Hidden Avast! Bundling

[SugarD-x]

I'm a little pissed off right now. I've used Avast! for years, and I love them, but this is a new low for them and Oracle.

I have a few VPS'es which I don't use Avast! on because they are very low-end and require a different version that I cannot currently afford, so I have to use other products there. Today I went to update Java, (which a VPS unfortunately requires for some applications I host), and Oracle's installer for Java silently installed Avast! Home Edition onto my VPS with NO warning, NO option to opt out, and NO information stating that it was even part of the installer! Oracle's website for the download also made absolutely NO mention of this. This is very shady, especially for Avast! to allow through a partnership with another large company like this. Had there been warnings and an ability to opt out, (like there normally is in these sorts of things), I wouldn't be upset. Instead, now I've had my trust betrayed by a company that had a lot of it involved in my other systems, and I have to waste time removing it from a server that will require several reboots when I cannot afford to take it offline...

[bob3160]

I also hate bundled additions but, I also never use a default install.
Always use the custom install that way you get to see what's being installed and, you can opt out of things that you don't want.
It's also smart to run Unchecky ( https://unchecky.com/ ) in the background that warns about such unwanted installs.
This is too late to help you for what's already happened but may help in the future.

[DavidR]

Oracle's installer for Java silently installed Avast! Home Edition onto my VPS with NO warning, NO option to opt out, and NO information stating that it was even part of the installer! Oracle's website for the download also made absolutely NO mention of this.

I certainly haven't seen an instance like this in the forums other than what you are reporting.

I have no idea if Avast have any link up with Oracle and even more so JAVA (not talking JavaScript here), which is much depreciated as it is still a huge target for malware.  The only reason to install it would be:

1.  there is an application on your system that can't run without it.
2.  there is a website that absolutely requires it.

If that is the case I would personally be looking for a website and/or program with the content/functionality without requiring JAVA to be installed.

No idea what it is you mean by a VPS, abbreviations are, but here in the Avast forum VPS is more likely to be Virus Pattern Signatures, a.k.a. virus definitions.

[SugarD-x]

I also hate bundled additions but, I also never use a default install.
Always use the custom install that way you get to see what's being installed and, you can opt out of things that you don't want.
It's also smart to run Unchecky ( https://unchecky.com/ ) in the background that warns about such unwanted installs.
This is too late to help you for what's already happened but may help in the future.

That's exactly why I'm ranting. There was no such option presented.

Oracle's installer for Java silently installed Avast! Home Edition onto my VPS with NO warning, NO option to opt out, and NO information stating that it was even part of the installer! Oracle's website for the download also made absolutely NO mention of this.

I certainly haven't seen an instance like this in the forums other than what you are reporting.

I have no idea if Avast have any link up with Oracle and even more so JAVA (not talking JavaScript here), which is much depreciated as it is still a huge target for malware.  The only reason to install it would be:

1.  there is an application on your system that can't run without it.
2.  there is a website that absolutely requires it.

If that is the case I would personally be looking for a website and/or program with the content/functionality without requiring JAVA to be installed.

No idea what it is you mean by a VPS, abbreviations are, but here in the Avast forum VPS is more likely to be Virus Pattern Signatures, a.k.a. virus definitions.

VPS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_server

And as I said, I'm aware of the issue with Java. The application I use indeed cannot run without it. I was simply attempting to update the Java Runtime Environment to lessen the risk when this issue presented itself.

[DavidR]

Thanks for the actual abbreviations meaning.

That is certainly strange and something I haven't come across in the time I have been helping in the forums, very weird.

[SugarD-x]

Thanks for the actual abbreviations meaning.

That is certainly strange and something I haven't come across in the time I have been helping in the forums, very weird.

Unfortunately the same here. I've used Avast! for years, and I've come across many software installers bundled with it, but never anything hidden like this.