Strange, I've been using Avast since 2003.
I still use the free version today. In 2003, it was Windows XP
Now it's windows 10. Avast worked back then and it's still working now.
I may not like all the added baggage but the AV portion has gotten better over the years.
I find it strange that College students need help installing and maintaining the updates of their software.
But, to each their own.
Hi Bob,
I also used Avast for more than 10 years now... even on Win98SE.
Avast being better (or not?) can be concluded out of this forum... and I conclude not...
Avast may be better IF it works as it should... and that is the big problem.
Active users on this forum can clearly see that there are too many malfunctions and problem-cases in Avast.
This forum should be 10 times smaller if Avast was really OK.
College students should "not be concerned" about maintaining the updates of their software.
Just as in factory/compagny-use, they should only be worried about their work getting done in time.
If any update can cause problems to interfere with their work, it should be blocked... or at least delayed.
That's why users should not update themselves, but let an administrator doing updates at self-decided times and places.
I only want updates being done when the PC's are at home during a holiday-period, and when I have the time to do that...
I'm always checking after every software-update if everything works again afterwords.
That can only be done at home, since the university-network is protected behind vpn... and we should login at the site.
Rebooting at distance looses remote-connections... and is not workable in case of problems during or after updates.
Since the studies are all about "Medical Sciences"... students have more things to do than trying to solve PC-problems occuring after bad updates.
This may cause more damage then, as they are no computer-experts... and the ICT-team does not help with personal equipment at the student-home.
As you see, there are multiple reasons not wanting any software to update on automatic base... NOT for Windows... NOT Avast... nor any other software.
Doing each update manualy, is the only certainty to know what software causes problems.
All automatic backgound-updates can result in a unusable PC without knowing the cause.
Murphy's law will give problems when you need your equipment the most... which we want to avoid.
Needing help installing and maintaining software-updates is NOT the point...
IF all software-updates were OK... which is NOT the case for Avast... then indeed, they would not need any help.
For the same reason, I would not be writing this post when Avast was OK...
Also, this forum would be much smaller then and have more positive reactions.
If you see how many bugs still are unsolved
"a complete year after release of V17"... I have my questions.
Even long-known and new/stupid bugs stay in the latest releases... making us beta-testers.
Avast should do something to avoid decline, and work on multiple items stated in this forum.
That should all be corrected before introducing new things in AV.
If an unwanted automatic Avast-update can cripple our PC's then I am not the only one on this forum giving reactions...
So there are only two options...
Make Avast realy/always good/trustable and reliable again... or avoid it.
A few years ago, I still adviced Avast to friends and family.
Now, I do not want to loose any friends.
Says enough I think....