Avast browser auto-installed, seriously unhappy.

[micha16]

Used my Windows PC for the first time in a little while last week and, unsurprisingly, it had quite a large number of updates. I let it do them without paying too much attention; just the usual security, dotnet, etc. updates.

Turned it on again today and now I have Avast Secure Browser installed.

• I did NOT request for this to be installed.
• It configured itself to auto start on Windows startup.
• It configured itself as the default browser.
• Uninstall is broken.

I'm guessing Avast updated itself and "helpfully" decided to install this piece of unrequested bloatware.

To say I am cheesed off is an absolute understatement.

Have been broadly happy with Avast software up to now but this is completely totally and utterly unacceptable.  As of right now, Avast is getting uninstalled from all of my PCs. Once software decides it knows better than me on what to install and how to configure it on my PC is the moment it gets removed.  Hardly surprising that I almost exclusively use Linux anyway given the mindset in the Windows space.

So long, and no thanks to all your bloat.

[bob3160]

An Avast program update doesn't install the Secure Browser.
It can be bundled with other products but without additional details,
it's impossible to give you an answer.
It's also advisable to use the custom install anytime you install a program.

[micha16]

I'm sorry, I have no further information. I did not install anything new recently, and I almost always (I hesitate to say never) use manual installation.
I've had Avast installed for years, never a problem.

What I can conclusively say though is that Avast Secure Browser was installed on March 14th (most likely _finished_ installing yesterday as I hadn't booted my computer in over a week) and I did not explicitly install it. I most certainly would never have agreed to it being the default browser nor of auto-starting on Windows login.

As I said, my best guess is that Avast updated itself last week (as it periodically does) and as part of that update it included the Secure Browser. Please note that it was an update, not a new install or reinstall. As such it should not include completely new components, or, if it does, that those should be clearly flagged to the user. As a user I expect a standard antivirus software update to be an updated engine and virus definitions, no more.

Anyway, I'm sorry to say, but for me, Avast has just taken a 95% hit to its credibility and trustworthiness. Although I would be interested to hear from other users whether something similar has happened to them or whether my situation is a once off. If the latter I might reconsider my impression.

[petef4]

I posted an almost verbatim copy of @micha16's message in the parent board and only found this child board now, The only difference for me is that I managed to find the uninstall program and will continue to use Avast Antivirus. That is assuming that the problem will be fixed, I do not want to be repairing my browser settings every time Avast engine is updated

@bob3160 To confirm my circumstances I had not booted into Windows for a while and the second thing I did (after Windows updates) was to update the Avast engine.I definitely did not invoke any install. I am clued up on Avast's custom install having done it for a few friends' PCs as part of clearing out malware.

[Asyn]

Hi guys, QA is checking it, see: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=258634.msg1599098#msg1599098