AVIRA Free Antivirus User Guide

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Avira Free Antivirus

User Manual

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Introduction

Trademarks and Copyright

Trademarks

Windows is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Protected trademarks are not marked as such in this manual. This does not mean, however, that they may be used freely.

Code provided by third party providers was used for Avira Free Antivirus. We thank the copyright owners for making the code available to us. For detailed information on copyright, please refer to "Third Party Licenses" in the Program Help of Avira Free Antivirus.

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Introduction

Table of Contents

1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 6

1.1 Icons and emphases ....................................................................................................... 6

2. Product information ....................................................................................... 8

2.1 Delivery scope ................................................................................................................. 8

2.2 System requirements ....................................................................................................... 9

2.3 Licensing and Upgrade .................................................................................................. 10

3. Installation and uninstallation ..................................................................... 12

3.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................ 12

3.1.1 Installation types ............................................................................................................. 12

3.2 Pre-Setup ...................................................................................................................... 12

3.3 Express installation ........................................................................................................ 14

3.4 Custom Installation ........................................................................................................ 16

3.5 Configuration Wizard ..................................................................................................... 17

3.6 Change installation ........................................................................................................ 18

3.7 Installation modules ....................................................................................................... 19

3.8 Uninstallation ................................................................................................................. 20

4. Overview of Avira Free Antivirus ................................................................ 21

4.1 User interface and operation ......................................................................................... 21

4.1.1 Control Center ................................................................................................................. 21

4.1.2 Starting and closing of Control Center ............................................................................. 22

4.1.3 Operate Control Center ................................................................................................... 23

4.1.4 Control Center overview ................................................................................................ .. 23

4.1.5 Configuration ................................................................................................................... 24

4.1.6 Accessing the Configuration ............................................................................................ 25

4.1.7 Configuration operation ................................................................................................... 26

4.1.8 Tray icon ......................................................................................................................... 27

4.1.9 Entries in the context menu ............................................................................................. 28

4.2 Toolbar ........................................................................................................................... 28

4.2.1 Overview ......................................................................................................................... 28

4.2.2 Use ................................................................................................................................. 29

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Introduction

4.2.3 Options ............................................................................................................................ 31

4.2.4 Uninstallation ................................................................................................................... 35

4.2.5 Uninstallation as add-on ................................................................ .................................. 35

4.3 How to...? ...................................................................................................................... 36

4.3.1 Overview ......................................................................................................................... 36

4.3.2 Perform automatic updates ............................................................................................. 36

4.3.3 Start a manual update ..................................................................................................... 38

4.3.4 Using a scan profiles to scan for viruses and malware .................................................... 38

4.3.5 Scan for viruses and malware using drag & drop ............................................................ 39

4.3.6 Scan for viruses and malware via the context menu ................................ ........................ 40

4.3.7 Automatically scan for viruses and malware .................................................................... 40

4.3.8 Targeted scan for Rootkits and active malware ............................................................... 41

4.3.9 React to detected viruses and malware ........................................................................... 42

4.3.10 Handling quarantined files (*.qua) ................................................................................... 45

4.3.11 Restore the files in quarantine ......................................................................................... 46

4.3.12 Move suspicious files to quarantine ................................................................................. 48

4.3.13 Scan profile: Amend or delete file type in a scan profile .................................................. 48

4.3.14 Create desktop shortcut for scan profile .......................................................................... 49

4.3.15 Filter events..................................................................................................................... 49

5. System Scanner ........................................................................................... 51

6. Updates ................................................................................................ ......... 52

7. FAQ, Tips ...................................................................................................... 54

7.1 Help in case of a problem .............................................................................................. 54

7.2 Shortcuts ....................................................................................................................... 56

7.2.1 In dialog boxes ................................................................................................................ 57

7.2.2 In the help ....................................................................................................................... 58

7.2.3 In the Control Center ....................................................................................................... 58

7.3 Windows Security Center .............................................................................................. 61

7.3.1 General ........................................................................................................................... 61

7.3.2 The Windows Security Center and your Avira product ..................................................... 61

7.4 Windows Action Center.................................................................................................. 64

7.4.1 General ........................................................................................................................... 64

7.4.2 The Windows Action Center and your Avira product ........................................................ 64

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8. Viruses and more ......................................................................................... 68

8.1 Threat categories ........................................................................................................... 68

8.2 Viruses and other malware ............................................................................................ 71

9. Info and Service ........................................................................................... 75

9.1 Contact address ............................................................................................................ 75

9.2 Technical support ........................................................................................................... 75

9.3 Suspicious file ................................................................................................................ 75

9.4 Reporting false positives................................................................................................ 76

10. Reference: Configuration options .............................................................. 77

10.1 System Scanner ............................................................................................................ 77

10.1.1 Scan ................................................................................................................................ 77

10.1.2 Report ............................................................................................................................. 86

10.2 Realtime Protection ....................................................................................................... 87

10.2.1 Scan ................................................................................................................................ 87

10.2.2 Report ............................................................................................................................. 93

10.3 Update ........................................................................................................................... 94

10.3.1 Product update ................................................................................................................ 94

10.3.2 Restart settings ............................................................................................................... 96

10.3.3 Web server ...................................................................................................................... 97

10.4 Web Protection .............................................................................................................. 99

10.4.1 Scan ................................................................................................................................ 99

10.4.2 Report ........................................................................................................................... 106

10.5 General ........................................................................................................................ 107

10.5.1 Threat categories .......................................................................................................... 109

10.5.2 Security ......................................................................................................................... 109

10.5.3 WMI .............................................................................................................................. 111

10.5.4 Events ........................................................................................................................... 112

10.5.5 Reports ......................................................................................................................... 112

10.5.6 Directories ..................................................................................................................... 113

10.5.7 Acoustic alerts ............................................................................................................... 113

10.5.8 Alerts ............................................................................................................................. 114

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Introduction

Icon /

designation

Explanation

Placed before a condition which must be fulfilled prior to execution of an action.

Placed before an action step that you perform.

Placed before an event that follows the previous action.

Warning

Placed before a warning when critical data loss might occur.

1. Introduction

Your Avira product protects your computer against viruses, worms, Trojans, adware and spyware and other risks. In this manual these are referred to as viruses or malware (harmful software) and unwanted programs.

The manual describes the program installation and operation. For further options and information, please visit our website:

http://www.avira.com/free-av

The Avira website lets you:

 access information on other Avira desktop programs  download the latest Avira desktop programs  download the latest product manuals in PDF format  download free support and repair tools  access our comprehensive knowledge database and FAQs for troubleshooting  access country-specific support addresses.

Your Avira Team

1.1 Icons and emphases

The following icons are used:

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Introduction

Note

Placed before a link to particularly important information or a tip which makes your Avira product easier to use.

Emphasis

Explanation

Italics

File name or path data.

Displayed software interface elements (e.g. window section or error message).

Bold

Clickable software interface elements (e.g. menu item, navigation area, option box or button).

The following emphases are used:

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Product information

2. Product information

This chapter contains all information relevant to the purchase and use of your Avira product:

 see Chapter: Delivery scope  see Chapter: System requirements  see Chapter: Licensing and Upgrade

Avira products are comprehensive and flexible tools you can rely on to protect your computer from viruses, malware, unwanted programs and other dangers.

Please note the following information:

Note

Loss of valuable data usually has dramatic consequences. Even the best virus protection program cannot provide one hundred percent protection from data loss. Make regular copies (Backups) of your data for security purposes.

Note

A program can only provide reliable and effective protection from viruses, malware, unwanted programs and other dangers if it is up-to-date. Make sure your Avira product is up-to-date with automatic updates. Configure the program accordingly.

2.1 Delivery scope

Your Avira product has the following functions:

 Control Center for monitoring, managing and controlling the entire program  Central configuration with user-friendly standard and advanced options and context-

sensitive help

 System Scanner (on-demand scan) with profile-controlled and configurable scan for all

known types of virus and malware

 Integration into the Windows Vista User Account Control allows you to carry out tasks

requiring administrator rights.

 Realtime Protection (on-access scan) for continuous monitoring of all file access

attempts

 Avira SearchFree, a search toolbar integrated in the web browser providing quick and

convenient search options. It also includes widgets of the most common Internet functions.

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Product information

 Web Protection (for Avira Free Antivirus users, only in combination with the Avira

SearchFree Toolbar) for monitoring data and files transferred from the Internet using the HTTP protocol (monitoring of ports 80, 8080, 3128)

 Integrated quarantine management to isolate and process suspicious files  Rootkits protection for detecting hidden malware installed in your computer system

(rootkits) (Not available under Windows XP 64 bit)

 Direct access to detailed information on the detected viruses and malware via the

Internet

 Simple and quick updates to the program, virus definitions, and search engine through

Single File Update and incremental VDF updates via a web server on the Internet

 Integrated Scheduler for planning one-off or recurring jobs such as updates or scans  Extremely high virus and malware detection via innovative scanning technology (scan

engine) including heuristic scanning method

 Detection of all conventional archive types including detection of nested archives and

smart extension detection

 High-performance multithreading function (simultaneous high-speed scanning of

multiple files)

2.2 System requirements

The system requirements are as follows:

 Computer Pentium or later, at least 1 GHz  Operating system

 Windows XP, newest SP (32 or 64 bit) or  Windows Vista, newest SP (32 or 64 bit) or  Windows 7, newest SP (32 or 64 bit)

 At least 150 MB of free hard disk memory space (more if using quarantine for temporary

storage)

 At least 512 MB RAM under Windows XP  At least 1024 MB RAM under Windows Vista, Windows 7  For the program installation: Administrator rights  For all installations: Windows Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher  Internet connection where appropriate (see Installation)

Avira SearchFree Toolbar

 Operating system

 Windows XP, newest SP (32 or 64 bit) or

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Product information

 Windows Vista, newest SP (32 or 64 bit)  Windows 7, newest SP (32 or 64 bit)

 Web browser

 Windows Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, or  Mozilla Firefox 3.0 or higher  Google Chrome 18.0 or higher

Note

If necessary, please uninstall any previously installed search toolbars before you install the Avira SearchFree Toolbar. Otherwise you will not be able to install the Avira SearchFree Toolbar.

Information for Windows Vista users

On Windows XP, many users work with administrator rights. However, this is not desirable from the point of view of security because it is then easy for viruses and unwanted programs to infiltrate computers.

For this reason, Microsoft is introducing the "User Account Control" with Windows Vista. This offers more protection for users who are logged in as administrators: thus in Windows Vista, one administrator only has the privileges of a normal user at first. Actions for which administrator rights are required are clearly marked in Windows Vista with an information icon. In addition, the user must explicitly confirm the required action. Privileges are only increased and the administrative task performed by the operating system after this permission has been obtained.

The Avira product requires administrator rights for some actions in Windows Vista. These actions are marked with the following symbol: . If this symbol also appears on a button, administrator rights are required to carry out this action. If your current user account does not have administrator rights, the Windows Vista dialog of the User Account Control asks you to enter the administrator password. If you do not have an administrator password, you cannot carry out this action.

2.3 Licensing and Upgrade

In order to be able to use your Avira product, you require a license. You thereby accept the license terms.

The license is issued via a digital license code in the form of the file hbedv.key. This digital license code is the key to your personal license. It contains exact details of which programs are licensed to you and for what period of time. A digital license code can therefore also contain the license for more than one product.

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Product information

If you purchased your Avira product on the Internet, or via a program CD/DVD, the digital license code is sent to you by email.

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Installation and uninstallation

3. Installation and uninstallation

3.1 Overview

This chapter contains information relating to the installation and uninstallation of your Avira product.

 see Chapter: Pre-Setup: Requirements, preparing the computer for installation  see Chapter: Express installation: Standard installation according to default settings  see Chapter: Custom installation: Configurable installation  see Chapter: Configuration Wizard  see Chapter: Change installation  see Chapter: Installation modules  see Chapter: Uninstallation: Uninstall

3.1.1 Installation types

During installation you can select a setup type in the installation wizard:

Express

 The program files are installed into a specified default folder under C:\Program Files.  Your Avira product is installed with default settings. You have the option of defining

custom settings using the configuration wizard.

Custom

 You can choose to install individual program components (see Chapter Installation and

uninstallation > Installation modules).

 A target folder can be selected for the program files to be installed.  You can disable Create a desktop icon and program group in the Start menu.  Using the configuration wizard, you can define custom settings for your Avira product

and initiate a short system scan that is performed automatically after installation.

3.2 Pre-Setup

Note

Before installation, check whether your computer fulfils all the minimum system

requirements. If your computer satisfies all requirements, you can install the

Avira product.

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Note

When installing on a server operating system, the Realtime Protection and the files protection are not available.

Pre-Setup

Close your email program. It is also recommended to end all running applications. Make sure that no other virus protection solutions are installed. The automatic

protection functions of various security solutions may interfere with each other.

The Avira product will search for possible incompatible software on your

computer.

If potentially incompatible software is detected Avira generates a list of these

programs.

It is recommended to remove these software programs in order not to endanger

the stability of your computer.

Select the check box for those programs that should be removed automatically from

your computer and click Next.

You have to confirm manually the uninstallation of some programs. Select the

programs and click Next.

The uninstallation of one or more of the selected programs requires a restart of

your computer. After reboot the installation will continue.

Warning

Your computer will not be protected until the installation of the Avira product is finished.

Install

The installation program runs in self-explanatory dialog mode. Every window contains a certain selection of buttons to control the installation process.

The most important buttons are assigned the following functions:

 OK: Confirm action.  Abort: Abort action.  Next: Go to next step.  Back: Go to previous step.

Establish an internet connection: The Internet connection is necessary for performing

the following installation steps:

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Installation and uninstallation

 Downloading the current program file and scan engine as well as the latest virus

definition files via the installation program (for internet-based installation)

 Where appropriate, carrying out an update after completed installation

Save the license file hbedv.key on your computer system if you want to activate your

Avira product.

Note

Internet-based installation:

For the Internet-based installation of the program, an installation program is provided that loads the current program file prior to installation by the Avira web servers. This process ensures that your Avira product is installed with the latest virus definition file.

Installation with an installation package: The installation package contains both the installation program and all necessary program files. No language selection for your Avira product is available for installation with an installation package. We recommend that you carry out an update of the virus definition file after installation.

3.3 Express installation

Installing your Avira product: Start the installation program by double-clicking the installation file you have downloaded

from the Internet or insert the program CD.

Internet-based installation

The Welcome screen appears.

Click Next to continue with the installation.

The dialog Language selection appears.

Select the language you want to use to install your Avira product and confirm your

language selection by clicking Next.

The dialog box Download appears. All files necessary for installation are

downloaded from the Avira web servers. The Download window closes after conclusion of the download.

Installation with an installation package

The window Preparing installation appears. The installation file is extracted. The installation routine is started. The dialog box Select installation type appears.

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Note

By default Express installation is preset. All standard components will be installed which you may not configure. If you like to execute a customized installation, please refer to the chapter: Installation > Custom installation.

Confirm that you accept the End User License Agreement and the Private Use

Agreement. For reading the detailed text of the End User License Agreement, click the EULA link.

Click Next.

The dialog box Join the millions of Avira users who already use Avira

SearchFree appears.

If you do not want to install the Avira SearchFree Toolbar, please unmark the

checkbox with the Avira SearchFree Toolbar End User License Agreement and the one that defines Avira SearchFree (avira.ask.com) as your browser homepage.

Note

If necessary, please uninstall any previously installed search toolbars before you install the Avira SearchFree Toolbar. Otherwise you will not be able to install the Avira SearchFree Toolbar.

Click Next.

The installation progress is displayed by a green bar.

Click Finish to end setup process and close the License Wizard.

The Avira Tray Icon is placed in the taskbar. In order to ensure effective protection for your computer, the module Updater will

search for possible updates.

The Luke Filewalker window opens and a short system scan is performed. The

status of the check as well as the results are displayed.

If after the scan you are asked to restart your computer, click Yes to ensure that your

system is fully protected.

After a successful installation, we recommend that you check the program is up-to-date in the Status field of the Control Center.

If your Avira product shows that your computer is not secure, click Fix problem.

The dialog Restore protection opens. Activate the preset options in order to maximize the security of your system. If appropriate, perform a complete system scan afterwards.

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3.4 Custom Installation

Installing your Avira product:

Start the installation program by double-clicking the installation file you have downloaded from the Internet or insert the program CD.

Internet-based installation

The Welcome screen appears. Click Next to continue with the installation.

The dialog Language selection appears. Select the language you want to use to install your Avira product and confirm your

language selection by clicking Next.

The dialog box Download appears. All files necessary for installation are

downloaded from the Avira web servers. The Download window closes after conclusion of the download.

Installation with an installation package

The window Preparing installation appears.

The installation file is extracted. The installation routine is started.

The dialog box Select installation type appears.

Note

By default Express installation is preset. All standard components will be installed which you may not configure. If you like to execute an Express installation, please refer to the chapter: Installation > Express installation.

Choose Custom to install individual program components. Confirm that you accept the End User License Agreement and the Private Use

Agreement. For reading the detailed text of the End User License Agreement, click the EULA link.

Click Next.

The dialog box Join the millions of Avira users who already use Avira

SearchFree appears.

If you do not want to install the Avira SearchFree Toolbar, please unmark the

checkbox with the Avira SearchFree Toolbar End User License Agreement and the one that defines Avira SearchFree (avira.ask.com) as your browser homepage.

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Installation and uninstallation

Note

If necessary, please uninstall any previously installed search toolbars before you install the Avira SearchFree Toolbar. Otherwise you will not be able to install the Avira SearchFree Toolbar.

Click Next.

The Choose Destination Folder window opens.

The default folder will be C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\ Click Next to continue.

-OR Use the Browse button to select a different destination folder and confirm by clicking

Next.

The Install components dialog appears: Select or deselect components from the list and confirm with Next to proceed.

In the following dialog box you can decide whether to create a desktop shortcut

and/or a program group in the Start menu. Click Next. Click Finish to end setup process.

The Installation Wizard is closed and the Configuration Wizard will open.

3.5 Configuration Wizard

At the end of a user-defined installation, the configuration wizard is opened. The configuration wizard enables you to define custom settings for your Avira product.

Click Next in the welcome window of the configuration wizard to begin configuration

of the program.

The Configure AHeAD dialog box enables you to select a detection level for the

AHeAD technology. The detection level selected is used for the System Scanner

(On-demand scan) and Realtime Protection (On-access scan) AHeAD

technology settings. Select a detection level and continue the installation by clicking Next.

In the following dialog box Select extended threat categories, you can adapt

the protective functions of your Avira product to the threat categories specified. Where appropriate, activate further threat categories and continue the installation by

clicking Next.

If you have selected the Avira Realtime Protection installation module, the

Realtime Protection start mode dialog box appears. You can stipulate the

Realtime Protection start time. At each computer reboot, the Realtime Protection

will be started in the start mode specified.

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Installation and uninstallation

Note

The specified Realtime Protection start mode is saved in the registry and cannot be changed via the Configuration.

Note

When the default start mode for Realtime Protection (Normal start) has been chosen and the logon process upon startup is carried out fast, programs configured to start automatically upon startup might not be scanned because they might be up and running before the Realtime Protection has been started completely.

Enable the required option and continue the configuration by clicking Next.

In the following System scan dialog box, a short system scan can be enabled or

disabled. The short system scan is performed after the configuration has been

completed and before the computer is rebooted, and scans running programs

and the most important system files for viruses and malware. Enable or disable the Short system scan option and continue the configuration by

clicking Next.

In the following dialog box, you can complete the configuration by clicking Finish The specified and selected settings are accepted. If you have enabled the Short system scan option, the Luke Filewalker window

opens. The Scanner performs a short system scan. If after the scan you are asked to restart your computer, click Yes to ensure that your

system is fully protected.

After a successful installation, we recommend that you check whether the program is upto-date in the Status field of the Control Center.

If your Avira product shows that your computer is not secure, click Fix problem.

The dialog Restore protection opens. Activate the preset options in order to maximize the security of your system. If appropriate, perform a complete system scan afterwards.

3.6 Change installation

You have the option of adding or removing individual program components of the current Avira product installation (see Chapter Installation and uninstallation > Installation

modules).

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Installation and uninstallation

If you wish to add or remove modules of the current installation, you can use the option Add or Remove Programs in the Windows control panel to Change/Remove programs.

Select your Avira product and click Change. In the Welcome dialog of the program, select the option Modify. You will be guided through the installation changes.

Note

If you uninstall the Avira SearchFree Toolbar, Web Protection is also uninstalled.

3.7 Installation modules

In a user-defined installation or a change installation, the following installation modules can be selected, added or removed.

 Avira Free Antivirus

This module contains all components required for successful installation of your Avira product.

 Avira Realtime Protection

The Avira Realtime Protection runs in the background. It monitors and repairs, if possible, files during operations such as open, write and copy in on-access mode. Whenever a user carries out a file operation (e.g. load document, execute, copy), the Avira product automatically scans the file. Renaming a file does not trigger a scan by Avira Realtime Protection.

 Avira Web Protection (for Avira Free Antivirus users, only in combination with the

Avira SearchFree Toolbar) When surfing the Internet, you are using your web browser to request data from a web server. The data transferred from the web server (HTML files, script and image files, Flash files, video and music streams, etc.) will normally be moved directly into the browser cache for display in the web browser, meaning that an on-access scan as performed by Avira Realtime Protection is not possible. This could allow viruses and unwanted programs to access your computer system. Web Protection is what is known as an HTTP proxy which monitors the ports used for data transfer (80, 8080, 3128) and scans the transferred data for viruses and unwanted programs. Depending on the configuration, the program may process the affected files automatically or prompt the user for a specific action.

 Avira Rootkits Protection

Avira Rootkits Protection checks whether software is already installed on your computer

that can no longer be detected with conventional methods of malware protection after penetrating the computer system.

 Shell Extension

The Shell Extension generates an entry Scan selected files with Avira in the context menu of the Windows Explorer (right-hand mouse button). With this entry you can directly scan files or directories.

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Installation and uninstallation

3.8 Uninstallation

If you wish to remove the Avira product from your computer, you can use the option Add or Remove Programs to Change/Remove programs in the Windows Control Panel.

To uninstall your Avira product (e.g. in Windows XP and Windows Vista):

Open the Control Panel via the Windows Start menu. Double click on Programs (Windows XP: Software). Select your Avira product in the list and click Remove.

You will be asked if you really want to remove the program. Click Yes to confirm.

All components of the program are removed. Click Finish to complete uninstallation.

Where appropriate, a dialog box appears recommending that your computer be

restarted.

Click Yes to confirm.

The Avira product is now uninstalled and all directories, files and registry entries

for the program are deleted when your computer is restarted.

Note

The Avira SearchFree Toolbar is not included in the uninstallation program and must be uninstalled separately by following the steps detailed above. To do this in Firefox the Avira SearchFree Toolbar must be enabled via the Add-On Manager. After uninstallation the search toolbar is no longer integrated in your web browser.

Note

If you uninstall the Avira SearchFree Toolbar, Web Protection is also uninstalled.

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Overview of Avira Free Antivirus

4. Overview of Avira Free Antivirus

This chapter contains an overview of the functionality and operation of your Avira product.

 see Chapter Interface and operation  see Chapter Avira SearchFree  see Chapter How to...?

4.1 User interface and operation

You operate your Avira product via three program interface elements:

 Control Center: monitoring and controlling the Avira product  Configuration: Configuring the Avira product  Tray Icon in the system tray of the taskbar: Opening the Control Center and other

functions

4.1.1 Control Center

The Control Center is designed to monitor the protection status of your computer systems and control and operate the protection components and functions of your Avira product.

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Overview of Avira Free Antivirus

The Control Center window is divided into three areas: The Menu bar, the Navigation bar and the detail window Status:

 Menu bar: In the Control Center menu bar, you can access general program functions

and information on the program.

 Navigation area: In the navigation area, you can easily swap between the individual

sections of the Control Center. The individual sections contain information and functions of the program components and are arranged in the navigation bar according to activity. Example: Activity Local Protection - Section Realtime Protection.

 Status: This window shows the section selected in the navigation area. Depending on

the section, you will find buttons to execute functions and actions in the upper bar of the detail window. Data or data objects are displayed in lists in the individual sections. You can sort the lists by clicking in the box defining how you wish to sort the list.

4.1.2 Starting and closing of Control Center

To start the Control Center the following options are available:

 Double-click the program icon on your desktop  Via the program entry in the Start > Programs menu.  Via the Tray Icon of your Avira product.

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Overview of Avira Free Antivirus

Close the Control Center via the menu command Close in the menu File or by clicking on the close tab in the Control Center.

4.1.3 Operate Control Center

To navigate in the Control Center

Select an activity in the navigation bar.

The activity opens and other sections appear. The first section of the activity is

selected and displayed in the view.

If necessary, click another section to display this in the detail window.

Note

You can activate the keyboard navigation in the menu bar with the help of the [Alt] key. If navigation is activated, you can move within the menu with the arrow keys. With the Return key you activate the active menu item. To open or close menus in the Control Center, or to navigate within the menus, you can also use the following key combinations: [Alt] + underlined letter in the menu or menu command. Hold down the [Alt] key if you want to access a menu, a menu command or a submenu.

To process data or objects displayed in the detail window:

Highlight the data or object you wish to edit.

To highlight multiple elements (elements in columns), hold down the control key or

the shift key while selecting the elements.

Click the appropriate button in the upper bar of the detail window to edit the object.

4.1.4 Control Center overview

 Status: In Status screen you will find all sections with which you can monitor the

functioning of your Avira product.

The Status section lets you see at a glance which program modules are active and

provides information on the last update performed. You can also see whether you own a valid license.

 Local protection: In Local protection you will find the components for checking the

files on your computer system for viruses and malware.

The Scan section enables you to easily configure and start an on-demand scan.

Predefined profiles enable you to run a scan with already adapted standard options. In the same way it is possible to adapt the scan for viruses and unwanted programs to your personal requirements with the help of manual selection (not saved) .

The Realtime Protection section displays information on scanned files, as well as

other statistical data, which can be reset at any time, and enables access to the

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report file. More detailed information on the last virus or unwanted program detected can be obtained practically "at the push of a button".

 Online protection: In Online protection you will find the components to protect your

computer system against viruses and malware from the Internet, and against unauthorized network access.

The Web Protection section displays information on scanned URLs and detected

viruses, as well as other statistical data, which can be reset at any time and enables access to the report file. More detailed information on the last virus or unwanted program detected can be obtained practically "at the push of a button".

 Management: In Management you will find tools for isolating and managing suspicious

or infected files, and for planning recurring tasks.

The Quarantine section contains the so-called quarantine manager. This is the

central point for files already placed in quarantine or for suspect files that you would like to place in quarantine. It is also possible to send a selected file to the Avira Malware Research Center by email.

The Scheduler section enables you to configure scheduled scanning and update jobs

and to adapt or delete existing jobs.

4.1.5 Configuration

You can define settings for your Avira product in the Configuration. After installation, your Avira product is configured with standard settings, ensuring optimal protection for your computer system. However, your computer system or your specific requirements for your Avira product may mean you need to adapt the protective components of the program.

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The Configuration opens a dialog box: You can save your configuration settings via the OK or Apply buttons, delete your settings by clicking the Cancel button or restore your default configuration settings using the Default values button. You can select individual configuration sections in the left-hand navigation bar.

4.1.6 Accessing the Configuration

You have several options for accessing the configuration:

 via the Windows control panel.  via the Windows Security Center - from Windows XP Service Pack 2.  via the Tray Icon of your Avira product.  in the Control Center via the menu item Extras > Configuration.  in the Control Center via the Configuration button.

Note

If you are accessing configuration via the Configuration button in the Control Center, go to the Configuration register of the section which is active in the Control Center. Expert mode must be activated to select individual

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configuration registers. In this case, a dialog appears asking you to activate expert mode.

4.1.7 Configuration operation

Navigate in the configuration window as you would in Windows Explorer:

Click an entry in the tree structure to display this configuration section in the detail

window.

Click the plus symbol in front of an entry to expand the configuration section and

display configuration subsections in the tree structure.

To hide configuration subsections, click on the minus symbol in front of the

expanded configuration section.

Note

To enable or disable Configuration options and use the buttons, you can also use the following key combinations: [Alt] + underlined letter in the option name or button description.

Note

All configuration sections are only displayed in expert mode. Activate expert mode to view all configuration sections. Expert mode can be protected by a

password that must be defined during activation.

If you want to confirm your Configuration settings:

Click OK.

The configuration window is closed and the settings are accepted.

- OR Click Accept.

The settings are applied. The configuration window remains open.

If you want to finish configuration without confirming your settings:

Click Cancel.

The configuration window is closed and the settings are discarded.

If you want to restore all configuration settings to default values:

Click Restore defaults.

All settings of the configuration are restored to default values. All amendments

and custom entries are lost when default settings are restored.

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Overview of configuration options

The following configuration options are available:

 System Scanner: Configuration of on-demand scan

 Scan options  Action on detection  File scan options  On-demand scan exceptions  On-demand scan heuristics  Report function setting

 Realtime Protection: Configuration of on-access scan

 Scan options  Action on detection  On-access scan exceptions  On-access scan heuristics  Report function setting

 Web Protection: Configuration of Web Protection

 Scan options, enabling and disabling the Web Protection  Action on detection  Blocked access: Unwanted file types and MIME types, Web filter for known unwanted

URLS (malware, phishing, etc.)

 Web Protection scan exceptions: URLs, file types, MIME types  Web Protection heuristics  Report function setting

 General:

 Extended risk categories for on-demand and on-access scan  Security: Update status display, complete system scan status display, product

protection

 WMI: Enable WMI support  Event log configuration  Configuration of report functions  Setting of directories used  Update: Configuration of connection to download server, set-up of product updates  Configuration of acoustic alerts when malware is detected

4.1.8 Tray icon

After installation, you will see the tray icon of your Avira product in the system tray of the taskbar:

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Icon

Description

Avira Realtime Protection is enabled

Avira Realtime Protection is disabled

The tray icon displays the status of the Realtime Protection service. Central functions of your Avira product can be quickly accessed via the context menu of

the tray icon. To open the context menu, click the tray icon with the right-hand mouse button.

4.1.9 Entries in the context menu

 Activate Avira Realtime Protection: Enables or disables the Avira Realtime

Protection.

 Enable Avira Web Protection: Enables or disables the Avira Web Protection.  Start Avira: Opens the Control Center.  Configure Avira: Opens the Configuration  Start update Starts an update.  Help: opens the Online Help.  About Avira Free Antivirus: Opens a dialog box with information on your Avira

product: Product information, Version information, License information.

 Avira on the Internet: Opens the Avira web portal on the Internet. The condition for this

is that you have an active connection to the Internet.

4.2 Toolbar

4.2.1 Overview

Avira SearchFree includes two main components: Avira Search and the Toolbar. The Avira SearchFree is installed as an add-on. When the browser is first accessed (in

Firefox and Internet Explorer) a message will pop-up, asking you for permission to install the toolbar. You will have to accept in order to complete a successful installation of Avira SearchFree.

Avira Search is a search engine and contains a clickable Avira logo linked to the Avira website and web, image and video channels. This allows Avira users a safer Internet navigation.

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The toolbar, integrated in your web browser, consists of a search box, an Avira logo linked to the Avira website, two status displays, three widgets and the Options menu.

 Search toolbar

Use the search toolbar for free to quickly search the Internet using the Avira search engine.

 Status display

The status displays provide information on the status of the Web Protection and the current update status of your Avira product and helps you identify which actions you need to take to protect your PC.

 Widgets

Avira offers you three widgets to the most important Internet-related functions. With one click you have direct access to Facebook and your email, or you can ensure safe web browsing (Firefox and Internet Explorer only).

 Options

You can use the Options menu to access the toolbar options, clear the history, find toolbar help and information and also uninstall the Avira SearchFree directly via the web browser (Firefox and Internet Explorer only).

4.2.2 Use

Avira Search

You can use the Avira Search to define any number of terms to browse the Internet. Enter the term in the search box and press the Enter key or click on Search. The Avira

Search engine then searches the Internet for you and displays all hits in the browser window.

To find out how to custom configure the Avira Search in Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome, go to Options.

Status display Web Protection

The status message with information on the Web Protection status of Avira appears on the left-hand side. You can use the icons and messages to identify which actions you need to take to protect your PC.

Web Protection

If you move the cursor over the icon, the following message appears: Avira Web Protection is working, your PC is protected.

No further action is necessary.

Web Protection

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If you move the cursor over the icon, the following message appears: Avira Web Protection is turned off. Check your application to turn on Web Protection to be protected.

Update status The status message with information on the update status of Avira appears on the righthand side. You can use the icons and messages to identify which actions you need to take to protect your PC.

Daily update

If you move the cursor over the icon, the following message appears: Daily update complete, your PC is protected.

No further action is necessary.

Daily update

If you move the cursor over the icon, the following message appears: Avira is out of date. Click here to download the latest update to keep your PC protected.

Click the yellow icon or text to update your Avira product. This is done in accordance

with the custom settings you defined in Avira Free Antivirus.

During the update, you will receive the message Updating... After a successful update, the green icon is once again displayed with the

message Daily update complete.

Unavailable

If you move the cursor over the icon, the following message appears: Avira is unavailable.

To ensure your protection, check to make sure that your application is still installed and running.

Click the gray icon or text to go to the Avira Help page. There you will find

instructions on what to do next.

Error

If you move the cursor over the icon, the following message appears: Avira reported an error.

Click the gray icon or text to go to the Avira Support page.

Widgets

Avira SearchFree contains three widgets with the most important functions for the nowadays Internet web browsing: Facebook, E-mail and Browser Security.

Facebook

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This function allows you to receive all the messages from Facebook and be always updated.

Email If you click the email symbol in the toolbar, a dropdown list will be shown. You can choose

between the most commonly used email providers. Browser Security This widget has been conceived to offer you in one click all the Internet security options

you may need on daily basis. This option is only available for Firefox and Internet Explorer. Also the names of the functions sometimes change from one browser to another :

 Pop-up Blocker

If this option is activated, all pop-up windows will be blocked.

 Block Cookies

If you activate this option, no cookies will be saved on your computer.

 Private Browsing (Firefox) / InPrivate Browsing (Internet Explorer)

Enable this option if you do not want to leave any personal information on the Internet

while you surf. This option is not available for Internet Explorer 7 and 8.

 Clear Recent History / Delete Browsing History (Internet Explorer)

With this option you will erase all traces of your Internet activities.

4.2.3 Options

Avira SearchFree is compatible with Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome and can be configured in the three web browsers:

 Internet Explorer configuration options  Firefox configuration options  Google Chrome configuration options

Internet Explorer

In Internet Explorer, the following configuration options for the Avira SearchFree are available in the Options menu:

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Toolbar options Scan

Avira search engine

In the Avira search engine menu, you can select which search engine to use for the search. Search engines are available for the USA, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Europe, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia and the United Kingdom.

Open searches in

In the Open searches in option menu, you can select where the search result should be displayed; in the Current window, in a New window or on a New tab.

Display recent searches

If the Display recent searches option is enabled, you can display previous search terms under the text entry box of the search toolbar.

Auto clear recent search history when I close the browser

Enable the option Auto clear recent search history when I close the browser if you do not want to save previous searches and want to clear the history when you close the web browser.

More options

Select toolbar language

Under Select toolbar language you can select the language in which Avira SearchFree is displayed. The toolbar is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch.

Note

Where possible, the default Avira SearchFree language corresponds to that of your program. If the toolbar is not available in your language, the default language is English.

Show button text labels

Disable the Show button text labels option if you want to hide the text next to the Avira SearchFree icons.

Clear history

Enable the Clear history option if you do not want to save previous searches and want to clear the history immediately.

Help

Click on Help to access the website containing frequently asked questions (FAQs) relating to the toolbar.

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Uninstall

You can also uninstall Avira SearchFree directly in Internet Explorer: Uninstallation via

the web browser

Info

Click on Info to display which version of Avira SearchFree is installed.

Firefox

In the Firefox web browser, the following configuration options for the Avira SearchFree are available in the Options menu:

Toolbar options Scan

Select Avira search engine

Display recent searches

If the Display recent searches option enabled, you can display previous search terms by clicking on the arrow in the search toolbar. Select a term if you want to display the search result again.

Auto clear recent search history when I close the browser

Enable the option Auto clear recent search history when I close the browser if you do not want to save previous searches and want to clear the history when you close the web browser.

Display Avira search results when I type keywords or invalid URLs into the browser address bar

If this option is enabled, a search is initiated and the search result displayed every time you enter keywords or an invalid URL into the web browser's address bar.

More options

Select toolbar language

Under Select toolbar language you can select the language in which Avira SearchFree is displayed. The toolbar is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch.

Note

Where possible, the default Avira SearchFree language corresponds to that of

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your program. If the toolbar is not available in your language, the default language is English.

Show button text labels

Disable the Show button text labels option if you want to hide the text next to the Avira SearchFree icons.

Clear history

Enable the Clear history option if you do not want to save previous searches and want to clear the history immediately.

Help

Click on Help to access the website containing frequently asked questions (FAQs) relating to the toolbar.

Uninstall

You can also uninstall Avira SearchFree directly in Firefox: Uninstallation via the web

browser.

Info

Click on Info to display which version of Avira SearchFree is installed.

Google Chrome

In the Chrome web browser, the following configuration options for Avira SearchFree are available under the menu of the red Avira umbrella:

Help

Click on Help to access the website containing frequently asked questions (FAQs) relating to the toolbar.

Uninstall instructions

Here you will be linked to the articles that contain all the information you need to uninstall the toolbar.

Info

Click on Info to display which version of the Avira SearchFree is installed.

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Show/ Hide the Avira SearchFree

Click here to hide or show Avira SearchFree on your web browser.

4.2.4 Uninstallation

To uninstall your Avira SearchFree (e.g. in Windows XP and Windows Vista):

Open the Control Panel via the Windows Start menu. Double click on Programs (Windows XP: Software). Select the Avira SearchFree plus Web Protection in the list and click Remove.

You will be asked if you really want to uninstall this product.

Click Yes to confirm.

Avira SearchFree plus Web Protection is uninstalled and all directories, files and

registry entries for the Avira SearchFree plus Web Protection are deleted when your computer is restarted.

Uninstallation via the web browser

You also have the option of uninstalling the Avira SearchFree directly in the browser. This option is only available for Firefox and Internet Explorer:

In the search toolbar open the Options menu. Click Uninstall.

If you have opened your web browser, you will now be asked to close it.

Close the web browser and click OK.

Avira SearchFree plus Web Protection is uninstalled and all directories, files and

registry entries for the Avira SearchFree plus Web Protection are deleted when your computer is restarted.

Note

If you uninstall the Avira SearchFree, Web Protection is also uninstalled.

Note

Note that to uninstall the Avira SearchFree, the toolbar must be enabled in the Add-On Manager.

4.2.5 Uninstallation as add-on

Because the toolbar is installed as an add-on, it can obviously also be uninstall as one:

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Firefox

Click Tools > Add-ons > Extensions. From there you can manage the Avira Add-on:

activate or deactivate the toolbar and uninstall.

Internet Explorer

Go to Manage Add-ons > Toolbars und Extensions. Here you can either activate and

deactivate your Avira SearchFree, or uninstall it.

Google Chrome

Click Options > Extensions and manage easily your toolbar: activate, deactivate or

uninstall it.

4.3 How to...?

4.3.1 Overview

The chapters "How to...?" offer short instructions about license and product activation as well as information on the most important functions of your Avira product. The selected short articles serve as an overview about the functionality of your Avira product. They do not substitute the detailed information of each section of this help center.

4.3.2 Perform automatic updates

To create a job with the Avira Scheduler to update your Avira product automatically:

In the Control Center, select the section Administration > Scheduler.

Click the Insert new job icon.

The dialog box Name and description of the job appears. Give the job a name and, where appropriate, a description. Click Next.

The dialog box Type of job is displayed. Select Update job from the list. Click Next.

The dialog box Time of job appears. Select a time for the update:

 Immediately  Daily

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 Weekly  Interval  Single

Note

We recommend regular and frequent updates. The recommended update interval is: 24 hours.

Where appropriate, specify a date according to the selection. Where appropriate, select additional options (availability depends on type of job):

 Repeat job if time has expired

Past jobs are performed that could not be performed at the required time, for

example because the computer was switched off.

Click Next.

The dialog box Select display mode appears. Select the display mode of the job window:

 Invisible: No job window  Minimize: progress bar only  Maximize: Entire job window

Click Finish.

Your newly created job appears on the start page of the Administration >

Scheduler section with the status enabled (check mark).

Where appropriate, deactivate jobs that are not to be performed.

Use the following icons to further define your jobs:

View properties of a job

Edit job

Delete job

Start job

Stop job

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4.3.3 Start a manual update

You have various options for starting an update manually: When an update is started manually, the virus definition file and scan engine are always updated. A product update can only take place if you have activated the option Download and install product updates automatically in the configuration under PC protection > Update > Product

update

To start an update of your Avira product manually:

With the right-hand mouse button, click the Avira tray icon in the taskbar.

A context menu appears. Select Start update.

The Updater dialog box appears.

- OR In the Control Center, select the section Overview > Status. In the Last update field, click on the Start update link.

The Updater dialog box appears.

- OR In the Control Center, in the Update menu, select the menu command Start update.

The Updater dialog box appears.

Note

We recommend regular automatic updates. The recommended update interval is: 24 hours.

Note

You can also carry out a manual update directly via the Windows security center.

4.3.4 Using a scan profiles to scan for viruses and malware

A scan profile is a set of drives and directories to be scanned. The following options are available for scanning via a scan profile:

Use predefined scan profile

If the predefined scan profile corresponds to your requirements.

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Customize and apply scan profile (manual selection)

If you want to scan with a customized scan profile.

Depending on the operating system, various icons are available for starting a scan profile:

 In Windows XP:

This icon starts the scan via a scan profile.

 In Windows Vista:

In Microsoft Windows Vista, the Control Center only has limited rights at the moment,

e.g. for access to directories and files. Certain actions and file accesses can only be performed in the Control Center with extended administrator rights. These extended administrator rights must be granted at the start of each scan via a scan profile.

 This icon starts a limited scan via a scan profile. Only directories and files that

Windows Vista has granted access rights to are scanned.

 This icon starts the scan with extended administrator rights. After confirmation, all

directories and files in the selected scan profile are scanned.

To scan for viruses and malware with a scan profile:

Go to Control Center and select the section PC protection >System Scanner.

Predefined scan profiles appear.

Select one of the predefined scan profiles.

-OR Adapt the scan profile Manual selection.

Click the icon (Windows XP: or Windows Vista: ). The Luke Filewalker window appears and a system scan is started.

When the scan is completed, the results are displayed.

If you want to adapt a scan profile:

In the scan profile, expand Manual Selection the file tree so that all the drives you

want to scan are open:

Highlight the nodes you want to scan by clicking on the box

4.3.5 Scan for viruses and malware using drag & drop

To scan for viruses and malware systematically using drag & drop:

The Control Center of your Avira product has been opened. Highlight the file you want to scan. Use the left-hand mouse button to drag the highlighted file into the Control Center.

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The Luke Filewalker window appears and a system scan is started. When the scan is completed, the results are displayed.

4.3.6 Scan for viruses and malware via the context menu

To scan for viruses and malware systematically via the context menu:

Click with the right-hand mouse button (e.g. in Windows Explorer, on the desktop or

in an open Windows directory) on the file you want to scan.

The Windows Explorer context menu appears.

Select Scan selected files with Avira in the context menu.

The Luke Filewalker window appears and a system scan is started. When the scan is completed, the results are displayed.

4.3.7 Automatically scan for viruses and malware

Note

After installation, the scan job Full system scan is created in the Scheduler: A complete system scan is automatically performed at a recommended interval.

To create a job to automatically scan for viruses and malware:

In the Control Center, select the section Administration > Scheduler.

Click the icon .

The dialog box Name and description of job appears. Give the job a name and, where appropriate, a description. Click Next.

The dialog box Type of job appears. Select Scan job. Click Next.

The dialog box Selection of the profile appears. Select the profile to be scanned. Click Next.

The dialog box Time of the job appears. Select a time for the scan:

 Immediately  Daily  Weekly

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 Interval  Single

Where appropriate, specify a date according to the selection. Where appropriate, select the following additional options (availability depends on job

type):

Repeat job if the time has already expired

Past jobs are performed that could not be performed at the required time, for example because the computer was switched off.

Click Next.

The dialog box Selection of the display mode appears. Select the display mode of the job window:

 Invisible: No job window  Minimized: progress bar only  Maximized: Entire job window

Select the Shut down computer if job is done option if you want the computer to

shut down automatically when the scan is finished. This option is only available if the display mode is set to minimized or maximized.

Click Finish.

Your newly created job appears on the start page of the Administration >

Scheduler section with the status enabled (check mark).

Where appropriate, deactivate jobs that are not to be performed.

Use the following icons to further define your jobs:

View properties of a job

Edit job

Delete job

Start job

Stop job

4.3.8 Targeted scan for Rootkits and active malware

To scan for active rootkits, use the predefined scan profile Scan for Rootkits and active malware.

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To scan for active rootkits systematically:

Go to Control Center and select the section PC protection > System Scanner.

Predefined scan profiles appear. Select the predefined scan profile Scan for Rootkits and active malware. Where appropriate, highlight other nodes and directories to be scanned by clicking

the check box of the directory level.

Click the icon (Windows XP: or Windows Vista: ).

The Luke Filewalker window appears and a system scan is started.

When the scan is completed, the results are displayed.

4.3.9 React to detected viruses and malware

For the individual protection components of your Avira product, you can define how your Avira product reacts to a detected virus or unwanted program in the Configuration under the section Action on detection.

There are no configurable action options with the Realtime Protection component. When a virus or unwanted program is detected, you will receive a desktop notification. In the desktop notification you can remove the detected malware or forward the malware using the Details button to the System Scanner component for further virus management. The System Scanner opens a window containing notification of the detection, which gives you various options for managing the affected file via a context menu (see Detection > System Scanner):

Action options for the System Scanner: Interactive

In interactive action mode, the results of the System Scanner scan are displayed in a dialog box. This option is enabled as the default setting.

In the case of System Scanner scan, you will receive an alert with a list of the affected files when the scan is complete. You can use the content-sensitive menu to select an action to be executed for the various infected files. You can execute the standard actions for all infected files or cancel the System Scanner.

Automatic

In automatic action mode, when a virus or unwanted program is detected the action you selected in this area is executed automatically.

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Action options for Web Protection:

Interactive

In interactive action mode, if a virus or unwanted program is detected, a dialog box appears in which you can select what to do with the infected object. This option is enabled as the default setting.

Automatic

In automatic action mode, when a virus or unwanted program is detected the action you selected in this area is executed automatically.

In interactive action mode, you can react to detected viruses and unwanted programs by selecting an action for the infected object in the alert and executing the selected action by clicking Confirm.

The following actions for handling infected objects are available for selection:

Note

Which actions are available for selection depends on the operating system, the protection components (Avira Realtime Protection, Avira Mail Protection, Avira Web Protection) reporting the detection, and the type of malware detected.

Actions of the System Scanner: Repair

The file is repaired. This option is only available if the infected file can be repaired.

Rename

The file is renamed with a *.vir extension. Direct access to these files (e.g. with doubleclick) is therefore no longer possible. Files can be repaired and given their original name at a later time.

Quarantine

The file is packaged into a special format (*.qua) and moved to the Quarantine directory INFECTED on your hard disk, so that direct access is no longer possible. Files in this directory can be repaired in Quarantine at a later data or, if necessary, sent to Avira.

Delete

The file will be deleted. If a boot sector virus is detected, this can be deleted by deleting the boot sector. A new boot sector is written.

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Ignore

No further action is taken. The infected file remains active on your computer.

Warning

This could result in loss of data and damage to the operating system! Only select the Ignore option in exceptional cases.

Always ignore

Action option for Realtime Protection detections: No further action is taken by Realtime Protection. Access to the file is permitted. All further access to this file is permitted and no further notifications will be provided until the computer is restarted or the virus definition file is updated.

Copy to quarantine

Action option for a rootkits detection: The detection is copied to quarantine.

Repair boot sector | Download repair tool

Action options when infected boot sectors are detected: A number of options are available for repairing infected diskette drives. If your Avira product is unable to perform the repair, you can download a special tool for detecting and removing boot sector viruses.

Note

If you carry out actions on running processes, the processes in question are terminated before the actions are performed.

Web Protection actions:

Deny access

The website requested from the web server and/or any data or files transferred are not sent to your web browser. An error message to notify you that access has been denied is displayed in the web browser.

Move to quarantine

The website requested from the web server and/or any data or files transferred are moved to quarantine. The affected file can be recovered from quarantine manager if it has an informative value or - if necessary - sent to the Avira Malware Research Center.

Ignore

The website requested from the web server and/or the data and files that were transferred are forwarded on by Web Protection to your web browser.

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Warning

This could allow viruses and unwanted programs to access your computer system. Only select the Ignore option in exceptional cases.

Note

We recommend that you move any suspicious file that cannot be repaired to quarantine.

4.3.10 Handling quarantined files (*.qua)

To handle quarantined files:

In the Control Center, select the section Administration > Quarantine section. Check which files are involved, so that, if necessary, you can reload the original back

onto your computer from another location.

If you want to see more information on a file:

Highlight the file and click on .

The dialog box Properties appears with more information on the file.

If you want to rescan a file: Scanning a file is recommended if the virus definition file of your Avira product has been

updated and a false positive report is suspected. This enables you to confirm a false positive with a rescan and restore the file.

Highlight the file and click on .

The file is scanned for viruses and malware using the system scan settings.

After the scan, the dialog Rescan statistics appears which displays statistics on

the status of the file before and after the rescan.

To delete a file:

Highlight the file and click on . You have to confirm your choice with Yes.

If you want to upload the file to a Avira Malware Research Center web server for analysis:

Highlight the file you want to upload.

Click on .

A dialog opens with a form for inputting your contact data.

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Enter all the required data. Select a type: Suspicious file or Suspicion of false positive. Select a response format: HTML, Text, HTML & Text. Click OK.

The file is uploaded to a Avira Malware Research Center web server in

compressed form.

Note

In the following cases, analysis by the Avira Malware Research Center is recommended: Heuristic hits (Suspicious file): During a scan, a file has been classified as suspicious by your Avira product and moved to quarantine: Analysis of the file by the Avira Malware Research Center has been recommended in the virus detection dialog box or in the report file generated by the scan.

Note

The size of the files you upload is limited to 20 MB uncompressed or 8 MB compressed.

Note

You can only upload one file at a time.

If you want to export the properties of a quarantined object to a text file:

Highlight the quarantined object and click on .

The text file quarantaene - Notepad opens containing the data from the selected

quarantined object.

Save the text file.

You can also restore the files in quarantine (see Chapter: Quarantine: Restoring files in

quarantine).

4.3.11 Restore the files in quarantine

Different icons control the restore procedure, depending on the operating system:

 In Windows XP:

 This icon restores the files to their original directory.

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 This icon restores the files to a directory of your choice.

 In Windows Vista:

In Microsoft Windows Vista, the Control Center only has limited rights at the moment,

 This icon restores the files to a directory of your choice.  This icon restores the files to their original directory. If extended administrator

rights are necessary to access this directory, a corresponding request appears.

To restore files in quarantine:

Warning

This could result in loss of data and damage to the operating system of the computer! Only use the function Restore selected object in exceptional cases. Only restore files that could be repaired by a new scan.

File rescanned and repaired.

In the Control Center, select the section Administration > Quarantine section.

Note

Emails and email attachments can only be restored using the option if the file extension is *.eml.

To restore a file to its original location:

Highlight the file and click the icon (Windows XP: , Windows Vista ).

This option is not available for emails.

Note

Emails and email attachments can only be restored using the option if the file extension is *.eml.

A message appears asking if you want to restore the file. Click Yes.

The file is restored to the directory it was in before it was moved to quarantine.

To restore a file to a specified directory:

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Highlight the file and click on .

A message appears asking if you want to restore the file. Click Yes.

The Windows default window Save As for selecting the directory appears. Select the directory to restore the file to and confirm.

The file is restored to the selected directory.

4.3.12 Move suspicious files to quarantine

To move a suspect file to quarantine manually:

In the Control Center, select the section Administration > Quarantine section.

Click on .

The Windows default window for selecting a file appears. Select the file and confirm with Open.

The file is moved to quarantine.

You can scan files in quarantine with the Avira System Scanner (see Chapter: Quarantine:

Handling quarantined files (*.qua)).

4.3.13 Scan profile: Amend or delete file type in a scan profile

To stipulate additional file types to be scanned or exclude specific file types from the scan in a scan profile (only possible for manual selection ):

In the Control Center, go to the PC protection > System Scanner section.

With the right-hand mouse button, click on the scan profile you want to edit.

A context menu appears. Select File filter. Expand the context menu further by clicking on the small triangle on the right-hand

side of the context menu.

The entries Default, Scan all files and User-defined appear. Select User-defined.

The File extensions dialog box appears with a list of all file types to be scanned

with the scan profile.

If you want to exclude a file type from the scan:

Highlight the file type and click Delete.

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If you want to add a file type to the scan:

Highlight a file type. Click Insert and enter the file extension of file type into the input box. Use a maximum of 10 characters and do not enter the leading dot. Wildcards (*

and ? ) are allowed.

4.3.14 Create desktop shortcut for scan profile

You can start a system scan directly from your desktop via a desktop shortcut to a scan profile without accessing your Avira product’s Control Center.

To create a desktop shortcut to the scan profile:

In the Control Center, go to the PC protection > System Scanner section.

Select the scan profile for which you want to create a shortcut.

Click the icon .

The desktop shortcut is created.

4.3.15 Filter events

Events that have been generated by program components of your Avira product are displayed in the Control Center under Administration > Events (analogous to the event display of your Windows operating system). The program components, in alphabetical order, are the following:

 Helper Service  Realtime Protection  Scheduler  System Scanner  Updater  Web Protection

The following event types are displayed:

 Information  Warning  Error  Detection

To filter displayed events:

In the Control Center, select the section Administration > Events.

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Check the box of the program components to display the events of the activated

components.

- OR Uncheck the box of the program components to hide the events of the deactivated

components.

Check the event type box to display these events.

- OR Uncheck the event type box to hide these events.

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System Scanner

5. System Scanner

With the System Scanner component, you can carry out targeted scans (on-demand scans) for viruses and unwanted programs. The following options are available for scanning for infected files:

 System scan via context menu

The system scan via the context menu (right-hand mouse button - entry Scan selected files with Avira) is recommended if, for example, you wish to scan individual files and directories. Another advantage is that it is not necessary to first start the Control Center for a system scan via the context menu.

 System scan via drag & drop

When a file or directory is dragged into the program window of the Control Center, the System Scanner scans the file or directory and all sub-directories it contains. This procedure is recommended if you wish to scan individual files and directories that you have saved, for example, on your desktop.

 System scan via profiles

This procedure is recommended if you wish to regularly scan certain directories and drives (e.g. your work directory or drives on which you regularly store new files). You do not then need to select these directories and drives again for every new scan, you simply select using the relevant profile. See System scan via profiles.

 System scan via the Scheduler

The Scheduler enables you to carry out time-controlled scans. See System scan via the Scheduler.

Special processes are required when scanning for rootkits, boot sector viruses, and when scanning active processes. The following options are available:

 Scan for rootkits via the scan profile Scan for Rootkits and active malware  Scan active processes via the scan profile Active processes  Scan for boot sector viruses via the menu command Boot records scan... in the menu

Extras

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Updates

6. Updates

The effectiveness of anti-virus software depends on how up-to-date the program is, in particular the virus definition file and the scan engine. To carry out regular updates, the Updater component is integrated into your Avira product. The Updater ensures that your Avira product is always up-to-date and able to deal with the new viruses that appear every day. Updater updates the following components:

 Virus definition file:

The virus definition file contains the virus patterns of the harmful programs which are

used by your Avira product to scan for viruses and malware and repair infected objects.

 Scan engine:

The scan engine contains the methods used by your Avira product to scan for viruses

and malware.

 Program files (product update):

Update packages for product updates make extra functions available to the individual

program components.

An update checks whether the virus definition file and scan engine are up-to-date and if necessary implements an update. Depending on the settings in the configuration, the Updater also carries out a product update or informs you of the product updates available. After a product update, you may have to restart your computer system. If only the virus definition file and scan engine are updated, the computer does not have to be restarted.

Note

For security reasons, the Updater checks whether the Windows hosts file of your computer was altered, whether the Update URL, for example, was manipulated by malware and is diverting the Updater to unwanted download sites. If the Windows hosts file has been manipulated, this is shown in the Updater report file.

An update is automatically performed in the following interval: 24 hours. In the Control Center under Scheduler, you can create additional update jobs that are

performed by Updater at the specified intervals. You also have the option to start an update manually:

 in the Control Center: in the Update menu and in the Status section  via the context menu of the tray icon

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Updates

Updates can be obtained from the Internet via a Web server of the manufacturer. The existing network connection is the default connection to the download servers of Avira. You can change this default setting in the Configuration under General > Update.

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FAQ, Tips

7. FAQ, Tips

This chapter contains important information on troubleshooting and further tips on using your Avira product.

 see Chapter Help in case of a problem  see Chapter Shortcuts  see Chapter Windows Security Center (Windows XP and Vista) or Windows Action

Center (Windows 7)

7.1 Help in case of a problem

Here you will find information on causes and solutions of possible problems.

 The error message Connection failed while downloading the file ... appears when

attempting to start an update.

 Viruses and malware cannot be moved or deleted.  The status of the tray icon is disabled.  The computer is extremely slow when I perform a data back-up.  My firewall reports Avira Realtime Protection immediately after activation.  Webchat is not operational: Chat messages will not be displayed

The error message Connection failed while downloading the file ... appears when attempting to start an update.

Reason: Your Internet connection is inactive. No connection to the web server on the Internet can therefore be established.

Test whether other Internet services such as WWW or email work. If not, re-establish

the Internet connection.

Reason: The proxy server cannot be reached.

Check whether the login for the proxy server has changed and adapt it to your

configuration if necessary.

Reason: The update.exe file is not fully approved by your personal firewall.

Ensure that the update.exe file is fully approved by your personal firewall.

Otherwise:

Check your settings in the Configuration (expert mode) under General > Update Your

settings.

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FAQ, Tips

Viruses and malware cannot be moved or deleted.

Reason: The file was loaded by windows and is active.

Update your Avira product. If you use the Windows XP operating system, deactivate System Restore. Start the computer in Safe Mode. Start the Avira product and the Configuration (expert mode). Select System Scanner > Scan > Files > All files and confirm the window with OK. Start a scan of all local drives. Start the computer in Normal Mode. Carry out a scan in Normal Mode. If no other viruses or malware have been found, activate System Restore if it is

available and to be used.

The status of the tray icon is disabled.

Reason: Avira Realtime Protection is disabled.

In the Control Center in the section Overview click Status and enable the Realtime

Protection in the Internet Protection area .

-OR Open the context menu with a right-click on the Tray Icon. Click Realtime Protection

enable.

Reason: Avira Realtime Protection is blocked by a firewall.

Define a general approval for Avira Realtime Protection in the configuration of your

firewall. Avira Realtime Protection only works with the address 127.0.0.1 (localhost). An Internet connection is not established.

Otherwise:

Check the startup type of the Avira Realtime Protection service. If necessary, enable

the service: In the taskbar, select Start > Settings > Control Panel. Start the configuration panel Services with a double-click (under Windows XP the services applet is located in the sub-directory Administrative Tools). Find the entry Avira Realtime Protection. Automatic must be entered as the startup type and Started as the status. If necessary, start the service manually by selecting the relevant line and the button Start. If an error message appears, please check the event display.

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FAQ, Tips

The computer is extremely slow when I perform a data back-up.

Reason: During the backup procedure, Avira Realtime Protection scans all files being used by the backup procedure.

Select Realtime Protection > Scan > Exceptions in the Configuration (expert mode)

and enter the process names of the back-up software.

My firewall reports Avira Realtime Protection

Reason: Communication with Avira Realtime Protection occurs via the TCP/IP Internet protocol. A firewall monitors all connections via this protocol.

Define a general approval for Avira Realtime Protection. Avira Realtime Protection

only works with the address 127.0.0.1 (localhost). An Internet connection is not established.

Note

We recommend regularly installing Microsoft updates to close any gaps in security.

Webchat is not operational: Chat messages are not displayed; data are being loaded in the browser.

This phenomenon may occur during chats, which are based on the HTTP protocol with 'transfer-encoding: chunked’.

Reason: Web Protection checks the data sent completely for viruses and undesired programs first of all, before the data are loaded into the web browser. During a data transfer with ‘transfer-encoding: chunked’, Web Protection cannot determine the message length or the data volume.

Enter the configuration of the URL of the web chats as an exception (see

Configuration: Web Protection > Exceptions).

7.2 Shortcuts

Keyboard commands - also called shortcuts - offer a fast possibility to navigate through the program, to retrieve individual modules and to start actions.

Below we provide you with an overview of the available keyboard commands. Please find further indications regarding the functionality in the corresponding chapter of the help.

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Shortcut

Description

Ctrl + Tab Ctrl + Page down

Navigation in the Control Center Go to next section.

Ctrl + Shift + Tab Ctrl + Page up

Navigation in the Control Center Go to previous section.

← ↑ → ↓

Navigation in the configuration sections First, use the mouse to set the focus on a configuration section.

Tab

Change to the next option or options group.

Shift + Tab

Change to the previous option or options group.

← ↑ → ↓

Change between the options in a marked drop-down list or between several options in a group of options.

Space

Activate or deactivate a check box, if the active option is a check box.

Alt + underlined letter

Select option or start command.

Alt + ↓ F4

Open selected drop-down list. Esc

Close selected drop-down list. Cancel command and close dialog.

7.2.1 In dialog boxes

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Enter

Start command for the active option or button.

Shortcut

Description

Alt + Space

Display system menu.

Alt + Tab

Shift between the help and the other opened windows.

Alt + F4

Close help.

Shift + F10

Display context menu of the help.

Ctrl + Tab

Go to next section in the navigation window.

Ctrl + Shift + Tab

Go to previous section in the navigation window.

Page up

Change to the subject, which is displayed above in the contents, in the index or in the list of the search results.

Page down

Change to the subject, which is displayed below the current subject in the contents, in the index or in the list of the search results.

Page up Page down

Browse through a subject.

Shortcut

Description

Display help

Alt + F4

Close Control Center

7.2.2 In the help

7.2.3 In the Control Center

General

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Refresh

Open configuration

Start update

Shortcut

Description

Start scan with the selected profile

Create desktop link for the selected profile

Shortcut

Description

Rescan object

Restore object

Send object

Restore object to...

Return

Properties

Ins

Add file

Scan section

Quarantine section

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Del

Delete object

Shortcut

Description

Edit job

Return

Properties

Ins

Insert new job

Del

Delete job

Shortcut

Description

Display report file

Print report file

Return

Display report

Del

Delete report(s)

Shortcut

Description

Export event(s)

Return

Show event

Scheduler section

Reports section

Events section

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Del

Delete event(s)

7.3 Windows Security Center

- Windows XP Service Pack 2 or higher -

7.3.1 General

The Windows Security Center checks the status of a computer for important security aspects.

If a problem is detected with one of these important points (e.g. an outdated anti-virus program), the Security Center issues an alert and gives recommendations on how to protect your computer better.

7.3.2 The Windows Security Center and your Avira product

Virus protection software / Protection against malicious software

You may receive the following information from the Windows Security Center with regard to your virus protection:

 Virus protection NOT FOUND  Virus protection OUT OF DATE  Virus protection ON  Virus protection OFF  Virus protection NOT MONITORED

Virus protection NOT FOUND

This information of the Windows Security Center appears when the Windows Security Center has not found any anti-virus software on your computer.

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Note

Install your Avira product on your computer to protect it against viruses and other unwanted programs!

Virus protection OUT OF DATE

If you have already installed Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista and then install your Avira product or you install Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista on a system on which your Avira product has already been installed, you will receive the following message:

Note

In order for the Windows Security Center to recognize your Avira product as upto-date, an update must be performed after installation. Update your system by carrying out an update.

Virus protection ON

After installation of your Avira product and a subsequent update, you will receive the following message:

Your Avira product is now up-to-date and the Avira Realtime Protection is enabled.

Virus protection OFF

You receive the following message if you disable the Avira Realtime Protection or stop the Realtime Protection service.

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Note

You can enable or disabled Avira Realtime Protection in the Overview > Status section of the Control Center. You can also see that the Avira Realtime Protection is enabled if the red umbrella in your taskbar is open.

Virus protection NOT MONITORED

If you receive the following message from the Windows Security Center, you have decided that you want to monitor your anti-virus software yourself.

Note

This function is not supported by Windows Vista.

Note

The Windows Security Center is supported by your Avira product. You can enable this option at any time via the Recommendations button.

Note

Even if you have installed Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista, you still require a virus protection solution. Although Windows XP Service Pack 2 monitors your anti-virus software, it does not contain any anti-virus functions itself. Therefore you would not be protected against viruses and other malware without an additional anti-virus solution!

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7.4 Windows Action Center

- Windows 7 -

7.4.1 General

Note:

In Windows 7, Windows Security Center has been renamed to Windows Action Center. Under this section you will find the status of all your security

options.

The Windows Action Center checks the status of a computer for important security aspects. You can access it directly by clicking the little flag in your taskbar or under Control Panel > Action Center.

If a problem is detected with one of these important points (e.g. an outdated anti-virus program), the Action Center issues an alert and gives recommendations on how to protect your computer better. This means, that if everything works correctly, you won't be bothered with messages. You still can have a look at the security status of your computer in the Windows Action Center, under the Security item. The Windows Action Center also gives you the option of managing the installed programs, and to choose between them (e.g. View installed antispyware programs).

You can even turn off the warning messages under Change Action Center settings (e.g. Turn off messages about spyware and related protection).

7.4.2 The Windows Action Center and your Avira product

Virus protection software

You may receive the following information from the Windows Action Center with regard to your virus protection:

Virus protection

 Avira Desktop reports that it is UP TO DATE and virus scanning is ON.  Avira Desktop reports that virus scanning is temporarily TURNED OFF.  Avira Desktop reports that it is OUT OF DATE.  Windows DID NOT FIND antivirus software on this computer.

Virus protection UP TO DATE

After installation of your Avira product and a subsequent update, you will see the following message under Action Center > Security: Avira Desktop reports that it is turned on. This

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FAQ, Tips

means that your Avira product is now up-to-date and the Avira Realtime Protection is enabled.

Note

Install your Avira product on your computer to protect it against viruses and other unwanted programs!

Virus protection TURNED OFF

You receive the following message if you disable the Avira Realtime Protection or stop the Realtime Protection service.

Note

You can enable or disable Avira Realtime Protection in the Overview > Status section of the Avira Control Center. You can also see that the Avira Realtime Protection is enabled if the red umbrella in your taskbar is open. It is also possible to activate the Avira product by clicking the Turn on now button on the Windows Action Center message. You will receive a notification asking your permission to run Avira. Click on Yes, I trust the publisher and want to run this program and Realtime Protection will be enabled again.

Virus protection OUT OF DATE

If you install your Avira product on Windows 7 or if you upgrade an older Windows operating system, on which your Avira product is already installed, to Windows 7, then you will receive the following message:

Note In order for the Windows Action Center to recognize your Avira product as upto-date, an update must be performed after installation. Update your Avira Product by carrying out an update.

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Virus protection NOT FOUND

This information of the Windows Action Center appears, when the Windows Action Center has not found any anti-virus software on your computer.

Spyware and unwanted software protection

You may receive the following information from the Windows Action Center with regard to your spyware protection:

Spyware and unwanted software protection

 Avira Desktop reports that it is TURNED ON.  Avira Desktop reports that it is temporarily TURNED OFF.  Windows Defender is OUT OF DATE.  Windows Defender is TURNED OFF.

Avira Desktop is TURNED ON

After installation of your Avira product and a subsequent update, you will see the following message under Action Center > Security: Avira Desktop reports that it is turned on. This means that your Avira product is now up-to-date and the Avira Realtime Protection is enabled.

Avira Desktop is TURNED OFF

You receive the following message if you disable the Avira Realtime Protection or stop the Realtime Protection service.

Note You can enable or disable Avira Realtime Protection in the Overview > Status section of the Avira Control Center. You can also see that the Avira Realtime Protection is enabled if the red umbrella in your taskbar is open. It is also

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possible to activate the Avira product by clicking the Turn on now button on the Windows Action Center message. You will receive a notification asking your permission to run Avira. Click on Yes, I trust the publisher and want to run this program and Realtime Protection will be enabled again.

Windows Defender OUT OF DATE

You receive the following message if Windows Defender is activated. If you have already installed the Avira product, this message should not appear. Please check if the installation went OK.

Note

Windows Defender is the spyware solution from Windows. It is included and enabled by default in Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Windows Defender is TURNED OFF

This information of the Windows Action Center appears when the Windows Action Center has not found any other anti-virus software on your computer than the one that the operating system integrates by default: Windows Defender. If you have had some antivirus software installed on your computer before, this application has been disabled. If you have already installed the Avira product, this message should not appear: Avira should be automatically detected. Please check if the installation went OK.

Note

Even if you have installed Windows 7, you still require a virus protection solution. Although Windows monitors your anti-virus software, it only contains Windows Defender and Windows Firewall. They only protect you against some intrusions and spyware. Therefore you would not be protected against viruses and other malware without an additional anti-virus solution!

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Viruses and more

8. Viruses and more

8.1 Threat categories

Adware

Adware is software that presents banner ads or in pop-up windows through a bar that appears on a computer screen. These advertisements usually cannot be removed and are consequently always visible. The connection data allow many conclusions on the usage behavior and are problematic in terms of data security.

Your Avira product detects Adware. If the Adware option is enabled with a check mark in the configuration under Threat categories, you receive a corresponding alert if your Avira product detects adware.

Adware/Spyware

Software that displays advertising or software that sends the user’s personal data to a third party, often without their knowledge or consent, and for this reason may be unwanted.

Your Avira product recognizes "Adware/Spyware". If the option Adware/Spyware is enabled with a check mark in the configuration under Threat categories, you receive a corresponding alert if your Avira product detects adware or spyware.

Application

The term APPL, respectively application, refers to an application which may involve a risk when used or is of dubious origin.

Your Avira product recognizes "Application (APPL)". If the option Application is enabled with a check mark in the configuration under Threat categories, you receive a corresponding alert if your Avira product detects such behavior.

Backdoor Clients

In order to steal data or manipulate computers, a backdoor server program is smuggled in unknown to the user. This program can be controlled by a third party using backdoor control software (client) via the Internet or a network.

Your Avira product recognizes "Backdoor control software". If the Backdoor control software option is enabled with a check mark in the configuration under Threat categories, you receive a corresponding alert if your Avira product detects such software.

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Viruses and more

Dialer

Certain services available in the Internet have to be paid for. They are invoiced in Germany via dialers with 0190/0900 numbers (or via 09x0 numbers in Austria and Switzerland; in Germany, the number is set to change to 09x0 in the medium term). Once installed on the computer, these programs guarantee a connection via a suitable premium rate number whose scale of charges can vary widely.

The marketing of online content via your telephone bill is legal and can be of advantage to the user. Genuine dialers leave no room for doubt that they are used deliberately and intentionally by the user. They are only installed on the user’s computer subject to the

user’s consent, which must be given via a completely unambiguous and clearly visible

labeling or request. The dial-up process of genuine dialers is clearly displayed. Moreover, genuine dialers tell you the incurred costs exactly and unmistakably.

Unfortunately there are also dialers which install themselves on computers unnoticed, by

dubious means or even with deceptive intent. For example they replace the Internet user’s

default data communication link to the ISP (Internet Service Provider) and dial a costincurring and often horrendously expensive 0190/0900 number every time a connection is made. The affected user will probably not notice until his next phone bill that an unwanted 0190/0900 dialer program on his computer has dialed a premium rate number with every connection, resulting in dramatically increased costs.

We recommend that you ask your telephone provider to block this number range directly for immediate protection against undesired dialers (0190/0900 dialers).

Your Avira product can detect the familiar dialers by default. If the option Dialers is enabled with a check mark in the configuration under Threat

categories, you receive a corresponding alert if a dialer is detected. You can now simply

delete the potentially unwanted 0190/0900 dialer. However, if it is a wanted dial-up program, you can declare it an exceptional file and this file is then no longer scanned in future.

Double Extension Files

Executable files that hide their real file extension in a suspicious way. This camouflage method is often used by malware.

Your Avira product recognizes "Double Extension Files". If the option Double Extension files is enabled with a check mark in the configuration under Threat categories, you receive a corresponding alert if your Avira product detects such files.

Fraudulent software

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Viruses and more

them pay to eliminate it. There are also cases when the victims are lead to believe they were attacked and they are instructed to carry out an action, which in reality is the real attack.

Your Avira product detects scareware. If the option Fraudulent software is enabled with a check mark in the configuration Threat categories, you receive a corresponding alert if your Avira product detects such files.

Games

There is a place for computer games - but it is not necessarily at work (except perhaps in the lunch hour). Nevertheless, with the wealth of games downloadable from the Internet, a fair bit of mine sweeping and Patience playing goes on among company employees and civil servants. You can download a whole array of games via the Internet. Email games have also become more popular: numerous variants are circulating, ranging from simple chess to "fleet exercises" (including torpedo combats): The corresponding moves are sent to partners via email programs, who answer them.

Studies have shown that the number of working hours devoted to computer games has long reached economically significant proportions. It is therefore not surprising that more and more companies are considering ways of banning computer games from workplace computers.

Your Avira product recognizes computer games. If the Games option is enabled with a check mark in the configuration under Threat categories, you receive a corresponding alert if your Avira product detects a game. The game is now over in the truest sense of the word, because you can simply delete it.

Jokes

Jokes are merely intended to give someone a fright or provide general amusement without causing harm or reproducing. When a joke program is loaded, the computer will usually start at some point to play a tune or display something unusual on the screen. Examples of jokes are the washing machine in the disk drive (DRAIN.COM) or the screen eater (BUGSRES.COM).

But beware! All symptoms of joke programs may also originate from a virus or Trojan. At the very least users will get quite a shock or be thrown into such a panic that they themselves may cause real damage.

Thanks to the extension of its scanning and identification routines, your Avira product is able to detect joke programs and eliminate them as unwanted programs if required. If the option Jokes is enabled with a check mark in the configuration under Threat categories, a corresponding alert is issued if a joke program is detected.

Phishing

Phishing, also known as "brand spoofing" is a clever form of data theft aimed at customers or potential customers of Internet service providers, banks, online banking services,

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registration authorities. When submitting your email address on the Internet, filling in online forms, accessing newsgroups or websites, your data can be stolen by "Internet crawling spiders" and then used without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

Your Avira product recognizes "Phishing". If the option Phishing is enabled with a check mark in the configuration under Threat categories, you receive a corresponding alert if your Avira product detects such behavior.

Programs that violate the private domain

Software that may be able to compromise the security of your system, initiate unwanted program activities, damage your privacy or spy on your user behavior and could therefore be unwanted.

Your Avira product detects "Security Privacy Risk" software. If the option Programs that violate the private domain is enabled with a check mark in the configuration under

Threat categories, you receive a corresponding alert if your Avira product detects such

software.

Unusual Runtime Packers

Files that have been compressed with an unusual runtime packer and that can therefore be classified as potentially suspicious.

Your Avira product recognizes "Unusual runtime packers". If the option Unusual runtime packers is enabled with a check mark in the configuration under Threat categories, you receive a corresponding alert if your Avira product detects such packers.

8.2 Viruses and other malware

Adware

Backdoors

A backdoor can gain access to a computer by bypassing the computer access security mechanisms.

A program that is being executed in the background generally enables the attacker almost unlimited rights. User's personal data can be spied with the backdoor's help.. But are mainly used to install further computer viruses or worms on the relevant system.

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Boot viruses

The boot or master boot sector of hard disks is mainly infected by boot sector viruses. They overwrite important information necessary for the system execution. One of the awkward consequences: the computer system cannot be loaded any more…

Bot-Net

A bot-net is defined as a remote network of PCs (on the Internet) that is composed of bots that communicate with each other. A bot-net can comprise a collection of cracked machines running programs (usually referred to as worms, Trojans) under a common command and control infrastructure. Bot-nets serve various purposes, including denial-ofservice attacks etc., usually without the affected PC user's knowledge. The main potential of bot-nets is that the networks can achieve grow to thousands of computers and their total bandwidth exceeds most conventional Internet accesses.

Exploit

An exploit (security gap) is a computer program or script that takes advantage of a bug, glitch or vulnerability leading to privilege escalation or denial of service on a computer system. One form of exploitation for example is an attack from the Internet with the help of manipulated data packages. Programs can be infiltrated in order to obtain higher access.

Fraudulent software

Also known as "scareware" or "rogueware", it is a fraudulent software that pretends that your computer is infected by viruses or malware. This software looks deceptively similar to professional Antivirus software but is meant to raise uncertainty or to scare the user. Its purpose is to make the victims feel threatened of imminent (unreal) danger and to make them pay to eliminate it. There are also cases when the victims are lead to believe they were attacked and they are instructed to carry out an action, which in reality is the real attack.

Hoaxes

For several years, Internet and other network users have received alerts about viruses that are purportedly spread via email. These alerts are spread via email with the request that they should be sent to the highest possible number of colleagues and to other users, in order to warn everyone against the "danger".

Honeypot

A honeypot is a service (program or server) installed in a network. Its function is to monitor a network and log attacks. This service is unknown to the legitimate user - because of this

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reason he is never addressed. If an attacker examines a network for the weak points and uses the services which are offered by a honeypot, it is logged and an alert is triggered.

Macro viruses

Macroviruses are small programs that are written in the macro language of an application (e.g. WordBasic under WinWord 6.0) and that can normally only spread within documents of this application. Because of this, they are also called document viruses. In order to be active, they need that the corresponding applications are activated and that one of the infected macros has been executed. Unlike "normal" viruses, macro viruses consequently do not attack executable files but they do attack the documents of the corresponding host application.

Pharming

Pharming is a manipulation of the host file of web browsers to divert enquiries to spoofed websites. This is a further development of classic phishing. Pharming fraudsters operate their own large server farms on which fake websites are stored. Pharming has established itself as an umbrella term for various types of DNS attacks. In the case of a manipulation of the host file, a specific manipulation of a system is carried out with the aid of a Trojan or virus. The result is that the system can now only access fake websites, even if the correct web address is entered.

Phishing

Phishing means angling for personal details of the Internet user. Phishers generally send their victims apparently official letters such as emails that are intended to induce them to reveal confidential information to the culprits in good faith, in particular user names and passwords or PINs and TANs of online banking accounts. With the stolen access details, the phishers can assume the identities of the victims and carry out transactions in their name. What is clear is that: banks and insurance companies never ask for credit card numbers, PINs, TANs or other access details by email, SMS or telephone.

Polymorph viruses

Polymorph viruses are the real masters of disguise. They change their own programming codes - and are therefore very hard to detect.

Program viruses

A computer virus is a program that is capable of attaching itself to other programs after being executed and cause an infection. Viruses multiply themselves unlike logic bombs and Trojans. In contrast to a worm, a virus always requires a program as host, where the virus deposits its virulent code. The program execution of the host itself is not changed as a rule.

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Rootkits

A rootkit is a collection of software tools that are installed after a computer system has been infiltrated to conceal logins of the infiltrator, hide processes and record data generally speaking: to make themselves invisible. They attempt to update already installed spy programs and reinstall deleted spyware.

Script viruses and worms

Such viruses are extremely easy to program and they can spread - if the required technology is on hand - within a few hours via email round the globe.

Script viruses and worms use one of the script languages, such as Javascript, VBScript etc., to insert themselves in other, new scripts or to spread themselves by calling operating system functions. This frequently happens via email or through the exchange of files (documents).

A worm is a program that multiplies itself but that does not infect the host. Worms cannot consequently form part of other program sequences. Worms are often the only possibility to infiltrate any kind of damaging programs on systems with restrictive security measures.

Spyware

Spyware are so called spy programs that intercept or take partial control of a computer's operation without the user's informed consent. Spyware is designed to exploit infected computers for commercial gain.

Trojan horses (short Trojans)

Trojans are pretty common nowadays. Trojans include programs that pretend to have a particular function, but that show their real image after execution and carry out a different function that, in most cases, is destructive. Trojan horses cannot multiply themselves, which differentiates them from viruses and worms. Most of them have an interesting name (SEX.EXE or STARTME.EXE) with the intention to induce the user to start the Trojan. Immediately after execution they become active and can, for example, format the hard disk. A dropper is a special form of Trojan that 'drops' viruses, i.e. embeds viruses on the computer system.

Zombie

A zombie PC is a computer that is infected with malware programs and that enables hackers to abuse computers via remote control for criminal purposes. On command, the affected PC starts denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, for example, or sends spam and phishing emails.

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Info and Service

9. Info and Service

This chapter contains information on how to contact us.

 see Chapter Contact address  see Chapter Technical support  see Chapter Suspicious files  see Chapter Report false positives

9.1 Contact address

If you have any questions or requests concerning the Avira product range, we will be pleased to help you. For our contact addresses, please refer to the Control Center under Help > About Avira Free Antivirus.

9.2 Technical support

Avira support provides reliable assistance in answering your questions or solving a technical problem.

All necessary information on our comprehensive support service can be obtained from our website:

http://www.avira.com/personal-support So that we can provide you with fast, reliable help, you should have the following

information ready:

 Version information. You can find the program interface under the menu item Help >

About Avira Free Antivirus > Version information. See Version information.

 Operating system version and any Service Packs installed.  Installed software packages, e.g. anti-virus software of other vendors.  Exact messages of the program or of the report file.

9.3 Suspicious file

Viruses that may not yet be detected or removed by our products or suspect files can be sent to us. We provide you with several ways of doing this.

 Identify the file in the quarantine manager of the Control Center and select the item

Send file via the context menu or the corresponding button.

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 Send the required file packed (WinZIP, PKZip, Arj etc.) in the attachment of an email to

the following address:

virus-personal@avira.com

As some email gateways work with anti-virus software, you should also provide the file(s) with a password (please remember to tell us the password).

9.4 Reporting false positives

If you believe that your Avira product is reporting a detection in a file that is most likely "clean", send the relevant file packed (WinZIP, PKZip, Arj etc.) as an email attachment to the following address:

virus-personal@avira.com

As some email gateways work with anti-virus software, you should also provide the file(s) with a password (please remember to tell us the password).

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Reference: Configuration options

10. Reference: Configuration options

The configuration reference documents all available configuration options.

10.1 System Scanner

The System Scanner section of configuration is responsible for the configuration of the on-demand scan. (Options available in expert mode only.)

10.1.1 Scan

You can define the behavior of the on-demand scan routine (options available in expert mode only). If you select certain directories to be scanned, depending on the configuration, the System Scanner scans:

 with a certain scanning priority,  also boot sectors and main memory,  all or selected files in the directory.

Files The System Scanner can use a filter to scan only those files with a certain extension

(type).

All files

If this option is enabled, all files are scanned for viruses or unwanted programs, irrespective of their content and file extension. The filter is not used.

Note

If All files is enabled, the button File extensions cannot be selected.

Use smart extensions

If this option is enabled, the selection of the files scanned for viruses or unwanted programs is automatically chosen by the program. This means that your Avira program decides whether the files are scanned or not based on their content. This procedure is somewhat slower than Use file extension list, but more secure, since not only on the basis of the file extension is scanned. This option is enabled as the default setting and is recommended.

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Note

If Use smart extensions is enabled, the button File extensions cannot be selected.

Use file extension list

If this option is enabled, only files with a specified extension are scanned. All file types that may contain viruses and unwanted programs are preset. The list can be edited manually via the button "File extension".

Note

If this option is enabled and you have deleted all entries from the list with file extensions, this is indicated with the text "No file extensions" under the button

File extensions.

File extensions

With the aid of this button, a dialog box is opened in which all file extensions are displayed that are scanned in "Use file extension list" mode. Default entries are set for the extensions, but entries can be added or deleted.

Note

Please note that the default list may vary from version to version.

Additional settings

Scan boot sectors of selected drives

If this option is enabled, the System Scanner scans the boot sectors of the drives selected for the system scan. This option is enabled as the default setting.

Scan master boot sectors

If this option is enabled, the System Scanner scans the master boot sectors of the hard disk(s) used in the system.

Ignore offline files

If this option is enabled, the direct scan ignores so-called offline files completely during a scan. This means that these files are not scanned for viruses and unwanted programs. Offline files are files that were physically moved by a so-called Hierarchical Storage Management System (HSMS) from the hard disk onto a tape, for example. This option is enabled as the default setting.

Integrity checking of system files

When this option is enabled, the most important Windows system files are subjected to a particularly secure check for changes by malware during every on-demand scan. If

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an amended file is detected, this is reported as suspect. This function uses a lot of computer capacity. That is why the option is disabled as the default setting.

Note

This option is only available with Windows Vista and higher.

Note

This option should not be used if you are using third-party tools that modify system files and adapt the boot or start screen to your own requirements. Examples of such tools are skinpacks, TuneUp utilities or Vista Customization.

Optimized scan

When the option is enabled, the processor capacity is optimally utilized during a System Scanner scan. For performance reasons, an optimized scan is only logged on standard level.

Note

This option is only available on multi-processor systems.

Follow symbolic links

If this option is enabled, System Scanner performs a scan that follows all symbolic links in the scan profile or selected directory and scans the linked files for viruses and malware.

Note

The option does not include any shortcuts, but refers exclusively to symbolic links (generated by mklink.exe) or Junction Points (generated by junction.exe) that are transparent in the file system.

Search for Rootkits before scan

If this option is enabled and a scan is started, the System Scanner scans the Windows system directory for active rootkits in a so-called shortcut. This process does not scan your computer for active rootkits as comprehensively as the scan profile "Scan for

rootkits", but it is significantly quicker to perform.

Note

The rootkits scan is not available for Windows XP 64 bit !

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Scan Registry

If this option is enabled, the Registry is scanned for references to malware.

Scan process

Allow stopping the Scanner

If this option is enabled, the scan for viruses or unwanted programs can be terminated at any time with the button "Stop" in the "Luke Filewalker" window. If you have disabled this setting, the Stop button in the "Luke Filewalker" window has a gray background. Premature ending of a scan process is thus not possible! This option is enabled as the default setting.

Scanner priority

With the on-demand scan, the System Scanner distinguishes between priority levels. This is only effective if several processes are running simultaneously on the workstation. The selection affects the scanning speed.

low

The System Scanner is only allocated processor time by the operating system, if no other process requires computation time, i.e. as long as only the System Scanner is running, the speed is maximum. All in all, work with other programs is optimal: The computer responds more quickly if other programs require computation time while the System Scanner continues running in the background.

normal

The System Scanner is executed with normal priority. All processes are allocated the same amount of processor time by the operating system. This option is enabled as the default setting and is recommended. Under certain circumstances, work with other applications may be affected.

high

The System Scanner has the highest priority. Simultaneous work with other applications is almost impossible. However, the System Scanner completes its scan at maximum speed.

Action on detection

You can define the actions to be performed by System Scanner when a virus or unwanted program is detected. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Interactive

If this option is enabled, the results of the System Scanner scan are displayed in a dialog box. When carrying out a scan with the System Scanner, you will receive an alert with a list of the affected files at the end of the scan. You can use the contentsensitive menu to select an action to be executed for the various infected files. You can execute the standard actions for all infected files or cancel the System Scanner.

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Note

The action Quarantine is preselected by default in the System Scanner notification. Further actions can be selected via a context menu.

Automatic

If this option is enabled, no dialog box in case of a virus detection appears. The System Scanner reacts according to the settings you predefine in this section as primary and secondary action.

Copy file to quarantine before action

If this option is enabled, the System Scanner creates a backup copy before carrying out the requested primary or secondary action. The back-up copy is saved in Quarantine, where the file can be restored if it is of informative value. You can also send the backup copy to the Avira Malware Research Center for further investigation.

Primary action Primary action is the action performed when the System Scanner finds a virus or an

unwanted program. If the option "Repair" is selected but the affected file cannot be repaired, the action selected under "Secondary action" is performed.

Note

The option Secondary action can only be selected if the setting Repair was selected under Primary action.

Repair

If this option is enabled, the System Scanner repairs affected files automatically. If the System Scanner cannot repair an affected file, it carries out the action selected under

Secondary action.

Note

An automatic repair is recommended, but means that the System Scanner modifies files on the workstation.

Rename

If this option is enabled, the System Scanner renames the file. Direct access to these files (e.g. with double-click) is therefore no longer possible. Files can later be repaired and given their original names again.

Quarantine

If this option is enabled, the System Scanner moves the file to the quarantine. These files can later be repaired or - if necessary - sent to the Avira Malware Research Center.

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Delete

If this option is enabled, the file is deleted.

Ignore

If this option is enabled, access to the file is allowed and the file is left as it is.

Warning

The affected file remains active on your workstation! It may cause serious damage on your workstation!

Secondary action The option "Secondary action" can only be selected if the setting Repair was

selected under "Primary action". With this option it can now be decided what is to be done with the affected file if it cannot be repaired.

Rename

Quarantine

If this option is enabled, the System Scanner moves the file to Quarantine. These files can later be repaired or - if necessary - sent to the Avira Malware Research Center.

Delete

If this option is enabled, the file is deleted.

Ignore

If this option is enabled, access to the file is allowed and the file is left as it is.

Warning

The affected file remains active on your workstation! It may cause serious damage on your workstation!

Note

If you have selected Delete or as the primary or secondary action, you should note the following: In the case of heuristic hits, the affected files are not deleted, but are instead moved to quarantine.

Warning

These files are not included in a scan!

Note

The files included in this list are recorded in the report file. Please check the report file from time to time for unscanned files, as perhaps the reason you excluded a file here no longer exists. In this case you should remove the name of this file from this list again.

Input box

In this input box you can enter the name of the file object that is not included in the ondemand scan. No file object is entered as the default setting.

The button opens a window in which you can select the required file or the required path. When you have entered a file name with its complete path, only this file is not scanned for infection. If you have entered a file name without a path, all files with this name (irrespective of the path or drive) are not scanned.

Add

With this button, you can add the file object entered in the input box to the display window.

Delete

The button deletes a selected entry from the list. This button is inactive if no entry is selected.

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Note

If you add a complete partition to the list of the file objects, only those files that are saved directly under the partition will be excluded from the scan, which does not apply to files in sub-directories on the corresponding partition: Example: File object to be skipped: D:\ = D:\file.txt will be excluded from the scan of the System Scanner, D:\folder\file.txt will not be excluded from the scan.

Heuristic

This configuration section contains the settings for the heuristic of the scan engine. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Avira products contain very powerful heuristics that can proactively uncover unknown malware, i.e. before a special virus signature to combat the damaging element has been created and before a virus guard update has been sent. Virus detection involves an extensive analysis and investigation of the affected codes for functions typical of malware. If the code being scanned exhibits these characteristic features, it is reported as being suspicious. This does not necessarily mean that the code is in fact malware. False positives do sometimes occur. The decision on how to handle affected code is to be made by the user, e.g. based on his or her knowledge of whether the source of the code is trustworthy or not.

Macrovirus heuristic

Your Avira product contains a highly powerful macrovirus heuristic. If this option is enabled, all macros in the relevant document are deleted in the event of a repair, alternatively suspect documents are only reported, i.e. you receive an alert. This option is enabled as the default setting and is recommended.

Advanced Heuristic Analysis and Detection (AHeAD)

enable AHeAD

Your Avira program contains a very powerful heuristic in the form of Avira AHeAD technology, which can also detect unknown (new) malware. If this option is enabled, you can define how "aggressive" this heuristic should be. This option is enabled as the default setting.

Low detection level

If this option is enabled, slightly less unknown malware is detected, the risk of false alerts is low in this case.

Medium detection level

This option is enabled as the default setting if you have selected the use of this heuristic.

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High detection level

If this option is enabled, significantly more unknown malware is detected, but there are also likely to be false positives.

10.1.2 Report

The System Scanner has a comprehensive reporting function. You thus obtain precise information on the results of an on-demand scan. The report file contains all entries of the system as well as alerts and messages of the on-demand scan. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Note

To be able to establish what actions the System Scanner has performed, when viruses or unwanted programs have been detected, you should activate the report file in the expert-mode configuration.

Reporting

Off

If this option is enabled, the System Scanner does not report the actions and results of the on-demand scan.

Default

When this option is activated, the System Scanner logs the names of the files concerned with their path. In addition, the configuration for the current scan, version information and information on the licensee is written in the report file.

Extended

When this option is activated, the System Scanner logs alerts and tips in addition to the default information.

Complete

When this option is activated, the System Scanner also logs all scanned files. In addition, all files involved as well as alerts and tips are included in the report file.

Note

If you have to send us a report file at any time (for troubleshooting), please create this report file in this mode.

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10.2 Realtime Protection

The Realtime Protection section of the configuration is responsible for the configuration of the on-access scan. (Options available in expert mode only.)

10.2.1 Scan

You will normally want to monitor your system constantly. To this end, use the Realtime Protection (= on-access System Scanner). You can thus scan all files that are copied or opened on the computer "on the fly", for viruses and unwanted programs. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Files The Realtime Protection can use a filter to scan only those files with a certain extension

(type).

All files

If this option is enabled, all files are scanned for viruses or unwanted programs, irrespective of their content and their file extension.

Note

If All files is enabled, the File extensions button cannot be selected.

Use smart extensions

If this option is enabled, the selection of the files scanned for viruses or unwanted programs is automatically chosen by the program. This means that the program decides whether the files are scanned or not based on their content. This procedure is somewhat slower than Use file extension list, but more secure, since not only on the basis of the file extension is scanned.

Note

If Use smart extensions is enabled, the File extensions button cannot be selected.

Use file extension list

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Note

If this option is enabled and you have deleted all entries from the list with file extensions, this is indicated with the text "No file extensions" under the File

extensions button.

File extensions

Note

Please note that the file extension list may vary from version to version.

Scan mode Here the time for scanning of a file is defined.

Scan when reading

If this option is enabled, the Realtime Protection scans the files before they are read or executed by the application or the operating system.

Scan when writing

If this option is enabled, the Realtime Protection scans a file when writing. You can only access the file again after this process has been completed.

Scan when reading and writing

If this option is enabled, the Realtime Protection scans files before opening, reading and executing and after writing. This option is enabled as the default setting and is recommended.

Action on detection

Use event log

If this option is enabled, an entry is added to the Windows event log for every detection. The events can be called up in the Windows event viewer. This option is enabled as the default setting. (Option available in expert mode only.)

Exceptions

With these options you can configure exception objects for the Realtime Protection (onaccess scan). The relevant objects are then not included in the on-access scan. The Realtime Protection can ignore file accesses to these objects during the on-access scan via the list of processes to be omitted. This is useful, for example, with databases or backup solutions. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Please note the following when specifying processes and file objects to be omitted: The list is processed from top to bottom. The longer the list is, the more processor time is required for processing the list for each access. Therefore, keep the list as short as possible.

Processes to be omitted by the Realtime Protection All file accesses of processes in this list are excluded from monitoring by Realtime

Protection.

Input box

In this field, enter the name of the process that is to be ignored by the real-time scan. No process is entered as the default setting.

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The specified path and file name of the process should contain a maximum of 255 characters. You can enter up to 128 processes. The entries in the list must not result in more than 6000 characters in total.

When entering the process, Unicode symbols are accepted. You can therefore enter process or directory names containing special symbols.

Drive information must be entered as follows: [Drive letter]:\ The colon symbol (:) is only used to specify drives. When specifying the process, you can use the wildcards * (any number of characters)

and ? (a single character).

C:\Program Files\Application\application.exe C:\Program Files\Application\applicatio?.exe C:\Program Files\Application\applic*.exe

C:\Program Files\Application\*.exe

To avoid the process being excluded globally from monitoring by Realtime Protection, specifications exclusively comprising the following characters are invalid: * (asterisk), ? (question mark), / (forward slash), \ (backslash), . (dot), : (colon).

You have the option of excluding processes from monitoring by the Realtime Protection without full path details. For example: application.exe

This however only applies to processes where the executable files are located on hard disk drives.

Do not specify any exceptions for processes where the executable files are located on dynamic drives. Dynamic drives are used for removable disks, such as CDs, DVDs or USB sticks.

Warning

Please note that all file accesses done by processes recorded in the list are excluded from the scan for viruses and unwanted programs!

The button opens a window in which you can select an executable file.

Processes

The "Processes" button opens the "Process selection" window in which the running processes are displayed.

Add

With this button, you can add the process entered in the input box to the display window.

Delete

With this button you can delete a selected process from the display window.

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File objects to be omitted by the Realtime Protection All file accesses to objects in this list are excluded from monitoring by the Realtime

Protection.

Input box

In this box you can enter the name of the file object that is not included in the onaccess scan. No file object is entered as the default setting.

The entries in the list must have no more than 6000 characters in total. When specifying file objects to be omitted, you can use the wildcards* (any number of

characters) and ?? (a single character): Individual file extensions can also be excluded (including wildcards):

C:\Directory\*.mdb *.mdb *.md? *.xls*

C:\Directory\*.log

Directory names must end with a backslash \ . If a directory is excluded, all its sub-directories are automatically also excluded. For each drive you can specify a maximum of 20 exceptions by entering the complete

path (starting with the drive letter). For example: C:\Program Files\Application\Name.log

The maximum number of exceptions without a complete path is 64. For example: *.log

In case of dynamic drives that are mounted as a directory on another drive, the alias of the operating system for the integrated drive in the list of the exceptions has to be used, e.g.:

\Device\HarddiskDmVolumes\PhysicalDmVolumes\BlockVolume1\ If you use the mount point itself, for example, C:\DynDrive, the dynamic drive will be

scanned nonetheless. You can determine the alias of the operating system to be used from the Realtime Protection report file.

The button opens a window in which you can select the file object to be excluded.

Add

With this button, you can add the file object entered in the input box to the display window.

Delete

With this button you can delete a selected file object from the display window.

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Please note the further information when specifying exceptions:

In order to also exclude objects when they are accessed with short DOS file names (DOS name convention 8.3), the relevant short file name must also be entered in the list.

A file name that contains wildcards may not be terminated with a backslash. For example: C:\Program Files\Application\applic*.exe\

This entry is not valid and not treated as an exception! You can locate the path Realtime Protection uses to scan for infected files in the Realtime

Protection report file. Indicate exactly the same path in the list of exceptions. Proceed as follows: Set the protocol function of the Realtime Protection to Complete in the configuration under Realtime Protection > Report. Now access the files, folders, mounted drives with the activated Realtime Protection. You can now read the path to be used from the Realtime Protection report file. The report file can be accessed in the Control Center under Local protection > Realtime Protection.

Heuristic

This configuration section contains the settings for the heuristic of the scan engine. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Macrovirus heuristics

Advanced Heuristic Analysis and Detection (AHeAD)

enable AHeAD

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Low detection level

If this option is enabled, slightly less unknown malware is detected, the risk of false alerts is low in this case.

Medium detection level

This option is enabled as the default setting if you have selected the use of this heuristic.

High detection level

If this option is enabled, significantly more unknown malware is detected, but there are also likely to be false positives.

10.2.2 Report

Realtime Protection includes an extensive logging function to provide the user or administrator with exact notes about the type and manner of a detection. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Reporting This group allows for the content of the report file to be determined.

Off

If this option is enabled, then Realtime Protection does not create a log. It is recommended that you should turn off the logging function only in exceptional cases, such as if you are executing trials with multiple viruses or unwanted programs.

Default

If this option is enabled, Realtime Protection records important information (concerning detections, alerts and errors) in the report file, with less important information ignored for improved clarity. This option is enabled as the default setting.

Extended

If this option is enabled, Realtime Protection logs less important information to the report file as well.

Complete

If this option is enabled, Realtime Protection logs all available information in the report file, including file size, file type, date, etc.

Limit report file

Limit size to n MB

If this option is enabled, the report file can be limited to a certain size. Permitted values are between 1 and 100 MB. Around 50 kilobytes of extra space are allowed when

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limiting the size of the report file to minimize the use of system resources. If the size of the log file exceeds the indicated size by more than 50 kilobytes, then old entries are deleted until the indicated size minus 50 kilobytes is reached.

Back up report file before shortening

If this option is enabled, the report file is backed up before shortening.

Write configuration to report file

If this option is enabled, the configuration of the on-access scan is recorded in the report file.

Note

If you have not specified any report file restriction, a new report file is automatically created when the report file reaches 100MB. A backup of the old report file is created. Up to three backups of old report files are saved. The oldest backups are deleted first.

10.3 Update

In the Update section you can configure the automatic receiving of updates. You can specify various update intervals.

Automatic update

All n Day(s) / Hour(s) / Minute(s)

In this box you can specify the interval at which the automatic update is performed. To change the update interval, highlight one of the time options in the box and change it using the arrow key to the right of the input box.

Repeat job if the time has already expired

If this option is enabled, past update jobs are performed that could not be performed at the time specified, for example because the computer was switched off. (Option available in expert mode only.)

10.3.1 Product update

Under Product update, configure how product updates or the notification of available product updates are handled. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Product updates

Download and install product updates automatically

If this option is enabled, product updates are downloaded and automatically installed by the Update component as soon as they become available. Updates to the virus definition file and scan engine are performed independently of this setting. The

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conditions for this option are: complete configuration of the update and an open connection to a download server.

Download product updates. If a restart is necessary, install the update after the system restart, otherwise install it immediately

If this option is enabled, product updates will be downloaded as soon as they become available. If no restart is necessary, the update is installed automatically after the update file is downloaded. If a product update requires you to restart your computer, it will be executed at the next user-controlled system reboot and not immediately after the download of the update file. This has the advantage that the restart is not performed while users are working at their computers. Updates to the virus definition file and scan engine are performed independently of this setting. The conditions for this option are: complete configuration of the update and an open connection to a download server.

Notify user if product updates are available

If this option is enabled, you will only be notified when new product updates become available. Updates to the virus definition file and scan engine are performed independently of this setting. The conditions for this option are: complete configuration of the update and an open connection to a download server. You will receive notifications via a desktop popup window and via an alert from the Updater in the Control Center under Overview > Events.

Notify once again after n day(s)

If the product update was not installed after the initial notification, enter in this box the number of days that are to elapse before you are again notified that product updates are available.

Do not download product updates

If this option is enabled, no automatic product updates or notifications of available product updates by the Updater are performed. Updates to the virus definition file and search engine are performed independently of this setting.

Warning

An update of the virus definition file and of the search engine is performed during every update process independent of the settings for the product update (see Chapter Updates).

Note

If you have enabled an option for an automatic product update, you can configure further restart notification and cancellation options under Restart

settings. (Options available in expert mode only.)

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10.3.2 Restart settings

When a product update for your Avira product is performed, you may have to restart your computer system. If you have selected automatic product updates under Local protection >

Update > Product update, you can choose between the different restart notification and

restart cancellation options under Restart settings. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Note

Note that your restart settings allow you to choose between two options for executing a product update requiring a computer restart in the configuration under Local protection > Update > Product update. Download and install product updates automatically: The update and the restart are performed while users are working on their computers. If you have enabled this option, it may be useful to select restart routines with a cancel option or reminder function.

Download product updates. If a restart is necessary, install the update after the system restart, otherwise install it immediately: the update and the

restart are performed after users have started up their computers and logged in. Automatic restart routines are recommended for this option.

Restart the computer after n Seconds (with countdown messages, cannot be canceled)

If this option is enabled, the restart which is necessary after a product update has been executed is performed automatically at the specified interval. A countdown message appears with no option for canceling the computer restart.

Periodic restart reminder

If this option is enabled, the restart which is necessary after a product update has been executed is not performed automatically. At the specified interval, you will receive restart notifications without cancel options. These notifications let you confirm the computer restart or select the "Remind me again" option.

Query whether computer should be restarted

If this option is enabled, the restart which is necessary after a product update has been executed is not performed automatically. You will receive only one message, which offers the option to perform a restart directly or cancel the restart routine.

Restart computer without query

If this option is enabled, the restart which is necessary after a product update has been executed is performed automatically. You will not receive any notification.

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10.3.3 Web server

The update can be performed directly via a web server on the Internet. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Web server connection

Use existing connection (network)

This setting is displayed if your connection is used via a network.

Use the following connection

This setting is displayed if you define your connection individually. The Updater automatically detects which connection options are available. Connection

options that are not available are grayed out and cannot be activated. A dial-up connection can be established manually via a phone book entry in Windows, for example.

User

Enter the user name of the selected account.

Password

Enter the password for this account. For security reasons, the actual characters you type in this space are replaced by asterisks (*).

Note

If you have forgotten an existing Internet account name or password, contact your Internet Service Provider.

Note

The automatic dial-up of the updater through so-called dial-up tools (e.g. SmartSurfer, Oleco, etc.) is currently not yet available.

Terminate a dial-up connection that was set up for the update

If this option is enabled, the dial-up connection made for the update is automatically interrupted again as soon as the download has been successfully performed.

Note

This option is not available under Vista and Windows 7. Under these operating systems the dial-up connection opened for the update is always terminated as soon as the download has been performed.

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Proxy settings

Proxy server

Do not use a proxy server

If this option is enabled, your connection to the web server is not established via a proxy server.

Use proxy system settings

When the option is enabled, the current Windows system settings are used for the connection to the web server via a proxy server. Configure the Windows system settings to use a proxy server under Control panel > Internet options > Connections > LAN settings. You can also access the Internet options in the Extras menu in Internet Explorer.

Warning

If you are using a proxy server which requires authentication, enter all the required data under the option Use this proxy server. The Use proxy system

settings option can only be used for proxy servers without authentication.

Use this proxy server

If your web server connection is set up via a proxy server, you can enter the relevant information here.

Address

Enter the computer name or IP address of the proxy server you want to use to connect to the web server.

Port

Please enter the port number of the proxy server you want to use to connect to the web server.

Enter a user name to log in on the proxy server.

Enter the relevant password for logging in on the proxy server here. For security reasons, the actual characters you type in this space are replaced by asterisks (*).

Examples: Address: proxy.domain.com Port: 8080 Address: 192.168.1.100 Port: 3128

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10.4 Web Protection

The Web Protection section under Configuration > Online protection is responsible for the configuration of the Web Protection.

10.4.1 Scan

Web Protection protects you against viruses or malware that reach your computer from web pages that you load on your web browser from the Internet. The Scan options can be used to set the behavior of the Web Protection component. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Scan

Enable IPv6 support

If this option is enabled, Internet Protocol version 6 is supported by the Web

Protection. Drive-by protection Drive-by protection allows you to make settings to block I-Frames, also known as inline

frames. I-Frames are HTML elements, i.e. elements of Internet pages that delimit an area of a web page. I-Frames can be used to load and display different web content - usually other URLs - as independent documents in a sub-window of the browser. I-Frames are mostly used for banner advertising. In some cases, I-Frames are used to conceal malware. In these cases the area of the I-Frame is mostly invisible or almost invisible in the browser. The Block suspicious I-frames option allows you to check and block the loading of I-Frames.

Block suspicious I-frames

If this option is enabled, I-Frames on the web pages you request are scanned

according to certain criteria. If there are suspect I-Frames on a requested web page,

the I-Frame is blocked. An error message is displayed in the I-Frame window.

Action on detection

You can define the actions to be performed by Web Protection when a virus or unwanted program is detected. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Interactive

If this option is enabled, a dialog box appears when a virus or unwanted program is

detected during an on-demand scan, in which you can choose what is to be done with

the affected file. This option is enabled as the default setting.

Show progress bar

If this option is enabled, a desktop notification appears with a download progress bar if

a download of website content exceeds a 20 second timeout. This desktop notification

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is designed in particular for downloading websites with larger data volumes: If you are

surfing with Web Protection, website contents are not downloaded incrementally in the

Internet browser, as they are scanned for viruses and malware before being displayed

in the Internet browser. This option is disabled as the default setting.

Click here for more information.

Automatic

If this option is enabled, no dialog box in case of a virus detection appears. Web

Protection reacts according to the settings you predefine in this section as primary and

secondary action.

Primary action

The primary action is the action performed when Web Protection finds a virus or an

unwanted program.

Deny access

The website requested from the web server and/ or any data or files transferred are

not sent to your web browser. An error message to notify you that access has been

denied is displayed in the web browser. Web Protection logs the detection to the report

file if the report function is activated.

Move to quarantine

In the event of a virus or malware being detected, the website requested from the web

server and/ or the transferred data and files are moved into quarantine. The affected

file can be recovered from the quarantine manager if it has any informative value or - if

necessary - sent to the Avira Malware Research Center.

Ignore

The website requested from the web server and/ or the data and files that were

transferred are forwarded on by Web Protection to your web browser. Access to the

file is permitted and the file is ignored.

Warning

The affected file remains active on your workstation! It may cause serious damage on your workstation!

Blocked requests

In Blocked requests you can specify the file types and MIME types (content types for the transferred data) to be blocked by Web Protection. The Web filter lets you block known phishing and malware URLs. Web Protection prevents the transfer of data from the Internet to your computer system. (Options available in expert mode only.)

Web Protection blocks the following file types / MIME-Types

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AVIRA Free Antivirus User Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

1. Introduction

1.1 Icons and emphases

2. Product information

2.1 Delivery scope

2.2 System requirements

Avira SearchFree Toolbar

Information for Windows Vista users

2.3 Licensing and Upgrade

3. Installation and uninstallation

3.1 Overview

3.1.1 Installation types

Express

Custom

3.2 Pre-Setup

Pre-Setup

Install

3.3 Express installation

Internet-based installation

Installation with an installation package

3.4 Custom Installation

Installing your Avira product:

Internet-based installation

Installation with an installation package

3.5 Configuration Wizard

3.6 Change installation

3.7 Installation modules

3.8 Uninstallation

4. Overview of Avira Free Antivirus

4.1 User interface and operation

4.1.1 Control Center

4.1.2 Starting and closing of Control Center

4.1.3 Operate Control Center

4.1.4 Control Center overview

4.1.5 Configuration

4.1.6 Accessing the Configuration

4.1.7 Configuration operation

Overview of configuration options

4.1.8 Tray icon

4.1.9 Entries in the context menu

4.2 Toolbar

4.2.1 Overview

 Status display

4.2.2 Use

Avira Search

Widgets

4.2.3 Options

Internet Explorer

Clear history

Help

Uninstall

Info

Firefox

Clear history

Help

Uninstall

Info

Google Chrome

Help

Uninstall instructions

Info

Show/ Hide the Avira SearchFree

4.2.4 Uninstallation

Uninstallation via the web browser

4.2.5 Uninstallation as add-on

4.3 How to...?

4.3.1 Overview

4.3.2 Perform automatic updates

4.3.3 Start a manual update

4.3.4 Using a scan profiles to scan for viruses and malware

4.3.5 Scan for viruses and malware using drag & drop

4.3.6 Scan for viruses and malware via the context menu

4.3.7 Automatically scan for viruses and malware

4.3.8 Targeted scan for Rootkits and active malware

4.3.9 React to detected viruses and malware

Action options for Web Protection:

Web Protection actions: