Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: wooferdog on January 19, 2014, 08:55:57 AM
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Hi, I recently opened Avast and discovered a message saying that "We found evidence of Grime on your PC"... and gives the option to "Optimize PC", but is that a good idea? I've never had Avast tune-up my PC before, and from my experience with Norton, I couldn't tell if it made things better or worse.
I'd like to know what steps it would take before allowing it to toy around, as there may be better alternatives that do this.
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The idea is to get you to use Grime Fighter.
1) You can check what programs start on your system yourself. (msconfoig and Task Manager )
2) Windows gives the tools to safely deal with freeing up space
3) Never run a registry editor unless you are 100% confident you can repair any damage, and have backup images of your system available.
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So what is "Grime fighter"?
There is only a button "Optimize my PC" and I have no idea what might happen if I click it.
If it gave me a list of suggestions which I could choose to follow or not, that would be okay.
It says : "9 bloatware programs slowed the launch of this PC".
OK -- can I choose what if anything Avast will do about these once I press the button?
Will it tell me what they are and ask if I want to stop each one individually?
It may well have the best intentions, but if it just proceeds to change things because it thinks it knows better, then I'd pass.
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I'd read this and do search on Forum: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=144932.0
Also, interesting post #388: http://195.74.76.34/index.php?topic=142936.msg1045646#msg1045646
What version (eg. Free ?) are you running ?
I'm just wondering which level of Avast 9 this "tool" comes installed on.
I attached a pic from other post.....wondering if this is in just the "Change" option within Program & Features in Windows or also in the Custom Install to uncheck Grime Fighter ? Personally, I'm still waiting for Avast 9 new program releases to upgrade (clean install) from my Avast 8 but think as the attached pic shows I am only installing the "shields".....no tools.
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I'd read this and do search on Forum: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=144932.0
Also, interesting post #388: http://195.74.76.34/index.php?topic=142936.msg1045646#msg1045646
What version (eg. Free ?) are you running ?
I'm just wondering which level of Avast 9 this "tool" comes installed on.
Free 2014.9.0.2011
These "Optimize my PC" popups started a few weeks ago.
I certainly never was explicitly asked if I wanted "Grime fighter".
But I turned off the "notify me after update" a while ago because it caused an unending stream of popups asking me to upgrade.
Maybe that made Avast default to "Yes, I agree to install everything".
Anyway, from the discussions you linked I think I can do without it.
It isn't integrated into Avast's settings.
But I went to Control panel/Add remove programs and the Avast install and it's an option there you can uncheck.
Sad that Avast is going the same way as Norton: what used to be simple and clean and effective is getting more and more features and turning into a lumbering dinosaur.
Why don't they understand that people who use antivirus aren't all happy to blindly trust an application to screw with their settings?
My wife got caught with an "optimize your PC" trojan a while ago and it completely messed up her PC.
When something like that turns up on my PC my reaction is RED ALERT not "Cool, go ahead."
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I'd read this and do search on Forum: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=144932.0
Also, interesting post #388: http://195.74.76.34/index.php?topic=142936.msg1045646#msg1045646
What version (eg. Free ?) are you running ?
I'm just wondering which level of Avast 9 this "tool" comes installed on.
I attached a pic from other post.....wondering if this is in just the "Change" option within Program & Features in Windows or also in the Custom Install to uncheck Grime Fighter ? Personally, I'm still waiting for Avast 9 new program releases to upgrade (clean install) from my Avast 8 but think as the attached pic shows I am only installing the "shields".....no tools.
I'm running the latest version, version 2014.9.0.2011 (Avast Free). I've never seen that menu in your screenshot.
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Grime Fighter is an additional product that you can purchase.
It is NOT available unless you buy it.
Do a search, there are so many threads hre already and it is detailed in the avast blog.
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Oh okay, so even if I hit "Optimize My PC", it would take me to a prompt asking me to purchase Avast first? Makes sense.
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Grime Fighter is an additional product that you can purchase.
It is NOT available unless you buy it.
Do a search, there are so many threads hre already and it is detailed in the avast blog.
Really? Why then was it popping up nagging me to let it run?
Why did I just have to uninstall it when I never heard of it, let alone purchased it?
And why the hell should I have to search a forum and a blog to find out what has been installed on my own PC without my knowledge or consent? (Well, I know why, because they want to sell it to me, but I don't like it.)
If there are "so many threads" here, doesn't that indicate that many others are just as mystified and/or annoyed by this "feature" just turning up on their PC?
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Grime Fighter is an additional product that you can purchase.
It is NOT available unless you buy it.
Do a search, there are so many threads hre already and it is detailed in the avast blog.
Really? Why then was it popping up nagging me to let it run?
Why did I just have to uninstall it when I never heard of it, let alone purchased it?
And why the hell should I have to search a forum and a blog to find out what has been installed on my own PC without my knowledge or consent? (Well, I know why, because they want to sell it to me, but I don't like it.)
If there are "so many threads" here, doesn't that indicate that many others are just as mystified and/or annoyed by this "feature" just turning up on their PC?
You can't have uninstalled GrimeFighter , it is only available as an additional purchase , it is NOT packaged in any of the downloads.
The hooks/links to the add on are shown in the avast GUI , but the product is NOT installed.
Nothing was added to your system with , or without your consent.
The popup you see is an advert.
You should search the forum prior to posting, it saves you time and effort where other people have already asked the question and had the same answer.
The avast team post all new version features at the head of the forum, and in the avast blogs.
That information is there so that you can keep up with all new features and add ons.
Read the information and you would know about GrimeFighter, and its deployment .
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Grime Fighter is an additional product that you can purchase.
It is NOT available unless you buy it.
Do a search, there are so many threads hre already and it is detailed in the avast blog.
Really? Why then was it popping up nagging me to let it run?
Why did I just have to uninstall it when I never heard of it, let alone purchased it?
And why the hell should I have to search a forum and a blog to find out what has been installed on my own PC without my knowledge or consent? (Well, I know why, because they want to sell it to me, but I don't like it.)
If there are "so many threads" here, doesn't that indicate that many others are just as mystified and/or annoyed by this "feature" just turning up on their PC?
You can't have uninstalled GrimeFighter , it is only available as an additional purchase , it is NOT packaged in any of the downloads.
Read the information and you would know about GrimeFighter, and its deployment .
Don't call me a liar.
I did not (actively) install it.
I did however just uninstall it.
Go away and brownnose Avast somewhere else.
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Grime Fighter is an additional product that you can purchase.
It is NOT available unless you buy it.
Do a search, there are so many threads hre already and it is detailed in the avast blog.
Really? Why then was it popping up nagging me to let it run?
Why did I just have to uninstall it when I never heard of it, let alone purchased it?
And why the hell should I have to search a forum and a blog to find out what has been installed on my own PC without my knowledge or consent? (Well, I know why, because they want to sell it to me, but I don't like it.)
If there are "so many threads" here, doesn't that indicate that many others are just as mystified and/or annoyed by this "feature" just turning up on their PC?
You can't have uninstalled GrimeFighter , it is only available as an additional purchase , it is NOT packaged in any of the downloads.
Read the information and you would know about GrimeFighter, and its deployment .
Don't call me a liar.
I did not (actively) install it.
I did however just uninstall it.
Go away and brownnose Avast somewhere else.
Nobody called you a liar ........... you are however totally mistaken.
GrimeFighter is an additional purchase , the only way to get this product is to purchase it and then install.
If you go to the avast installer, Grimefighter is listed, if you run " uninstall" the action runs but actually does nothing.
You can prove this by now trying to install GrimeFighter, the action will appear to run and install the product, but, upon systen restart you will find NOTHING.
The product is listed in the GUI but is not installed.
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you are however totally mistaken.
So, I'm "mistaken" because I believed what the Avast installer said was the case?
It showed Grime Fighter as installed when it wasn't and faked the uninstall process?
That the popup was not the program it said it was but just spam trying to make me buy it?
Okay. How did the popup know that
"9 bloatware programs slowed the launch of this PC".
if it wasn't installed?
Was it just making numbers up?
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you are however totally mistaken.
So, I'm "mistaken" because I believed what the Avast installer said was the case?
It showed Grime Fighter as installed when it wasn't and faked the uninstall process?
That the popup was not the program it said it was but just spam trying to make me buy it?
Okay. How did the popup know that
"9 bloatware programs slowed the launch of this PC".
if it wasn't installed?
Was it just making numbers up?
It was also installed on my computer without my knowledge. I done a repair, unticked Grime Fighter and after restarting my computer it was gone.
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=143303.0;attach=125275;image
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FYI:
Avast acquired Jumpshot not long ago... alias Grime. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Avast-Acquires-Jumpshot-385789.shtml (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Avast-Acquires-Jumpshot-385789.shtml)
And IT DID install on a friends machine 'unwantedly' just like Chrome did - he removed Avast from all his work machines!
Dave
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I'd say that avast's team needs to be very careful now with their choices, they are little by little making choices that aren't received well by the users, and if i'm not mistaken the popularity is gained by user to user recommendation so you know how it stands, the way up is very hard, but to stay there is even harder.
I love avast, i contributed to hundreds if not thousand of installations but as of lately I started to give myself questions regarding some changes/choices they made.
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Call it what you want but it is "installed": http://techdows.com/2013/12/uninstall-avast-grimefighter.html
My suggestion for everyone using any software now-a-days is to do a CUSTOM install.
If you are not sure of the options presented then CANCEL and go research.
There is just too many behind the scenes "sneak-ware" put on PCs....some of which that may not be a Virus or Malware but impossible to get off once installed.
For me, after reading this forum for months I am still on Avast8. I went thru the hellish nightmare of AVG8 to AVG9 where they not only bloat-wared the software but actually bricked 1000s of PCs. Want to be paranoid and concerned.....just do a search on this Forum on the number of aswrvrt.sys PC reboot hang issues which most folks can only go and do a Windows re-install to recover. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=145023.0 ....but I digress.
Anyway, my point is for "me" when I do see Avast9/2014 more in a solid state I am going to do a clean-install http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143284.0 with CUSTOM settings and only check the shields....no tools. Then once "installed" I am going to Control Panel>Programs and under Avast "Change" see what other "nuggets" are there than sneaked in an uninstall.
Don't get me wrong, Avast has been a great product and for their "shields" probably so going forward. But it is clear to me that Avast 9/2014 is a major software re-write and the reason they give "free" versions out is to test their software across the masses. Everyone does this and part of the fun EULA you accept......but you also have to be diligent these days to realize that when you get a FREE software there is other agendas other than what is cleanest/best for your PC....after all they are in the biz to make money. People who don't take the time to investigate what they are doing to their PC are naïve......as they say "an ounce or prevention is worth a pound of cure".
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Is there any way to revert back to version 8 if I'm already running version 9? I've been getting grimefighter popups like 5 times a day and the popups have no checkbox to to stop it from displaying. Avast is almost turning into adware. First they started putting an avast clean message ads on the end of outgoing emails without my permission and now I get all these grimefighter ads. I also sometimes get random freezes on web pages using avast 9 which don't happen when I turn the avast shields off.
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Is there any way to revert back to version 8 if I'm already running version 9? I've been getting grimefighter popups like 5 times a day and the popups have no checkbox to to stop it from displaying
You can find and uninstall grimefighter from the Windows Control panel/Add or remove programs.
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How to Uninstall GrimeFighter from Avast?
http://techdows.com/2013/12/uninstall-avast-grimefighter.html
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These scare tactics are so lame.
Isn't Avast worried about it's credibility and reputation?
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Along with several other users I can confirm that if you go back to change install settings by doing a "Change" from Add/Remove Programs, Grime Fighter *is* checked as "Installed" even if one has not purchased the actual program. It's true, when the popup is clicked it takes you to a purchase page, but that page is to *activate* the program, not to install it ... so the user above who arrogantly dissed the other posters is in fact wrong.
I suspect that un-activated GrimeFighter is a nagware/bloatware utility and leads to the popups that have been irritating us all. Having just uninstalled it I won't know for a day or two ...
Avast should be careful ... installing bloatware and using it to convince us that by buying it they'll reduce bloatware is highly-questionable behavior, and if they keep it up it's going to ruin their good name. I, too, have recommended the program to many users; installed it on quite a few friends' and family's PCs myself ... some have bought the paid version too. If this stuff continues my recommendations will have to change.
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Avast, is it going the way of ZoneAlarm???
I started using ZA, in the early 2000's, it was a sweet program, easy, fast, and simple to use, and.was for years, Then Checkpoint got a hold of it...bloat, bloatier, now BLOATIEST!!!
I recommended ZA to untold thousands, with many doing the paid version. Now I will not use it, it thinks it knows better than me.
I do not like being burnt, even years later...
I likewise have recommended Avast to many, many users.
It appears perhaps...someone at Avast has got it in their head that they know better than me about my PC. A slippery slope, however, low info users will probably welcome it, just like how they click on other PC "clean tool" popups...and what a payload they get!
Back to Avast, and ZA...with Avast 9, the aswrvrt.sys reared its ugly head on my desktop, and now it is a brick...when I get to it I will have to reinstall Windows.
I almost made the same mistake with my laptop...and as soon as the aswrvrt.sys hang appeared I removed ZA, and did a registry restore. This saved my laptop from becoming a Frisbee!
Whether it is Avast's fault or ZA's, it is unimportant for now. But if Avast goes bloatier, I may place the blame on Avast, and post "THAT" far and wide.
AVAST, provide a lean version,
by staying lean and mean
staking out that position,
savvy users will flock to you,
and recommend it to others
Of which many will buy the full version.
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On the web since the early '90's. BB user since the '80's
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Along with several other users I can confirm that if you go back to change install settings by doing a "Change" from Add/Remove Programs, Grime Fighter *is* checked as "Installed" even if one has not purchased the actual program.
I get exactly the same results from Add/Remove/Change in my free version. Obviously there's considerable difference of opinion (and maybe even a touch of dishonesty) as to whether or not grimefighter is actually installed. I'm inclined to agree with whoever suggested that it's probably always installed but requires paid registration to become activated.
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you are however totally mistaken.
GrimeFighter is an additional purchase , the only way to get this product is to purchase it and then install.
If you go to the avast installer, Grimefighter is listed, if you run " uninstall" the action runs but actually does nothing.
You can prove this by now trying to install GrimeFighter, the action will appear to run and install the product, but, upon systen restart you will find NOTHING.
The product is listed in the GUI but is not installed.
Sorry, but I must join in with everyone else in saying that you are are the one who is mistaken.
If it was not installed, it would not be able to scan your system and determine what problems it can fix and what tweaks it can make. What you are being extorted into paying for is NOT the GrimeFighter application, but to unlock it's repair functionality. A LOT programs play this dirty trick, and it's really sad and pathetic to see Avast doing it.
As far as your claim that running the uninstaller does nothing. If by nothing you mean it stops the GrimeFighter pop ups and removes it from the GUI, then yes, I guess it does 'do nothing'. FYI, reinstalling it returns it to the same operation as before uninstalling in as much as you start getting annoying pop-ups again and have GUI references to it.
Ignoring this garbage of having to uninstall a trial version of something I didn't even want, other issues remain, like the fact scans seem to take even longer now than ever before.
My support and recommendations of Avast may very well be coming to an end. Between their mobile app being updated 2-3 times a month every month, and the PC app getting more fluffy and bloated (4.7 was the last truly decent version). Everything I liked about the program that made me want to use it and recommend it are quickly going away. Makes me want to go back to Microsoft Security Essentials.
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To be fair AVG has its own "tune up" utility and has also advertised it within their own product...
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I installed it - it wouldn't work - call support - they tried to sell me a $119 or $179 service - I have submitted a refund request for Grime Fighter. Also for purchased AVAST Antivirus - Have removed Avast antivirus and installed another antivirus product. when I boot a screen appears with run Grime Fighter or return to Window - very annoying - HOW DO I UNINSTALL GRIME FIGHTER? Thanks, Denny
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control panel > software > avast > add/remove > change
And next time, please use the search option on this webboard as this has been explained in other threads already.
And do not " hijack" thread, but start your own.
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The question remains, is there a way to get rid of these pathetic scare pop ups?
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The question remains, is there a way to get rid of these pathetic scare pop ups?
Follow Eddy's suggestion and get rid of GrimeFighter.
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>>It was also installed on my computer without my knowledge.
I had to uninstall it as well with a paid Avast Pro version installed on Windows 8
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>>It was also installed on my computer without my knowledge.
I had to uninstall it as well with a paid Avast Pro version installed on Windows 8
Using the custom install instead of the default, gives you the opportunity to uncheck those items
you prefer not to install. Using the default installation, installs what the manufacturer decided
was best for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUDTLn6dMKk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUDTLn6dMKk)
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Using the custom install instead of the default, gives you the opportunity to uncheck those items
No it doesn't, or it didn't when I installed the program.
As several people have confirmed here earlier, despite evangelists insisting it was a choice.
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Using the custom install instead of the default, gives you the opportunity to uncheck those items
No it doesn't, or it didn't when I installed the program.
As several people have confirmed here earlier, despite evangelists insisting it was a choice.
Are you saying you did not get a box to deselect unwanted items, or you deselected them but they installed
anyway?
In my own experience, doing a clean, custom install always gives you the chance to opt-out, and my choices have always
been honored.
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Using the custom install instead of the default, gives you the opportunity to uncheck those items
No it doesn't, or it didn't when I installed the program.
As several people have confirmed here earlier, despite evangelists insisting it was a choice.
Did you look at the video ??? It shows it quite clearly. :)
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In my own experience, doing a clean, custom install always gives you the chance to opt-out, and my choices have always
been honored.
Your experience is not my experience.
Believe what you like.
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In my own experience, doing a clean, custom install always gives you the chance to opt-out, and my choices have always
been honored.
Your experience is not my experience.
Believe what you like.
It's not a question of believing what I like. What I did say was my findings were based on my own experience.
I'm perfectly open to accepting somebody else saw something different.
Did you look at Bob's video? Where did your experience differ?
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It's not a question of believing what I like. What I did say was my findings were based on my own experience.
I'm perfectly open to accepting somebody else saw something different.
Did you look at Bob's video? Where did your experience differ?
I saw no mention of "Grime" until it started popping up trying to entice me into using (and it seems, buying) it.
The point is that at least some people found this installed without warning or permission.
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It's not a question of believing what I like. What I did say was my findings were based on my own experience.
I'm perfectly open to accepting somebody else saw something different.
Did you look at Bob's video? Where did your experience differ?
I saw no mention of "Grime" until it started popping up trying to entice me into using (and it seems, buying) it.
The point is that at least some people found this installed without warning or permission.
It is a premium product. It can scan your system for free (See system requirements.) but, you need to purchase the product in order to apply any
"fixes" or eliminations of "Grime". http://www.avast.com/en-us/grimefighter (http://www.avast.com/en-us/grimefighter)
Unless you use the custom install, it will windup on your computer if your computer meets the requirements needed for the product.
(My system doesn't meet those requirements since GrimeFighter doesn't work on Windows 8.)
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Unless you use the custom install, it will windup on your computer if your computer meets the requirements needed for the product.
I always do custom installs for everything, precisely to avoid such crap.
It installed itself without any warning or consent, presumably in an "update".
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I DID NOT install Grime Fighter.
so why did I have to create a thread explaining how crappy and uninformative it is?
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=148953.0
so what... an Avast update (notification button) auto-installs it, including to free users like me??
I can't afford paid software... sorry
if you're gonna tell me I have 33 instances of "grime" on my compy, then at least have the decency to tell me what it is.
or else kiss your reputation good bye, from my multitude of forwarded bad reports.
I've never had the restart/hang issue as reported...
prbly because I use XP (x64) which I personally know has a better kernal than Vista/7/8.
(I don't mind that XP's UI sucks other than how overly customizable it is. (get smart))
^ don't flame me for my opinions, and PM me if you have anything to say. (don't tell me about the MS support joke)
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As a long time Windows 8 user and beta tester, I may not agree with your opinion but,
you certainly have a right to express them. :)
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Grimefighter must be designed for idiots or complete novices. Who else would allow a software program
to make a bunch of system-level changes without being able to see what they are ?
In my opinion avast! takes advantage of these "uninformed" users. The whole packaging of the
product just reeks of it. Certainly not unique to avast! - perhaps because it has so may free users,
it can be somewhat cavalier about damaging its reputation ?
As a more "informed" free user I would never, ever consider buying avast!
There's something of the used car salesmen about its whole setup.
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As a long time Windows 8 user and beta tester, I may not agree with your opinion but,
you certainly have a right to express them. :)
may I hear your opinion(s)?? :)
(I can't PM you to ask)
as a programmer, and white-hat windows hacker (I only hack myself),
I'm interested in verifying my knowledge with other users. :)
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As a long time Windows 8 user and beta tester, I may not agree with your opinion but,
you certainly have a right to express them. :)
may I hear your opinion(s)?? :)
(I can't PM you to ask)
as a programmer, and white-hat windows hacker (I only hack myself),
I'm interested in verifying my knowledge with other users. :)
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=85094.0 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=85094.0)
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41 pages ._.
I think I'm overwhelmed with enough work thank you XD
but if I must say, I've made XP look and work like Win7 entirely.
I don't like it though so I'm using my own things...
(everything from the modern interface CAN almost easily be ported back to XP)
if only it was just as easy to hack the 7/8 shell and kernal
(my point: I like my freedom over my system)
anyways... I really didn't wanna derail this thread...
shame I can't message you another way >_<
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41 pages ._.
I think I'm overwhelmed with enough work thank you XD
You're the one that asked. :)
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41 pages ._.
I think I'm overwhelmed with enough work thank you XD
You're the one that asked. :)
lol that I did, I thought you were gonna PM me just telling a few things about 8 being better than XP :P
(other than the UI of course, 8's UI is nice, other than being limited to THAT system (of 2 systems))
I'd like to keep this thread on topic, but about the topic, now that I think about it...
it's already been covered multiple times that GF is forcefully installed... (upon updates to Avast)
by normal forum rights, this thread SHOULD be closed, but who am I to call that:
1: I'm only admin of a few 6 forums, NOT HERE
2: the guys here make those calls
to top things off, on my forum, the rights are completely different... blah blah :P
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Snip> Quote}
"by normal forum rights, this thread SHOULD be closed, but who am I to call that"
Why?
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Snip> Quote}
"by normal forum rights, this thread SHOULD be closed, but who am I to call that"
Why?
it's already been covered multiple times that GF is forcefully installed... (upon updates to Avast)
again, I'm not admin here
2: the guys here make those calls
those are just the optimal forum rights which I'm told every forum should follow.
(it was an argument I had about community control on various forums)
I don't follow them. :P
(I don't like forums that kill threads)
and from the looks of it, you guys don't either :)
cool ^_^
if you'll excuse me, I have some dudes to slap :P
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Best solution... http://techdows.com/2013/12/uninstall-avast-grimefighter.html
done.
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I need to know exactly what's grime on pc and what the so-called grime doing in my pc. moreover i want to know how they occurred on my pc and whether it causes some harm to my pc. I need someone to tell me about it. thanks.
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I guess those who best can answer questions about GrimeFighter are in GrimeFighter forum section
Avast Additional products > Avast GrimeFighter https://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=63.0