Safe Price Addition To Avast - Are You Kidding Me?

[Jaggwire]

"schmmidhouse" said: "Just so it's clear, AOS(Avast Online Security) is just a Browser Plugin/Addon and is NOT the main core function of Avast Anti Virus. The security issue is minimal at best and really will not put your PC at risk if Uninstalled or Disabled"

Sorry for yelling, but *WHAT THE FRICK?* Today, browsers are THE biggest vector for malware! And if Avast is forcing us to disable the "entire" browser protection feature, instead of just the "SafePrice" portion, then that is a very bad thing! Again, apologies for shouting, but... shmidthouse ... REALLY?! Did you really just make that idiotic statement?

Antivirus and Antimalware are not just about "scanning static files that sit on your hard drive." Schmidthouse, the world has changed since 1992, when I used the very first Mozilla browser on a World Wide Web at Naval Research Lab - and the entire Web, at that time, consisted of less than 500 sites, with minimal graphics. Please... get out of the 80's and 90's and read about malware infections, their vectors, how they happen, etc. Sorry to be so blunt, but you struck a nerve. I hope you don't take the above criticism the wrong way. Antimalware/Antivirus protection is very much about preventing malicious content from less-than-wholesome URLs, questionable sites, e-mail inboxes/servers, etc. "File scanning" is just one aspect.

Absolutely! I am a PAYING CUSTOMER--not a freebie user (though, years ago, I used to be). I've been paying (for years) for protection of three pcs, and now, I'm saying "what the hell?" There are pop-ups, ads, and other annoyances that I am paying AVAST TO TAKE CARE OF AND NOT ADD KEROSENE TO THE FLAMING ISSUE!!! Now I have "SafePrice" popping up on my Firefox browser. I cannot locate it or disable it without disabling my online protection. I am p-o'd, and I do not care who knows it.
Either add a way to disable this attempt to scrounge data from my browsing/shopping habits (and selling it to other companies because, come on, why else would you do something "nice" for us?), or return my money plus 40% for the aggravation you've caused me!

[REDACTED]

I wish there was a "frustration detector" in the forum that would swing into action and pop up the many, many threads where folks in the know instruct people how to remove the fluffware er, "useful and professional tools" in the center column of the Avast installer.

1.  Jaggwire there's a Big Shiny Button that can distract unsuspecting users from using the Custom install link, which is the one you really should take for maximum control over what's installed.  That path leads one to a selection panel where one can choose to opt out of the default install of most of the "tools", including the one at the focus of this thread.  If it's not installed it's not going to bother you.

2.  You can change what's installed after the fact via the Control Panel (right click Avast and choose Change).  The three shields are the most useful part of the product in my opinion.  The stuff in the center column can be unchecked, and voila, no more Safeprice, et. al.

I hear that the inclusion of all this extra stuff helps fund Avast development so that they can bring us the good parts for free (the term "freemium model" has been used).  I'm not going to argue with that - if it's true, more power to 'em - as long as knowledgeable users can disable what they don't want I'm happy.

It IS possible to have Avast do a very nice job of providing a safety net for you very quietly and unobtrusively.

-Noel

[davexnet]

Why leave the software updater selected?  Another dubious offering, IMO.

Almost all important software I've encountered (and some not so important) have there own "check for updates"
built in.  For example Adobe Flash and Sun Java either let you know, or go right ahead and install
the update automatically.

[REDACTED]

In my case I've decided to use it.  In general I like to be in charge of exactly when all updates go in, so I have set it to notify me only - not install anything.

I always deconfigure / disable the various updaters that applications install themselves, because they take more system resources to be running in the background all the time, and it's not always possible to have them just notify, not do the update.

So far this particular "tool" in Avast has been good at notifying me when a new component has been made available.

-Noel

[REDACTED]

If you can't turn Safe Price off without losing all of the other browser plugin functionality, then Avast is adding this annoy you so you'll pay for the full version of the product- otherwise the option in the menu would say "switch off Safe Price" instead of "switch off Safe Price for 24 hours". What is this... Facebook?

Thanks Avast, it's been a pleasure using your product for free for several years now, but this new annoying thing that I cannot turn off will be just enough to get me to move on to the latest and greatest new free product from someone else.

If you made one product and made it well, I might consider buying it, but this one has become so bloated, pop-up ridden, and full of cartoony nonsense, gallows day was coming already anyway. Take a look at  XnView or VLC player, for examples of tight design and keeping in scope: years of production, and they have yet to find a need to include a toaster oven and 40 subscriptions to Vibe.

And, an advance reply to that little beam of sunshine who replies to everyone complaining about this: I'd suggest you get a job, but it's clear your job is to post upbeat replies to all the complaints about this.

[REDACTED]

@ will.pdx,

Most things are customizable with Avast.  You can turn off/disable Safe Price by following the directions on the last post of this page: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=148575.msg1112787#msg1112787.

In addition, I would suggest in the future that you Custom Install software so that you only get what you want instead of the default.  But by following the instructions above, you will be able to disable Safe Price.

[REDACTED]

In addition, I would suggest in the future that you Custom Install software so that you only get what you want instead of the default.  But by following the instructions above, you will be able to disable Safe Price.

I'm sick of people giving this solution as if it were the solution to this kind of situation that is going crazy in actual software industry.

It is true it is the only chance the software industry is giving us. Just be very very very careful on install so no trash is installed on your computer. So to fight the each time more dishonest software industry with all sort of dishonest marketing you have to be extremely careful.

The only real solution is software industry becoming more honest and doing a clear distinction of what should be an opt-in option (disable by default with ability to enable it) and what should be an opt-out option (enable by default with ability to disable it). Well, in fact they already know too well what should be opt-in and opt-out but their shit dishonest marketing purpose prevails. And things that should be opt-in are turned into opt-out (and many times even hiding as much as possible the place to disable the feature).

And this is in general for the whole software industry and a lot more dangerous in a lot of other software out there (some of them offering malware on installers as opt-out) but in particular for Avast don't know for how long already.

And obviously Avast is not including anything that is dangerous -that would be insane- but more and more and more it is including things that should be opt-in as opt-out or even without the option to disable them (for example the pop-ups feature had the option to be disable in some older versions. Now that can be only turned off in premium products. Though at least they have reduced the frequency of the ad pop-ups which was insane when they first introduced the feature).

Some people are just confortable if they have the chance to get rid of the situation, "as far as I'm not one of the victims all is fine". But be sure doesn't worth it. Sooner or later you will be one of the victims of that dishonest marketing. And when it happens just remember you were fine with it.

[bob3160]

All industry constantly strives to increase the bottom line. If they expect to stay in business,
that's a necessity. I don't look at it as dishonesty but survival.
Would I prefer not to have to look under each rock for something hidden, you bet i would.
Uncheckey has come a long way toward helping to make that job a little easier.
We live in the real world and it isn't always as nice as we would like it to be.
We simply need to be come more savvy.

[REDACTED]

All industry constantly strives to increase the bottom line. If they expect to stay in business,
that's a necessity. I don't look at it as dishonesty but survival.
Would I prefer not to have to look under each rock for something hidden, you bet i would.
Uncheckey has come a long way toward helping to make that job a little easier.
We live in the real world and it isn't always as nice as we would like it to be.
We simply need to be come more savvy.

And this is exactly the kind of complacency that is making the issue go worst and worst as time goes by.

If a software needs to spread malware to survive then it does not deserve survival.

And for example, in my opinion any software that includes malware, even if it is just only as an opt-out in its installer, should be flagged as malware. The software installer and the software website. Something that is not doing the security software industry which only flags as malware the third party software that is offered on the installer but not the software that offers it on its installer. If security software industry did that I'm sure that practice would be eradicated very quickly.

This is just a personal opinion. And sorry because I have moved this thread off-topic.

[bob3160]

There is a big difference between complacency and reality.
As I stated, we live in a real world not a fantasy and need to learn to cope with that reality.

[REDACTED]

This is sharp practice.  There is a serious doubt in my mind whether I should be letting this company anywhere near my private information.

[bob3160]

This is sharp practice.  There is a serious doubt in my mind whether I should be letting this company anywhere near my private information.

Better them then the NSA. They at least tell you what they look at and have access to.

[REDACTED]

What makes you think the NSA is the least bit bothered by the presence of Avast! on the system?



-Noel

[RejZoR]

I had a funny experience with SafePrice yesterday. Was looking at some Seiko watch, SafePrice popup appeared that some other store has it cheaper. Great, i follow the link and it opens up a cheaper watch indeed, but was a completelly unrelated different model that had nothing to do with what i was watching. Anyone else had something similar?

[REDACTED]

I don't show SafePrice in m settings so am I ok? Meaning it isn't installed?