Avast goes rogue

[Karlston]

From reader c:

 

Avast has just taken a page out of Microsoft’s bullying manual.

 

I use Avast Free Antivirus. Several months ago, after resisting nag messages to “upgrade” to the new free version whose extra “features” I did not care for, I finally gave in.

 

The new version messed with my Outlook 2003 (yes, that’s two thousand and three ; it suits me perfectly). It added a new “anti-spam” toolbar in all messages, which takes unwanted screen space and is completely unneeded, since I practically never receive spam.

 

There was no warning, no way to opt-out before or after installation, and no way within Outlook 2003 or Windows 7 to disable the unwanted add-in. None that I found, anyway.

 

So I went nuclear, and restored my whole system drive from a backup image. The “upgrade” vanished and I was back where I wanted to.

 

Yesterday, Avast fired up a new, different nag screen, urging me to “upgrade” again (for my own good). Except… the only option “offered” was a Continue button… and no way to Cancel or Decline.

 

So I right-clicked in the Windows taskbar to Close Window. Which it did.

 

Today, when I launched Ooutlook, the dreaded anti-spam add-in appeared again.

 

So, Avast stealthily “upgraded” me against my will, using exactly the same method Microsoft introduced with its wicked Windows 10 “upgrade” nag screen, where no Cancel option is offered and where clicking X means Accept.

 

Folks, when a major player goes rogue, expect other, lesser vendors to grab the opportunity and go with the flow… Bad habits spread more readily than good ones. It seems we are less and less in control of our computers, and “empowerment” is a word of the past.

 

Source: Avast goes rogue (AskWoody.com - Woody Leonhard's no-bull news, tips and help for Windows and Office)

[steven36]

 

Quote

The solution to the problem

Follow the instructions to remove the antispam toolbar from Microsoft Outlook:

1. Click 'Start' and then click on 'Run'.

2. Type 'taskmgr' and then click on 'OK'.

3. Click on 'Processes' tab and then click on 'OUTLOOK.EXE'.

4. Click on 'End Process'.

5. Click on 'Start' and then click on 'Run'.

6. Type 'cmd' and then click on 'OK'.

7. Type in 'cd' then 'cd program filesalwil softwareavast'.

8. Type in 'cd regsvr32 /u asoutext.dll' and rename the file.

9. Open outlook, AVAST anti spam toolbar should no longer visible. source http://support.iyogi.com/email-client/microsoft-outlook/how-to-remove-antispam-toolbar-from-microsoft-outlook.html

 

When you install free Avast i suggest  this way.

1. Use Avast's Custom Installation

2. uncheck the Software Updater, Remote Assistance, , Browser protection, Avast SafeZone Browser, SecureLine, GrimeFighter, and Browser Cleanup features.

3.  Set the program updater to ask  or to mauanl

4. Go to general  uncheck enable reputation services  and enable avast email signature

5. Go down to privacy and uncheck both boxes

6. Use you're Firewall  and block avastui.exe to get rid of the ads .

 

 

 

[radeonxt]

or best, just use another free av.

[steven36]

This spam filter not in the free AV so it not really a problem  ...Most free AV has less needed features than  Avast.

Quote

 

Avast! Free Antivirus

Advantages: the widest functionality, minimal use of system resources, an efficient real-time protection, including protection of internet surfing, email, programs, instant messaging, etc.

 

Disadvantages: actions of the protection system will sometimes surprise you, some functions are very intrusive (Software Updater, e-mail signing, etc.).

 

Author: AVAST Software a.s.

Requirements: Windows 10 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP / 2000

 

Avast is probably the most popular free antivirus software in the world. It grows and progresses constantly improving the protection system against virus attacks. The program is absolutely free for home users and for non-commercial use. Avast provides the full necessary set of the protection services for your desktop PC or notebook.

 

Avast tracks all run applications in the real time mode and provides the protection from spyware and rootkits. The safe Internet surfing system provides warnings about the visiting of potentially dangerous websites. It also blocks malicious scripts on websites. The program has also a function which automatically runs suspicious applications in a completely isolated environment ("sandbox") and provides voice alerts for a computer user (the examples of alerts: update is completed, virus is detected, etc.).

 

In 30 days after installation Avast will ask you to register. The registration is absolutely free and is valid for 1 year, and then the antivirus will ask you to re-register again. Don’t forget to select "Basic protection" during the registration and re-registration process. Be careful during the program updates. Avast will always try to offer you the paid version of the program.

 

 

 

Microsoft Security Essentials

Advantages: very simple in use, good detection and removal of threats, low CPU usage and minimum user attention.

 

Disadvantages: slow scan, weak protection of web surfing, no functions provided by other free antivirus programs.

 

Author: Microsoft Corporation

Requirements: Windows 10 / 8 (antivirus installed by default) / 7 / Vista / XP / 2000

 

Microsoft Security Essentials is the free antivirus software from Microsoft corp. The program provides a high level of threat detection, especially rootkits. Perhaps the biggest advantages of the program are the complete absence of false alarms and the high-quality removing of malicious software from a PC or a notebook. The antivirus requires the minimal user attention: no registration, updates and scans occur automatically, no advertising.

 

The main disadvantages of Microsoft Security Essentials are the very slow system scan and the weak protection of a PC user in case of visiting infected websites. The installation of the program is only possible on the licensed operating system. The antivirus software is an optimal solution for older people who use a limited set of proven websites (news, social media, etc.).

 

 

Avira Free Antivirus

Advantages: excellent virus detection system, fast scanning, prevents starting programs from removable storages.

 

Disadvantages: low efficiency against rootkits, low protection against phishing, false alarms, molestation.

 

Avira Free Antivirus is the free antivirus software with the really best detection of malware. The scanner of this program is truly the best in all tests. Avira is a great choice for computers with the high risk of infection.

 

Unfortunately this antivirus has a number of limitations that don’t allow us to recommend it for all users. Firstly, protection for web-surfing is only possible when installing Avira SearchFree Toolbar, which adds another search agent to your browser (ask.com). If you delete this toolbar you will lose web-protection. The second problem is the e-mail protection, which is only available in the paid version of the program. This does not mean that you are vulnerable to viruses received by e-mail, it means that the detection works only when you try to run the attached infected file on the computer. The third Avira trouble is an advertising that will haunt you during each update of the antivirus databases.

 

Panda Cloud Antivirus

Advantages: easy to use, it uses cloud technology, a good system threat detection with minimal CPU usage.

 

Disadvantages: the lag in the detection of zero-day threats, false alarms, needs a permanent connection to the Internet.

 

Author: Panda Security

Requirements: Windows 10 / 8 / 7/ Vista / XP

 

Panda Cloud Antivirus is a fairly successful attempt of the Panda Security team in the market of free antivirus products. This software, like the Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus has a very simple interface, the automatic updating system and the automatic malware removal system. The PC protection level is high enough, but according to the latest tests the detection of the latest threats (the so-called zero-day threats) lower than competitors have. Panda Antivirus is one of the first antivirus which started to use cloud technologies for a quick release updates. All users get updates automatically when connecting to the Internet.

 

You can find a full range of protections in this software: antivirus, antispyware, behavior analysis, URL and Web filtering (if browser plugin is installed). But the antivirus is not infallible, and can occasionally mark as a threat completely safe process or program. At the same time the threat is quarantined automatically. In that case you can suddenly find that one of your software stopped working. The high level of the PC protection is also ensured only in case of a permanent connection to the Internet.

 

AVG AntiVirus Free Edition

Advantages: a good level of protection against malware and web threats, additional functions, low processor usage.

 

Disadvantages: nontrivial download process, slow scan, the abundance of advertising, outdated interface.

 

Author: AVG Technologies

Requirements: Windows 10/ 8 / 7/ Vista / XP

 

AVG AntiVirus Free. This free antivirus software has the longest story (we can say that this is the founder of the free antivirus software). And it is the absolute leader by the number of downloads in the world (of course during the history of the Internet). AVG was very popular a few years ago, but has lost his customers due to the deteriorating quality of the threat detection. Now, however, the level of the protection against malicious software and web-based threats in the antivirus is again high and the software returns to the market.

 

The interface of AVG software is unmodern like you went back to the last century. The program includes a lot of advertising. During the installation AVG also installs additional search bar for a browser. Besides the basic functions antivirus have a variety of useful built in components to improve the performance of your computer (registry cleaner, fragmentation, etc.).

 

And finally the most strange thing is that you can’t download AVG AntiVirus Free from the official site of the developer. To download the user is redirected to the portal Cnet.com. For someone it may looks like redirection to portal with malware. The impression is enhanced because it is very difficult to find the download link on the website with advertising of huge amount of other software products.

 

http://www.best-free-antivirus-download.com/

 

 

Most of the disadvantages in Avast can be not installed ,turned off and blocked with a firewall .  If you're not going to use Avast free, I would recommend using a paid Antivirus .

 

[RejZoR]

avast! now auto updates program versions as well. Reason behind it is the fact that AV's are most effective when as up to date as possible. And people even today run avast! 4.8 which is like prehistoric monument today. And a lot of people still run avast! 5.x, 6.x, 7.x and so on. All old and outdated versions. I'm surprised AV vendors allow this for consumers who are clueless most of the time. Corporate is different where you can't afford any issues and it's all managed by people who know their shit.

 

The dialog with "Continue" only button is usually after avast! has already upgraded itself, it just notifies you what happened. As for other popups, they all have option to close and most now even have "Don't show again" to make them go away forever or at least for extended period of time.

[straycat19]

8 hours ago, radeonxt said:

or best, just use another free av.

 

or even better, don't use an AV at all since they actually do very little to protect against malware unless you have the umpteen modules they come with activated also and then it just messes with your system.  I haven't used an AV in 5 years, just do a weekly scan with Malwarebytes and it hasn't ever found anything.

[steven36]

1 hour ago, straycat19 said:

 

or even better, don't use an AV at all since they actually do very little to protect against malware unless you have the umpteen modules they come with activated also and then it just messes with your system.  I haven't used an AV in 5 years, just do a weekly scan with Malwarebytes and it hasn't ever found anything.

You say don't do windows updates in years and before  you said done them up tell July 2015 , now you  say don't even use a real time Antivirus ? But before you said you used them  not  long ago  You give some bad advice ,  What is you're  motive with you're post here? you're story changes from one day to the next . So It's hard to put any trust or believe anything you say here, and i just  read it and forget you said it.  tell you contradict  yourself and say something different . 
 

Ether you're just not very smart and all you're  PCs are vulnerable to Virus or malware or ether you just post to get attention witch is it?  

[Batu69]

32 minutes ago, steven36 said:

What is you're  motive with you're post here? you're story changes from one day to the next .

 

  agreed with you steven, always changes the story, I thought just me know it.

Sorry for off topic but the truth on here.

[steven36]

1 minute ago, Batu69 said:

 

  agreed with you steve, always changes the story, I thought just me know it.

Sorry for off topic but the truth on here.

Sorry to be off topic too,  but i just don't like it when people tell others not to have good security  hygiene.   I read a post on this very site were someone said they had not used a Antivirus for years and one day they came up infected , If you don't practice good security  hygiene under the Windows O/S you're just living on borrowed time It's simple as that .Malware and Virus writers don't discriminate and even some who  are experts at testing Malware have made mistakes and became infected that's why im not interested in testing, only im interested in preventing it. 

[Holmes]

Avast is a pretty good antivirus if you check there forums and read this:

 

https://press.avast.com/avast-gmer-technology-gets-top-score-in-rootkit-detection-tests

 

His name is Przemyslaw Gmerek and he is the creator of gmer the best anti-rootkit tool there is and its integrated into avast now and has been since two thousand seven.  The article is old its relevant.  I do wish they would stop introducing new useless features.  I agree with rejZor the article author is wrong I havent hit any popups on my moms avast that I cant x out of and when I have hit x nothing ended up launching.

[Karlston]

With AV licences so damn cheap on eBay, why use a free version anyway? As we're learning from W10 (and now Avast), "free" now comes with catches... 

 

A month ago I paid $A12.22 for a 1-year 3-PC subscription to KIS (Kaspersky Internet Security) 2016. $A4 per PC per year is chickenfeed.

 

Any company that tries to force crapware onto paying users would suffer the wrath of the internet, not to mention losing users.

[LeeSmithG]

On ‎18‎/‎06‎/‎2016 at 1:12 AM, Karlston said:

From reader c:

 

Avast has just taken a page out of Microsoft’s bullying manual.

 

I use Avast Free Antivirus. Several months ago, after resisting nag messages to “upgrade” to the new free version whose extra “features” I did not care for, I finally gave in.

 

The new version messed with my Outlook 2003 (yes, that’s two thousand and three ; it suits me perfectly). It added a new “anti-spam” toolbar in all messages, which takes unwanted screen space and is completely unneeded, since I practically never receive spam.

 

There was no warning, no way to opt-out before or after installation, and no way within Outlook 2003 or Windows 7 to disable the unwanted add-in. None that I found, anyway.

 

So I went nuclear, and restored my whole system drive from a backup image. The “upgrade” vanished and I was back where I wanted to.

 

Yesterday, Avast fired up a new, different nag screen, urging me to “upgrade” again (for my own good). Except… the only option “offered” was a Continue button… and no way to Cancel or Decline.

 

So I right-clicked in the Windows taskbar to Close Window. Which it did.

 

Today, when I launched Ooutlook, the dreaded anti-spam add-in appeared again.

 

So, Avast stealthily “upgraded” me against my will, using exactly the same method Microsoft introduced with its wicked Windows 10 “upgrade” nag screen, where no Cancel option is offered and where clicking X means Accept.

 

Folks, when a major player goes rogue, expect other, lesser vendors to grab the opportunity and go with the flow… Bad habits spread more readily than good ones. It seems we are less and less in control of our computers, and “empowerment” is a word of the past.

 

Source: Avast goes rogue (AskWoody.com - Woody Leonhard's no-bull news, tips and help for Windows and Office)

 

Make sure you get a refund for the upgrade.

 

If you want a decent low resource using antivirus then Norton ticks all the boxes.

 

If you hunt around usually PCWorld and amazon.co.uk it's around £20.

[Holmes]

I think eset nod thirty two is best on resources its always been that way.

[luisam]

Some time ago I upgraded to Avast! Internet Security and use it a couple of days, until I decided that it was a complete disaster, slowed down my computrer. So simply uninstalled it and reinstalled the free version.

Recently tested Avast Cleaner Beta and used it to scan my computer. At first it looked "promising" but it lookes more like a rogue cleaner... Lot of diagnosis  and finally, couldn't solve any "issue", real or not, listed by the application. So once more, deleted it.

[steven36]

10 hours ago, luisam said:

Some time ago I upgraded to Avast! Internet Security and use it a couple of days, until I decided that it was a complete disaster, slowed down my computrer. So simply uninstalled it and reinstalled the free version.

Recently tested Avast Cleaner Beta and used it to scan my computer. At first it looked "promising" but it lookes more like a rogue cleaner... Lot of diagnosis  and finally, couldn't solve any "issue", real or not, listed by the application. So once more, deleted it.

I prefer the free version , I got Avast free on one PC and NOD32 on the other  i done a custom install as i posted in posted #2 i done the program update the other day i was not even asked to upgrade to AIS. .   

[TheT]

http://forum.palemoon.org/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=12148#p85464