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.

Gareth wrote:

> 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-...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.

On Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:29:51 -0600, VanguardLH wrote:

> 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...

--
s|b

s|b wrote:

> VanguardLH wrote:
>
>> 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...

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.

On Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:18:48 -0600, VanguardLH wrote:

> 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. (?)

--
s|b

On Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:29:59 +0100, "s|b" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:18:48 -0600, VanguardLH wrote:
>
>> 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. (?)

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?

--
Rich Webb Norfolk, VA

On Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:40:45 -0500, Rich Webb wrote:

> 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, ...)

--
s|b

> 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 : http://www.osterud.name

avast! antivirus (111116-0, 16.11.2011), Outbound message clean

VanguardLH wrote:

> 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).
--
Lars-Erik Østerud : http://www.osterud.name

avast! antivirus (111116-0, 16.11.2011), Outbound message clean

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, .@. says...
> VanguardLH wrote:
>
> > 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).
>

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.

--
James E. Morrow
Email to: (E-Mail Removed)