Troubleshooting, Tips > Windows Action Center

- Windows 7 -

General

Note:
In Windows 7 the Windows Security Center has been renamed to Windows Action Center. Under this section you will find the status of all your security options.

The Windows Action Center checks the status of a computer for important security aspects. You can access it directly by clicking the little flag in your taskbar or under Control Panel > Action Center.

If a problem is detected with one of these important points (e.g. an outdated anti-virus program), the Action Center issues an alert and gives recommendations on how to protect your computer better. This means, that if everything works correctly, you won’t be bothered with messages. You still can have a look at the security status of your computer in the Windows Action Center, under the Security item.
The Windows Action Center also gives you the option of managing the installed programs and to choose between them (e.g. View installed antispyware programs).

You can even turn off the warning messages under Change Action Center settings (e.g. Turn off messages about spyware and related protection).

The Windows Action Center and your Avira product

Virus protection software

You may receive the following information from the Windows Action Center with regard to your virus protection:

Virus protection

Avira Desktop reports that it is UP TO DATE and virus scanning is ON

After installation of your Avira product and a subsequent update, you will not receive any messages from the Windows Action Center. But if you go to  Action Center > Security you can see: Avira Desktop reports that it is up to date and virus scanning is on. This means that your Avira product is now up-to-date and the Avira Real-Time Protection is enabled.

Avira Desktop reports that virus scanning is temporarily TURNED OFF

You receive the following message if you disable the Avira Real-Time Protection or stop the Real-Time Protection service.

Avira wac vp off Windows Action Center

Note
You can enable or disable Avira Real-Time Protection in the Status section of the Avira Control Center. You can also see that the Avira Real-Time Protection is enabled if the red umbrella in your taskbar is open. It is also possible to activate the Avira product by clicking the Turn on now button on the Windows Action Center message. You will receive a notification asking your permission to run Avira. Click on Yes, I trust the publisher and want to run this program and Real-Time Protection will be enabled again.

Avira Desktop reports that it is OUT OF DATE

If you install your Avira product on Windows 7 or if you upgrade an older Windows operating system, on which your Avira product is already installed, to Windows 7, then you will receive the following message:

Avira wac vp out of date Windows Action Center

Note
In order for the Windows Action Center to recognize your Avira product as up-to-date, an update must be performed after installation. Update your Avira Product by carrying out an update.

Windows DID NOT FIND antivirus software on this computer

This information of the Windows Action Center appears, when the Windows Action Center has not found any anti-virus software on your computer.

Avira wac vp not found Windows Action Center

Note
Install your Avira product on your computer to protect it against viruses and other unwanted programs!

Spyware and unwanted software protection

You may receive the following information from the Windows Action Center with regard to your spyware protection:

Spyware and unwanted software protection

Avira Desktop reports that it is TURNED ON

After the installation of your Avira product and a subsequent update, you will not receive any messages from the Windows Action Center. But if you go to Action Center > Security, you can see: Avira Desktop reports that it is turned on. This means that your Avira product is now up-to-date and the Avira Real-Time Protection is enabled.

Avira Desktop reports that it is TURNED OFF

You receive the following message if you disable the Avira Real-Time Protection or stop the Real-Time Protection service.

Avira wac desktop off Windows Action Center

Note
You can enable or disable Avira Real-Time Protection in the Status section of the Avira Control Center. You can also see that the Avira Real-Time Protection is enabled if the red umbrella in your taskbar is open. It is also possible to activate the Avira product by clicking the Turn on now button on the Windows Action Center message. You will receive a notification asking your permission to run Avira. Click on Yes, I trust the publisher and want to run this program and Real-Time Protection will be enabled again.

Windows Defender is OUT OF DATE

You receive the following message if Windows Defender is activated. If you have already installed the Avira product, this message should not appear. Please check if the installation went OK.

Avira wac wd out of date Windows Action Center

Note
Windows Defender is the spyware solution from Windows. It is included and enabled by default in Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Windows Defender is TURNED OFF

This information of the Windows Action Center appears when the Windows Action Center has not found any other anti-virus software on your computer than the one that the operating system integrates by default: Windows Defender. If you have had some anti-virus software installed on your computer before, this application has been disabled. If you have already installed the Avira product, this message should not appear: Avira should be automatically detected. Please check if the installation went OK.

Avira wac wd off Windows Action Center

 

Note
Even if you have installed Windows 7, you still require a virus protection solution. Although Windows monitors your anti-virus software, it only contains Windows Defender and Windows Firewall. They only protect you against some intrusions and spyware. Therefore you would not be protected against viruses and other malware without an additional anti-virus solution!

Windows Action Center