I can no longer Recommend Avast.

[129260]

  

Like most of you, I used to love avast.

But they have completely ruined this product. 

-The multiple ads, (Even for paid users!)
-The constant nagging to upgrade to paid
-The bugs affecting slow loading of programs, crashing web browsers
-Worst of all: The added "grimefighter" component popping up ads asking to "speed up your computer". This is just ridiculous.
This is worse then the ads on TV that state you need to buy this to fix your PC!

I have had it. You have lost a 6 year user.

Avast is in the dumps. I feel ashamed to have ever recommended you guys now. You are just grabbing money anymore.

[AdrianH]

What adverts ?   I never see any adverts or upgrade requests.   

[Michael (alan1998)]

I have no issues with Avast!. And your CPU and mine are about the same. I should also point you, it's most likely you have "Adware" sitting on your system as I have not once seen an Advertisement from Avast!. I should also point out, I do not have GrimeFighter. Never have.

Upgrade Requests can be disabled, but even so I think I've seen 1 in the 5 years I've used Avast!

[been]

There are 'toaster' ads where the vps update notification used to be! These are mildly irritating but as long as they don't become any more intrusive I'm prepared to accept them as the price of a 'free' AV application of Avast's quality. I share the OP's misgivings about Grimefighter so chose to deselect it at installation. It can be easily removed using the component uninstall facility.

[Michael (alan1998)]

Toaster Ads? Damn, I don't see any idea's. Can you attach a screenShot?

[129260]

I don't have adware. I am talking about the ads that are clearly from avast in the bottom right corner. It says avast and then they display the ad.
I have the latest version, just manually checked.

[Para-Noid]

1) What ads? If you mean the pop-ups, this is an ongoing issue. They should be about vps updates.
2) What nags? avast has every reason to expect a profit. After all the employees want to get paid for their efforts.
3) Crashing web browsers? Just disable the "avast online security" plug-in.
4) Grimefighter? Uninstall it. Control Panel>Uninstall a Program>double click "avast">click "change">untick the box>reboot.

The one thing that really stands out is that you never complained about the protection.
With all due respect personally I feel you are being rather petty.

[Para-Noid]

Toaster Ads? Damn, I don't see any idea's. Can you attach a screenShot?

I think the OP is talking about the vps update pop-ups which show advertising instead of the proper wording.
To me it's no biggie. The OP could, if they wanted to, disable those pop-ups.

[Eddy]

You say you have the latest version, but what EXACT version do you have?
Already disabled the community features ?

[129260]

Look at how many things you posted.

I have to do 3 things just to make the product work the way it should? That's ridiculous.

I know avast should get a profit, I understand that. But I have clients with the paid avast who are still getting nagged to upgrade further. Its irritating. To make matters worse, these bugs have been going on for several months now. Its not acceptable.

I am not the only person who feels this way. I know 7 colleagues of mine are switching away as they don't like these changes either.

Just posting my thoughts.

Have a nice day

[Para-Noid]

Just my thoughts...

Three quite small actions.
Sounds good to me.

You still have not complained about the protection.

[cavehomme2]

Just my thoughts...

Three quite small actions.
Sounds good to me.

You still have not complained about the protection.

It might sound minor to you, but it's clearly not minor to many other people, so you should not dismiss the comment so easily. Most people want something to work properly not diminish their protection, take workarounds, play with configurations. If Avast management is like you, they keep kidding themselves that all is OK when it is not, then Avast's future will not be growing the number of clients and revenue. They have serious quality issues which they need to address, also need to revert to version 7 for Windows 7 users, not the ridiculous Win 8 / Metro style which is only great for Windows 8 touchscreen devices, nothing else.

[Eddy]

Don't blame the software if the user is not spending time learning how to use it.

Want to drive a car? You will need to learn how to drive one.
Want to make dinner yourself? You will need to learn how to cook.
Want to use software? You will need to learn how to use it.

[bob3160]

Win 8 / Metro style which is only great for Windows 8 touchscreen devices, nothing else.

Strange, I don't have a touch screen yet I have both Windows 8.1 and avast! 2014 Free - Pro and IS
All of these work very well even without a touch screen. 
Actually, avast! 2014 works in the background so, outside of the occasional VPS update notifications, I don't even know it's there.

[AdrianH]

Win 8 / Metro style which is only great for Windows 8 touchscreen devices, nothing else.

Strange, I don't have a touch screen yet I have both Windows 8.1 and avast! 2014 Free - Pro and IS
All of these work very well even without a touch screen. 
Actually, avast! 2014 works in the background so, outside of the occasional VPS update notifications, I don't even know it's there.

Agreed Bob, I simply do not understand this fuss about the GUI.

I have Win8.1 on an Acer laptop, I don't use the Windows menu or tiles, I have Start8 and go to desktop, and have no touch screen.  Personally I think the avast9 GUI is the best they ever produced.

It is neat, clean and easy to use.

My son has Aspergers Syndrome and is very averse to change, but he prefers this latest GUI, he says it is much easier to understand, the layout is more intuitive.

I have installed avast9 on XP, Vista, Win7 and Win8 for at least 30 people, there have been some issues, now resolved, BUT nobody has complained about the GUI, the comments have all been very positive.