Author Topic: Two different installer files, which is legit?  (Read 1812 times)

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Offline blas.brisen

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Two different installer files, which is legit?
« on: June 22, 2019, 08:59:27 PM »
I just now downloaded the Installer for the PC (avast_free_antivirus_setup_online.exe) twice on two different computers.

The filename is the same but the file is not, could there be a legitimate reason for this. What is the md5 of the file that I should use?
« Last Edit: June 22, 2019, 09:02:47 PM by blas.brisen »

Offline DavidR

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Re: Two different installer files, which is legit?
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2019, 09:15:58 PM »
I have no idea why they might differ, it should be being sourced from the same address/url.  The on-line installation file is a stub installer and I don't know if the server would be checking what version you might need.  For example those with XP/Vista can only get avast 18.8 (maximum).

Personally I would always use the off-line installation file and save a copy of it for use on, another computer or in the future.
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Offline igor

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Re: Two different installer files, which is legit?
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2019, 09:28:13 PM »
You should check the digital signature of the file (via file's properties) - if there's an Avast Software digital signature and is valid, then the file is legit.

Offline blas.brisen

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Re: Two different installer files, which is legit?
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2019, 10:00:14 PM »
... I don't know if the server would be checking what version you might need.  For example those with XP/Vista can only get avast 18.8 (maximum).


Thanks for your prompt response David. No I did not download the file from either of those operating systems.

You should check the digital signature of the file (via file's properties) - if there's an Avast Software digital signature and is valid, then the file is legit.

Thanks Igor. One does seem to, and checking the other one now.

I am honestly concerned as to why there are two different files with the same name. Do different countries have a different list of mirrors in the installer?

Offline blas.brisen

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Re: Two different installer files, which is legit?
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2019, 10:23:52 PM »
You should check the digital signature of the file (via file's properties) - if there's an Avast Software digital signature and is valid, then the file is legit.

Yes both have the same thumbprint.
Both are the exact same size, too.

But the files have different md5s.

It doesn't seem to be region based either, both files seem to want to access similar nodes.

I would be so grateful if someone would explain the difference.

Offline mchain

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Re: Two different installer files, which is legit?
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2019, 02:39:27 AM »
Mystery may lie in the fact that both systems are identical and the operating systems are the same, hence why are the MD5's different when the downloaded file is for the same exact program on both systems?

Is that what you are seeing?  (You didn't say.)
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Offline suk

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Re: Two different installer files, which is legit?
« Reply #6 on: June 26, 2019, 06:30:23 AM »
We released a new version yesterday - you might hit version 19.5 with first download and 19.6 with second. Could you confirm?