The first thing you need to do is download Avira AntiVir Personal Antivirus from
HERE, once you have downloaded it this tutorial will guide you through installing and setting it up to give you optimal protection and performance. If a certain option is not covered then I recommend you leave it at it's default option. If you would like to add another layer of protection to your computer security I would suggest using
Threatfire along with Avira, both are free and when using both you will have unsurpassed protection for FREE. I want to reiterate that these settings are what
I recommend you do not have to use them if you do not want to, it's your personal choice.
If Avira incorrectly detects something that you know is not malicious, a false positive, you have two choices. The first option is to submit the file in question to
Avira's Sample Submission so that their analysts can fix the incorrect detection and the second option is to add it to Avira's exclusion list so that it will not be detected. Remember, with these settings, if Avira deletes a file it first quarantines it then backs it up so that you can restore it if needed.
This is the first screen you will see when starting the installation of Avira, you must accept to proceed with the installation.
Choose "next" to continue.
These two screens are about Avira's license agreement, the legal mumbo jumbo.
You must check the box here to accept their license agreement to continue.
Choose the "Custom" option for installation here.
Leave this to the default installation directory unless you have reason to change it.
Leave all of these options checked then select "next".
I recommend choosing "High detection level" to take advantage of Avira's excellent heuristics, heuristics are used to detect possible malicious code that there is no virus definition for yet. I have never had false positives when setting it to this level.
Leave this option checked so that Avira gives you a free license during setup.
I recommend leaving these two options checked so that you have two ways to access all of Avira's options, it is personal preference though.
I recommend leaving both of these options checked and fill out the form, this way you will stay up to date with the latest Avira news. You WILL NOT receive ANY SPAM.
Just sit back and let it install.
Installation is done, your option to read the read-me file, I personally do not.
You will now be prompted to update Avira to the latest definitions and updates, this is a MUST to do.
Sit back and wait for the updates to finish, these can be slow at times when there is a major update to Avira but you are using a FREE program be thankful you are getting excellent protection for FREE.
This is an example of one of Avira's ads you will see when Avira updates, these are not malware or adware, they are simply an ad for you to purchase Avira Professional, the paid version. Just click "ok" and it goes away.
Avira is now installing the latest updates, just wait until they are done.
This is the main screen for Avira's interface, this is where we begin to customize our settings for the best protection.
Click on the "Scheduler" option on the left and you will see this screen. Then "right click" on the "Complete scan" option and select "edit".
Leave the name as "Complete system scan".
Leave type as "scan job".
Choose the option "Complete system scan".
I prefer to set a weekly full system scan at a time when your pc will not be in use, such as the time above, then select "next".
I prefer to make the job "invisible", then select "finish".
Now we are going to do the same for updates, right click on "Daily update" and select "edit".
Just leave the name as "Daily Update".
Leave the option as "update job".
Set the time to daily at 15:00 hours.
Make the job "invisible".
Now click on the option right next to where it says "Overview" to add another update job.
Name the job "Update 2".
Choose the option "Update job".
Set the time to daily at 3:ooAM.
Make the job invisible.
Now you should see these settings, two update jobs and a weekly scan job. Now click on "Configuration"
For the main configuration screen you should check all of these same options. With these options you will get the most thorough full system scan on a weekly basis.
Click the + sign beside "Scan" to see these options. If you want Avira to automatically delete what it detects during your weekly scan use the options above, make sure you check the option to "Copy file to quarantine before action".
Select the option for Avira to scan "all archive types".
Now click the + sign beside the "General" option and then select "Extended threat categories" and choose "select all", Avira will detect the most malware with this option checked.
Now click the "Security" option and check all of the boxes above, this will prevent Avira from being improperly altered.
