Avast antivirus as daemon

sigma_50 · 08-27-2007, 02:26 PM

Ive just installed Avast anti virus software (1.0.8 free version) on Debian 4.0 with KDE 3.5 and i cant find out if and if so how it runs as a daemon, and if its not, how to make it run like a daemon. Thanks in advance

unSpawn · 08-27-2007, 03:10 PM

If it doesn't run as an on access daemon you might want to look into Dazuko.

sigma_50 · 08-27-2007, 04:13 PM

i have read somewhere that avast has on access scanning, i tried to install Dazuko before when i used clamav and didn't succeed

unSpawn · 08-27-2007, 05:04 PM

i have read somewhere that avast has on access scanning
I don't know. Spose you'll find it in the product specs. On access scanning is one of those things often stripped from "free" products to "help" you decide to buy the commercial version.

nan0meter · 08-27-2007, 05:32 PM

On access scanning is one of those things often stripped from "free" products to "help" you decide to buy the commercial version.

No this is not what Avast is like, it is free for personal use and has on access scanning. And i believe the linux version is totally free. But i don't know what distro you have but there's surely a program on your box that allows you to view the services started at boot time.

But i don't see the point of installing a virus scanner on linux, it does scan your windows drive doesn't it? Because there are almost no threads of virusses on linux right?

digen · 08-27-2007, 05:54 PM

Their website suggests it runs as a daemon ( background scanner ).

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-for-l...kgroundScanner

You might want to check the init scripts if one was installed along with the software or check the avast binary arguments.

unSpawn · 08-27-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nan0meter

No this is not what Avast is like, it is free for personal use and has on access scanning.

Well, please point me to it then. The "avast! for Linux" (commercial) page mentions it uses Dazuko for it's "resident scanner". The "Free avast! Linux Home Edition" page does not.

nan0meter · 08-27-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

The antivirus kernel of avast! For Linux is identical to the one for Windows systems, which means that all high-end features, typical for AV kernels on Windows, are included in the Linux version too.

And the windows free version has on access scanning

*edit: And i can't find the commercial version for linux!

*edit 2: found it, but it's meant for servers ... not for desktop use.

unSpawn · 08-27-2007, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nan0meter

And the windows free version has on access scanning

Aren't you implying more than is the case? It doesn't explicitly say so on their "Free avast! Linux Home Edition" page. And AFAIK here a "kernel" just means "scan engine" functionality, not "complete AV product".

nan0meter · 08-28-2007, 08:55 AM

I don't know ... but did anyone who has avast! look if it really runs in the background and scans for files? You can easily check it by downloading a virus.

tone_1620 · 08-29-2007, 05:29 PM

Look, my English is too poor, I beg your perdon for it, but I read all the posts and i didn't understand if it has Avast! free for home users for linux or not. I visited the Avast home page in the link posted here and I didn't find avast for linux to run on desktops, just for servers and not free, just a try version. But I would like to install in my desktop the free version avast for home users, as they are for windows. Why avast desktops just for windows users? Thanks in advance.

sigma_50 · 08-30-2007, 01:10 AM

Here the free desktop version for Linux
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-av...x-edition.html

archtoad6 · 09-03-2007, 01:23 PM

I followed the link to the Linux Desktop download, & then to the "Features" page, but nowhere there did I see any allegation of the existence of Linux viruses that it would protect against.

So I have to ask: "What's the point?" at least in the present.

Freewheeler · 09-08-2007, 02:44 PM

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you're dual-booting with W""""""s, viruses can get into your NTFS files through Linux. (Yes, one did.) Re Avast for Linux, which I have now installed, it works just like the other version, loading its updates when you first start your system (yes, it makes its own connection), scanning everything that comes in when you're connecting and while you're connected. You can ask it at any time to do a scan of what you have stored: that's how I found a virus in my Windows archives. It's free, and it works, at the cost of a few minutes at system startup. USE IT, before Linux gets blamed for letting viruses into the other system.

nan0meter · 09-09-2007, 06:54 AM

Well viruses cannot execute or copy themselves on linux so it still won't make any sense that you have a virus scanner on linux. And if you're just paranoia about viruses then unmount your NTFS partitions in linux. I don't see the problem. I dual-boot with Windows and linux too and I don't have any problems with viruses and yes, i use avast! on windows not on linux.