Avast 4.8 - The nag screen has returned

[prilodri]

So I have been using Avast 4.8 Professional quite happily for years now...  A while ago we started getting this nag screen to update.

The solution was to stop the antivirus, and rename the file aws5not2.exe to something else.

But since this morning, after an update, the problem has returned:


Ok, now I know someof you are going to tell me:
1)  I am pirating the program
2)  I should be using a newer version

First of all, YES, I am using an illegal serial, but why do you care?  This is version 4.8 and for all purposes and intents this is abandonware....  I don't want or need your fancy new features, I am quite happy with version 4.8, and I am not that stupid that I need all the fancy shmancy new features in your new versions to protect me from myself.

So, will you tell me how to eliminate this new nag screen?  I like Avast, even if I don't pay for it, I recommend it to my customers who may in turn give you some business.

[spg SCOTT]

First of all, YES, I am using an illegal serial, but why do you care?
<snip>
So, will you tell me how to eliminate this new nag screen?  I like Avast, even if I don't pay for it, I recommend it to my customers who may in turn give you some business.

The general opinion here is that you shouldn't get help if you use a pirated license...so I doubt you will get a solution at all.

Though, since you know the answer to all of the questions, I wonder why you posted at all?

[Gargamel360]

I generally frown on "forum gestapo" policy, but this deserves to be deleted, and the user banned.

[prilodri]

I don't mind using the Home version of 4.8, but I won't get any updates that way...

If I can register for free Home 4.8 updates, then I will change the license.

[spg SCOTT]

Well, you can still register it I think...but you are using it in a business environment?

I recommend it to my customers who may in turn give you some business.

[DavidR]

We care because it is theft/fraud as simple as that and on the official avast! support forum won't be condoned. Especially when avast have a free version, which is probably one of the strongest competitors to the avast Pro version. But then again you can't use that if in a business environment, e.g. it is for home and non-commercial use.

If you are recommending it to your customers, then this is business use and as such the cost of a Pro license is a tax deductible expense.

Avast 4.8 isn't abandonware as it still has many business users and a separate VPS stream has to be maintained for it. If it were abandoned, there would be no VPS updates either.

Don't expect any help on the official avast forums when you are using a keygen, illegal key.

[prilodri]

Well, you can still register it I think...but you are using it in a business environment?

We care because it is theft/fraud as simple as that and on the official avast! support forum won't be condoned. Especially when avast have a free version, which is probably one of the strongest competitors to the avast Pro version. But then again you can't use that if in a business environment, e.g. it is for home and non-commercial use.

If you are recommending it to your customers, then this is business use and as such the cost of a Pro license is a tax deductible expense.

Avast 4.8 isn't abandonware as it still has many business users and a separate VPS stream has to be maintained for it. If it were abandoned, there would be no VPS updates either.

Don't expect any help on the official avast forums when you are using a keygen, illegal key.

Let me state that, no, I do not use this in a business environment.  I do not think I can get updates for the home version of 4.8, otherwise I would still be using it...

The only reason I switched to the Pro version was to rid myself of the nag in the first place. I'm sure the Home version was sufficient before the nags started.

The problem is having nag screens forced upon me.

What has progressed in the "cutting-edge" world of antivirus that would compell me to upgrade to the 6.0 version???  More resources used???  I don't use Internet Exploder so I rarely use the script blocker.  I don't use the Outlook plugin because I use web based mail.

All I need is the real-time protection and the on-demand scanner that I might use once in a blue moon.  I hope you can see this from my perspective.

If I had to deploy this in a business environment, of course I would try and do it legitimately, but this just isn't the case here.

[MikeN92]

Other than the fact that you are using a cracked version I consider your reasons to not upgrade quite stupid. If you don't like the "fancy new features" don't install them(ever heard of custom install?) or turn them off. Using outdated software is a bad idea if you ask me. Using outdated security software is pure ... nevermind...

[prilodri]

Other than the fact that you are using a cracked version I consider your reasons to not upgrade quite stupid. If you don't like the "fancy new features" don't install them(ever heard of custom install?) or turn them off. Using outdated software is a bad idea if you ask me. Using outdated security software is pure ... nevermind...

A shovel is a shovel...  I'm not irrigating a 50-acre field of wheat, I'm planting a single flower...  I don't need the newer version because the newer version quite frankly is bloatware.  As long as Alwil updates the definitions, I am happy.  Sure there might be a new kind of anamorphic virus that may come out that it won't be able to handle, but how many times have you people with 6.0 anways found yourselves using combofix or hijack this or something like that?  Once the virus is executed, most antivirus programs don't really work that well anyways.  The proof I have is that if a virus is executed through Sun Java in firefox, AV is helpless to stop it.  Confirmed with MSSE 2.x on a different computer.

Like I said, I am not a typical end-user and I don't need the overprotective and BLOATED 6.0 version.  I'm quite capable of scanning suspicious files myself, but am not that persistent that I can rely on something like ClamAV which has no on-demand scanner.

[Pondus]

Like I said, I am not a typical end-user and I don't need the overprotective and BLOATED 6.0 version.  I'm quite capable of scanning suspicious files myself, but am not that persistent that I can rely on something like ClamAV which has no on-demand scanner.

maybe this is the one for you then ?

Panda cloud FREE http://www.cloudantivirus.com/en/

[DavidR]

For your information the VPS stream for avast 4.8 makes no differentiation between Pro an Home.

The fact that the new business protection range of software have been released they can make the move to the avast6 version. When that happens, no doubt about it, the life support will be switched off and no more VPS updates.

How long the VPS support for 4.8 will last isn't something set in stone, but you can see from the resurgence of the prompts to update that they want that to happen sooner rather than later.

Avast is still one of the most configurable AVs out there, don't feel you need all of the shields, simple do a custom install for only select those that which us use/want.

[Gargamel360]

1 virus is proof, yeah, because there isn't a small nation worth of viruses out there  

Your arrogance inspires me.  You have inspired me to go steal a TV from WalMart, then bring it back to them when it doesn't meet my satisfaction.  

Your needs are irrelevant since you decided to steal from a company that provides an awesome product for free.....based a nag screen.  I'll help you to the door, thats it.  Hope it hits you on the way out.

[prilodri]

maybe this is the one for you then ?

Panda cloud FREE http://www.cloudantivirus.com/en/

Eventhough I'm collectively being depicted here as something inferior, I do have loyalty to Alwil, doesn't that count for something?  I'd still like to keep using Avast stuff.

Avast is still one of the most configurable AVs out there, don't feel you need all of the shields, simple do a custom install for only select those that which us use/want.

I just can't stomach the bloatware of the new version...  Everything costs more resources, and I don't want to do a customized install.  I want to click install, and *poof*, I want it to work, like 4.8.  I believe that's how it should function in the first place.

1 virus is proof, yeah, because there isn't a small nation worth of viruses out there

This is a common virus with many variants, so yes, I believe it is sufficient evidence.  But I should have added that once there is an infection, then most AV programs don't really work.  My point was, what are they going to do now, release a plugin for Sun Java?  There has to be a point where there are two products:

One for the skilled end user
One for the ignoramos

I believe 4.8 was the last product for the skilled end user.  It was ugly, awkward, and it works great.  I don't care for the shiny new product.  Give me the grit.

Your arrogance inspires me.  You have inspired me to go steal a TV from WalMart, then bring it back to them when it doesn't meet my satisfaction/

Brazen, perhaps.  Arrogant, no.

[Gargamel360]

Don't you have a Salvation Army to go steal from?

[prilodri]

The Salvation Army is a an NPO which hides behind billions of dollars of derivatives.  I believe it is they who are stealing from us.