Whats This?

[naren17]

Attached is the screenshot
Whats the new option i.e what it does i.e the 2nd option in the screenshot?

[Eddy]

If it works, it does exactly what it says.
It is part of the improved software updater.

Example:
You are downloading version 2 of a application and version 3 is out, you should get a message from avast saying the version you are trying to download is older than the latest version. Would you like to download the latest version?

[naren17]

But I have installed only File & Webshield & nothing else.

You said its part of improved software updater so will it work if one dont have software updater installed?

So if Avast finds the about to download version is not latest, where do from Avast downloads the latest version?

[Eddy]

The software updater is part integrated.
You will have it installed.
Did you disable it?
If not, it will be there and function.

[naren17]

I mentioned in my previous post that I have only File & Webshield & nothing.

[CraigB]

The option in question checks whether you have the latest version of Avast software" I think", it might check for other programs as well but if software updater is not installed then it can only check avast files.

[naren17]

The option in question checks whether you have the latest version of Avast software" I think", it might check for other programs as well but if software updater is not installed then it can only check avast files.

If it will work this way then good.

But Avast have become kind of intrusive & bloat. Although I read Vlk statement but thats their justification & they have every right to do anything with their product.

I as a user think & not happy the development going the way so trying & testing couple AVs to replace Avast. On my laptop its Avast as I can take care of the things but all my frds, family, relatives, etc, all click happy dumbs, are not happy when they find chrome, toolbar, other features on their system & ask me where it all came. Few dumbs upgraded to Internet Security not thinking any thing & few dumbs upgraded using their scientist mind thinking Avast is giving them free upgrade. You know how todays teens are...downloading porn they will with full honesty, concentration, broad eyes, etc read if its amateur, fantasy, teen, old, etc but when its come to security they dont care, just know clicking next-next or hitting close. Currently testing Bitdefender free AV on their system & yet no prob & they too are happy. Hope it doesn't add additional softwares in the future & keep it simple.

[RejZoR]

You may call it bloat, but ensuring users don't install vulnerable outdated software in the first place is just as important as making sure their existing software is up to date. So, it's not a bloat, but a security feature. I'm sure they don't check ALL software, just the one that is most exploited (for example if you download outdated Adobe Flash plugin or outdated Firefox browser etc).

[abruptum]

for example if you download outdated Adobe Flash plugin or outdated Firefox browser etc.

Like some people are going to do when Australis UI abomination lands in Firefox 29 Stable.

[RejZoR]

If Firefox 29 UI is abomination, then what's Chrome that looks exactly the same?

[seeker15]

it might check for other programs as well but if software updater is not installed then it can only check avast files.

Doesn't make sense. Avast already checks for newer version of itself. This option is added to check for other software which we might be downloading over the internet. I am not sure how it will alert us (do not intend to know) but this is intrusive in nature. One does not install software updater because they do not want to be informed of what they should update or download. Now, I guess, avast wasn't happy that people were not using its software updater component that they had to built the component right into the main program. For e.g If I have Java 7 on my system and I want to download Java 6 for some purpose then why would I possibly want to know that there is an updated version of Java 8 in the market? Let us download whatever we want. Its job should be to only protect us from any kind of possible infection, detected through its virus signatures!