Despite what my account profile says I have been using Avast for over a decade. It has been a healthy relationship. I have never been infected with a virus. Which is why I always kept coming back. Always re registering on all my computers when my license expired. So it makes me sad that in it's newest iteration is become intrusive and annoying.
I'm a developer myself. I fully understand and wholly agree with needing to monetize your products, especially the freeware. But I cannot abide how you have chosen to do it. The all to frequent, annoying, intrusive, and quite frankly distracting popups you are forcing onto my laptop screen is a bridge to far. If there's a way to stop this, it's unintuitive enough that I cannot find it. And searching the forums just resulted in threads about how people are whining about ads.
I found no way to fix this unless of course I buy a license. And that is where the divide comes. I read the reviews. I understand exactly what the best anti-virus software is. It's a paid application. And if I have to pay, I'm going to buy the best one.
I've used Avast since before World of Warcraft came out. I have recommended it over and over, and installed it on quite a few friend's machines. In it's current state I would be embarrassed to do that. I feel like I'd have to apologize for all the popups they're now getting.
So thank you for a good ten, twelve years. It's been a good run. But I'm not in love with you anymore. It's not me, it's you. You've changed. Your focus has changed from prioritizing a safe internet, to squeezing every last cent out of your user base.
I'd say I'd be back if you found another way to monetize your app without being intrusive but the fact of the matter is, I can't live without virus protection and by the time you adjust anything, I'll already be involved with someone else.
Take care of yourself and good luck.
Andrew.
