Chrome installed without my permission !!

[stumped2]

Woke my PC from sleep mode & a message briefly displayed but was then hidden by the program I was using. Closed the program & the Avast message said 11 days were remaining on my free subscription. I also saw a Chrome icon on my lower task bar & a Chrome shortcut on my desktop.

I never OK'd a new or renewal or update or upgrade of anything because that screen was never shown to me. I was never given an opportunity to accept or decline anything.

Why was Chrome installed?

[stumped2]

Previously when I had to renew my free subscription there was always the option to accept or decline Chrome. But my subscription was not up yet & had 11 days to go so I did not have to renew anything yet.

FWIW this was on my HTPC which is either in sleep mode or active. I woke it to watch a program & an Avast message briefly flashed on the screen before Media Center covered it up. I closed MC and there was a message I had 11 days remaining, and Chrome was now on my PC.

I don't use the HTPC for browsing the Internet, and Chrome was not on it when I did some program scheduling on 2-17-2019.

I went into Windows7 Control Panel & Avast was shown as being installed on 2-20-2019 which I'm presuming was an updated version of the application because the version number matched what was shown in the Avast "About" screen.

Chrome was installed on 2-21-2019, which is after the updated version of Avast was installed. Avast could have been updated at 11:59pm followed by Chrome which would now be the next day. I don't know. I already uninstalled Chrome so I can't check the time of day.

I never was given the message or opportunity to renew or update or upgrade Avast. But Chrome was dumped on me.

[=Snake=]

Why was Chrome installed?

Well, you downloaded something with chrome (as adware), have not unchecky installed and didn't untick chrome.

[stumped2]

It's a dedicated HTPC. It gets updates from Avast and Microsoft. Period. I don't browse with it or go to other websites.

The only things that get downloaded are the Avast & MS updates, and the last thing downloaded was the Avast application update, which was set for automatic.

Apparently if the PC is in sleep mode Avast will do the automatic application update & foist Chrome onto you. Since I'm not watching the PC when it's in sleep mode I guess that somehow gives Avast the OK to install Chrome.

[mchain]

Snake's advice is pertinent in that Unchecky will automatically uncheck that box for you and...presto!  No Chrome installation!

Has saved me many uninstalls of Chrome (and other unwanted programs) over the years:  https://unchecky.com

It's free.

Yes, I know it is annoying that it got installed in the first place, but see solution above.

[stumped2]

Thanks everyone & I'll check out Unchecky.

I can understand if I accidentally failed to uncheck a box because that has happened. But in this case I was never presented with anything to uncheck.

[DavidR]

Thanks everyone & I'll check out Unchecky.

I can understand if I accidentally failed to uncheck a box because that has happened. But in this case I was never presented with anything to uncheck.

One of the issues is that the pre-checked opt-in box could be in one of two possible locations.  Depends I guess on how you install Avast.

If installing Avast for the first time (or a clean reinstall) it could appear on one of the first installation windows, before you actually get into the Avast installation.  I haven't seen this there for some time now, so I don't know if they have changed that. 

Where I have seen it recently is after doing a manual program update,  you need to do a reboot for the update/installation to take effect.  Then you are likely to get a popup window,  if you happen to miss it or are in a hurry close that window or leave that window and you are likely to get Chrome.

[mchain]

One other thing to consider:  Change the program update from Automatic to Manual.

This will force Avast to notify you of a new program update but no download or forced update will occur until you allow it.  Best to use the offline installer and save the offline installer file for possible later re-use if necessary.

Default Program Update setting is Automatic.