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    Avira free - Does it scan USB and external drives before windows checks files?

    Discussion in 'Security and Anti-Virus Software' started by passive101, Oct 29, 2009.

  1. passive101

    passive101 Notebook Deity

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    I have the free version of Avira anti-virus. When I hook in a USB or external HDD windows checks the files that are on it. Can my system be infected by this and does Avira check these things first to make sure a virus isn't run? Or am I safe as long as I don't run any of the files unless I virus scan them first?
     
    passive101, Oct 29, 2009
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  2. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    Checking the files is not the same as running them... Just make sure AutoPlay isn't set to run any programs automatically. Exactly how you do this depends on which Windows you have... in Vista it's Control Panel > Hardware & Sound > AutoPlay. If you're extra paranoid, then you can turn off AutoPlay entirely.

    As for exactly what Avira checks, and when it does that... I'm not sure.
     
    swarmer, Oct 29, 2009
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  3. arjunned

    arjunned Notebook Deity

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    If anything tries to run via a USB drive, Avira's real-time guard should scan the program trying to run, for malware. For this make sure 'Scan While Reading And Writing' is checked in the Avira Options.
    But just to be on the safer side, always scan a drive before opening it.
     
    arjunned, Oct 30, 2009
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  4. passive101

    passive101 Notebook Deity

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    Cool thanks for the info. I have that option checked and feel a better now as I'm helping someone get their files backed with their drive in in a cradle right now.
     
    passive101, Oct 30, 2009
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  5. arjunned

    arjunned Notebook Deity

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    No problem. :)
    Cheers.
     
    arjunned, Oct 30, 2009
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  6. KonstantinDK

    KonstantinDK Notebook Evangelist

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    Mmm... What about Avast?
     
    KonstantinDK, Oct 31, 2009
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  7. arjunned

    arjunned Notebook Deity

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    I'm pretty sure its the same for all AV. In Avast!, i dont think there's an option for scanning while reading and writing or reading only (or is there? i cant recall. can some one confirm this?). But it should scan anything that tries to run from the usb drive.
     
    arjunned, Oct 31, 2009
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  8. Kuzuryuusen

    Kuzuryuusen Notebook Enthusiast

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    No problem, AVIRA will do its job before anything else.
    I suggest turn off the "Shell Hardware Detection" service to stop Windows checking any external drives when they are inserted.
     
    Kuzuryuusen, Oct 31, 2009
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  9. mujtaba

    mujtaba ZzzZzz Super Moderator

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    There have been times that Avira has failed to detect a USB drive malware.
    The best solution is to disable Autorun, even Microsoft has been planning/has to release programs that disable autorun for the very same reason.
     
    mujtaba, Oct 31, 2009
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