Free AntiVir vs Free BitDefender

At http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=30082.0 , I find AntiVir and
BitDefender are rated higher than Avast and AVG.

I am told there are problems with Free AntiVir update. How is the
update function of Free BitDefender?

Is Free BitDefender better placed as compared to Free Avast?

Thanx/NSP

The only "problem" is a nag screen that comes up during an update

I use antivir on a couple of boxes here and it updates ok just that
their update is slow and there is a pop up.

Has anybody tried this?

1- rename file avnotify.exe to avnotify
or
2- delete avnotify.exe and avnotify.dll from the antivir program files
folder
or
3- use Eraser to wipe out files C:\Program Files\AntiVir PersonalEdition
Classic\avnotify.dll
and C:\Program Files\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avnotify.exe

Yes, I think that they're rebuilt. But if someone has some "desktop
firewall" software, wouldn't it be possible to prevent avnotify.exe and
the DLL from accessing the net, so Antivir can't load the ads? I'm no
Antivir user (have KAV on my Windows boxes), so someone else has to try if
this works ;-).

Gabriela

I have AntiVir on an XP Pro box and disallow avnotify.exe with the
security policy editor to prevent the nag screen from opening. I'm not
sure if it's possible with a software firewall.

[midders]

I know this is an older thread, but thought that I would update it having just upgraded to Avira 9. I'm generally very happy with Avira and would recommend it to anyone.

As for the nag screen:
With version 8 it was easy, just write a batch file to delete avnotify.exe at startup and also schedule it to run just before your scheduled update time (in case your compter is on for days at a time).

With version 9, it is impossible to delete avnotify.exe (I've tried unlocker, moveonboot etc. and nothing seems to work), however I have found a work around:
Take ownership of the file (avnotify.exe), using the advanced properties of the security tab (I'm running XP Pro, with Home you'll need to do this in safe mode) then simply delete all permissions for this file. Now nobody has permission to run the file and you are the only user who can change its permissions. Result!

Easier would be to simply define a software restriction policy (SRP)
that bars this program from loading. Regardless of permissions, this
program will not be allowed to load. You could also use a HIPS (host
intrusion protection system) program to do the same but SRP is already
included in Windows XP.

Hmm, I used these instructions once to block my Avira version 8.
After installing version 9 it still worked (WindowsXP Home.)
Also after installing version 9.0.0.394 (2009-04-17) some days ago,
I see no commercial.

On Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:15:23 -0500, VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote:

>midders wrote:
>
>> I know this is an older thread, but thought that I would update it
>> having just upgraded to Avira 9. I'm generally very happy with Avira and
>> would recommend it to anyone.
>>
>> As for the nag screen:
>> With version 8 it was easy, just write a batch file to delete
>> avnotify.exe at startup and also schedule it to run just before your
>> scheduled update time (in case your compter is on for days at a time).
>>
>> With version 9, it is impossible to delete avnotify.exe (I've tried
>> unlocker, moveonboot etc. and nothing seems to work), however I have
>> found a work around:
>> Take ownership of the file (avnotify.exe), using the advanced
>> properties of the security tab (I'm running XP Pro, with Home you'll
>> need to do this in safe mode) then simply delete all permissions for
>> this file. Now nobody has permission to run the file and you are the
>> only user who can change its permissions. Result!
>>
>> Sláinte
>>
>> midders
>
>Easier would be to simply define a software restriction policy (SRP)
>that bars this program from loading. Regardless of permissions, this
>program will not be allowed to load. You could also use a HIPS (host
>intrusion protection system) program to do the same but SRP is already
>included in Windows XP.

Or use the "Image File Execution Options" key in the registry.