Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Coolmario88 on April 30, 2016, 04:30:11 AM
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Avast I'm sorry but you are kinda making me and a lot of others mad... I've been using avast since version 4.8 and this product has gone to the toilet.. I mean why would i even buy your paid product after seeing ads such as the one I attached? Its misleading and I'm sure some others would agree. Please take our word and Stop the misleading ads before you lose customers..
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Avast behaves like rogue antivirus. :P
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Misleading ?
It only is for those who don't realize it is a advertisement.
I agree that avast should make that a lot more clear.
Now people could think there is something wrong with their installation.
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Now people could think there is something wrong with their installation.
+1
like my aunt, my father, my sister.. Now maybe they will call me for ask me if they have something wrong with their computer! >:(
maybe I have to stop advise avast..
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I have no problem with adverts in avast free, but this FUD isn't an advert and will no doubt have the reverse effect than its intent. No purchase of AIS or Premier and more likely the loss of an existing customer.
Whilst they may be free users, the cheapest and best advertising is word of mouth. Yet negative word of mouth doesn't just lose one user, it loses any positive word of mouth and is more likely to be negative word of mouth.
I'm no marketing expert, but this just doesn't appear to make any sense.
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I have no problem with adverts in avast free, but this FUD isn't an advert and will no doubt have the reverse effect than its intent. No purchase of AIS or Premier and more likely the loss of an existing customer.
+1
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The reason I bought AIS was as a way of repaying for the years of free protection that I had... Would I do that now with all the ads, I do not know
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essexboy same here dude, I been avast free customer but i don't think i'll upgrade to a paid version ever with all these ads.. The sad thing is when avast team see's this post they'll probably just close the topic stating the same thing as before that improvements are on its way..
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I have no problem with adverts in avast free, but this FUD isn't an advert and will no doubt have the reverse effect than its intent. No purchase of AIS or Premier and more likely the loss of an existing customer.
+1
Agree 100%
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essexboy same here dude, I been avast free customer but i don't think i'll upgrade to a paid version ever with all these ads.. The sad thing is when avast team see's this post they'll probably just close the topic stating the same thing as before that improvements are on its way..
You seem to miss the point, in the paid version, you can turn off these ads or pop ups.
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That is true, but if I was using the free version would I be inclined to defray the cost by purchasing a licence as I did or would I get annoyed and irked by the ads
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essexboy same here dude, I been avast free customer but i don't think i'll upgrade to a paid version ever with all these ads.. The sad thing is when avast team see's this post they'll probably just close the topic stating the same thing as before that improvements are on its way..
You seem to miss the point, in the paid version, you can turn off these ads or pop ups.
The fact remains, the ad makes it seem like something is wrong with avast!, technically. Which often freaks out users and makes the opposite effect. It's stupid and misleading.
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Indeed, misleading ad by Avast! I don't have an Avast Firewall yet I was told that I had the Avast Firewall turned OFF. Keep on going on like this Avast! and you will loose this customer who has Avast installed since version 4 and recommended Avast! to my friends and family which I don't do any longer.
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+1 for the misleading technical information about Avast installation.
Avast has become desperate to sell their stupid paid products (internet security and premier) with the same average protection and full of false positives as their free antivirus. :P
This is pure FUD (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear,_uncertainty_and_doubt) imho.
It's not same average protection.
Avast has one of the last false positives rates at all (https://press.avast.com/en-us/avast-tops-av-comparatives-test).
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I've never seen such ads! I am running the latest Avast Free Antivirus version on Windows 10. Maybe it's the location? I live in Egypt.
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I am a paid subscriber to Avast Prermier. Could someone please advise me HOW to turn these ads off?
I have reduced the Popup durations to 1 second in "Settings" except for "Show popups for other Avast
Produccts" (which I have unticked). Is this all that is needed? Many thanks.
Mike
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I am a paid subscriber to Avast Prermier. Could someone please advise me HOW to turn these ads off?
I have reduced the Popup durations to 1 second in "Settings" except for "Show popups for other Avast
Produccts" (which I have unticked). Is this all that is needed? Many thanks.
Mike
Avast Settings>General>Pop-Ups>[untick] Show popup offers for other Avast products.
You don't need to make the duration 1 second, mines is at default of 20 seconds and I have no pop-ups.
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I am a paid subscriber to Avast Prermier. Could someone please advise me HOW to turn these ads off?
I have reduced the Popup durations to 1 second in "Settings" except for "Show popups for other Avast
Produccts" (which I have unticked). Is this all that is needed? Many thanks.
Mike
(http://screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1462053568997-65443.png)
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That doesn't change the fact this is enabled by default and the ad is hugely misleading and confusing to casual users. These need to go because they harm avast! reputation more than it helps sell licenses...
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That doesn't change the fact this is enabled by default and the ad is hugely misleading and confusing to casual users. These need to go because they harm avast! reputation more than it helps sell licenses...
I agree that the popups should be disabled at default for paid users.
Why would paid users want ads for?
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Just got the ad once again today! Avast you really need to respond.. >:(
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That doesn't change the fact this is enabled by default and the ad is hugely misleading and confusing to casual users. These need to go because they harm avast! reputation more than it helps sell licenses...
I agree that the popups should be disabled at default for paid users.
Why would paid users want ads for?
A point I made a long time ago but it is still checked by default. :(
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Just got the ad once again today! Avast you really need to respond.. >:(
They need to pull this thing and any others like it.
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Just got the ad once again today! Avast you really need to respond.. >:(
They need to pull this thing and any others like it.
+1
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Agreed. These ads make Avast look bad, period. Focus on better detection rates, less false positives, improving the product etc. and people will naturally convert from free to paid.
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That doesn't change the fact this is enabled by default and the ad is hugely misleading and confusing to casual users. These need to go because they harm avast! reputation more than it helps sell licenses...
I agree that the popups should be disabled at default for paid users.
Agreed. These ads make Avast look bad, period. Focus on better detection rates, less false positives, improving the product etc. and people will naturally convert from free to paid.
I couldn't agree more ;)
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That doesn't change the fact this is enabled by default and the ad is hugely misleading and confusing to casual users. These need to go because they harm avast! reputation more than it helps sell licenses...
I agree that the popups should be disabled at default for paid users.
Why would paid users want ads for?
A point I made a long time ago but it is still checked by default. :(
You are missing my point entirely. Ads can be there, it's the wording they chose for them that is totally backwards. They opted to pretty much scare the user about firewall being turned off even though they never had it on to begin with. But most users don't know that, they freak out what's wrong with avast!. That's not the way to gain paid users. Or free ones. Fake AV's used such tactics, remember? Showing hundreds of viruses on computer even though there really weren't any (apart from the Fake AV itself).
The firewall popup is perfectly fine and can be there, it's the wording that needs to improve.
Upgrade to enable enhanced firewall and improve computer security!
Sounds very different compared to original scare tactic, doesn't it? It brings the message, but in a positive way.
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That doesn't change the fact this is enabled by default and the ad is hugely misleading and confusing to casual users. These need to go because they harm avast! reputation more than it helps sell licenses...
I agree that the popups should be disabled at default for paid users.
Why would paid users want ads for?
A point I made a long time ago but it is still checked by default. :(
You are missing my point entirely. Ads can be there, it's the wording they chose for them that is totally backwards. They opted to pretty much scare the user about firewall being turned off even though they never had it on to begin with. But most users don't know that, they freak out what's wrong with avast!. That's not the way to gain paid users. Or free ones. Fake AV's used such tactics, remember? Showing hundreds of viruses on computer even though there really weren't any (apart from the Fake AV itself).
The firewall popup is perfectly fine and can be there, it's the wording that needs to improve.
Upgrade to enable enhanced firewall and improve computer security!
Sounds very different compared to original scare tactic, doesn't it? It brings the message, but in a positive way.
Well that's true too.
You do have a valid point.
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Thanks for the feedback. I think you have a valid point here.
We have turned off the campaign now.
Thanks,
Vlk
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The fact remains, the ad makes it seem like something is wrong with avast!, technically. Which often freaks out users and makes the opposite effect. It's stupid and misleading.
And besides - Windows has a usefull firewall that does it's job. Don't need another one.
We have turned off the campaign now.
Thank you ...
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Thanks for the feedback. I think you have a valid point here.
We have turned off the campaign now.
Thanks,
Vlk
Thanks.
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Thanks for the feedback. I think you have a valid point here.
We have turned off the campaign now.
Thanks,
Vlk
Thank you!
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Thanks VLK
Nice too see this resolve in the public forum. :)
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Thanks for the feedback. I think you have a valid point here.
We have turned off the campaign now.
Thanks,
Vlk
I know it's nice to see you guys reading feedback and applying it to your product, but I'll just point at the elephant in the room and wonder, why isn't stuff like this discussed internally? I mean, I'm pretty sure you guys have marketing people who make things like this. One would expect they are capable of understanding when advertisement and promotions are actually damaging to the brand image and when they'd impact users in a negative way. Those people are usually paid quite well. Why aren't they doing a better job? If they don't understand how people use antivirus software and how they interact and react with/to it, they should come here and read a forum here and there to get an idea how people feel about things and talk to developers who actually make features for users and ask them if people would react negatively if some promotion is worded like this. I hope you get the idea what I'm talking about.
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Thanks for the feedback. I think you have a valid point here.
We have turned off the campaign now.
Thanks,
Vlk
I know it's nice to see you guys reading feedback and applying it to your product, but I'll just point at the elephant in the room and wonder, why isn't stuff like this discussed internally? I mean, I'm pretty sure you guys have marketing people who make things like this. One would expect they are capable of understanding when advertisement and promotions are actually damaging to the brand image and when they'd impact users in a negative way. Those people are usually paid quite well. Why aren't they doing a better job? If they don't understand how people use antivirus software and how they interact and react with/to it, they should come here and read a forum here and there to get an idea how people feel about things and talk to developers who actually make features for users and ask them if people would react negatively if some promotion is worded like this. I hope you get the idea what I'm talking about.
+1 Thanks for your input, RejZoR. Couldn't agree more. If only ad campaigns were reviewed by other than ad managers before being deployed to everyone, we'd be better off. Some would never get off the floor. Heartening to see Vlk and others responding to what we post in the forum tho.
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One would expect they are capable of understanding when advertisement and promotions are actually damaging to the brand image and when they'd impact users in a negative way.
Good point, RejZoR !
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Thanks for the feedback. I think you have a valid point here.
We have turned off the campaign now.
Thanks,
Vlk
So much for this being turned off - that has basically been restyled and very slightly reworded - but it is still the misleading ad from before.
It isn't a security tip, it is a disgraceful piece of subterfuge, it is trying scare people into clicking the Big Orange ACTIVATE button and we all know what is behind that.
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Thanks for the feedback. I think you have a valid point here.
We have turned off the campaign now.
Thanks,
Vlk
So much for this being turned off - that has basically been restyled and very slightly reworded - but it is still the misleading ad from before.
It isn't a security tip, it is a disgraceful piece of subterfuge, it is trying scare people into clicking the Big Orange ACTIVATE button and we all know what is behind that.
Avast it seems is becoming some kind of Scareware. ::)
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yeah, count me in. a few other things with this product are misleading too.
i try various ones, pay for them, and still, these draconian apps, and ads, paid or not.
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I have no problem with adverts in avast free, but this FUD isn't an advert and will no doubt have the reverse effect than its intent. No purchase of AIS or Premier and more likely the loss of an existing customer.
+1
off to find another free a/v. the so called top3 a/v's, and avast is listed as one, i'm not in the mood to pay for again. i don't see any benefit-per-dollars at all especially with all this draconian behaviour.
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Thanks for the feedback. I think you have a valid point here.
We have turned off the campaign now.
Thanks,
Vlk
So much for this being turned off - that has basically been restyled and very slightly reworded - but it is still the misleading ad from before.
It isn't a security tip, it is a disgraceful piece of subterfuge, it is trying scare people into clicking the Big Orange ACTIVATE button and we all know what is behind that.
I don't see this as problematic anymore to be honest. Only thing I'd replace is "Activate" with word "Upgrade" on the orange button. This will suggest to user they need to upgrade (which usually means buying a higher level package) and which is then explained on the landing page anyway. So, not perfect, but way better than before. Certainly a step into right direction with the wording.
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Thanks for the feedback. I think you have a valid point here.
We have turned off the campaign now.
Thanks,
Vlk
So much for this being turned off - that has basically been restyled and very slightly reworded - but it is still the misleading ad from before.
It isn't a security tip, it is a disgraceful piece of subterfuge, it is trying scare people into clicking the Big Orange ACTIVATE button and we all know what is behind that.
I don't see this as problematic anymore to be honest. Only thing I'd replace is "Activate" with word "Upgrade" on the orange button. This will suggest to user they need to upgrade (which usually means buying a higher level package) and which is then explained on the landing page anyway. So, not perfect, but way better than before. Certainly a step into right direction with the wording.
That's the whole point, in its current state it isn't an ad, it is misleading and will certainly make people think they have a problem rather than a misleading ad.
People shouldn't have to click on the button to get a clue from the landing page what it is all about. As I said before I have no problem with honest to goodness ads in the free version.
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I think avast is finally got it right for now..
I just got a popup that was worded perfectly and not misleading at all. :)
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I think avast is finally got it right for now..
I just got a popup that was worded perfectly and not misleading at all. :)
This one always amuses me - if they have stopped 725.050 virus attacks in the USA (I'm in the UK) and I remain uninfected, what extra protection do I need ;)
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I think avast is finally got it right for now..
I just got a popup that was worded perfectly and not misleading at all. :)
This one always amuses me - if they have stopped 725.050 virus attacks in the USA (I'm in the UK) and I remain uninfected, what extra protection do I need ;)
I'm in the US. None of these infected me because I'm using the free version of Avast. Do I really need to increase my protection ???
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I agree, Bob. And again my question - who needs an extra firewall? Wiondows' firewall does its job.
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I have used Avast for years and have recommended it to many. However the Avast product is starting to look more like a malware with it's level of builtin ads. I especially hate the browser insert at the top of some pages telling me you have found coupons or other sites that are cheapr. When I signon to Pandora I don't need my Internet Security software advertising for other music vendors. >:(
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I have used Avast for years and have recommended it to many. However the Avast product is starting to look more like a malware with it's level of builtin ads. I especially hate the browser insert at the top of some pages telling me you have found coupons or other sites that are cheapr. When I signon to Pandora I don't need my Internet Security software advertising for other music vendors. >:(
Get rid of SafePrice if you don't like it. You did give it permission to install. :) It isn't added to my browser.
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I have used Avast for years and have recommended it to many. However the Avast product is starting to look more like a malware with it's level of builtin ads. I especially hate the browser insert at the top of some pages telling me you have found coupons or other sites that are cheapr. When I signon to Pandora I don't need my Internet Security software advertising for other music vendors. >:(
Get rid of SafePrice if you don't like it. You did give it permission to install. :) It isn't added to my browser.
The point should be why is SafePrice in an anti-virus?
More bloat.
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I have used Avast for years and have recommended it to many. However the Avast product is starting to look more like a malware with it's level of builtin ads. I especially hate the browser insert at the top of some pages telling me you have found coupons or other sites that are cheapr. When I signon to Pandora I don't need my Internet Security software advertising for other music vendors. >:(
Get rid of SafePrice if you don't like it. You did give it permission to install. :) It isn't added to my browser.
The point should be why is SafePrice in an anti-virus?
More bloat.
You're correct but that wasn't the question. :)
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One little remark about words,
old people just have to learn that the word 'Upgrade', on a computer screen, should always be translated into 'Buy'.
('Buy Now for XX$/Year' would be so self-explanatory that I'm surprised no one thought of such a clear wording...)
'Activate' is the euphemism for 'Upgrade' which is the euphemism for 'Buy',
next will come 'Enable', and then 'Complete Your Installation', etc...
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One little remark about words,
old people just have to learn that the word 'Upgrade', on a computer screen, should always be translated into 'Buy'.
('Buy Now for XX$/Year' would be so self-explanatory that I'm surprised no one thought of such a clear wording...)
'Activate' is the euphemism for 'Upgrade' which is the euphemism for 'Buy',
next will come 'Enable', and then 'Complete Your Installation', etc...
If one says what they mean and means what they say, then no need for euphemisms, ever.
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Thanks for the feedback. I think you have a valid point here.
We have turned off the campaign now.
Thanks,
Vlk
We have had several recent statements that this campaign has been pulled, yet not long after each statement, a slightly revised layout and it is back up. It is here again, this isn't a bloody security tip it is bloody misleading, scaring users into thinking they need more protection.
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It is a security tip and it's perfectly fine by itself. It's just that "Activate" that is a bit misleading. It makes user believe the feature is already there, available to the user, just disabled for whatever reason. They really need to figure this one out to be more straight forward and understanding.
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It is a security tip and it's perfectly fine by itself. It's just that "Activate" that is a bit misleading. It makes user believe the feature is already there, available to the user, just disabled for whatever reason. They really need to figure this one out to be more straight forward and understanding.
I don't think it is a security tip if the user already has a functioning firewall.
I have no problem with ads, but lets have a clear text that this is an ad for the avast firewall and safezone browser (which is already available for free users).
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They should really make ads context related. If user already has SafeZone installed, don't show him the ads for it. Same goes for firewall. If it's already activated within a paid for version, don't show such ads. All this can easily be done using few variables, potentially within VPS updates so they can update them on the fly as needed, whenever it is needed.
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I would argue that if you do your (You as the person) job, you shouldn't need any of these tips (or programs). That being said, I do know not everyone (actually, the vast majority) do not know what they're doing with Technology. I also understand that those Big sites or whatever online activity you may participate in always stand the chance and get hacked. (Or, for those more advanced attacks. 8:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnKh6SFEaLg)
I agree that the initial popups were excessive in the language, but the most recent shot I see (The "Important Security Tip") isn't quite the same. Could they have used different words? Yes, upgrade would likely be better. But it's all in how you read it, or more to the point, the tone in how you perceive it. The tone doesn't transfer digitally sadly. If I said, "X come here now" vs "X come here immediately". Which one is worse? Neither would be the correct answer. It's the tone that dictates it. I personally do not find their latest ad to be threatening. In reference to the size DavidR, I don't find the button unreasonably large.
As for mis-leading, that's a massive can of worms. Doesn't matter how secure your system is, it's always at risk, no matter what. The only way to guarantee the safety and security of that computer? Never plug it into the internet and disable USB Ports.
All in all, I really don't think the latest is that bad. Wouldn't hurt to say "... to help protect ..." That would be true. But nothing can give 100% protection.
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<snip>
I agree that the initial popups were excessive in the language, but the most recent shot I see (The "Important Security Tip") isn't quite the same. Could they have used different words? Yes, upgrade would likely be better. But it's all in how you read it, or more to the point, the tone in how you perceive it. The tone doesn't transfer digitally sadly. If I said, "X come here now" vs "X come here immediately". Which one is worse? Neither would be the correct answer. It's the tone that dictates it. I personally do not find their latest ad to be threatening. In reference to the size DavidR, I don't find the button unreasonably large.
<snip>
Given the avast user base is most likely to have a majority of inexperienced users, the language has to be clear and activate is not clear (Upgrade or PAY) is clearer. I would guess for the majority clicking on the Activate button, simply think they are activating those elements, not that they have to pay for this security tip.
I haven't mentioned the size of the Activate button in relation to my last post, so I don't know where you dug that one up from. There is nothing wrong with the button size
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It isn't a security tip, it is a disgraceful piece of subterfuge, it is trying scare people into clicking the Big Orange ACTIVATE button and we all know what is behind that.
3rd Page :-)
PS: Avast, fix your forums. I hate typing HTML code or trying to insert a quote manually.
I would guess for the majority clicking on the Activate button, simply think they are activating those elements, not that they have to pay for this security tip.
Fair play, hadn't seen it like that, DavidR. I will give you that. All this being said, I cannot really weigh in a lot. I'm an avid believer of not using programs now. I use the built in Windows Defender/Firewall and MBAM for an ODS. Keeps me relatively clean. The few things I've picked up is adware.
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It isn't a security tip, it is a disgraceful piece of subterfuge, it is trying scare people into clicking the Big Orange ACTIVATE button and we all know what is behind that.
3rd Page :-)
PS: Avast, fix your forums. I hate typing HTML code or trying to insert a quote manually.
From the 6th of May, not from my last post with attachment, whilst the button is the same size, there is more black space as they removed the padlock element.
You can use the normal quote and copy the quote reference instead of typing the quote command, or you can also use a BBCode editor (I use firefox BBCodeXtra add-on).
I would guess for the majority clicking on the Activate button, simply think they are activating those elements, not that they have to pay for this security tip.
Fair play, hadn't seen it like that, DavidR. I will give you that. All this being said, I cannot really weigh in a lot. I'm an avid believer of not using programs now. I use the built in Windows Defender/Firewall and MBAM for an ODS. Keeps me relatively clean. The few things I've picked up is adware.
This really is my beef, I don't care about me I can look after myself, but this kind of stuff scares people. You don't need the avast firewall if you already have a functioning firewall. If users don't do a custom install free users already have the SafeZone Browser, which I remember rightly has taken over from the old SafeZone.
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Well, in the end they can still decide they don't want this kind of activation... And it would be a one time thing, because next time they get the same ad, they'll just close it if they don't feel like it to pay for it.