Author Topic: Why I'm leaving Avast  (Read 6619 times)

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Yuki1313

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Why I'm leaving Avast
« on: January 15, 2014, 01:43:05 AM »
It's been years, and I'm appreciative, but the Emergency update program has crossed the bounds of sanity, so I'm leaving. No, it's not a wise idea so send a different program name every time to my firewall control, which necessitates a release from me, *and* which results in my firewall control program building up an absurd list such as "avast emergency update" "avast emergency update (1)" etc., etc., etc.

I don't expect that this bothers most users, because they don't take security seriously enough to port control. I do, and I'm aghast that avast has chosen such a foolish way to implement emergency updates. I don't expect them to change it however, so I'm gone.

The "emergency" for me, is getting rid of a program that doesn't play well with top firewall applications.  Sorry.

marc-d-l

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2014, 01:51:37 AM »
You allow your antivirus to run through your firewall,why not let all part of the antivirus,like emergency update to also run through the firewall.Thats not being security minded,that's being paranoid.

Yuki1313

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2014, 01:56:19 AM »
You don't seem to understand the problem, but I do.  :)  Avast emergency update, every time it starts, uses a *unique* program name.  Thus, it *cannot* *ever* be "set" to "always allow".  (resulting in the items in the firewall control that I mentioned in my post: emergency update (1), then ... (2) then, etc., etc -- it presents a *unique* identifier to the firewall every time, which is unacceptable)  This is really an unforgivable error on the part of Avast, and as I said, it's not going to bother less knowledgeable users. And, I so doubt that they will change this abhorrent behavior that I'm leaving the family.
« Last Edit: January 15, 2014, 02:00:58 AM by Yuki1313 »

Offline schmidthouse

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2014, 02:01:27 AM »
Yes, well I personally have not been impressed with this approach either, However I then made a decision, to continuing using a Security Program that I feel is worth it (at this point)or not. To adapt and deal with the reality.
For me at this point it is the right decision. :)

Yuki1313

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2014, 02:03:59 AM »
Yes, everyone is free to use what he or she likes of course. Avast is not the only arrow in the quiver, however. Although I've been using it for years and years, they've crossed a boundary here. There are free and effective alternatives.

Offline bob3160

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2014, 02:37:44 AM »
Yes, everyone is free to use what he or she likes of course. Avast is not the only arrow in the quiver, however. Although I've been using it for years and years, they've crossed a boundary here. There are free and effective alternatives.
Your choice. Stay safe. I personally don't agree with your reasoning but, it's your computer.
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Yuki1313

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2014, 03:08:28 AM »
If they ever fix the program so that it doesn't not present a unique identifier or filename to my firewall every time it executes, I'll probably come back. But I doubt if they are going to change this, and I doubt if I'm giving up anything by changing AV programs. They have no right AFAIC to clog up my firewall control with unique requests.  Unacceptable.

Offline bob3160

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2014, 02:03:03 PM »
If they ever fix the program so that it doesn't not present a unique identifier or filename to my firewall every time it executes, I'll probably come back. But I doubt if they are going to change this, and I doubt if I'm giving up anything by changing AV programs. They have no right AFAIC to clog up my firewall control with unique requests.  Unacceptable.
As already stated, your antivirus program should not be restricted by your firewall. You're the one making life difficult for yourself.

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AdrianH

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2014, 02:25:51 PM »
Well .......... I use Private Firewall and that is pretty paranoid, always shows up suspicious activity/connections, new apps or processes.

Avast EM has never yet caused a problem ....... avast is trusted, updates are set to allow .......... works very well.


Offline DavidR

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2014, 03:04:29 PM »
Well .......... I use Private Firewall and that is pretty paranoid, always shows up suspicious activity/connections, new apps or processes.

Avast EM has never yet caused a problem ....... avast is trusted, updates are set to allow .......... works very well.

I use Outpost Firewall Pro and its anti-leak and HIPS related stuff is fairly sensitive (the way I have set it). For me I haven't that much grief with the unique as that should only occur when an emergency update is detected as available.

Those emergence updates shouldn't be so frequent as to be a real hassle, not to mention that if it does get pinged by my firewall it takes a second to click the allow option.

I have two of these unique emergency updates and their creation was 28/12/20013 and 31/12/20013; so for me, not that frequent to get bothered about.
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Offline Para-Noid

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2014, 03:27:49 PM »
I'm using Comodo Firewall w/D+ and haven't seen any of the issues you are addressing.
CFW has a built-in whitelist and avast is on that whitelist.

Maybe it isn't your avast, it's your firewall.
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Yuki1313

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #11 on: January 15, 2014, 10:48:01 PM »
@bob3160

Is it simply an inability to understand, Bob, or an unwillingness?  For the last time, I hope, I'm not restricting Avast with my firewall.  Any decent firewall allows any program to be "always okay", and Avast is set that way on my firewall.  But, Bob, and try to wrap your head around this: Avast's emergency update "camouflages" itself. It presents its requests to the firewall as a different program, with a different filename -- a RANDOM filename, for God's sake -- upon which the firewall does its job, which is asking the admin to okay or not okay access by a program that has *never* run before.

Now what part of this don't you get, bob3160?  It's very simple.  Concentrate and maybe you'll get it.  Sorry to be rather blunt, but your repeated comment that I'm doing something wrong is, well, ignorant.

Offline bob3160

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #12 on: January 15, 2014, 11:31:25 PM »
@bob3160

Is it simply an inability to understand, Bob, or an unwillingness?  For the last time, I hope, I'm not restricting Avast with my firewall.  Any decent firewall allows any program to be "always okay", and Avast is set that way on my firewall.  But, Bob, and try to wrap your head around this: Avast's emergency update "camouflages" itself. It presents its requests to the firewall as a different program, with a different filename -- a RANDOM filename, for God's sake -- upon which the firewall does its job, which is asking the admin to okay or not okay access by a program that has *never* run before.

Now what part of this don't you get, bob3160?  It's very simple.  Concentrate and maybe you'll get it.  Sorry to be rather blunt, but your repeated comment that I'm doing something wrong is, well, ignorant.
Would you please go back to bed and get up on the other side of that bed, arrogance doesn't become you.
Maybe you should read the rest of the replies and realize, you're the person with a problem to understand.
Enjoy what ever you choose to replace avast.   :)
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Offline Rompin Raider

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2014, 11:47:24 PM »
@bob3160

Is it simply an inability to understand, Bob, or an unwillingness?  For the last time, I hope, I'm not restricting Avast with my firewall.  Any decent firewall allows any program to be "always okay", and Avast is set that way on my firewall.  But, Bob, and try to wrap your head around this: Avast's emergency update "camouflages" itself. It presents its requests to the firewall as a different program, with a different filename -- a RANDOM filename, for God's sake -- upon which the firewall does its job, which is asking the admin to okay or not okay access by a program that has *never* run before.

Now what part of this don't you get, bob3160?  It's very simple.  Concentrate and maybe you'll get it.  Sorry to be rather blunt, but your repeated comment that I'm doing something wrong is, well, ignorant.
Would you please go back to bed and get up on the other side of that bed, arrogance doesn't become you.
Maybe you should read the rest of the replies and realize, you're the person with a problem to understand.
Enjoy what ever you choose to replace avast.   :)

I think it's the full moon, or close too it!  ;D
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Offline polonus

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Re: Why I'm leaving Avast
« Reply #14 on: January 15, 2014, 11:58:32 PM »
@Yuki1313

Well, bob3160, may have some point there. You have to question this behavior of the avast emergency update and then ask yourself this question:
"Why would avast use a randomizer on it?". In the constant battle with malcreants and circumventors,
with the latter often getting the upper hand and in an everlasting battle it could well be a sheer necessity.
Your firewall does not have to stop some fingerprinting from avast!'s homebase.

Lately it is striking that a lot of long-time users and newbiesall alike started to question avast online behavior.
I think it is the NSA revelations syndrome that must have gotten a hold on these poor souls and produced these almost paranoidal attitudes.
This also toward the avast! av solution that you should trust a full 1000%. And you can. :)

Read what AVAST’s Chief Technology Officer, Ondřej Vlček declared here:
http://blog.avast.com/2014/01/07/avast-response-to-open-letter-from-bits-of-freedom/

So it is all a question of trust, and why should you trust an av software solution that does not impact your firewall settings,
but also never answered the Open Letter from Bits of Freedom?

Do I have to bring more arguments to debunk your anxiety?

I do not have to toss and turn in my bed to-night as I know the people that will keep my computer secure
(thanks to Vlk, Milos & other avast team members).
And to-morrow will be "bright and shine" when I start to boot after a new emergency update! lands".

polonus
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