From the other thread it sounded like you went to Microsoft's actual website, downloaded the iso and used your existing key/a new key to activate it and did it all.
Could well be a false positive. If it was actually running from there then I would say something but it looks like it just found a file there (maybe even an extracted version for the driver installer, though I would have thought it would have its own directory) and apparently it is only a heuristics thing rather than an actual detection.
I just installed Windows 8 earlier today, have gone to no malicious websites, installed avast/mbam/steam/chrome/few other legitimate programs.
I was updating my amd drivers and this pops up...
A quick Google search (which you probably could have done) yields that the file in question is part of your AMD graphics drivers.
Just saying "fuck it" and deleting potential threats is just as bad as doing nothing. Most modern antivirus programs use heuristics to detect and flag activity that looks like it might be a virus. The result of this is that they sometimes have false positives.
Removing/deleting false positives can cause problems, make you lose files, and in extreme cases totally fuck your system (like, I dunno, removing a component of your graphics driver).
If you are proactive, observant, and not an idiot about using your PC, I would recommend removing Avast! and simply using Windows Defender, which comes standard with Windows 8 and is antivirus developed by Microsoft for Microsoft, so it won't do stupid shit like this.
It won't catch everything, but it also won't go around telling you to delete parts of your system.
Yeah. It needs to be added to a list of files that are known to be good, complete with a signature and other things so to ensure that the file is the actual good one and not an actual virus. And Avast might need to tweak their heuristics a bit. XDIt's not on the list of bad programs, that's a heuristics result. That is, it's flagging the file/process based on it's behavior, not signatures.
Oh, and while Microsoft Security Essentials does seem good, it doesn't detect half the viruses that ended up on my computer.
Who said I was downloading a bunch of malware, let alone any on purpose? I just know that sometimes I get a file that's been altered. I've been using a lot of signatures, checksums, etc to keep things from going bad. You wouldn't believe how many files I've downloaded that had bad checksums and signatures. And maybe 3 of them were still good. Problem on the distributor's end. But anyways, I also sometimes test my computer's security by having a bunch of virus scanners checking various files and use an online batch virus scanner like VirusTotal to help me confirm things. Can't be too paranoid!
- Why are you downloading so much malware?
- Microsoft Security Essentials' real-world protection rate is something like 95%, vs. avast's 99%. The dirty little secret about most antivirus programs is that, as long as they're kept up to date, their effectiveness is pretty much the same. You're right, however, that a computer's first line of defense is the user's common sense.
You said you downloaded enough malware to be able to gauge real-world effectiveness rates. I didn't say it was on purpose. In fact, it sounded to me like there was a problem with your computer's first line of defense. I suppose then it's a good thing you're using all those scanners. It's not paranoia if your computer habitually downloads malware.Who said I was downloading a bunch of malware, let alone any on purpose? I just know that sometimes I get a file that's been altered. I've been using a lot of signatures, checksums, etc to keep things from going bad. You wouldn't believe how many files I've downloaded that had bad checksums and signatures. And maybe 3 of them were still good. Problem on the distributor's end. But anyways, I also sometimes test my computer's security by having a bunch of virus scanners checking various files and use an online batch virus scanner like VirusTotal to help me confirm things. Can't be too paranoid!
a lot of stuff
There's no reason to switch from avast. As I already stated, most antivirus programs (if kept up to date) accomplish effectively the same thing.I've been using Avast for years now, and while I may have better compatibility with mse or something I like avast and what it offers more. Then again I have MBAM pro so I think Avast might be too much.
If you deleted the file during the installation of your AMD software, there might be issues (e.g. the error message you mentioned). If you deleted the file after installation of your AMD software, then there should be no issues. As you noted, it was just a temp file. As for why it was in a temp folder, setups often extract things to temp folders and then pull data from there during installation. Setup files themselves are typically compressed.I ended up deleting the file, I got 1 error message when I restarted my computer, not sure what it was but it had AMD as the title. I restarted again and everything seemed to be fine.
I will probably just update my drivers and if that message occurs again whitelist it.
I have used 1 crack for a software on this system, once when I originally had windows 8, windows 7, and windows 8. I've scanned it and checked it with sandboxie and everything's ok.
But the file that avast did pick up was in the temporary folder? Why is AMD saving the stuff there and wouldnt running a cleaner like ccleaner just remove that anyway?
There's no reason to switch from avast. As I already stated, most antivirus programs (if kept up to date) accomplish effectively the same thing.
If you deleted the file during the installation of your AMD software, there might be issues (e.g. the error message you mentioned). If you deleted the file after installation of your AMD software, then there should be no issues. As you noted, it was just a temp file. As for why it was in a temp folder, setups often extract things to temp folders and then pull data from there during installation. Setup files themselves are typically compressed.
It was detected and I deleted it after the AMD driver installation was done. Thanks
It's possible the file was quarantined and rendered inaccessible during installation before you deleted it.
well the message took a while to pop up. I was done with the installation and was playing a game and it randomly popped up. This was about 5-10 minutes after
You are fine. Avast has been going down the shitter since they updated their interface for Avast! 7 and Avast! 8.
Submit a false positive report to help others who will come across this.
FYI Avast's tech support totally sucks now, and their in-program registration button is BROKEN on 90% of the machines I have installed Avast! on. It's a pain to use the email confirmation method instead of just registering like normal! (The team has been aware of this bug since Avast! 7, which is about 6 months ago!)