Avast 2014 Tracking Me When I Opt Out

[doctordeaf]

I have a problem with the new 2014 version 0f Avast

By default the program blocks tracking for other sites, which breaks some sites, but ALLOWS tracking by Avast using its Community IQ service

I can turn these features off for a session, but the next time I start Firefox it reverts to the default settings, including the option to 'Allow submission of anonymous data to enhance our services' !

Can someone please tell me how to make these settings 'stick', or is the option to submit data to Avast compulsory now?

Cheers,
DD

[olddog]

By default the program blocks tracking for other sites, which breaks some sites, but ALLOWS tracking by Avast using its Community IQ service

I can turn these features off for a session, but the next time I start Firefox it reverts to the default settings, including the option to 'Allow submission of anonymous data to enhance our services' !

If you are referring to the tick box in Settings->Community, then that setting is sticky here. I unticked it and it has stayed that way since shortly after I installed 2014.9.0.2008, despite many reboots.

If your setting isn't sticky and keeps changing, then my question is how did you do your last program update. If you updated from version 8 to version 9 (2014) either via the program itself, or by manually updating over the top of the previous version, then I would suggest you consider downloading a new copy of the current version, then uninstalling Avast in safe mode using Avastclear.exe, rebooting, then doing a new install.

[doctordeaf]

Well spotted, it was via an update as I've been running Avast for ages!

I'll try cleaning up in safe mode and reinstalling as you suggest. I didn't know Avast had a program for cleaning up crud, I though this was just Symantec of old

I'll report back later 

Thanks,
DD

[mchain]

Once you've done the clean install, that setting should stay off once you set it if that is what you need.

[doctordeaf]

OK so I went into safe mode and used the Avast cleaner to completely remove the program, restarted, then reinstalled from a fresh copy of Avast.

Open Firefox and unticked 'Do Not Track' and 'Community IQ'.  Restart Firefox and they are ticked again 

Then I tried the the same in my desktop with the same result! Settings aren't kept and Avast keeps forcing me to send data to their server unless I opt out every time I open the browser...

Is this a limitation of the Free version or some incompatibility with Firefox as at the moment the only way I can stop Avast tracking me is to disable the web component completely (or use another AV program) 

[Para-Noid]

Which FF are you using?
The latest stable version is v25.0.1 

[doctordeaf]

Firefox 25.0.1 in my laptop and 26 beta channel in my desktop. Same issue 

Has anybody actually got this working in Windows 7 Ultimate X64 and Firefox or is this a limitation of the Free version?

[jrace]

Firefox 25.0.1 in my laptop and 26 beta channel in my desktop. Same issue 

Has anybody actually got this working in Windows 7 Ultimate X64 and Firefox or is this a limitation of the Free version?

It's not working for me either (clean install of .2008).
"Is this a limitation of the Free version?" I don't know. 

[olddog]

Open Firefox and unticked 'Do Not Track' and 'Community IQ'.  Restart Firefox and they are ticked again

As I have pointed out in a number of threads, the settings you refer to require that cookies are NOT removed when Firefox is closed.

If you use the settings shown in the attached screenshot, I think you will find the settings will be retained as they are here on Windows 7 Pro, 65 bit, Firefox 25.0.1, and Avast 2014.9.0.2008

[doctordeaf]

As I have pointed out in a number of threads, the settings you refer to require that cookies are NOT removed when Firefox is closed

Thanks, despite much searching it's the first time I've heard that 

Yes I do clear cookies and all the other junk on closing Firefox (doesn't everybody?). What an ironic way for an anti-tracking plugin to keep it's settings, by using the poor, misunderstood cookie 

Anyway, I've turned off the browser plugin now so problem sorted. To be honest this new plugin has proven very intrusive and seems better suited to newbies, people who wear tin foil hats and porn surfers than experienced interneteers - you know the sort of people who have a dozen, blinking icons in their taskbar feeding them adverts and have no idea how they got there 

Thanks again,
DD