NEW Version: 19.7 (July/August 2019)

[mchain]

@ Sugram22
@ fvmb

Guys, please have a look at Reply #143 as the three links provided may help clarify things for you.  The migration process to Avast Premuim Security may have impacted you and the three links do provide necessary details.

Apparently the migration does occur automatically but fails to clearly state what it is doing at the time.   

[dwh]

Hi, just a quick note that:
- In the latest 19.7 version, separated data consent, the new entry in Personal Privacy settings (...analysis of product performance and usage) now mirrors the setting of original (merged) data sharing property. So if the previous one was off, both are off now.
- Privacy policy documentation was updated

Are these changes, reflected in the Free offline installer:
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe

You'll find the policy spelled out here:
https://www.avast.com/en-us/privacy-policy

Sorry, but I was hoping for a simple Yes or No answer.

I'm reasonably sure the simple answer is "No."  I've done some testing.

[heikwith]

What do we have to think about this:
https://textslashplain.com/2019/08/11/spying-on-https/

[no face]

What do we have to think about this:
https://textslashplain.com/2019/08/11/spying-on-https/

I just saw that posted on askwoody.com and it is extremely concerning, using a code injection method to spy on https traffic even with https scanning turned off and then monetising it. Avast needs to come clean about this.

[Robert_M]

What do we have to think about this:
https://textslashplain.com/2019/08/11/spying-on-https/

I just saw that posted on askwoody.com and it is extremely concerning, using a code injection method to spy on https traffic even with https scanning turned off and then monetising it. Avast needs to come clean about this.

Chromium 78 + Avast (FileShield, Behavior Shield ONLY) -> sslkey warning.
Question: WITHOUT WebShield and DISABLED HTTPS scanning, Avast still scanning all HTTPS traffic?

[spoony_bard]

The update has been here for two weeks. Is there going to be any comment on why avast is causing Windows 7 users to have extra programs like PING.EXE and TRACERT.EXE running on startup?

[bob3160]

The update has been here for two weeks. Is there going to be any comment on why avast is causing Windows 7 users to have extra programs like PING.EXE and TRACERT.EXE running on startup?

Just a guess but probably to make sure your internet is working so Avast can keep updating it's protection to keep you safe.

[dwh]

...Outside of those on the Avast beta stream, there has only been one regular program release for 19.7 (that is 19.7.2388), as in release through either the Avast UI program update or downloading (using the links at the top of this topic) either the full off-line or an on-line installation method.

Because I control when updates are installed and benko wrote:

...Version 19.7 is not spread yet, only few percents of users have it. The absolute majority of users would be migrated next week and by then the fix will be applied.....

I thought I should wait for an updated off-line installer, and when benko then wrote:

...- In the latest 19.7 version, separated data consent, the new entry in Personal Privacy settings (...analysis of product performance and usage) now mirrors the setting of original (merged) data sharing property. So if the previous one was off, both are off now....

I assumed, evidently incorrectly, that this corrected "latest 19.7 version" had been pushed out to users; so I was concerned that the off-line installer appeared to be the same as when originally released.  I also assumed that if the "uncorrected" 19.7 version was installed, the new entry would be checked and subsequent updates would likely leave it checked.  (It's not impossible to do something like keeping track of the last manually-set value so a later version could take that into account.)

Anyway, I have since unchecked the old combined entry (was checked due to my indifference, e.g. opt out had succeeded in leaving it set previously); then applied the off-line installer I had in hand.  The new checkbox was indeed checked as expected.

OK.  I went back to the last version, 19.6(.2383).  I unchecked all the privacy entries.  I  told Avast to do the update.  The new checkbox
was not checked, unlike the off-line installer, which is still unchanged.  This is proof that Avast has not fixed the off-line installer to match the online version.  I'm disappointed, but not surprised.  If the off-line installer is used, it is necessary to be aware of the issue and make sure the privacy items end up the way you want them.  I'd prefer to see Avast rebuild the off-line installer to match what they're pushing out now.

[bob3160]

@dwh,
All the online installer does is download a small item which then downloads and installs the offline installer.

[jacques.subileau]

I installed the last version last week without any problem except that Avast asked me do restart my computer twice this week (last time was yesterday). Any reason ?

[dwh]

@dwh,
All the online installer does is download a small item which then downloads and installs the offline installer.

That suggests they may have put their "tweak" in the "small item."  I think it's more work than I want, because going back requires removing Avast, which in turn involves reconfiguring everything, but I could do that using the off-line installer, to compare both update methods, to see if there's any difference in the reported Avast build number.  (Right now "About Avast" is reporting "Program version" is "19.7.2388 (build 19.7.4674.524)" which should be the on-line installer result.)

Nonetheless, there is clearly a different result depending, whatever the cause.  There should not be IMO.

[dwh]

I installed the last version last week without any problem except that Avast asked me do restart my computer twice this week (last time was yesterday). Any reason ?

FWIW, I got that when I did the off-line installer but only at the time,  but not the on-line update.  I shrugged it off.

[Dealx]

I installed the last version last week without any problem except that Avast asked me do restart my computer twice this week (last time was yesterday). Any reason ?

Same observation. To see that a user needs to open a main Avast window. The main window displays that a restart is needed although no version upgrade has been performed before. Very strange...

[spoony_bard]

The update has been here for two weeks. Is there going to be any comment on why avast is causing Windows 7 users to have extra programs like PING.EXE and TRACERT.EXE running on startup?

Just a guess but probably to make sure your internet is working so Avast can keep updating it's protection to keep you safe.

It seems like it could be a simple enough explanation. So why aren't they giving one? 

[chris..]

I installed the last version last week without any problem except that Avast asked me do restart my computer twice this week (last time was yesterday). Any reason ?

Same observation. To see that a user needs to open a main Avast window. The main window displays that a restart is needed although no version upgrade has been performed before. Very strange...

Yes, although it may be emergency updates (as bob said above) which may require a restart without a change of program version, the frequency of these requests (2 or 3 times a week) still seems a little too high .
information would be appreciated.