Preboot antivirus

[d7e7r7]

Hey guys,
Just wanna know if you guys know of any antivirus programs that can be set to scan your pc before windows loads. I've heard that Avast does a pre-boot scan, any others?

I'm using ESET Smart Security and I don't think it offers a pre-boot scan so might change AV if I ever do a reinstall.....

 

[Park@82]

AFAIK Avast only does this after the first install, thereafter you should be protected from infections by the background scanning in windows.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Pre-boot, sounds interesting.

Just wondering at what level this happens and if the AV actually starts up first before loading the windows kernel to ensure a true sandbox environment.

 

[d7e7r7]

AFAIK Avast only does this after the first install, thereafter you should be protected from infections by the background scanning in windows.

Ah I see... I thought you could choose to do a preboot scan on demand... pity, would've been usefull...

Pre-boot, sounds interesting.

Just wondering at what level this happens and if the AV actually starts up first before loading the windows kernel to ensure a true sandbox environment.

would be usefull wouldn't it... run the AV scan before the drive is accessed by windows and possible viruses....

 

[subojac]

Panda Security has a Safe CD that boots a custom linux build and scans your pc before windows starts. But you have to have panda intalled so it can find the latest sig file on your drive. Downlaod the Panda Antivirus Pro trial from www.pandasecurity.com install the trial and update from the net; then Download the safe disk here http://ftp.pcm.se/download/new_hotfix/safecd.html burn it and boot from it. The safedisk will pull the updated sig from the panda installed on the disk and do a pre-boot scan.

Haven't tried this in a while, so let me know how this goes.

 

[Picard]

AFAIK Avast only does this after the first install, thereafter you should be protected from infections by the background scanning in windows.

Avast can do it anytime. Look for the Scheduler and "boot-time scan".

 

[ponder]

It's no pre-boot but happens earlier in the boot process than normal.

Avira also has this option when you do an install to start earlier than normal.

 

[Gnome]

You can also use Windows PE or the freely available WAIK iso (which includes Windows PE), add an anti-virus or tool you need and boot from that then scan the hard-drive that way. Easiest way IMHO is to remove the hard-drive and scan/clean it in another computer.