Avast Continues to Tell Me That I Have 8 Driver That Are Out of Date
#1 
baazi
-
- Members
- 46 posts
- OFFLINE
- Local time: 01:18 PM
Posted 26 May 2018 - 03:25 PM
The operating system on my computer is Windows 10, and I'm using Avast as my antivirus software. My questiion is that, Is it safe to use Avast Driver updater?
Thank you.
Edited by hamluis, 09 April 2019 - 02:33 PM.
Moved from W10 Spt to All Other Apps - Hamluis.
-
Back to top
BC AdBot (Login to Remove)
-
- BleepingComputer.com
- Register to remove ads
#2
JohnC_21
-
- Members
- 33,232 posts
- OFFLINE
- Gender: Male
- Local time: 01:18 PM
Posted 26 May 2018 - 03:34 PM
I would not recommend the use of any driver updater unless it was to find a driver of an out of support computer and that software would be Snappy Updater which is open source. If your computer is running fine and you see no yellow exclamation marks in your Device Manager there is no need for a driver update. The only exclusion to that rule would be a GPU update provided for by the GPU's chipset maker such as Nvidia or AMD. Sometimes a GPU update will give an improvement.
If it ain't broke don't fix it is my philosophy when it comes to driver updates.
FYI. Windows 10 updates the driver's on the system automatically unless you disable it so why have another piece of software updating your drivers?
- Back to top
#3
mikey11
-
- Members
- 3,219 posts
- OFFLINE
- Gender: Male
- Location: Psychiatric Ward @ Beelitz-Heilstatten Hospital, Beelitz, Germany
- Local time: 07:18 PM
Posted 26 May 2018 - 03:37 PM
use Avast anti-virus if you must.....but use it ONLY for that.....don't use any of the other nonsense that comes with it....cleaner, registry cleaner, driver update etc etc
- Back to top
#4
britechguy
-
- Members
- 12,652 posts
- OFFLINE
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt
- Gender: Male
- Location: Staunton, VA
- Local time: 01:18 PM
Posted 26 May 2018 - 05:19 PM
As JohnC_21 and mikey11 have both said in their own ways: Don't use third party driver updater software.
It is even possible to tell Windows 10 to avoid updating drivers if you take the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach. I always update mine if the device manufacturer or my computer manufacturer recommends doing so, but not otherwise (but I do allow Microsoft's updates on my machines mostly because I want to encounter any issues that might occur that my customers are likely to encounter, too; that way I can come up with solutions before the calls come in).
Brian AKA Bri the Tech Guy (website in my user profile) - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit
A lot of what appears to be progress is just so much technological rococo.
~ Bill Gray
- Back to top
#5
baazi
- Topic Starter
-
- Members
- 46 posts
- OFFLINE
- Local time: 01:18 PM
Posted 27 May 2018 - 11:51 PM
Thank you everyone for your advice.
- Back to top
#6
jalind
-
- Members
- 1 posts
- OFFLINE
- Local time: 12:18 PM
Posted 08 January 2019 - 12:19 PM
use Avast anti-virus if you must.....but use it ONLY for that.....don't use any of the other nonsense that comes with it....cleaner, registry cleaner, driver update etc etc
Came across this thread looking for more info about Avast!'s Driver Updater. In general, this is applicable to all AV software, not just Avast!
However, one feature of Avast! I've found very useful is its Software Updater, but I use it in "manual" mode, not automatic mode (which requires paid subscription). It will check the current installed versions of over a dozen common utilities and applications that are often exploited by malware, viruses, worms, etc. Examples are Adobe Reader, Java Runtime, WinZip, FlashPlayer, iTunes, 7-Zip (similar to WinZip), and web browsers (Opera, Firefox, Chrome) etc. It leaves major packages handled by Windows Update alone (e.g. Microsoft Office). About the time Windows Update does its thing monthly I pull up the Avast! software updater to see what else might need updates. It will tell you what has updates available and if you wish, you can have the Software Updater download and install them. You can also select which you want updated if there's more than one application with updates. For me it's been much more useful than manually checking everything individually by starting it up and going through its menu to check for updates. I don't put this into the same class as hardware driver updates, which shouldn't be very often. It's more aligned with AV protection to avoid software and browser exploits.
John
Edited by jalind, 08 January 2019 - 12:20 PM.
- Back to top
#7
dc3
-
- Members
- 32,510 posts
- OFFLINE
Arachibutyrophobia
- Gender: Male
- Location: Sierra Foothills of Northern Ca.
- Local time: 10:18 AM
Posted 08 January 2019 - 12:47 PM
You still haven't gotten the message... don't use third party update software to update any drivers. The drivers which these products suggest are not the same as those supplied by the manufacturer of the product you are trying to update. You also need to do as suggested regarding checking the Device Manager for any yellow warnings or red errors indicating that there is a problem with a driver. Go to the manufacturer's website for the product you need drivers for and download the drivers from the manufacturer's website only. There are those who would argue that you can use third party drivers, but they are not the same drivers the manufacturer supplied in all most all cases. Another consideration is what else will be included in the driver download from a third party vendor. This could include anything from ad ware to something much nastier.
Family and loved ones will always be a priority in my daily life. You never know when one will leave you.
- Back to top
#8
jenae
-
- Members
- 2,157 posts
- OFFLINE
- Gender: Male
- Local time: 04:18 AM
Posted 08 January 2019 - 04:26 PM
Hi, I agree with dc3, you would be aware that the greatest repository of drivers are held by MS, the concept of the "modern" driver is being slowly implemented, it is as of now, no where near a success, I am on the board of a number of effected companies, and the commercial imperative is still driving the game, what this means is you have to get (as dc3 said) your drivers straight from the developer, or in the case of OEM's the manufacturers site, they do not release these drivers to third party operatives (and to date this also includes MS)
Avast is struggling and no longer can afford the expertise required to remain in front of the game we do not use it on any of our machines, in fact almost all machines now exclusively use Windows defender, the incidences of problems is now at it's lowest level ever, I must stress if you leave win10 alone you will have almost no problems with it, one important exception is we always disable MS driver updates, this applies to the millions of machines we control.
- Back to top
#9
GuyWylie
-
- Members
- 4 posts
- OFFLINE
- Local time: 06:18 PM
Posted 07 April 2019 - 11:09 PM
one other thing about these third-party "driver updater" apps is they can be difficult to remove, which also says something about their true intent to swindle you in one way or another.
- Back to top
#10
roger_m2
-
- Members
- 14 posts
- OFFLINE
- Local time: 03:18 AM
Posted 08 April 2019 - 10:36 PM
one other thing about these third-party "driver updater" apps is they can be difficult to remove, which also says something about their true intent to swindle you in one way or another.
That is not true and I'm certain that you can not give a single example of a driver update that is difficult to remove.
You still haven't gotten the message... don't use third party update software to update any drivers. The drivers which these products suggest are not the same as those supplied by the manufacturer of the product you are trying to update. You also need to do as suggested regarding checking the Device Manager for any yellow warnings or red errors indicating that there is a problem with a driver. Go to the manufacturer's website for the product you need drivers for and download the drivers from the manufacturer's website only. There are those who would argue that you can use third party drivers, but they are not the same drivers the manufacturer supplied in all most all cases. Another consideration is what else will be included in the driver download from a third party vendor. This could include anything from ad ware to something much nastier.
Driver upsate software does use manufacturer supplied drivers. Where do you think they get the drivers from? Sometimes there may be a difference between drivers supplied by a computer manufacturer and a hardware manufacturer. But, quite often driver update software will actually install the driver from the computer manufacturer.
One exception to this is DriverMax. Sometimes it will install custom video drivers, rather than the official ones. But no other driver update software does this.
As for your last comment. driver update software only actually downloads the needed drivers and nothing else. No driver update sofware is malicious or will install anything malicious. At worst, there are three driver updaters (one of which was published under many different names) which just give fake scan results and don't actually download any updates.
Will updating drivers make your computer faster and fix crashes and errors. Most likely not, with the exception that updating video drivers and replacing Microsoft's generic storage drivers with the proper OEMs can sometmes significantly increase performance. But, despite the often misleading claims used to market driver update software, they are not malicious.
- Back to top
#11
britechguy
-
- Members
- 12,652 posts
- OFFLINE
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt
- Gender: Male
- Location: Staunton, VA
- Local time: 01:18 PM
Posted 08 April 2019 - 10:39 PM
Well, there's always a contrarian.
I believe that the readership knows the reputations of those advising against using driver updater software and will take that into account. Don't do it.
Brian AKA Bri the Tech Guy (website in my user profile) - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit
A lot of what appears to be progress is just so much technological rococo.
~ Bill Gray
- Back to top
#12
roger_m2
-
- Members
- 14 posts
- OFFLINE
- Local time: 03:18 AM
Posted 08 April 2019 - 10:57 PM
Well, there's always a contrarian.
I believe that the readership knows the reputations of those advising against using driver updater software and will take that into account. Don't do it.
I'm not saying that people need to use driver updaters, but I'm sick of seeing misinformation benig spread about these types of programs. It is a big issue, as there are many shady websites which publish removal guides for driver updaters and other software which can be considered to be unwanted by some people. These removal guides state that the software is harmful and they recommend using security software (e.g. Malwarebytes), which they publish or they make money from as an affiliate, to remove the software. When the reality is that the software is not malicious and can be easily be uninstalled, without requiring malware removal software being used.
I have no time for software publishers using misleading cliams to sell their software and I also have no time for misleading claims and scaremongering being used to sell security software.
Edited by roger_m2, 09 April 2019 - 03:15 AM.
- Back to top
#13
dc3
-
- Members
- 32,510 posts
- OFFLINE
Arachibutyrophobia
- Gender: Male
- Location: Sierra Foothills of Northern Ca.
- Local time: 10:18 AM
Posted 09 April 2019 - 10:08 AM
I'm not saying that people need to use driver updaters, but I'm sick of seeing misinformation benig spread about these types of programs.
There is a very good eye opening article posted at the How-To Geek website, I would suggest you read it. This was published about three years ago, but it is still accurate. Below is a direct quote from this article.
We've seen advertisements for a "Driver Update Utility" from driverupdate.net all over the place recently. This is usually a bad sign — we also see ads for PC cleaners, Registry cleaners, game booster, and all sorts of other utilities that don't actually do anything besides try to make money from you and install garbage onto your PC.We installed this software so you don't have to — really, don't try this at home. We started with DriverUpdate. it will scan your computer for drivers for free, and then you can pay $30 to receive free automatic driver updates for a year. That's what it promises, anyway.
The program starts out claiming to be by a "Microsoft Gold Certified Partner." This doesn't actually mean Microsoft has placed their stamp of approval on this utility. It then attempts to install other junk software you won't want.
After installation, DriverUpdate ran a scan and informed us that our computer had 14 out-of-date drivers, many of which are considered "ancient." This is on a fresh Windows 8.1 system — installed just a few months ago — with the latest drivers available from the manufacturer's website at the time. There's no possible way we have "ancient" drivers from 2006 installed.
Edited by britechguy, 09 April 2019 - 10:19 AM.
Family and loved ones will always be a priority in my daily life. You never know when one will leave you.
- Back to top
#14
britechguy
-
- Members
- 12,652 posts
- OFFLINE
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt
- Gender: Male
- Location: Staunton, VA
- Local time: 01:18 PM
Posted 09 April 2019 - 10:17 AM
There is no question about the consensus opinion in the IT community about third-party driver updater software. It is a mess, often bordering on malware, and even when it isn't the damage it can and often does cause makes it something to stay away from.
That's not inaccurate, nor misinformation, but fact. BC does not support the use of third-party driver updater software, and that has been consistent for years now. That position is not about to change.
The use of automated driver update software from your computer's OEM or the OEM of specific components in your system, for which those update programs are specifically dedicated, is a separate issue (and is fine).
Edited by britechguy, 09 April 2019 - 10:18 AM.
Brian AKA Bri the Tech Guy (website in my user profile) - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit
A lot of what appears to be progress is just so much technological rococo.
~ Bill Gray
- Back to top
#15
dc3
-
- Members
- 32,510 posts
- OFFLINE
Arachibutyrophobia
- Gender: Male
- Location: Sierra Foothills of Northern Ca.
- Local time: 10:18 AM
Posted 09 April 2019 - 10:38 AM
BC does not support the use of third-party driver updater software, and that has been consistent for years now. That position is not about to change.
This is inclusive of any optimization software.
Family and loved ones will always be a priority in my daily life. You never know when one will leave you.
- Back to top
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/678169/is-it-safe-to-use-avast-driver-updater/
0 Response to "Avast Continues to Tell Me That I Have 8 Driver That Are Out of Date"
Post a Comment