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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: REDACTED on July 25, 2016, 05:00:37 PM

Title: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: REDACTED on July 25, 2016, 05:00:37 PM
Recently I notest that this process is starting along with windows and it's suspending(not exactly)everything I try to run until the process is automatically closed after around 30 seconds

aswOfferTool.exe -checkChrome

I don't use Google Chrome and my PC is i7 4771 3.5GHz/GTX750TI,16GB ram,Win7 x64 Ultimate SP1 and the OS is on SSD.
This process is slowing down my startup time,even the internet is not working(the icon in the system tray is not displayed yet along with some other icons)until it's closed automatically.
It usually takes me around 30 seconds from cold start to be able to do anything I want but because of this process,the time is often increased to 1 minute.

I'm using Avast Home
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: Eddy on July 25, 2016, 05:33:10 PM
It is to show offers from avast for their (and third party) products.
In the paid versions you can disable the adds.
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: REDACTED on July 25, 2016, 05:46:19 PM
I don't get any offers...like ever(I don't get even notices that the program version is outdated even tho the program is set to always ask me).I only really rarely(once or twice a year)get suggestions to install chrome.
This recently started happening

Avast is also setting my cpu to turbo mode for around a minute every time I log in.(even tho it's not doing anything)
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: Rundvleeskroket on July 25, 2016, 07:41:45 PM
If you disable Avast self defense you can delete the executable from the Avast folder. Then re-enable self defense.

I just did. Rebooted. PC starts just fine without error messages or anything. Clearly not needed  ;D
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: bob3160 on July 25, 2016, 09:37:00 PM
That program isn't on my system. Wonder if that's because I use Chrome as my default browser ???
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: davexnet on July 25, 2016, 09:58:59 PM
I don't have this on my PC either, running 2245.

I haven't seen any ad. popup in months.
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: DavidR on July 25, 2016, 10:15:31 PM
That program isn't on my system. Wonder if that's because I use Chrome as my default browser ???

It's in the C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\aswOfferTool.exe location.

I don't use Chrome and I haven't seen any offers for some considerable (other than those in the installation screen if running an install over the top.

I used to have the avastUI > Settings > Troubleshooting > 'Don't use Chrome as the default browser' (for internal avast links I believe) or words to that effect. But that option seems to have been removed, accident or design I know not which.
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: bob3160 on July 25, 2016, 10:22:41 PM
Thanks. Found it and changed the exe to xee. Will see if that has any effect on Avast and the offer popups although I haven't really seen any lately . :)
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: REDACTED on July 29, 2016, 04:55:49 PM
Well I delete that file couple of days ago(as Rundvleeskroket suggested)and it was fine,no slow downs but today avast said that there was a new program update and once I update the program(I enter the C:\Program Files\Avast\setup folder and start looking what's going on),that thing appeared again)
And as a bonus,once I started Firefox,it welcomed me with the confirm page if I want to install the "SafePrice" addon...gee thanks(that's one of the things I hate the most...installing things without asking),I never ever use such programs/tools/addons)

Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: bob3160 on July 29, 2016, 05:00:13 PM
Well I delete that file couple of days ago(as Rundvleeskroket suggested)and it was fine,no slow downs but today avast said that there was a new program update and once I update the program(I enter the C:\Program Files\Avast\setup folder and start looking what's going on),that thing appeared again)
And as a bonus,once I started Firefox,it welcomed me with the confirm page if I want to install the "SafePrice" addon...gee thanks(that's one of the things I hate the most...installing things without asking),I never ever use such programs/tools/addons)
SafePrice - It asked you and you had the option to decline.
How did you install the new version of Avast ???
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: Asyn on July 29, 2016, 05:01:45 PM
SafePrice - It asked you and you had the option to decline.
Confirmed, I got asked in Firefox.
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: Eddy on July 29, 2016, 05:02:00 PM
Only time I've seen it (very shortly) running was when booting the system.

But it can make a difference that I had the cloud version of avast installed.
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: bob3160 on July 29, 2016, 05:05:30 PM
Only time I've seen it (very shortly) running was when booting the system.

But it can make a difference that I had the cloud version of avast installed.
Doesn't the cloud version still give you the option to do a Custom Install ???
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: REDACTED on July 29, 2016, 05:23:09 PM
SafePrice - It asked you and you had the option to decline.
How did you install the new version of Avast ???
[/quote]
Yes,it asked me but I still hate those...if that prompt page didn't exist in firefox,the addon will be installed without asking

Avast is installed by using custom install and I choose exactly what I want to use from it...the file and web shields,no firewalls,no mail shield,no cleaners,no extra addons for firefox.
And I update it like I always do...avast tells me that there is a new version and I click on the button to update it.
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: bob3160 on July 29, 2016, 05:40:11 PM
See if this explains why it happens and how to avoid it from happening again:
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=189131.msg1327892#msg1327892
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: REDACTED on July 29, 2016, 05:49:36 PM
It doesn't....as I said,I used custom install and disabled everything except File and Web Shields.

Firefox addons require a file called install.rdf and two files exist in my Avast installation folder.
The first one was for that SafePrice and according to the Date Created,it was created today(when I updated the program)
And the second is for "Avast Passwords" which I also said that I don't want(it's not visible\running in firefox but it is in the avast folder along with a version for IE)
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: bob3160 on July 29, 2016, 05:55:04 PM
It doesn't....as I said,I used custom install and disabled everything except File and Web Shields.

Firefox addons require a file called install.rdf and two files exist in my Avast installation folder.
The first one was for that SafePrice and according to the Date Created,it was created today(when I updated the program)
And the second is for "Avast Passwords" which I also said that I don't want(it's not visible\running in firefox but it is in the avast folder along with a version for IE)
If you had done a custom install, and unchecked SafePrice, then it would not have been installed.
If you did the update through the notice from the UI, then it would have been installed since it's a brand new item.
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: DavidR on July 29, 2016, 06:38:38 PM
It doesn't....as I said,I used custom install and disabled everything except File and Web Shields.

Firefox addons require a file called install.rdf and two files exist in my Avast installation folder.
The first one was for that SafePrice and according to the Date Created,it was created today(when I updated the program)
And the second is for "Avast Passwords" which I also said that I don't want(it's not visible\running in firefox but it is in the avast folder along with a version for IE)
If you had done a custom install, and unchecked SafePrice, then it would not have been installed.
If you did the update through the notice from the UI, then it would have been installed since it's a brand new item.

See attached image, all modules/functions I didn't want were unchecked and I didn't get any options that I unchecked.
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: REDACTED on July 29, 2016, 06:47:21 PM
i updated from user interface and it did install SafePrice component without asking me.
only firefox asked me - i chose no , BUT still had to remove SafePrice from avast via add\remove program .
This is not good and not decent at all.......
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: DavidR on July 29, 2016, 06:52:46 PM
i updated from user interface and it did install SafePrice component without asking me.
only firefox asked me - i chose no , BUT still had to remove SafePrice from avast via add\remove program .
This is not good and not decent at all.......

As has been said, update from the user interface and you will get new components along with updates to your existing components.

Previously the AOS function included the browser extension and SafePrice. Now they are individual components, so you would get both (new elements) on a UI program update. UI program updates have in the past updated the modules you had installed and any new modules included with this version.

If you cast your mind back when the SafeZone browser was added to the avast free version, you got that too.
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: REDACTED on July 29, 2016, 07:06:24 PM
Quote
If you cast your mind back when the SafeZone browser was added to the avast free version, you got that too.
i use avast for 2-3 month and it's the 2nd program update i had . both time i used user interface and dont recall  SafeZone browser . may it was before i started use avast but i never installed it from the beginning .....
Quote
user interface and you will get new components along with updates to your existing components.
-is it a rule?
the main point here is that nothing is to be installed unless you choose to- no matter if you use new install or user interface install or any other kind.
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: DavidR on July 29, 2016, 08:04:50 PM
<snip>
Quote
user interface and you will get new components along with updates to your existing components.
-is it a rule?
the main point here is that nothing is to be installed unless you choose to- no matter if you use new install or user interface install or any other kind.

As an avast user like yourself I can't say if it is a hard and fast rule, but from what I see in the forums it would appear that way.

Personally I don't see the issue with new components/features being added to a program (or removed) in a program update, avast is not alone in this.

As has been said many times the best option is to control what is installed by doing a custom install. I didn't get any components that I didn't want as I did a custom install over the existing program version.
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: REDACTED on July 29, 2016, 09:03:37 PM
thanks DavidR
from now on i'll do the same as you custom install.
from where you download the update?
from
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=189131.0  ?
do you use the offline installer ?
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: DavidR on July 29, 2016, 11:21:52 PM
Yes that is where I downloaded mine - I always use the off-line installer. The link/s generally stays the same for next program update versions, so it should be good to download future versions.

I have never fancied using an on-line (stub) installer, mainly for different reasons (unrelated to this). Having never used it I don't know if it offers the same custom install options as the off-line installer.

I also save the downloaded off-line installer in case I have to use it for any reason in the future.
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: Rundvleeskroket on July 30, 2016, 01:29:05 AM
I've just deleted the file again. But this time I replaced it with a text file renamed to the executable, and made it read only. Let's see how that works.

If it still gets replaced with the next update, I'll try the same but with revoked permissions on the file. I accept the challenge  ;D
Title: Re: What is aswOfferTool.exe
Post by: bob3160 on July 30, 2016, 03:37:32 AM
I've just deleted the file again. But this time I replaced it with a text file renamed to the executable, and made it read only. Let's see how that works.

If it still gets replaced with the next update, I'll try the same but with revoked permissions on the file. I accept the challenge  ;D
Technically, not tampering with the program is something you agree to when you install it. :)