Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Carl Spackler on October 25, 2013, 04:30:03 PM
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Well, after MANY years of using avast! free A/V, I think I'm about done with it. This software has moved away from being something simple and clean to being so full of bloat, that it's almost unrecognisable from what it once was.
Why on earth would the makers of avast EVER think that I need avast! to tell me to update software which is the property of other vendors?!? Seriously??? Ever piece of software that I have on my PC has ITS OWN automatic updater. I don't need avast! to do this, as it's already being done (much better, by the way) by the other products' automatic updaters.
And the incessant pop-ups and audio notifications to tell me that avast! has updated itself?!? Seriously??? How about your software sit in the background, do its job, and not bother me AT ALL, unless there's a problem. Would that be too much to ask for?
And, now, with the most recent upgrade that's happened on my machine, I find yet ANOTHER pop-up telling me it's scanning my outgoing email. And, the part that REALLY pissed me off and got me to register on this forum so that I could express my annoyance -- it has f*cked around and added content to my email (i.e. a banner on the bottom of my message essentially advertising avast!). I feel like I should be getting paid if you're going to be advertising yourself through MY emails to other people. This is like Exxon slapping a big Exxon bumper sticker on the back of my car to advertise themselves because I've filled up there once.
>:(
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Well, after MANY years of using avast! free A/V, I think I'm about done with it. This software has moved away from being something simple and clean to being so full of bloat, that it's almost unrecognisable from what it once was.
Why on earth would the makers of avast EVER think that I need avast! to tell me to update software which is the property of other vendors?!? Seriously??? Ever piece of software that I have on my PC has ITS OWN automatic updater. I don't need avast! to do this, as it's already being done (much better, by the way) by the other products' automatic updaters.
And the incessant pop-ups and audio notifications to tell me that avast! has updated itself?!? Seriously??? How about your software sit in the background, do its job, and not bother me AT ALL, unless there's a problem. Would that be too much to ask for?
And, now, with the most recent upgrade that's happened on my machine, I find yet ANOTHER pop-up telling me it's scanning my outgoing email. And, the part that REALLY pissed me off and got me to register on this forum so that I could express my annoyance -- it has f*cked around and added content to my email (i.e. a banner on the bottom of my message essentially advertising avast!). I feel like I should be getting paid if you're going to be advertising yourself through MY emails to other people. This is like Exxon slapping a big Exxon bumper sticker on the back of my car to advertise themselves because I've filled up there once.
>:(
1. You can turn off the Software Updater... Avast>Settings>Tools>Software Updater
You can also remove it from control panel by changing the installation.
Updating software is vital though to keep away from vulnerabilities and be up to date with the latest patches since alot of common programs are exploitable.
2. You can remove the message from outgoing mail...
From the avastUI > Settings > Active Protection > Mail Shield > Settings (wrench iconl) > Behavior - General section > "Uncheck" Insert note into clean message (outgoing)
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Interesting (that you noticed these features only now).
The audio (plus popup) announcement of virus definition updates has been there for... well, 10 years at least, so certainly nothing new. Of course, you can turn it off (either the sound itself, or the whole update popup) in program settings.
Software Updater has also been around even in the previous version. Yes, many programs have their own updaters - but the fact is that many people simply don't update the critical stuff. Why it's relevant? Because that's the open door for malware into the system. So if avast! should protect the machine from malware, it asks you to update those programs. Again, you can set the particular programs to be ignored, or you can turn the software updater off completely.
As for the email notes - again a feature that's been there for more than 10 years, even though not enabled by default - you can disable it in the Mail Shield settings. Also, avast! should have asked you (when the first e-mail was being scanned) whether you want to keep those added notes - that's probably the popup you mentioned. It appears only once, to ask about this particular option.
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Well, after MANY years of using avast! free A/V, I think I'm about done with it. This software has moved away from being something simple and clean to being so full of bloat, that it's almost unrecognisable from what it once was.
Why on earth would the makers of avast EVER think that I need avast! to tell me to update software which is the property of other vendors?!? Seriously??? Ever piece of software that I have on my PC has ITS OWN automatic updater. I don't need avast! to do this, as it's already being done (much better, by the way) by the other products' automatic updaters.
And the incessant pop-ups and audio notifications to tell me that avast! has updated itself?!? Seriously??? How about your software sit in the background, do its job, and not bother me AT ALL, unless there's a problem. Would that be too much to ask for?
And, now, with the most recent upgrade that's happened on my machine, I find yet ANOTHER pop-up telling me it's scanning my outgoing email. And, the part that REALLY pissed me off and got me to register on this forum so that I could express my annoyance -- it has f*cked around and added content to my email (i.e. a banner on the bottom of my message essentially advertising avast!). I feel like I should be getting paid if you're going to be advertising yourself through MY emails to other people. This is like Exxon slapping a big Exxon bumper sticker on the back of my car to advertise themselves because I've filled up there once.
>:(
1. You can turn off the Software Updater... Avast>Settings>Tools>Software Updater
You can also remove it from control panel by changing the installation.
2. You can remove the message from outgoing mail...
From the avastUI > Settings > Active Protection > Mail Shield > Settings (wrench iconl) > Behavior - General section > "Uncheck" Insert note into clean message (outgoing)
Regarding 1): Already done, and it still periodically pops up, usually regarding Adobe Reader.
Regarding 2): This it TERRIBLE software design. Why introduce a "feature" like this, and then have the user dig around through your bloated UI to figure out how to turn it off. Why wouldn't they just have the updater put up a dialog box ASKING if you want to turn that functionality on, rather than assuming that ever user wants it???
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If it pops up just remove it from control panel
Control Panel>Change>Avast>Untick Software Updater.
Read what Igor said too.
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Regarding 2): This it TERRIBLE software design. Why introduce a "feature" like this, and then have the user dig around through your bloated UI to figure out how to turn it off. Why wouldn't they just have the updater put up a dialog box ASKING if you want to turn that functionality on, rather than assuming that ever user wants it???
Isn't it exactly what the popup you mention was asking?
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Executive summary of this thread: Complete failure to RTFM, or at least investigate the GUI options. Lasting for "MANY years". Have a nice day.
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Interesting (that you noticed these features only now).
The audio (plus popup) announcement of virus definition updates has been there for... well, 10 years at least, so certainly nothing new. Of course, you can turn it off (either the sound itself, or the whole update popup) in program settings.
Software Updater has also been around even in the previous version. Yes, many programs have their own updaters - but the fact is that many people simply don't update the critical stuff. Why it's relevant? Because that's the open door for malware into the system. So if avast! should protect the machine from malware, it asks you to update those programs. Again, you can set the particular programs to be ignored, or you can turn the software updater off completely.
As for the email notes - again a feature that's been there for more than 10 years, even though not enabled by default - you can disable it in the Mail Shield settings. Also, avast! should have asked you (when the first e-mail was being scanned) whether you want to keep those added notes - that's probably the popup you mentioned. It appears only once, to ask about this particular option.
I know the audio and pop-ups have been there for a long time, and they've annoyed me the entire time. However, until today I grudgingly tolerated them.
Regarding the software updater, thanks, but I'll let Adobe, Microsoft, or whoever actually created the other software advise me when there's a critical update to THEIR software. I don't need/want avast! doing it. (This is another feature that I've tolerated for some time.)
For the email notes, I have never seen it in previous versions of the software (I'm not denying that it may or may not have been there, it just never intruded on my activities in the past).
I guess I'm just reminiscing about the "good old days" of computer programming where people held and cherished the ideas of "keep it simple, stupid", and "do one thing, and do it well".
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Regarding 2): This it TERRIBLE software design. Why introduce a "feature" like this, and then have the user dig around through your bloated UI to figure out how to turn it off. Why wouldn't they just have the updater put up a dialog box ASKING if you want to turn that functionality on, rather than assuming that ever user wants it???
Isn't it exactly what the popup you mention was asking?
Nope. It didn't just said that avast! was scanning outgoing email message.
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I know the audio and pop-ups have been there for a long time, and they've annoyed me the entire time. However, until today I grudgingly tolerated them.
Because turning them off in configuration would be too much effort.
Regarding the software updater, thanks, but I'll let Adobe, Microsoft, or whoever actually created the other software advise me when there's a critical update to THEIR software. I don't need/want avast! doing it. (This is another feature that I've tolerated for some time.)
Because not installing/uninstalling unwanted components would be too much effort.
For the email notes, I have never seen it in previous versions of the software (I'm not denying that it may or may not have been there, it just never intruded on my activities in the past).
Yeah, needless to say you failed once again.
I guess I'm just reminiscing about the "good old days" of computer programming where people held and cherished the ideas of "keep it simple, stupid", and "do one thing, and do it well".
In the "good old days", the only answer you'd get when starting similar useless bitching thread on a mailing list would be a short RTFM.
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Executive summary of this thread: Complete failure to RTFM, or at least investigate the GUI options. Lasting for "MANY years". Have a nice day.
ROFL!
I'll bet you $100 you (or anyone else using a computer, frankly) haven't read the manuals for the VAST majority of ANY software on the system(s) you're running. So, kindly GTFO. K thanks, bye. ::)
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Regarding 2): This it TERRIBLE software design. Why introduce a "feature" like this, and then have the user dig around through your bloated UI to figure out how to turn it off. Why wouldn't they just have the updater put up a dialog box ASKING if you want to turn that functionality on, rather than assuming that ever user wants it???
Isn't it exactly what the popup you mention was asking?
Nope. It didn't just said that avast! was scanning outgoing email message.
Do you remember the wording of the message (so that I can try to look it up)? I'm not aware of any other messages related to e-mail scanning...
Also, do you use avast! in English, or some other language (in case there's a mistake in some translation)?
Thanks.
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I'll bet you $100 you (or anyone else using a computer, frankly) haven't read the manuals for the VAST majority of ANY software on the system(s) you're running.
No need to do it in advance, I just do that before starting a useless bitch fest, such as this one which is raising 100% PEBKAC issues. Failing to do so makes the ID-10-T error message pretty instant.
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There is another way to word this...
If user needs a resident free av solution "for dummies",
avast! may just be a tad too serious a product,
polonus
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ROFL!
I'll bet you $100 you (or anyone else using a computer, frankly) haven't read the manuals for the VAST majority of ANY software on the system(s) you're running. So, kindly GTFO. K thanks, bye. ::)
I do- seriously! Send a PM for my PayPal account details to send the $100 to. :D :D
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I rather have just avast check for updates then having all those separate updaters running (in the background).
They update at inconvenient times sometimes as well as not asking if you want to install the latest update or not.
And for your "problems"...
If you want to use a certain software, spend some time in learning about it.
How to use it, what options it offers you etc. etc.
Experience tells that most people want the pop-up about updates, but if you don't want it just disable the pop-up or disable the entire software updater.
How avast acts/reacts is all up to you (the user).
It comes with good default settings, but it lets you to customize things.
I doubt you have complained at Microsoft about the default background Windows installs, and that you have not set your own background.
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I rather have just avast check for updates then having all those separate updaters running (in the background).
They update at inconvenient times sometimes as well as not asking if you want to install the latest update or not.
Yeah, obviously running one updater instead of zillions of them is a whole lot better for most people. For the rest, the component is totally optional. Also, it covers things that do NOT have any updater of their own.
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Regarding 2): This it TERRIBLE software design. Why introduce a "feature" like this, and then have the user dig around through your bloated UI to figure out how to turn it off. Why wouldn't they just have the updater put up a dialog box ASKING if you want to turn that functionality on, rather than assuming that ever user wants it???
Isn't it exactly what the popup you mention was asking?
Nope. It didn't just said that avast! was scanning outgoing email message.
Do you remember the wording of the message (so that I can try to look it up)? I'm not aware of any other messages related to e-mail scanning...
Also, do you use avast! in English, or some other language (in case there's a mistake in some translation)?
Thanks.
avast! in English.
Hang on a sec about the scanning message -- I'll try to get a screenshot.
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ROFL!
I'll bet you $100 you (or anyone else using a computer, frankly) haven't read the manuals for the VAST majority of ANY software on the system(s) you're running. So, kindly GTFO. K thanks, bye. ::)
I do- seriously! Send a PM for my PayPal account details to send the $100 to. :D :D
Please provide a list of os and all other software on your system. I will be drafting a test for you, to confirm your knowledge. ;)
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Ok Carl - you came in here to rant about what?
I never heard that you were having any problems with the av not working properly. Everything that you mentioned can be totally resolved. So what really is your problem?
Threats have become much more complicated than they were in the past. The "simple" program you loved so much years ago probably wouldn't protect you from a script kiddie today - much less from yourself.
You have expressed your concerns, you have been shown how to resolve them, so why don't you don't you make the adjustments and continue you use this excellent program.
If you just need someone to rant at for some reason - isn't there a neighbor kid or something?
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Regarding 2): This it TERRIBLE software design. Why introduce a "feature" like this, and then have the user dig around through your bloated UI to figure out how to turn it off. Why wouldn't they just have the updater put up a dialog box ASKING if you want to turn that functionality on, rather than assuming that ever user wants it???
Isn't it exactly what the popup you mention was asking?
Nope. It didn't just said that avast! was scanning outgoing email message.
Do you remember the wording of the message (so that I can try to look it up)? I'm not aware of any other messages related to e-mail scanning...
Also, do you use avast! in English, or some other language (in case there's a mistake in some translation)?
Thanks.
Didn't see the message this time. (I have not changed any settings in avast since my original post.)
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Didn't see the message this time. (I have not changed any settings in avast since my original post.)
Yah... what an inexplicable accident. When asked for proof, you come with empty hands. On normal forums, similar trolls get banned.
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I rather have just avast check for updates then having all those separate updaters running (in the background).
They update at inconvenient times sometimes as well as not asking if you want to install the latest update or not.
And for your "problems"...
If you want to use a certain software, spend some time in learning about it.
How to use it, what options it offers you etc. etc.
Experience tells that most people want the pop-up about updates, but if you don't want it just disable the pop-up or disable the entire software updater.
How avast acts/reacts is all up to you (the user).
It comes with good default settings, but it lets you to customize things.
I doubt you have complained at Microsoft about the default background Windows installs, and that you have not set your own background.
I can appreciate your point about having ONE updater, but it would be even more annoying to go around reconfiguring every other piece of software to shutdown its auto-updater. I (obviously) lean the other way and let each piece of software talk to its own vendor for updates. Six of one, half dozen of the other.
And, with all due respect to everybody here, I'm really NOT an idiot when it comes to computers/software -- I'm a programmer/sysadmin who has been working in IT for 15 years. I mean, it's not like I'm installing and configuring an Exchange server, or apache, or something like that -- it's an antivirus application on a laptop, for f*ck sake. I'm not running around trying to pick fights with people, I guess I'm just venting a bit. :-\
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Didn't see the message this time. (I have not changed any settings in avast since my original post.)
Yah... what an inexplicable accident. When asked for proof, you come with empty hands. On normal forums, similar trolls get banned.
Look... I emailed a pic as an attachment to a friend of mine, and the message popped up. I have tried to replicate the problem THREE additional times, and it's not coming up (or, possibly, it comes up and disappears so fast that I don't see it). I don't know what to say other than I'm not seeing it anymore.
And, kindly piss off with the "troll" talk. Thanks.
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Stop talking like a troll, start talking like the avast pirate ;D
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Stop talking like a troll, start talking like the avast pirate ;D
Aye, cap'n. :D
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I'm really NOT an idiot when it comes to computers/software -- I'm a programmer/sysadmin who has been working in IT for 15 years.
> Hey guys, your GCC compiler sucks goats nuts... it fails to compile my code, plus floods me with incessant warnings and errors when I enable -Wall -Werror -Wpedantic...
>> ??!! Your code has tons of bugs, plus these warnings are by design with the compile options you are passing to the compiler! Have you considered reading the manual?
> I'll bet you $100 you (or anyone else using a computer, frankly) haven't read the manuals for the VAST majority of ANY software on the system(s) you're running. So, kindly GTFO. K thanks, bye. ::)
>> You'd better read the manual before bugging us with completely invalid issues. Also, can you show us the errors you claim to be a bug in our product and provide more information about your system?
> No, I didn't see the error message this time. But it's been there for sure!
>> Dude, you sound like a troll.
> Kindly piss off with the "troll" talk. I'm really NOT an idiot when it comes to computers/software -- I'm a programmer/sysadmin who has been working in IT for 15 years.
>> *triple facepalm*, pressing the Ignore button meanwhile...
Outta this thread, what a waste of time... ::) ::) ::)
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ROFL!
I'll bet you $100 you (or anyone else using a computer, frankly) haven't read the manuals for the VAST majority of ANY software on the system(s) you're running. So, kindly GTFO. K thanks, bye. ::)
I do- seriously! Send a PM for my PayPal account details to send the $100 to. :D :D
Well I too got it and I was surprised.
Why was I surprised, because I already had this option set in my avast.ini file, I already had that option, but here it was in the new program update asking me if I wanted to do just what I had setup in the avast.ini of avast 8.
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Well thank you to the person who explained how to turn the ad message in emails off. I, for one, didn't know where to look. It wasn't altogether intuitive.
The pop up message when I sent an email to an email list this morning came and went so quickly I didn't have time to read it but saw something about email scanning. I have just turned the 'feature' off and back on again to see if the pop up would reappear but it didn't. So I'll never know exactly what it said.
Sad to see many users here slagging off others who don't share their opinion but that's the internet for you.