Author Topic: Been using Avast for 9 years.  (Read 3380 times)

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Been using Avast for 9 years.
« on: February 11, 2017, 12:25:24 PM »
When I first installed Avast it was after it was heavily recommended by friends. I read up on the program and found near universal acclaim. I installed it and I was happy with it. It was fast and reliable. I recommended it to others and have installed it on dozens of computers of friends, family and friends of family.

All I wanted was an on demand file scanning AV that would scan new files when they where downloaded and keep my email safe but over the years Avast has changed considerably. No longer is it just an Antivirus, now it is apparently everything whether you want it to be or not. The things you do like have changed too. The mail shield for example decides to take over all the certificates and blocks all of my mail till I go through avast and it's fixed for 20 minutes or so, or until I go into Avast and disable the mail shield all together An easy enough but completely stupid fix.

Then the Avast popups (fixable) and the google chrome bundle (fixable) and the extensions that it at no point asks you if you want installed or not.

Now, it's just no longer worth having on my computer. Every single update you change it and either add new things which you jam down my throat without even asking like more extensions to EVERY SINGLE BROWSER even though I have already told chrome the last 10 times Avast updated that NO I DO NOT WANT TO ALLOW YOUR RUBBISH EXTENSIONS.... And then there's things like hardware assisted virtualization, (which just breaks all emulation all together) and about a million other things you decide to jam down our throats, not to mention Avast changing settings such as what it does when it detects a PUP (even though I have already told it to ask me) and then deleting this program and me having to google for where the hell Avast has hidden the quarantine this update (Why can't you just leave it in the same spot?)

Why even let us choose what components we want to install when 3 days later we get an update and all of a sudden we have a whole bunch of new components we were never asked about. I have NEVER installed Avast while there was a tick next to things like sandbox and browser protection and yet EVERY COMPUTER I HAVE I have had to tell my browsers not to install your crap.

I'm tired of this. I'm tired of Avast. I spend more time disabling crap from Avast than from every single other thing on the internet combined.

So I'm done. I wanted an Anti-Virus, and Avast was king, but I'm not having it on my computer at the expense of every single other piece of crap you decide to force on me.


Offline TrueIndian

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Re: Been using Avast for 9 years.
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2017, 12:32:38 PM »
Well they aren't shoving it forcefully you do get the option to custom install avast in case you don't want it.

And about the virus chest its right there in the antivirus tab.

Also,PUP detection comes as off as some users want to install the application and they don't want their AV to complain.

PUP= Potentially Unwanted Program.

Offline Eddy

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Re: Been using Avast for 9 years.
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2017, 12:50:23 PM »
Quote
The mail shield for example decides to take over all the certificates and blocks all of my mail
It doesn't take over certificates.
avast needs to use its own certificate in order to be able to scan mail from/to a account that is using SSL/TLS.
avast doesn't block mails if you have things setup correctly (both email client as well as avast mail shield)
Quote
Then the Avast popups (fixable) and the google chrome bundle (fixable) and the extensions that it at no point asks you if you want installed or not.
As has been explained numerous of times, the ads can be disabled in the paid versions.
If you don't want avast to install Chrome, just select not to install it.
If you don't want the extensions, simply uncheck them when installing.
Quote
Every single update you change it and either add new things which you jam down my throat without even asking
Ofcourse things change.
Changes are needed as malware changes.
Nothing is jammed trough your throat at all.
It is your own choice what to install or not.
And avast doesn't have to ask since you agreed to the EULA.
Quote
Also,PUP detection comes as off as some users want to install the application and they don't want their AV to complain.
No. PUP detection is off by default for legal reasons, not  because of what users (don't) want.

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Re: Been using Avast for 9 years.
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2017, 09:45:24 PM »
To the people saying nothing is shoved down my throat, can they please explain how I have all this extra shit I never wanted like numerous browser extensions, Safezone Browser, Browser Cleanup, WiFi inspector and password keylogger (there's no other word for it) etc, all installed when when I downloaded and installed Avast LESS THAN A YEAR AGO the ONLY box I had ticked was for Web Shield.

I didn't ask for anything else and wasn't given a choice. Avast updates and dumps more crap on my computer.

I'm sick of it and I'm done. After I finish the backup I will be formatting (Only way to ensure bad AV's are truly off your system) and then sticking something else on.

Offline Eddy

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Re: Been using Avast for 9 years.
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2017, 09:55:05 PM »
Yes you where given a choice.
You could have done a custom installation/upgrade.

Offline bob3160

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Re: Been using Avast for 9 years.
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2017, 02:03:11 PM »
After the fact you can use the Component section in the Setting option to remove anything you don't want.
You should also realize that there's a big difference between a Password Manager and a key logger. :)
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Re: Been using Avast for 9 years.
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2017, 05:08:08 PM »
Yes your given a choice when you first install it.  What choice are you give are it is already installed??

I have had the paid version for several years now and I am fed up with this crap as well.  All I was after was a simple file scanner,  which avast has.  But after every update more crap is installed. 

I know your going to keep saying "You have a choice",  But I do not really consider it a choice if it becomes installed in the first place and then I have to remove it! 

Perfect example.   This morning I had a pop up,  it simply said "Your avast is outdated" with a single option that says "Update now".  After the update the computer rebooted and now Firefox has a new extension called "Avast Safe Price".  I then open up chrome and am presented with a option to "Allow Avast safe price to install".  I was not asked by avast to install this,  I was asked by Chrome if I wanted to allow it. 

And even if I got a option to do a custom upgrade,  These stupid extensions do not belong in a "Upgrade" to begin with.

This,  This is the crap that I am tired off with avast.  It has been very helpful,  and I have gone in and disabled the pop ups and uninstalled the junk components for a reason!

My paid license is up in a few months.   I have already disabled my auto renew,  and will start weighing my options for a replacement.  Like James I will likely do a clean install as I will want avast gone for good. 

Offline Eddy

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Re: Been using Avast for 9 years.
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2017, 05:13:08 PM »
We keep saying that you have a choice, as it is true.

Download the latest installer and run it > choose custom installation

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Re: Been using Avast for 9 years.
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2017, 05:14:47 PM »
So the option for ever single update is to not upgrade and run the installer again so we can choose customer?

Offline bob3160

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Re: Been using Avast for 9 years.
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2017, 05:16:00 PM »
Yes your given a choice when you first install it.  What choice are you give are it is already installed??

I have had the paid version for several years now and I am fed up with this crap as well.  All I was after was a simple file scanner,  which avast has.  But after every update more crap is installed. 

I know your going to keep saying "You have a choice",  But I do not really consider it a choice if it becomes installed in the first place and then I have to remove it! 

Perfect example.   This morning I had a pop up,  it simply said "Your avast is outdated" with a single option that says "Update now".  After the update the computer rebooted and now Firefox has a new extension called "Avast Safe Price".  I then open up chrome and am presented with a option to "Allow Avast safe price to install".  I was not asked by avast to install this,  I was asked by Chrome if I wanted to allow it. 

And even if I got a option to do a custom upgrade,  These stupid extensions do not belong in a "Upgrade" to begin with.

This,  This is the crap that I am tired off with avast.  It has been very helpful,  and I have gone in and disabled the pop ups and uninstalled the junk components for a reason!

My paid license is up in a few months.   I have already disabled my auto renew,  and will start weighing my options for a replacement.  Like James I will likely do a clean install as I will want avast gone for good.
No arguments on the "Safe Price" browser add-on. IMHO it has nothing to do with security. That doesn't apply for the other modules. Some of them are quite helpful. If you don't like them they are easily avoided or uninstalled if you didn't avoid them at install.
To me this certainly isn't a reason to give up the excellent protection offered by Avast.
Your computer, your choice. :)
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Offline bob3160

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Re: Been using Avast for 9 years.
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2017, 05:18:36 PM »
So the option for ever single update is to not upgrade and run the installer again so we can choose customer?
Once you've saved you preferred settings, they should be honored when you update.
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Offline DavidR

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Re: Been using Avast for 9 years.
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2017, 05:26:42 PM »
So the option for ever single update is to not upgrade and run the installer again so we can choose customer?

If you just X your way out of the notice to Update by Avast, you could go into the existing avastUI > Update and do a manual program update, it should then retain your existing installation options.

The only issue here would be if the new program update had newly introduced protection modules (that wouldn't match your existing installation) they would be installed. Unless as you say you do download and run the new installer.
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