Why does Avast try to trick us?

[Dasty]

I run Avast free, instead of the Premier I bought, because Premier disables access to my Synology NAS.  A minor inconvenience that Avast may fix some year, though not over recent years.

Anyway:  on Avast Free I get a popup saying the version has been upgraded.  Well, OK, thanks.  But there is no "Dismiss" button!

Instead, the only choice is a big green "Continue" button.  If you click that, Avast replaces your default browser with theirs!!

This is so arrogant.  Why do big companies inevitably come to act like this?  As if the user is there to be abused.  You work to build up trust, and then some marketeer decides to increase their subscription stats by fooling people.  Maybe they'll get a raise for being so clever?

Get a clue.  The message you're sending is:  Don't trust Avast.

The right way to offer your browser is via a prominent opt-in, not a miniscule opt-out!!

If users don't complain, you'll keep doing it because... nobody's complaining!  A great way to evaluate your policies.

Now I'll go through the multiple illegible captchas to get this posted.  You're welcome.

[bob3160]

I run Avast free, instead of the Premier I bought, because Premier disables access to my Synology NAS.  A minor inconvenience that Avast may fix some year, though not over recent years.

Anyway:  on Avast Free I get a popup saying the version has been upgraded.  Well, OK, thanks.  But there is no "Dismiss" button!

Instead, the only choice is a big green "Continue" button.  If you click that, Avast replaces your default browser with theirs!!

This is so arrogant.  Why do big companies inevitably come to act like this?  As if the user is there to be abused.  You work to build up trust, and then some marketeer decides to increase their subscription stats by fooling people.  Maybe they'll get a raise for being so clever?

Get a clue.  The message you're sending is:  Don't trust Avast.

The right way to offer your browser is via a prominent opt-in, not a miniscule opt-out!!

If users don't complain, you'll keep doing it because... nobody's complaining!  A great way to evaluate your policies.

Now I'll go through the multiple illegible captchas to get this posted.  You're welcome.

The captchas are there for the first three posts to deter Spammers. There is a difference between updated and upgraded. Upgrade means a paid version of something. Updated simply goes to a new or updated version of an older product.
A screenshot of the screen in question would have been helpful. If nothing else, the X in the upper right corner can always
be used to close it.

[Dasty]

Update, upgraded whatever.  The point is the misdirection, attempting to make folks unwittingly install the new Avast product as their default browser!  And there IS NO 'X' IN THE CORNER.  The ONLY repeat ONLY option is the big green "Continue" button.  That installs the browser, unless you see the tiny opt-out print on the far side of the window and disable the action.

The right way to promote a new product is to describe it and offer an opt-in.  That way you make friends for it.  The wrong way is to trick people.  That way you make enemies for it.  Amazing that this would have to be explained since nobody - including anyone at Avast - would want apps pushed on them.

[RejZoR]

Update, upgraded whatever.  The point is the misdirection, attempting to make folks unwittingly install the new Avast product as their default browser!  And there IS NO 'X' IN THE CORNER.  The ONLY repeat ONLY option is the big green "Continue" button.  That installs the browser, unless you see the tiny opt-out print on the far side of the window and disable the action.

The right way to promote a new product is to describe it and offer an opt-in.  That way you make friends for it.  The wrong way is to trick people.  That way you make enemies for it.  Amazing that this would have to be explained since nobody - including anyone at Avast - would want apps pushed on them.

That is unfortunately the current state of avast!. Back in the day it was word of mouth and people opted for it because people had good things to say about it. Then along the way, they flipped the business model to this forcing of stuff on users and it's a huge turn off for A LOT of users. Like A LOT, even for me and I've been with avast! for ages. This constant buggering with "new" features, relevant "popups" that for the most part give users sensation they are being monitored and constantly forcing stuff on users is frankly counter productive. Like you've said, it would be far better to present the new feature to user in a meaningful way and openly give user a choice, not intentionally bury option to ignore or disable it in a tiny box in some corner while leaving confirmation one as this big green button. I know they are doing this entirely from a legal perspective so no one can say "You didn't give me a choice". But is that really a way of doing things?

I guess when you lose your way on your business path, it is. And it happens basically with all companies that become too big for their own good and in the end all they see is numbers and profit this and profit that because they need to satisfy big investors who put millions in them. And then they always fall in a cycle with no way out of that stupidity because investors just endlessly expect profits to increase every month, every year, forever. And then you become pushy and annoying. And avast! is heading that way, slowly but steadily. They can say that's not the case, but that is exactly what is happening. And if this is putting me off, a really long time avast! user, what kind of effect does it have on new ones who will just say "screw this" and install something else, less annoying the next day?

[bob3160]

@ Dasty,
Here's a reply from Avast regarding the situation you're describing:
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=219681.msg1478435#msg1478435

[Kathryn37]

They are so pushy, I have elderly parents and grandparents and Avast becomes 10 times more confusing to them when it tries to trick you into buying new Avast software.
So darn annoying

[bob3160]

They are so pushy, I have elderly parents and grandparents and Avast becomes 10 times more confusing to them when it tries to trick you into buying new Avast software.
So darn annoying

Posting in a 2 year old topic is never a good idea. If you need help or have a problem,
please start your own NEW topic.
Thanks.