Avast! Tis spyware me hearties!

[Asyn]

Yes this was my original complaint. I asked before and was given this suggestion.
It doesn't work, you still get spammed with attempts to upsell.

Strange, I don't get any ads here. Could you post a screenshot..!?

Location could also be a factor. I don't know where Hakakeen is located.
I know you're in the EU.

Hi Bob, good point. Do you get ads with the paid versions in the US..?

When I had a paid version, I can't recall it ever happening on a regular basis.
I'm currently using the free version and do on occasion get a popup I'd consider an ad.
I would not consider it to be invasive or overburdening however.
I also realize I'm getting excellent protection and I'm not paying for it so,
an occasional prompt to get me to pay for the product isn't out of line in my opinion.

I see, thanks Bob. (Side note, thought you're still running A1 Family.)

[bob3160]

[EdAgee]

You know, Bob, that misdirection of that "62 years" is a cute try, but there is no way your beautiful young wife is anywhere near even 40 plus.

[bob3160]

You know, Bob, that misdirection of that "62 years" is a cute try, but there is no way your beautiful young wife is anywhere near even 40 plus.

I'm sure she'd be very happy with that compliment.

[Hakakeen]

I apologize for this, but I would like to confirm that what is in that quote box is an actual advert put out by this company. I mean, I am sort of surprised at that style of language used and before I give this deeper thought I really want to be sure that is an actual advert.

Just to confirm that is not an actual advert it is subtext of the advertising that I am receiving.
I will endeavour to post a screenshot the next time I am bombarded, I usually Sleep my pc, these mostly occur on a boot up.

The wording varies from suggestions that I use their proprietary vpn instead of another, sometimes I get a message about my drivers being out of date and a button that says "fix this" only to then hit a payment wall.
I really don't object to upsell from the company, they are a business and have made that choice, I would simply like an option to not be upsold on products that were (when I started paying for the service) included in the whole package.

However I don't think it is unreasonable to be able to start up my personal PC (yes i know it's a tautology) without this sort of popup ad.

Especially when they are "fear mongering" as you put it:

I agree. The fear mongering is getting pretty desperate........

[bob3160]

@Hakakeen,
Are your personal privacy setting set up this way?

[DavidR]

@Hakakeen,
Are your personal privacy setting set up this way?

According to an earlier post, https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=319630.msg1688048#msg1688048 Reply #5, yes they are

[bob3160]

What I do see on my free version is the following:

When you expand that message, you see the following:

There is no way to decline the fix and no way to request that this notice not be shown again.
All the items flagged require installing a paid addition or an upgrade to the free version.
I simply ignore that message on the UI screen.

[EdAgee]

Very first question is whether the company is showing you your actual IP address?

Second question is why?

OF COURSE, Avast can see your IP address, but what is that bovine excrement about a hacker!?

Of course, a darn hacker is going to be seeing all sorts of stuff, but ...

Oh my goodness!!

Okay, let me try and calm down. Sorry.

I do not understand this line:

This is 1 of 3 privacy gaps we've detected.

The only way they could claim that they have found that first privacy gap is if they are actually monitoring the hacker's activity at that very moment when that popup is shown to the customer. And that is bovine excrement, for sure. And I would bet that there is a legal situation here that could have a very negative impact on the company. In most nations or states/prefectures it is the law that you have to report a crime you are witnessing being committed and so if that popup is to be believed they are required by law to notify law enforcement in the locale of that IP address.

Something is very, very wrong here. Absolutely. Very, very wrong.

And if that is NOT your IP address, Bob, then we have a case of false advertising. Possibly there is also a charge that could be made that the company is using inappropriate (false) scare tactics, if that is not your IP address.

This is a "No Win." situation for this company. To heck with the other two "gaps" they are claiming to know about, that Number One --- that first "gap" is already very bad. I mean "very bad" from a public relations point of view.

If I were the owner of this company I would fire the entire legal staff and go find some competent legal minds.

Bad, bad news here. For sure!!!

Thank you for posting that, Bob.

[bob3160]

@EdAgee,
You're making a mountain out of a molehill.
As I stated, I simply ignore that notice since I know it's a sales pitch.
There's nothing dangerous that's being displayed and what is displayed
is common knowledge you can obtain through a simple Google search.
I personally think that it's the wrong approach to get people to purchase
additional or an upgraded product but, I don't work for the company.
I also still think I'm getting the best protection possible at any price.
If I didn't I wouldn't be here.
 

[EdAgee]

With all due respect, Bob, it is exactly that sort of let-them-do-what-they-want attitude that allows the situation to get worse and worse. You are darn right that I am making a mountain out of this. It is wrong. Plain and simple --- wrong! But you needn't concern yourself about my feelings on the matter, because what I will do about this won't be shown to the public. I don't work that way. I hate publicity.

And are you making the claim that a Google search can allow somebody to find out what my IP address is?

[bob3160]

With all due respect, Bob, it is exactly that sort of let-them-do-what-they-want attitude that allows the situation to get worse and worse. You are darn right that I am making a mountain out of this. It is wrong. Plain and simple --- wrong! But you needn't concern yourself about my feelings on the matter, because what I will do about this won't be shown to the public. I don't work that way. I hate publicity.

And are you making the claim that a Google search can allow somebody to find out what my IP address is?

That's the claim. Here's the proof.

Again, you're making a mountain out of a mole hill
If it upsets you to that extent, you have choices just as I do.
I've made my choice pretty clear. Thanks Avast for making this great protection available
totally free of charge.

[EdAgee]

Wait a moment, Bob. I am fully aware of how to find out my own IP address. That is not the issue. It is when your IP address is recorded in a log or document by an entity that means to do harm that is the issue.

Avast is stating that a hacker has learned your IP address. You really think that is okay?

And the problem, Bob, is where do we draw the line as to what is allowed? It seems to me that step-by-step these tech companies are pushing that line further and further away from fair play.

This isn't just an Avast issue. The problem is much, much bigger than that.

Companies seem to be able to do whatever they want to do when it is business on the Internet.

But your priorities in your life are none of my business. But if things keeping going as they have been, in 50 years or so the situation is going to be very, very bad. Freedom is not just a matter for those on the surface of the planet. It should extend to our online lives, as well. Like here in this Online Community. You and I are not lesser humans when we are online. We deserve the same rights online as we take for granted when our feet are firmly planted on Mother Earth. It's just that so many humans never even pay attention to their loss of freedoms in this world we call the Internet.

Oh well. Sorry. I'll exit this thread and leave you folks alone here. I've got two other threads that are very much related to this one that need my attention.

[bob3160]

@EdAgee,
You seem to have an agenda and this isn't that type of forum.
It's a support forum. As stated, it's your computer your choice.

[RejZoR]

I agree, wording of the popups is just outright idiotic and scary for casual users. I've hated it ever since, but despite telling developers that they never changed the wording. At least me personally I've become entirely numb to the threats it makes, I just close the popup and move on not even really reading what it even says anymore.