Avast Secure Browser Installed Without Permission!

[bob3160]

You are lucky that it installed.  I had a problem so I uninstalled it, and now Windows will  not allow me to reinstall it.   Stupid Windows 10 update.

Maybe if you explained the problem you might get some help.

[franc.neary]

This happened to me a couple of days ago....AND THEN it assigned Avast Secure Browser as the default app for everything!

Privacy Breach?

Data breach?

Breach of contract?


Turns out the use of the pirate terminaology was quite a propos, as it happened!


Am now considering cancelling my subscription to ALL AVAST services.

[bob3160]

This happened to me a couple of days ago....AND THEN it assigned Avast Secure Browser as the default app for everything!

Privacy Breach?

Data breach?

Breach of contract?


Turns out the use of the pirate terminaology was quite a propos, as it happened!


Am now considering cancelling my subscription to ALL AVAST services.

You probably missed unchecking the prechecked box for the install.
I personally hate prechecked but, I always do custom installs and check for those things.

[jonnypanic]

I just had this happen right now. Avast updated when I updated my PC, and the browser just installed itself and set itself as the default. There was no window, no checkbox, no warning, I didn't even click any kind of "update notification"... I just updated my PC and Avast did this all by itself.

I am furious, and feel violated... this decision was taken out of my hands entirely, and now I have to clean up after Avast.

[jonnypanic]

I'm getting a nice, new machine this holiday. Does anyone know of another option like Avast but that won't spam me with pop-ups and violate my privacy and autonomy by stealth-installing unwanted software and changing security settings?

[bob3160]

I'm getting a nice, new machine this holiday. Does anyone know of another option like Avast but that won't spam me with pop-ups and violate my privacy and autonomy by stealth-installing unwanted software and changing security settings?

I suggest you start using Custom Install instead of the default install.
I've used Avast's free AV since 2003 and have never experienced what you're describing.

[DavidR]

I'm getting a nice, new machine this holiday. Does anyone know of another option like Avast but that won't spam me with pop-ups and violate my privacy and autonomy by stealth-installing unwanted software and changing security settings?

I suggest you start using Custom Install instead of the default install.
I've used Avast's free AV since 2003 and have never experienced what you're describing.

Snap, I have never had this, Firefox is my default browser and I have never had the Avast Secure Browser installed automatically, yes I have had it offered, but I have never accepted it.

[jonnypanic]

None of this changes that it happened. Completely out of my hands. I'm so angry.

[DavidR]

None of this changes that it happened. Completely out of my hands. I'm so angry.

You probably missed a pre-checked option.
We are just saying this hasn't happened to us, why it has happened to you us beyond us 'Avast Users' not Avast Team.

[jonnypanic]

Okay... it's literally:
I went into Windows Update.
I clicked "Update".
My PC updated and restarted.
Suddenly Avast Secure Browser is on my taskbar and is my default browser.

That's the whole package. Avast has been on this machine several years, so there hasn't been any "options" to "miss checking/unchecking." I updated my PC and suddenly Avast Secure Browser is lodged all the way up my descending colon. And I use that analogy with all the sense of violation it entails.

If you're wondering why I'm so angry: I'm a retired fraud detection agent. This behavior raises ALL my red flags.

[DavidR]

I'm guessing here, that anything like this (pre-checked option) would probably not make itself obvious until you restarted your system. So all of a sudden you see this after the restart.

I also have Avast Program updates set to Manual so I can monitor the actions.

I've just restarted my system after a windows update

[OsakaWebbie]

This happened to me about a month ago, and I still can't seem to get all the browser triggers to go back to my desired default, which is Firefox Portable. I've fixed it for HTML files on my hard disk and links in email, but there are various other apps that call browsers - for example, JetBrains' "Toolbox" app wanted me to verify my login, but agreeing to do so popped up ASB, which obviously doesn't have a plugin for my password safe. I had to copy the contents of the address bar from ASB to Firefox and proceed. Similar behavior happens in other apps. Is there a registry entry I should look for? I don't know how all these different apps decide what browser to use.