Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: reddleman on September 29, 2011, 03:48:40 AM
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I have the free version of Avast installed, and usually it's great. But today, out of nowhere, Avast gives me a pop-up advertising Google Chrome. Now, this would be pretty annoying all by itself (most people get antivirus software to avoid programs that randomly pop-up ads, among other things). But the fact is, I already have Chrome installed, and I was running Chrome when the ad popped up! Moreover, the text of the ad seems to recognize this, saying, "Along with avast! Free Antivirus you installed the Google Chrome browser. Used by our own Virus Lab, Google Chrome is our choice for most secure web browser." Since I've already installed Chrome, and Avast seems to know I've already installed Chrome, why the hell am I getting advertising for Chrome?!
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avast! and Google have a high level of cooperation and cross-promotion. Google's browser is of little use to them if installed and not used so an "encouragement" of the kind you've describes comes as no surprise (I think I've seen something like that before on one of my own machines) but does seem a bit clumsily deployed.
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This is the second time that I've heard this. If I get any pop-ups, I'll be installing MSE immediately. This is why I have an anti-virus in the first place.
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First let me validate everything reddleman just posted. WT...F! Avast? As if that isn't irritating enough, I come in seeking a solution so as to never get a popup ad again, only to read this dismissive apologist post from Vladimyr. it reminds me of the last time avast behaved badly and I came in to post about it...I got the same type of bull$---.
Avast...this is BAD behavior...please stop it...
Vladimyr....you are not helping the situation or your beloved product. You are adding to the irritation by spinning and being dismissive of a very legitimate beef. Do you honestly view this behavior as acceptable? Do some research as to what the single most unwelcome action a webpage can take, and further ask yourself what would possibly make it any less of an irritant from the users own bloody desktop!? Do you honestly think you answered this persons concern or complaint?
I'm not ready to do so yet, but I'm one step closer to voting with my feet, and that would be a shame.
I have said it then and i'll say it now,... arrogance
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avast! and Google have a high level of cooperation and cross-promotion. Google's browser is of little use to them if installed and not used so an "encouragement" of the kind you've describes comes as no surprise (I think I've seen something like that before on one of my own machines) but does seem a bit clumsily deployed.
Okay, it's not an encouragement, it's an advertisement, pure and simple. I understand the need for companies to create revenue, and I'd be fine with ads on the Avast website or even within the Avast interface. Even the bundling of Avast with Chrome or Chrome with Avast is understandable, even if it is annoying. But pop-up ads are crossing the line. Using Avast pop-up ads to advertise Chrome ruins users' trust of both companies. The fact that the pop-up ad seems to be targeted at those who already have installed Chrome just ruins that trust even more.
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First let me validate everything reddleman just posted. WT...F! Avast? As if that isn't irritating enough, I come in seeking a solution so as to never get a popup ad again, only to read this dismissive apologist post from Vladimyr. it reminds me of the last time avast behaved badly and I came in to post about it...I got the same type of bull$---.
Avast...this is BAD behavior...please stop it...
Vladimyr....you are not helping the situation or your beloved product. You are adding to the irritation by spinning and being dismissive of a very legitimate beef. Do you honestly view this behavior as acceptable? Do some research as to what the single most unwelcome action a webpage can take, and further ask yourself what would possibly make it any less of an irritant from the users own bloody desktop!? Do you honestly think you answered this persons concern or complaint?
I'm not ready to do so yet, but I'm one step closer to voting with my feet, and that would be a shame.
I have said it then and i'll say it now,... arrogance
I've certainly been told then. Warning! Speak plainly and you too will end up in the firing line.
"Dismissive apologist"? "Spinning and being dismissive of a very legitimate beef"?
I made no attempt, nor am I in any position, to answer a complaint. What I thought I was doing was providing a plausible explanation as to why avast! would be recommending use of Google Chrome.
I support and encourage you 100% to speak your mind on this issue. Popups can be annoying and your apparent fury at this one is plainly evident but I do wonder why you seem so intent on "mowing down" anyone not as equally irritated as yourself? For me, choice of PC security software not being a matter of life and death (e.g. some of my closest and most respected friends really do prefer to use AVG Free), I find it difficult to rise to such a level of emotional intensity whereby I could describe any piece of software as "beloved".
PS. When it comes to voting with one's feet, I find the little pencils they give you too hard to hold between my toes. ;D
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Okay, it's not an encouragement, it's an advertisement, pure and simple. I understand the need for companies to create revenue, and I'd be fine with ads on the Avast website or even within the Avast interface. Even the bundling of Avast with Chrome or Chrome with Avast is understandable, even if it is annoying. But pop-up ads are crossing the line. Using Avast pop-up ads to advertise Chrome ruins users' trust of both companies. The fact that the pop-up ad seems to be targeted at those who already have installed Chrome just ruins that trust even more.
Now we wait for an authorized response.
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I have the free version of Avast installed, and usually it's great. But today, out of nowhere, Avast gives me a pop-up advertising Google Chrome. Now, this would be pretty annoying all by itself (most people get antivirus software to avoid programs that randomly pop-up ads, among other things). But the fact is, I already have Chrome installed, and I was running Chrome when the ad popped up! Moreover, the text of the ad seems to recognize this, saying, "Along with avast! Free Antivirus you installed the Google Chrome browser. Used by our own Virus Lab, Google Chrome is our choice for most secure web browser." Since I've already installed Chrome, and Avast seems to know I've already installed Chrome, why the hell am I getting advertising for Chrome?!
did you install Chrome when offered by the avast installer? this would be an explanation.
I installed Chrome separately, not when offered by avast installer, and haven't seen any ads until now.
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did you install Chrome when offered by the avast installer? this would be an explanation.
I installed Chrome separately, not when offered by avast installer, and haven't seen any ads until now.
I may have. Avast and Chrome were two of the programs that I installed right away when I bought this computer about a year ago. I don't remember if I actually installed Chrome through Avast or not, but since I was intending on installing both anyway, I probably did. I should also say that, in the year or so I've had Avast installed on this computer, this is the first time I remember getting a pop-up ad from Avast, which is why I was so surprised.
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Now we wait for an authorized response.
Please see Vincent Steckler's response in the avast! blog:
Avast and Google Chrome
https://blog.avast.com/2009/12/03/avast-and-google-chrome
Vincent Steckler is the CEO of avast!
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did you install Chrome when offered by the avast installer? this would be an explanation.
I installed Chrome separately, not when offered by avast installer, and haven't seen any ads until now.
I may have. Avast and Chrome were two of the programs that I installed right away when I bought this computer about a year ago. I don't remember if I actually installed Chrome through Avast or not, but since I was intending on installing both anyway, I probably did. I should also say that, in the year or so I've had Avast installed on this computer, this is the first time I remember getting a pop-up ad from Avast, which is why I was so surprised.
That would seem odd to install chrome through the avast installer and then _get_ a popup still pushing chrome, would it not? Also I for one installed chrome on my own and got the popup. Or am I reading you backwards?
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A possible solution??
I have gone into Settings > Community and unchecked "show avast! recommended features" and "show social networking features", the first of which smacks of " allow us to sell you stuff". We'll see how that works out, hope that helps other folks.
But even if this suppresses the bad behavior, it should not be opt out. I should not have to work to _stop_ bad behavior.
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First let me validate everything reddleman just posted. WT...F! Avast? As if that isn't irritating enough, I come in seeking a solution so as to never get a popup ad again, only to read this dismissive apologist post from Vladimyr. it reminds me of the last time avast behaved badly and I came in to post about it...I got the same type of bull$---.
Avast...this is BAD behavior...please stop it...
Vladimyr....you are not helping the situation or your beloved product. You are adding to the irritation by spinning and being dismissive of a very legitimate beef. Do you honestly view this behavior as acceptable? Do some research as to what the single most unwelcome action a webpage can take, and further ask yourself what would possibly make it any less of an irritant from the users own bloody desktop!? Do you honestly think you answered this persons concern or complaint?
I'm not ready to do so yet, but I'm one step closer to voting with my feet, and that would be a shame.
I have said it then and i'll say it now,... arrogance
I've certainly been told then. Warning! Speak plainly and you too will end up in the firing line.
Yeah, right, I'm jumping your ass for being a "plain speaker"....no actually a plain speaker might have chosen to honestly answer the questions I put to you on the matter.
"Dismissive apologist"? "Spinning and being dismissive of a very legitimate beef"?
I made no attempt, nor am I in any position, to answer a complaint. What I thought I was doing was providing a plausible explanation as to why avast! would be recommending use of Google Chrome.
And you can't see how that parses as condoning it? And the complaint isn't remotely about recommending chrome...that's a straw-man... It's about the method of doing so.
I support and encourage you 100% to speak your mind on this issue. Popups can be annoying and your apparent fury at this one is plainly evident but I do wonder why you seem so intent on "mowing down" anyone not as equally irritated as yourself?
Yet another straw-man. I wasn't mowing you down for not sharing my state or irritation. And you seem sharp enough to know that already. You responded to a _clear_ complaint, that also include a few pointed if somewhat retorical questions...but only seeming to notice the questions, as if they occurred in a vacuum, and then responded with an answer that for all the world seems to me to take the position that avasts behavior was _reasonable_ "if clumsy"?? It comes across as dismissive as hell brother.
Google's browser is of little use to them if installed and not used so an "encouragement" of the kind you've describes comes as no surprise.
Well color me surprised....I'm clearly not alone.
When you wear "evangelist", you are gonna rub irritated people the wrong way with that my friend. But hey, label me as you will. Stay "oh so reasonable" while stating "I find it difficult to rise to such a level of emotional intensity"...and most people will fail to notice ...well I'll leave it unsaid lest I be labeled "furious" or something....but hey, pretty well crafted.
Have the last word sir
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Haven't mastered the 6th chakra?
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Have the last word sir
My last word is my first "word (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=85696.msg693561#msg693561)", which remains for each to consider the merits thereof as he/she sees fit.
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Yes avast! recommend Chrome you got something again Google ?
Well i can say its better that he recommend Chrome than Ask Toolbar in my opinion...
Chrome has never been known as a malware but Ask Toolbar of course yes...
Mr.Agent
PS : I think this is because Google and avast! is partner. So both recommend each of their product they want. Im happy if that what i said is really true because Google is a big business and avast! can be safe with Google more than Ask...
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1. Avast makes good stuff
2. It costs money to develop, maintain and improve good stuff
3. Avast has a close working relationship with Google.
4. You get what you pay for. If you want to get rid of the pop-up just buy an avast! Pro or AIS license or find an inferior anti-Virus product that is free and has no pop-ups.
This is not rocket science.
This is life.
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Well said Nesivos.
But the 4. its just too true i never see AIS to offer chrome or or got pop ups the only thing its has is news service but that not annoying its give you news...
So me i can say the pop ups is well made i can say it because alot program like Avira and AVG do pop ups but its just weird and its ruin their interface or pop you like everytime. avast! for me has the best pop ups... lol.
Its user friendly the pop ups that what i wanna say. Its do his job on when it is need.
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I use "free" and have never seen any pop-ups at all.
I don't remember if the option was available when I installed avast.
I don't use Chrome either.
This begs the question...why some and not others? ???
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I use "free" and have never seen any pop-ups at all.
I don't remember if the option was available when I installed avast.
I don't use Chrome either.
This begs the question...why some and not others? ???
+1
No Chrome pop-ups here either. Chrome is not installed.
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I believe Avast has walked the advertisement line pretty well. A colleague of mine actually took advantage of one of the Avast ads offering discount b/c he wanted the pro edition.
Also with Nevisos point about the Google/Avast partnership. I believe Google also bundles Avast in the google pack. The bigger the Avast free user base, the bigger the potential for new Pro Avast users which incidentally requires sporadic advertisement.
Also there shouldn't be a problem with Avast getting a small cut for every new Chrome install with the pop up. It is relevant stuff, infrequent and it isn't intrusive. If avast did what Avira did with the ask.com toolbar basically trojaning the thing in new installs or update prompts, then we will have a problem.
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I use "free" and have never seen any pop-ups at all.
I don't remember if the option was available when I installed avast.
I don't use Chrome either.
This begs the question...why some and not others? ???
Same over here!
Could there be a connection with "Settings/Community/Community Features" ???
I have both features unchecked! ;D
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I use "free" and have never seen any pop-ups at all.
I don't remember if the option was available when I installed avast.
I don't use Chrome either.
This begs the question...why some and not others? ???
Same over here!
Could there be a connection with "Settings/Community/Community Features" ???
I have both features unchecked! ;D
Same here.
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I use "free" and have never seen any pop-ups at all.
I don't remember if the option was available when I installed avast.
I don't use Chrome either.
This begs the question...why some and not others? ???
No Chrome pop-up either, but if you read Vlk/Igor's reply you would only get this if you had installed Chrome, I opted out of the Chrome install and don't have it installed.
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No Chrome pop-up either, but if you read Vlk/Igor's reply you would only get this if you had installed Chrome, I opted out of the Chrome install and don't have it installed.
I got the same impression from those answers, but then if the user already installed Chrome when he installed Avast (or whenever), I can't understand what exactly the intention of the pop up was. ???
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1. Avast makes good stuff
2. It costs money to develop, maintain and improve good stuff
3. Avast has a close working relationship with Google.
4. You get what you pay for. If you want to get rid of the pop-up just buy an avast! Pro or AIS license or find an inferior anti-Virus product that is free and has no pop-ups.
This is not rocket science.
This is life.
Amen! Never did understand how someone getting something for free can whine so much. If you don't like it download something else easy as that.
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Same over here!
Could there be a connection with "Settings/Community/Community Features" ???
I have both features unchecked! ;
[/quote]
I have the top (participate) checked and not the bottom two. :)
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No Chrome pop-up either, but if you read Vlk/Igor's reply you would only get this if you had installed Chrome, I opted out of the Chrome install and don't have it installed.
I got the same impression from those answers, but then if the user already installed Chrome when he installed Avast (or whenever), I can't understand what exactly the intention of the pop up was. ???
My understanding of the intention of the popup is that it would only occur where both the following conditions are met.
1. Chrome installed when prompted during 'avast! Free' install.
2. Chrome installation has not been used.
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My understanding of the intention of the popup is that it would only occur where both the following conditions are met.
1. Chrome installed when prompted during 'avast! Free' install.
2. Chrome installation has not been used.
Those could had been "conditions" (they were NOT the conditions in this particular case, as you can read from the above reports), but the goal/target/intention/objective would still be unclear to me. I'm starting to think this was a simple mistake ::).
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I couldn't believe my eyes when i UNTICKED Google Crome, but Avast STILL installs it...I moved from Avira due to their ASK installation...now Avast comes out with the same annoying thing...INSTALLING GOOGLE CROME...( hence the reason i stopped using Avira ). I have just started to like Avast, but it seems its becoming a "sluggish" AV...
Could you guys maybe ged RID of GC as in my eyes its a waste of download size. I'm a computer tech and usually install ( these last 3 months )Avast, but if THIS happens...i'll rather revert back to Avira, as Avast and Avira's "rating-score" is about the same...
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well if thats the case its a bug in the installer, not deliberately forcing google chrome on u...
please report ur system specs to Avast! developers.
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well if thats the case its a bug in the installer...
It was a bug and has been fixed meanwhile.
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I couldn't believe my eyes when i UNTICKED Google Crome, but Avast STILL installs it...I moved from Avira due to their ASK installation...now Avast comes out with the same annoying thing...INSTALLING GOOGLE CROME...( hence the reason i stopped using Avira ). I have just started to like Avast, but it seems its becoming a "sluggish" AV...
Could you guys maybe ged RID of GC as in my eyes its a waste of download size. I'm a computer tech and usually install ( these last 3 months )Avast, but if THIS happens...i'll rather revert back to Avira, as Avast and Avira's "rating-score" is about the same...
It's sort of 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other. I used Avira until they made it harder to disable avira.notify.exe (or whatever was the cause of that annoying popup). At least through Avast 6, the option to not install Chrome, or have it set as the default browser, was pretty clear. In that sense, I preferred the Avast approach to the Avira approach. But again...it's a matter of personal preference. I personally don't like getting popups from any program installed on my system.
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This is the second time that I've heard this. If I get any pop-ups, I'll be installing MSE immediately. This is why I have an anti-virus in the first place.
While MSE is OK, the problem with that is:
1.) You will only get updates once every 24 hours.
2.) No auto-sand-boxing of suspicious files
3.) No Boot Time Scan Options.
4.) No automatic updates streaming with instant updates for emergency malware detention and file reputation.
5.) Having to wait 4-5 hours to do a full scan on MSE, maybe more, when Avast can do it in about 30-45 minutes.
For the once a year pop-up that might promote a service and the need to enter an annual license key, (the one good thing about MSE that you don't have to do.) I'll take the throughout the day protection of Avast 7 over MSE. You just can't get what Avast 7 offers in any other free, or in fact, most advanced paid security programs.
Jack
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I am very disappointed that Avast has an affiliation with Google but I suspected this because of how they push the Chrome browser. I try my best to avoid anything that has to do with Google because I don't appreciate how Google tries to get themselves into EVERYTHING and I don't like how they profile people on the Internet to fulfill target advertizing and I know they do this because it is in their user agreements for everything they have anything to do with. If I wanted to be profiled for target advertizing I'd sign up for it, but of course with Google there is NO OPTION. Another example of how Google is getting their clutches on everything Internet related is the fact that my Internet Provider went with Google Email Servers unfortunately and the reason for this is because Google makes offers to venders that they cannot refuse based on cost efficiency so that Google can get their clutches on as much email interchange information as they can for advertising purposes. I am using POP mail to avoid the Gmail footprint on my email service as much as possible but I still can't avoid their Email servers of course. I could go on and on as far as how Google forces themselves into our lives regarding Internet related services, but I will leave it at that. I guess there is no way of avoiding the onslaught of Google into our private lives if we want to use the Internet and email services unfortunately.
But I w ill say ONE THING I'LL NEVER DO and that is I WILL NEVER USE THEIR CHROME OR GMAIL, PERIOD, for all the reasons I've stated so they can advertise until the cows come home as far as I'm concerned it makes no difference to me.
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Same here. Will never install anything with the Google name on it if possible. Stopped using Google search long ago. When I installed Avast 7 recently it was easy to opt out, which I do appreciate. :)
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The only part of Google's "power bloc" that I'm involved with (that I know of) is YouTube, where I registered to be able to set preferences and to post comments. My default search tool is Dogpile, which, while it uses Google as one of its search engines, doesn't AFAIK exchange personally identifiable info with Google.
With respect to switching to another a-v, one important point's been overlooked, and that's the level of helpful support here. I don't think any competing product, free or otherwise, offers anywhere near as much support as avast, particularly here in the forums. Sure, there been lots of problems with, say, iYogi, but the almost standard reply to complaints about them is that the user with the problem should have looked for help here first.
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The only part of Google's "power bloc" that I'm involved with (that I know of) is YouTube, where I registered to be able to set preferences and to post comments. My default search tool is Dogpile, which, while it uses Google as one of its search engines, doesn't AFAIK exchange personally identifiable info with Google.
With respect to switching to another a-v, one important point's been overlooked, and that's the level of helpful support here. I don't think any competing product, free or otherwise, offers anywhere near as much support as avast, particularly here in the forums. Sure, there been lots of problems with, say, iYogi, but the almost standard reply to complaints about them is that the user with the problem should have looked for help here first.
The only part of Google's "power bloc" that I'm involved with (that I know of) is YouTube, where I registered to be able to set preferences and to post comments. My default search tool is Dogpile, which, while it uses Google as one of its search engines, doesn't AFAIK exchange personally identifiable info with Google.
With respect to switching to another a-v, one important point's been overlooked, and that's the level of helpful support here. I don't think any competing product, free or otherwise, offers anywhere near as much support as avast, particularly here in the forums. Sure, there been lots of problems with, say, iYogi, but the almost standard reply to complaints about them is that the user with the problem should have looked for help here first.
Yep, I won't use anything related to Google as I said if I can help it at all. All one has to do is monitor their data stream while surfing the net where you'll see "waiting for www.google-analytics.com" status all the time to know how widespread and prevalent Google has spread it's entrenched tentacles into absolutely EVERYTHING we do on the Internet for the purpose to accumulate preference information on users. So I'm not about to help them out in their attempt to completely take over information processing exchange of data, their doing just fine without my help. It's nearly impossible to avoid Google altogether however. If Google would allow for opting out in their quest to accumulate information of users then that would be one thing but sadly they don't.
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This is the second time that I've heard this. If I get any pop-ups, I'll be installing MSE immediately. This is why I have an anti-virus in the first place.
While MSE is OK, the problem with that is:
1.) You will only get updates once every 24 hours.
2.) No auto-sand-boxing of suspicious files
3.) No Boot Time Scan Options.
4.) No automatic updates streaming with instant updates for emergency malware detention and file reputation.
5.) Having to wait 4-5 hours to do a full scan on MSE, maybe more, when Avast can do it in about 30-45 minutes.
For the once a year pop-up that might promote a service and the need to enter an annual license key, (the one good thing about MSE that you don't have to do.) I'll take the throughout the day protection of Avast 7 over MSE. You just can't get what Avast 7 offers in any other free, or in fact, most advanced paid security programs.
Jack
4-5 hours or more? Are you serious? I just ran a full MSE scan on my laptop with a 750GB HDD that has 3 primary partitions: C (System, 63 GB total size), D (data, 546 GB total size), E (system image backups, 89 GB total size), with over 350,000 items scanned, and it took around 33 minutes.
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I don't think any competing product, free or otherwise, offers anywhere near as much support as avast, particularly here in the forums. Sure, there been lots of problems with, say, iYogi, but the almost standard reply to complaints about them is that the user with the problem should have looked for help here first.
+1!
Jack
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Chrome is my favorite browser,but in some cases it is not totally compatible with avast webshield:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=94344.0