Author Topic: You're fired. Box your stuff and get out.  (Read 3062 times)

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User_512

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You're fired. Box your stuff and get out.
« on: February 23, 2014, 12:31:15 AM »
I have used Avast for a very long time. Back when I started in 07, Avast was a lightweight, effective malware slaying machine. Now, it is a bloated POS that doesn't do the job I originally got it for - insurance, on the rare chance I made a error of judgment.

For the last two years or so, Avast has provided me with 95% false positives (most infamously against Guitar Pro 5). The only time it's detected something that might be an actual threat is when a website has initiated a download to a PUP, like iLivid, and frankly I don't need Avast to tell me not to run a downloaded executable that I didn't tell the browser to download. In fact, here is a list of things I don't need avast to do:

1: Update it's interface and program every 3 days.
2: Bombard me with far too many toast notifications. These often get in the way of the following common computer activities: EVERYTHING.
3: Plague me with restart notifications that take the focus away from anything I'm doing, including full screen applications. I don't care if Avast *needs* this update - I'm the boss of this computer, if I say we stay online til the damn CPU burns out from old age, we're staying online for that time - don't spam me with restart notifications.
3-A: Open restart prompt with "OK" highlighted. As if it wasn't irritating enough to have auto-focus on the restart prompt, "OK" is also highlighted - if you happen to be typing something and you happen to press "enter" when this window pops up, your PC happens to restart.
4: Scan my PC for "grime". "Grime"? You dare call my PC grimy? Who do you think you are? The administrator? When you update your program, please refrain from automatically installing needless features like this. For me, this feature is more of a drain on my system's resources than the "grime" it detected.
5: Give files "reputations". This tactic doesn't even work, and is in part why avast is getting fired today. Expanded upon below.


When I got avast, all it did was it's job. Now it tries to do lots of jobs, and forgets about it's original job, and this is why I'm here right now posting this topic. Two days ago, I downloaded FileZilla's client from Sourceforge. I had the installer open, but I didn't continue with it because I was busy with other things and FileZilla was not too important at the time. Somehow, OptimizerPro weaseled it's way into my system, and this is where I get angry.

I use avast to prevent stuff like this from happening. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=109600.0 This link says to me that Avast had at least been notified about this malware (as early as 2012), yet somehow it managed install itself into my system and avast didn't do a damn thing about it. OptimizerPro is without a doubt malware. But it gets better! While grumbling to myself about how Avast had missed such an obvious piece of malware, I attempted to download AdwCleaner - and that's when Avast leaped into action, informing me that the file was "either very new or very rare". Thanks File Reputation, you're an excellent feature! Pity the malware was lodged inside something that wasn't very new or very rare!

In conclusion: thank you, Avast, for popping off warnings about perfectly safe programs but remaining utterly silent while something infiltrated my system. Congratulations, you are finally just another useless, bloated POS "antivirus" that treats the user like they're completely inept, and you let systems get infected anyway.

You're fired. Box your stuff and get out.



FAQ:

Q: What are your system specs?
A: Core i5 3570k, 16gb RAM, ATI 6580 1gb, Asrock Pro3 z77. I could list more but really are the PSU and HDDs relevant?

Q: Was your version of Avast! Antivirus updated to the latest version?
A: Yes.

Q: What OS do you use?
A: Windows 7 64bit.

Q: If you're so good, why do you even need avast?
A: Good point. That's another reason to call it useless and uninstall it!

Q: Is there anything else I can "help" you with today sir?
A: No. There's a possible BSOD issue with avast 8, but I don't have time to expand upon that and I think you people have given enough "help".

Q: How did you find out that the infection came from SourceForge's version of FileZilla client installer?
A: A quick google search of "sourceforge filezilla optimizerpro", but more importantly NOT FROM AVAST. It was also in the comments on the page at sourceforge, but unfortunately this was a rare moment of where I made an error of judgment - Avast was supposed to save me here, but it didn't.



TL;DR:

I use avast to protect me from my rare errors of judgment. My error was trusting sourceforge. Avast should have picked up on that, but did not. It instead picked up on AdwCleaner, the solution to my problem. Thus, avast is uninstalled and will never be used on my machines again.

Offline Pondus

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Re: You're fired. Box your stuff and get out.
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2014, 12:55:26 AM »
No security programs have 100% detection.....
OptimizerPRO is classed as a PUP = not virus / Possible Unwanted Program     http://malwaretips.com/blogs/pc-optimizer-pro-virus/
Avast PUP is default off exept for in boot scan.....so if you want PUP detection, turn it on





Offline Eddy

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Re: You're fired. Box your stuff and get out.
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2014, 12:55:59 AM »
1)
A new look now and than doesn't hurt.
Keep in mind it needs to be update because of new features also.

2)
You can disable notifications if you don't want to see them.

3)
It is for your own (system) security that you need to reboot.
Nothing wrong with that.
You can simply click "reboot later"

4)
No one forces you to install Grime, nor use it.

5)
You can disable that too.

avast is still doing its job and with the latest version even better than ever before.

In conclusion:
You didn't spend time learning how to use avast and about the features it has.
« Last Edit: February 24, 2014, 09:11:35 PM by Eddy »

AdrianH

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Re: You're fired. Box your stuff and get out.
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2014, 08:43:25 AM »
1) The interface has not updated once since verion 2014 came out.

2) Read the HELP FILE and adjust notifications, or turn them off.

3) Restarts?  Avast has not updated, needed to restart on any of my systems for many weeks, and if you set program updates to MANUAL you would have control of when an update is installed.

4) If you use a CUSTOM install, you will only have the program components you choose.

5) File reputation does work very well, but can be turned off.


A few minutes spent reading the Help File , and adjusting settings to suit your needs would have sorted everything out for you ......

You're the " Boss" ...... Aha, the one that hasn't read how to use Avast , and doesn't read the Eula's/download info , then gets unwanted programs installed.

There are warnings and complaints about PUP's packaged with FileZilla, right there on the download page at SourceForge ....... who missed what ?


Seems more like a case of PICNIC syndrome . ;)

From SourceForge :

The offer of other products is clearly advised, and the choice to not install is clearly given.




Again the choice is very clear, and you are given the means to decline the extra software, and advice on how to remove the program.




There is no infection  , you simply installed without reading anything on the screen in front of you.


Good luck with your next AV  ;)
« Last Edit: February 23, 2014, 11:41:36 AM by AdrianH »

Offline Shiw Liang

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Re: You're fired. Box your stuff and get out.
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2014, 01:53:16 PM »
*Correction avast is not a malware slaying machine but software :P

1. I don't remember seeing the interface changing every 3 days and its program update isn't every 3 days either. Are you not mistaken?

2. There is something called silent mode sir ;)

3. I pity your computer.

4. As for the Grim it wasn't referring to your computer but rather the junks present in your computer.

5. You also have custom install to choose what to install and what not to install, they aren't provided to make the installer more 'beautiful'. If you don't want the Grim Fighter or the WebRep, you are free to un-tick them.


And about the 95% FP, thank you for the good laugh ;D

A computer no matter what kind of protection it has, if a user doesn't know how to use it properly, the computer can easily be infected. I also wish you luck with your new antivirus.
« Last Edit: February 24, 2014, 01:59:02 PM by Shiw Liang »