'm probably worried about nothing, but I'm wondering if anyone else is using 2 scanners at the same time, or had problems with Tbird & AVG.
Thanks
Z
(NT) not my experience
by brewdog - 6/9/05 9:53 AM In reply to: AVG doesn't like Thunderbird by zeterianI've been using AVG and Thunderbird with no problem for several months.
Testing your anti virus program
by sbarrie - 6/6/05 12:06 AM In reply to: How can I test to see if my av program is working? by Alphalutra1As AVG is a tad limited in it's functionality, you may want to try the test file on here, which I know works:
http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm
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