Avast browser ads

[Gareth]

Hmm, this is new: I see that Avast is now triggering an instance of Google
Chrome upon boot up. The window contains Avast virus information and ads.

Triggering a browser startup - not just a pop up - is behaviour
characteristic of adware.

 

[VanguardLH]

Hmm, this is new: I see that Avast is now triggering an instance of Google
Chrome upon boot up. The window contains Avast virus information and ads.

Triggering a browser startup - not just a pop up - is behaviour
characteristic of adware.

That's because Avast *is* adware. You've never noticed the adware frame
in their config UI? You've never seen those popup windows when Avast
wants to lure you to their payware version? Avira is adware, too, and
even more in-your-face than Avast. The free versions of Avast and Avira
are adware. Been that way for a long time.

It now appears, if you are correct, that Avast is getting more like
Avira with in-your-face ads. I haven't yet had Avast opening a web
browser to show anything, just those popup dialogs trying to get their
freeloaders into paying for their commercial Pro version. But then I
don't have Chrome installed on my host.

Remember that the install of Avast is also adware since it defaults to
installing the Chrome web browser. Looks like Avast is getting more
influenced by Google to show their popup dialogs in a web browser
instead if the default web browser if Google.
(http://www.thewindowsclub.com/after-realplayer-avast-adaware-to-bundle-chrome-browser)

I use Avast (free). I have no illusions that it is non-adware. It is
adware and has been for years. Antivir got worse for ads after Avira
acquired it.

 

[s|b]

I use Avast (free). I have no illusions that it is non-adware. It is
adware and has been for years. Antivir got worse for ads after Avira
acquired it.

Adware for years? I haven't noticed that although I have been using it
for years. Lately I've been seeing pop-ups with ads for avast!, but they
occur very seldom and I've never seen them before. If it stays like that
I don't mind...

 

[VanguardLH]

Adware for years? I haven't noticed that although I have been using
it for years. Lately I've been seeing pop-ups with ads for avast!,
but they occur very seldom and I've never seen them before. If it
stays like that I don't mind...

You've never had to go into the config UI for Avast? I'm sure you have.
Apparently you've forgotten they have an adware banner across their
config window in the Summary panel (current status). It's very mild
advertising taking the lowest pane in the display but it is still there.
So that adware component is always there and has been for years.

The popups (their own window) do occur but so infrequently that I cannot
give an estimate as to how often they appear. I remember seeing at
least 2 of them in the last few months. I haven't encountered the new
nag from Avast (using the web browser) that Gareth has mentioned and I
didn't see anyone complaining about it in the Avast forums. If I got
hit by this type of nag, especially from Avast whose adware has been
subdued (except lately with the popups), I'd start reassessing what
freeware security products were running on my host. So I'm waiting to
see if I'm similarly hit by the web browser based nag or if adware
popups start increasing in frequency.

If Gareth is correct in that Avast is now employing the web browser to
connect to a site to show more ads then the adware in Avast is getting
worse. I don't use Sandboxie because its free version nags once per
month. To some that's not a lot of nags but that's 12 times per year
and if I used the product then I expect to use it for yearS (plural) and
am not interested in getting dozens of nags. I don't use Avira because
once they acquired Antivir they slapped adware onto it in the form of
popup windows on every definition update along with their adware banner
on load. There are workarounds to get rid of those but only through the
deligence of its users, not as an official option from Avira (plus I
still can't use it because of lingering 4-year old defect in the product
that exhibits itself on my particular platform). Easeus Partition
Master Home Edition, TreeSize Free, Nero Express, PDFxchange PDF Viewer,
Format Factory, Quicktime Player, WinPatrol, SpywareBlaster, and other
freeware on my host are adware but typically mild in their adware
component, so mild in some cases that users are often oblivious to the
adware component. For Avast, its adware component was mild in just
having the ad pane in their config UI. Then I got hit with some popups
which were annoying. If the popups occur more than once per 2 months on
average, especially if they start using a web browser to show the ads,
I'll start re-trialing security software to determine if I'll move to
something else.

 

[s|b]

You've never had to go into the config UI for Avast? I'm sure you have.
Apparently you've forgotten they have an adware banner across their
config window in the Summary panel (current status).

It's visible in version 6.x, yes. I'm talking earlier versions since you
mentioned "years".

It's very mild
advertising taking the lowest pane in the display but it is still there.
So that adware component is always there and has been for years.

What version are you talking about? I've been using avast since version
4.x (or lower, can't remember).

The popups (their own window) do occur but so infrequently that I cannot
give an estimate as to how often they appear.

I've seen them two or three times, I think.

So I'm waiting to
see if I'm similarly hit by the web browser based nag or if adware
popups start increasing in frequency.

Haven't seen any web browser based nag... yet.

If Gareth is correct in that Avast is now employing the web browser to
connect to a site to show more ads then the adware in Avast is getting
worse.
True.

For Avast, its adware component was mild in just
having the ad pane in their config UI. Then I got hit with some popups
which were annoying. If the popups occur more than once per 2 months on
average, especially if they start using a web browser to show the ads,
I'll start re-trialing security software to determine if I'll move to
something else.

Perhaps avast will reassess (sp?) this kind of behaviour when they
notice (free) users start complaining on their webforum. (?)

 

[Rich Webb]

It's visible in version 6.x, yes. I'm talking earlier versions since you
mentioned "years".


What version are you talking about? I've been using avast since version
4.x (or lower, can't remember).


I've seen them two or three times, I think.


Haven't seen any web browser based nag... yet.


Perhaps avast will reassess (sp?) this kind of behaviour when they
notice (free) users start complaining on their webforum. (?)

Or, well I know this is a terribly radical solution, just buy a license.
Sheesh. It's important enough to be protecting the rest of your machine
but, on the other hand, it's not worth a few bucks?

 

[s|b]

Or, well I know this is a terribly radical solution, just buy a license.
Sheesh. It's important enough to be protecting the rest of your machine
but, on the other hand, it's not worth a few bucks?

I've paid for XP OEM, Nero Essentials 7.x OEM and Forté Agent. All other
software I use is freeware. If they would all start producing unwanted
pop-ups, working on my PC would be impossible.

Furthermore, although I have antivirus (avast) installed, I don't really
believe in them. Scanners are always one step behind, even if they have
updates every 2 hours. In all my years online I have *never* been
infected by a virus. Sure, I got some by e-mail, but only an idiot gets
infected like that. Beside antivirus I have other software to keep me
safe (Fx with NoScript and other add-ons, HOSTS from mvps.org, SpyBot,
Online Armor, which also has a Web Shield and HIPS if I decide to dump
avast, ...)

 

[Lars-Erik Østerud]

Hmm, this is new: I see that Avast is now triggering an instance of Google

Chrome upon boot up. The window contains Avast virus information and ads.

Triggering a browser startup - not just a pop up - is behaviour
characteristic of adware.

You are asked about this when installing.
You can remove the check-boxes and this will not happend.

I never see any ads when using avast!
And it is a good anti-virus program.

Remember it's free.
They got to get the costs from somewhere.

 

[Lars-Erik Østerud]

You've never had to go into the config UI for Avast? I'm sure you have.

Where are these ads?
I have the newest free avast! and I cannot see any ads.
Other that the one asking to buy avast.
No pop-up windows neither.

OK, I use WebWasher ads filter.
But that not stop a browser from opening
(it only filters the pages that are displayed).

 

[James E. Morrow]

Where are these ads?
I have the newest free avast! and I cannot see any ads.
Other that the one asking to buy avast.
No pop-up windows neither.

OK, I use WebWasher ads filter.
But that not stop a browser from opening
(it only filters the pages that are displayed).

This mirrors my experience with AVAST over many years, including the
current 6.0. I use MVPS HOSTS file and see no ad other than the AVAST
ad at the bottom of current status in the program.

 

[VanguardLH]

This mirrors my experience with AVAST over many years, including the
current 6.0.

You don't see the popups. Others do. That anyone sees them means they
do happen. Obviously that makes Avast as adware albeit very lightweight
adware since these popups appear like maybe once every couple of months.
I've always managed to be updating with a full install of Avast free
long before the free license expires a year after
installation/registration, so I've not personally experienced the popups
telling you to download and install the latest version.

Also, since the installer for Avast is configured to show non-required
3rd party foistware (ex., Google Chrome) and include it by default in
the install, this also makes Avast as adware. Yeah, I use Adware but I
don't blind myself that it is adware. It's scant adware so it isn't yet
enough of a nuisance for me to consider re-trialing the alternatives.

I wasn't aware it was such a big surprise to Avast users that the
product is classified as adware. Softpedia likes to soften that nasty
image by using the term "ad supported". It's adware but I still use it.

I use MVPS HOSTS file

I doubt the Avast update server would be listed there as that would
prevent you getting updates to Avast.

and see no ad other than the AVAST
ad at the bottom of current status in the program.

Ah, now you get it. There is an ad in their config UI as I stated
before. That's what makes Avast freeware also adware.

P.S.
Hope you're not trying to use Avast on a 64-bit version of Windows, or
that you don't use its Sandbox there. They're copying the wrong
registry to give to 32-bit apps.