FAQ: Free AOL/Kaspersky Active Virus Shield

[Justin218]

I installed RealVNC and I run AOL AVS. AVS is going crazy constantly popping up that I have riskware. I chose skip VNC but it continues to pop up non-stop. Is there any way around this?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Justin218
I installed RealVNC and I run AOL AVS. AVS is going crazy constantly popping up that I have riskware. I chose skip VNC but it continues to pop up non-stop. Is there any way around this?

Full-version Kaspersky allows you to add programs and/or files to the Trusted Zone (doesn't alert on them), so that would be one workaround. Maybe there's a current Hot Deal on KAV or KIS that would let you get it real cheap

 

[Schadenfroh]

FYI Boys,

The full Kaspersky AntiVirus (works with XP and Vista 64 bit) is now FREE after MiR @ Amazon:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=2016206&STARTPAGE=1

 

[John]

AOL recently updated the AOL AVS download link, repacked the AVS_25.exe to a .msi, but their have been reports of the .msi being corrupt. Please use the direct download link in the OP.

 

[Tip3r]

I got it running.
First time my updating was incomplete ( I can't remember what error ).
now when I click on the update button it says it's not required.

but it still says that my signatures are obsolete!
what's the problem?

 

[John]

To force the Kaspersky download servers instead of AOL's add this to your hosts file:
127.0.0.1 download.newaol.com

 

[Tip3r]

I know this may sound stupid, but I don't know where I can find the host files

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Tip3r
I know this may sound stupid, but I don't know where I can find the host files

Windows Directory > system32 > drivers > etc

at least in XP

 

[John]

Default paths to hosts file:

Vista = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
XP = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
2K = C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
98/ME = C:\WINDOWS

 

[sygyzy]

I've written about this before but I cannot believe I am the only person that constantly gets problems with Active Virus Shield.

1. Though it supposedly has no TCP/IP scanner, the AV cuts my newsgroups downloads by 1/3. If I had a screen capture video program, I could easily provide a video of the download jumping 100kps after I quit the AV.
2. It comes up with warnings for mirc.exe every few hours. How many times does it want me to press ignore or skip? It can't remember that I don't consider it a virus?
3. I am pretty sure (will have to check) that it runs startup scans even though I tell it not to. My computer is noticeably slower with it.

I was all fine with Anti-Vir until I kept reading everyone praising Kaspersky. Maybe I'm configuring it wrong or something.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
I've written about this before but I cannot believe I am the only person that constantly gets problems with Active Virus Shield.

1. Though it supposedly has no TCP/IP scanner, the AV cuts my newsgroups downloads by 1/3. If I had a screen capture video program, I could easily provide a video of the download jumping 100kps after I quit the AV.

Well, where are the downloads going? To your HDD, correct? Off-topic, but if you want a free screen-capture program, here's one I use sometimes: Microsoft WME 9 Series

2. It comes up with warnings for mirc.exe every few hours. How many times does it want me to press ignore or skip? It can't remember that I don't consider it a virus?

You could disable the riskware detection. pic :camera:, this is in Settings. Alternately, and preferably IMO, full-ride Kaspersky allows you to add stuff to a "Trusted Zone," among other things. If you like Kaspersky overall, but want this feature, see if there's a Hot Deal on a full version. This is useful for me.

3. I am pretty sure (will have to check) that it runs startup scans even though I tell it not to. My computer is noticeably slower with it.

Check in Settings > Startup Objects and make sure the "Run after every update" isn't checked either. It updates hourly, which is one of its claims to fame, and that means it could re-scan startup objects that often as well.

 

[leeland]

bm'd for home

 

[uberdork]

In case you didn't catch it ... AOL is using McAfee now

http://www.activevirusshield.c...irus/freeav/index.adp?

EDIT: The page to get a code is still up though: http://www.activevirusshield.c...freeav/get_started.adp

 

[John]

Oh snap that sucks. You can still download AVS and use existing keys though.

 

[uberdork]

I still have my install file and just spammed them to get 10 keys "just in case".

 

[John]

BTW you can still request AVS keys here: http://www.activevirusshield.c...freeav/get_started.adp

Chop chop!

 

[highwire]

Originally posted by: John
AOL recently updated the AOL AVS download link, repacked the AVS_25.exe to a .msi, but their have been reports of the .msi being corrupt. Please use the direct download link in the OP.

The dl files seem to be the same when retrieved either way now, same size and both AVS_25.exe.

BTW, I discovered that by back-buttoning and refreshing the email address page you can get as many keys as you need and only muck up one of your email accounts. A little late for me, but other might benefit.

Edit: or better yet, use a 3 hour email address. Too soon Alt, too late Schmart.

 

[memo]

So just to make doubly sure, AVS_v25 is still using the Kaspersky code?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: memo
So just to make doubly sure, AVS_v25 is still using the Kaspersky code?

Yes

 

[bzo]

any alternative download links? The nullsoft one is dead now.

 

[John]

Yup, they killed the activation link and the installer today. However you can grab the installer from my FTP.

 

[bzo]

thanks a bunch John!

The activation link is actually still working via google cache. click here: Google cache of activation page

They've disabled the input page, but the submission page that actually generates the code appears to still be working. So between that and John's mirror of the download, this is still alive . I'm sure it's a matter of hours or days though before AOL takes down the remainder of the activation pages.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

There are a minority of users using Kaspersky AV (including one of my 4 boxes) that seem to have problems when dealing with chkdsk. For whatever reason, KAV causes chkdsk to detect errors and results in boot up taking forever. People have theorized that it's due to some markers the KAV puts on scanned files. I'm not sure what it is, but it took me forever to narrow down the problem to KAV. KAV works fine on 3 out of 4 of my boxes - it took a reformat to fix the chkdsk/bootup problem on the 4th box (currently using avira w/o problems). A search on google about KAV and chkdsk will reveal more on the issue.

 

[Brazen]

Has anyone had any problems with signatures getting updated? None of my AVS installs have gotten an update since 8/30. When I do a manual update, I get an error that the files could not be downloaded.

 

[BoberFett]

Running it on a couple computers, I've gotten it on both of them. I think maybe the contract AOL had with Kaspersky is up.

http://www.activevirusshield.c...irus/freeav/index.adp?

Time to find new virus software. I won't let McAfee anywhere near my system.