"Upgrade to paid version" nag screens

[Lisandro]

In addition to getting rid of these advertisements, AVAST may want to consider trimming down their product so that it doesn't increase boot time so much.

Ad of the paid version does not increase the boot time in any second... avast! finishes its update and show the update panel + the ad. So, no boot time delays as it happens side by side with the update panel.

[Asyn]

I thought it was an aging computer and Windows installation that was slowing me down.  Turned out to be my anti-virus.  I had no idea. 

In addition to getting rid of these advertisements, AVAST may want to consider trimming down their product so that it doesn't increase boot time so much.

My boot time is 32 seconds, not bad for XP.

[DavidR]

I thought it was an aging computer and Windows installation that was slowing me down.  Turned out to be my anti-virus.  I had no idea. 

In addition to getting rid of these advertisements, AVAST may want to consider trimming down their product so that it doesn't increase boot time so much.

My boot time is 32 seconds, not bad for XP.

Mine is around a minute on my XP Pro system and that does have a reasonable amount of additional applications loading.

[bob3160]

By the way, once I removed AVAST and installed MSE, my time to a useable desktop from log-in went from several minutes to only seconds.

Less protection takes less overhead. Your choice.  Mine is more protection. 

[happy avast user]

I have been a long time user of Avast (going on a decade now), but I am starting to seriously consider switching to something else like MSE due to all the blasted nag screens that are appearing.  First it was a nag box about upgrading to the paid version but only showed up every few days.  I got that to go away by unchecking all the community options.  Now with every update of the definitions, there is a window "You've got basic protection, do you need more?" NO. I DO NOT NEED MORE. I WILL -NEVER- UPGRADE TO THE PAID VERSION.  STOP BUGGING ME ABOUT IT.  As far as I can tell there is no way to get rid of this. 

To the developers at Avast: You will begin losing FAR more users of your free version than you will ever get back in paid subscriptions doing this.  If this does not stop, I will be switching and recommending all my friends and family switch as well.  A message when you open the main window was fine.  A message when you register every year asking if you want to upgrade is fine.  But this is BS of the highest order to get a popup with every virus definition update.  It's ridiculous, and I think many agree with me.  I understand you need people to sign up for the paid version to make money off this program.  I would think business users would bring in enough revenue....maybe you should focus on going after those that don't qualify for the free version but are using it anyways.  Irritating your users of the free version to upgrade will do nothing but push people to other options in the long run.

  +1

[syates1974]

I am a part time "computer guy" for my family, friends and a few other customers and have been loyaly recommending avast! for over 8 years.

I go out of my way to promote a good product and I take the time to explain the benefits of the paid version over the free version at the time of installation. I let the individual make an educated decision on the level of protection or service they want.

Because of the fake antivirus trend with their deceptive popups, i have trained everyone to NOT click on ANY popup they are unsure about, and call me before doing anything further.

Lately I have been getting a lot of concerned calls from people regarding these stupid avast! "toaster" popups.

"Should i click on this?", "Am i protected?" , "Can you turn these messages off?".

I don't have time for this!!!!!

PLEASE find another way ASAP or i'll have no choice but to move all my people over to MSE.

Simon.

[Lisandro]

Because of the fake antivirus trend with their deceptive popups, i have trained everyone to NOT click on ANY popup they are unsure about, and call me before doing anything further.

My mother learn how to use a computer some months ago. I know her computer is safe and I've said that she could update Windows and avast! without fear.
By the way, she's proud of his little son being the translator of avast!

[norel]

Ads are the price you pay for using a free product. Once you accept this reality life gets a lot easier. You'll hardly ever find a free product that offers support either. Most of them have support forums like this one, and occasionally a developer will drop in and answer questions, but that's the exception, not the rule.

There are lots of ways to maneuver around ads in Avast. I haven't used the update slider in a long time. It's very easy to check and see if your updates are current without it. Overall I've been happy with Avast free. I think the only thing that would make me drop it is if they started using splash screen popups. MSE is, by the way, a serious free alternative in my opinion. I tried it and the only reason I stopped was because all we have is dialup and MSE updates take forever and a day sometimes.

[CharmCityCrab]

Ads are the price you pay for using a free product. Once you accept this reality life gets a lot easier.

Why do people keep saying that when there is a cost-free ad-free anti-virus on the market?  You even mentioned MSE in your post.   That's reality.

Besides, obviously if we were using AVAST in the first place, we were alright with what we considered a small amount of advertising that only displayed when you opened the program to do something.  AVAST kicked it up to the point where there were ads on every definitions update that popped-up over whatever you were doing.  Big difference between the way things used to be and the way they are now.

[Reikki]

I think that these advertisements should run only once or twice a week, at most. I feel that the pop up displaying along with every virus definition update is a bit excessive.
Also, I feel like switching antivirus programs isn't a good solution, as you're just sacrificing better protection in order to get rid of some ads that could easily be closed out of anyway. I used MSE before switching to Avast, and it wasn't a good experience. After installing Avast, I've never gotten a single piece of malware, and I'm not about to give up good protection just to get rid of some advertisements.

[DBone]

I haven't posted here for probably over a year because I too switched over to MSE because of the advertising nags. I thought they were bad then, and they sound way worse now....................Sandboxie Paid is my first line of defense anyway.

I'm sure I'll get slammed for saying this by the Avast! loyalists, but it's true.

[avastuser0]

I have never seen this ad, only the one in the GUI. Maybe because I am a new user?

[bob3160]

I haven't posted here for probably over a year because I too switched over to MSE because of the advertising nags. I thought they were bad then, and they sound way worse now....................Sandboxie Paid is my first line of defense anyway.

I'm sure I'll get slammed for saying this by the Avast! loyalists, but it's true.

Considering that you're no longer using avast!, you really aren't in any position to judge anything about avast!.
You'r posts can only be an "assumption" and it's never good to assume.....

[Gopher John]

@DBone,

You must be getting old.   Your last post before this thread was on: December 01, 2011, 02:27:17 PM.  Admit it, you miss this crowd, don't you?

[Jack 1000]

I think that these advertisements should run only once or twice a week, at most. I feel that the pop up displaying along with every virus definition update is a bit excessive.
Also, I feel like switching antivirus programs isn't a good solution, as you're just sacrificing better protection in order to get rid of some ads that could easily be closed out of anyway. I used MSE before switching to Avast, and it wasn't a good experience. After installing Avast, I've never gotten a single piece of malware, and I'm not about to give up good protection just to get rid of some advertisements.

+1.  Except as I have stated.   The reminder of a Paid Protection notice should come ONLY with the 30-day security report once a month and that is all. Just embed a "More protection?" option into the Avast Security Report Dialog box and that is the ONLY time you should see it, if Avast determines  that for economic reasons that they have to have it.

Jack