Author Topic: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast  (Read 16838 times)

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steaming

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I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« on: October 04, 2012, 05:00:04 PM »

Mistakes happen, but Avast, as any company, should advise their user/customer base, release an official word within hours, instead of leaving us in the dark, guessing, letting us duke it out here as best we can, trying to find solutions or workarounds. 

That said, I like self-reliance, and we, people here, did very well, I think, and I feel I might as well thank everyone who posted here reporting either the issue or any solution, hint, advice, and idea:  the community here did very well.

Avast, in their 'official silence,' being mum on the subject, and not offering an official resolution or workaround, did not -- community 1, Avast 0, in this match:  an Avast fail.

It's the first one I can think of (apart from very few and very minor issues now and then) so I won't make too much of it and won't ditch their software (as long as it's fixed sooner rather than later).

I just hope this isn't the first of many, and a sign of things to come, or of the company's general policy and (lack of) response, because keeping quiet about any issue relating to security can be risky, costly, especially if it's paired with complacency, or if protecting their status quo and their earnings overrides security concerns (Avast is in the business of security after all!), and they repeatedly decide to keep quiet about an issue until it's fixed, or forever, rather than risk a blip of bad publicity by acknowledging and advising users about it officially.

That's all, my "two cents" addressed to Avast -- snafus occur, just be upfront about them with an official word, and be quick about it, respond within a couple of hours, along with the official posting on the official site of any workarounds and measures suggested, as soon as they're found and tested.  Not expecting the impossible, and no reasonable person would.
« Last Edit: October 04, 2012, 05:22:47 PM by steaming »

Offline CraigB

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Re: I understand
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2012, 05:04:24 PM »
Why have you posted this here instead of the original topic your post is related to ???

steaming

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2012, 05:22:17 PM »
Heh, answered already in its own thread, and was about to modify and make suitable. (A post submission glitch, and attention divided, I didn't notice the result till done).  Sorry about that.  I'll edit and move the strictly relevant portion of the post where it belongs, and leave here the post content that fits the title only.

GTX66

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2012, 05:25:53 PM »
I agree with you 100% and as far as I know the problem has not yet been fixed. My AIS has yet to update today.

MossyRock

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2012, 05:40:16 PM »
IMHO, I think this new thread on this problem is a good idea, given that the content has a different message.  It increases visibility to the folks at Avast, and the subject says it all. ;)

steaming

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2012, 06:10:20 PM »
Thanks for that, GTX -- and Mossy, too, about the thread being a good idea. 
(Funny, I was just about to post the following along the same lines and in reply to GTX, got called away and busy, and then I find your post in support. :~)

Maybe it's good to let Avast know we're not upset because a mistake occurred (they happen).  We only wish for a quick official reaction and advisory (so we know what we're up against, prepared), and, ideally, a workaround published through official sources as soon as there is one and is tested and proven to work (and do more good than harm, hopefully).

I still like the products, free and paid versions, both.  I like the way the program behaves generally, I like its relatively small footprint / low resources used, the user-configurable controls and options, including (the lack of) intrusiveness that it allows, even the graphical interface, its design -- just about everything, I suppose -- so yes, I like Avast.

(And same here, by the way, just now checked via the regular update, we're still on version 121003-1 at the moment.)
« Last Edit: October 04, 2012, 06:12:41 PM by steaming »

true indian

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2012, 06:19:41 PM »
Please be patient...There is major problem...Igor already mentioned.

Nesivos

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2012, 06:59:39 PM »

Mistakes happen, but Avast, as any company, should advise their user/customer base, release an official word within hours, instead of leaving us in the dark, guessing, letting us duke it out here as best we can, trying to find solutions or workarounds. 

I have been an avast! user for close to three years.  I have never had a security related problem with any released avast! product, other than their Linux one.  Now admittedly I do not use all of the features of avast! AIS like sandboxing (as opposed to auto-sandboxing) and safezone but as far as the basic core security goes I have never had a security related problem with any released version of avast!

Many of the problems posted on this forum are not even avast! related but are Windows or 3rd party related.  Not all of them but many.

avast! software is not a miracle product.  It is a very good security product that in my experience protects Windows 7 and Windows 8 without any security related problems.   As far as XP goes even though it is supported by avast! XP is an archaic outdated OS which should be upgraded by every Windows user who is using it.   My guess from reading the problems posted on this forum is that new avast! releases are designed primarily for Windows 7 and Windows 8.   While new avast! releases will will work with XP from what I have seen on this forum too many of the posted problems are on XP systems.   The only reason for anyone to continue to use XP is because they cannot afford to purchase a new computer that will run Windows 7, period.

Offline midnight

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2012, 08:18:04 PM »

Mistakes happen, but Avast, as any company, should advise their user/customer base, release an official word within hours, instead of leaving us in the dark, guessing, letting us duke it out here as best we can, trying to find solutions or workarounds. 

I have been an avast! user for close to three years.  I have never had a security related problem with any released avast! product, other than their Linux one.  Now admittedly I do not use all of the features of avast! AIS like sandboxing (as opposed to auto-sandboxing) and safezone but as far as the basic core security goes I have never had a security related problem with any released version of avast!

Many of the problems posted on this forum are not even avast! related but are Windows or 3rd party related.  Not all of them but many.

avast! software is not a miracle product.  It is a very good security product that in my experience protects Windows 7 and Windows 8 without any security related problems.   As far as XP goes even though it is supported by avast! XP is an archaic outdated OS which should be upgraded by every Windows user who is using it.   My guess from reading the problems posted on this forum is that new avast! releases are designed primarily for Windows 7 and Windows 8.   While new avast! releases will will work with XP from what I have seen on this forum too many of the posted problems are on XP systems.   The only reason for anyone to continue to use XP is because they cannot afford to purchase a new computer that will run Windows 7, period.

"The only reason for anyone to continue to use XP is because they cannot afford to purchase a new computer that will run Windows 7, period."    You know that for a fact?
« Last Edit: October 04, 2012, 11:12:17 PM by -midnight »
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steaming

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2012, 08:47:59 PM »
Maybe, Nesivos, maybe.  I'll grant you some of what you say (if not all) -- for one thing, as I said before, I do like the Avast (avast!) products I have and am using. 

The issue I was trying to address in these posts wasn't even the quality of efficacy of the products themselves, in general (which I like), as I still use them, and will continue to use them unless they plain stop working (in which case, obviously, I'd have no choice but to pick an alternative among the many). 

Instead, it was the way it seems to have been handled, without an official word of warning and advisory, and the effect such a silent treatment might have on the efficacy of a product that depends on timely information and updates.  That's all. 

And that's not a major issue either, in and of itself.  Not yet. 

As long as it's a single occurrence, a blip, that too is OK.  I just hope it doesn't and won't reflect official policy going forward, and future handling of such events (glitches, bugs, etc.).  Because they can happen, and whatever can happen, most likely will happen, eventually, now and then;  you can prevent many accidents, but not all;  "sh*t happens," right?   We all know that (or should).

The word of advice and the plea is in hopes of preventing it from becoming a habit, maybe part of an unspoken but practised company policy or established modus operandi when it comes to dealing with issues like the current virus definition (or software engine) update. 

Simple as that.  I don't expect miracles, Nesivos, and I don't know that anyone does (I think we're all aware that the mess might hit the fan at times, and things might go wrong). 

I don't have illusions or expectations of Avast being a miracle product -- only a good one worth using, and maybe safeguarding, too.

And worth posting about, and for, in hopes of trying to see to it that the product remains effective, and something as simple (and avoidable) as poor communication with the customer / user base doesn't compromise its effectiveness in the future, of safeguarding us, which is the software's primary purpose (or sole purpose, as far as that user base is concerned).

I'm not overly impatient either, True Indian;)  (But I do hope we'll get a fix eventually.  And that it won't involve another round of multiple-system uninstall - reinstall procedures. O.o :\)

(Incidentally, addressing the gist of your post, Nesivos, regarding Windows and third-party products and incompatibilities, and for the sake of 'full disclosure,' since it's relevant:  I myself run Windows 7 almost exclusively, with only two desktops still running under Windows XP, and those two are strictly stand-alone island PCs, permanently offline, no longer and never connected to the net or networked in any way -- mostly test and software compatibility platforms. 

Anyway, Nesivos, "the only reason for anyone to continue to use XP is because they cannot afford to purchase a new computer that will run Windows 7, period" -- that may not be the case, and there could be a "comma -- or" instead of "period."  Right?... ;~)
« Last Edit: October 04, 2012, 08:59:10 PM by steaming »

Offline DavidR

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2012, 08:57:15 PM »
The fix is already there in version 121004-0 released recently.
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steaming

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #11 on: October 04, 2012, 09:04:06 PM »
Indeed.  Done.  Thanks for the heads-up, David.

(And my point remains. ;)  Communication is still important.)

Offline DavidR

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2012, 11:03:30 PM »
Well the auto update function would have picked this up as it did on my other system, no intervention required on my part.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

steaming

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #13 on: October 05, 2012, 01:55:10 AM »
I did just pick up 121005-0 automatically.  Rapid-fire updates -- all's well and back in order right now.

Offline midnight

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Re: I Understand -- But A Word, Advice, and Plea to Avast
« Reply #14 on: October 06, 2012, 09:49:53 AM »
I have Avast set to auto-update but for the past 2 days I haven't gotten a popup and have had to a manual update.  Just did one and now have 121006-0.

Why is auto-update not working?

Would appreciate it if someone who actually knows about this problem would reply.

Thank you.
« Last Edit: October 06, 2012, 12:51:35 PM by -midnight »
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