Avast Malware Like Behavior...Worst AV

[harman]

As long as you make sure you uncheck the following 3 boxes (they are checked by default) before clicking on Accept and Install, your browser will not be hijacked with toolbars etc.
View attachment 115729

you are right. However, once I did make the mistake of checking "install panda safe web with protection against malicious websites" thinking it will serve the purpose of blocking malicious websites but even after uninstalling Panda (with revo free) something like panda link checker remained and i was only able to remove it with iobit uninstaller (portable).

 

[Atlas147]

I recently shifted from AVG to Avira and (though I can't remember about AVG) there's no unwanted/automatic installation with Avira free.

are you kidding me , with installation of Avira free you also get the launcher which itself is another component a lot of people are complaining about, then you are prompted with installing Avira extension as well, by the launcher if I'm not wrong.

 

[Atlas147]

Also I find that Avast does give you a choice for installing the extension, in the custom install, as well as even after the install chrome asks you if you want to allow the extensions to run, further giving you a choice to enable or remove them. Those that know better would remove them, and those that don't are probably better with the ever slight protection that the extensions provide.

 

[harman]

are you kidding me , with installation of Avira free you also get the launcher which itself is another component a lot of people are complaining about, then you are prompted with installing Avira extension as well, by the launcher if I'm not wrong.

yes Avira launcher is a nuisance but still it doesn't install Avira extension on its own. The point Yash is making here is that Avast automatically installs components even if you 'uncheck' them during installation options. In Avira free I unchecked Firewall, Mail Protection, and web Protection (not offered in free AV anyways, so why install) and they weren't installed. For Avira launcher they don't even give an option and consider it a part of their antivirus package so why complain about its automatic installation? it doesn't install avira extension automatically, unless you install the extension or other things from the launcher.

BTW,if Avira launcher has no use, people that know better, can easily disable it in services. I've done that as well, no effect on Antivirus. Peace.

 

[Atlas147]

yes Avira launcher is a nuisance but still it doesn't install Avira extension on its own. The point Yash is making here is that Avast automatically installs components even if you 'uncheck' them during installation options. In Avira free I unchecked Firewall, Mail Protection, and web Protection (not offered in free AV anyways, so why install) and they weren't installed. For Avira launcher they don't even give an option and consider it a part of their antivirus package so why complain about its automatic installation? it doesn't install avira extension automatically, unless you install the extension or other things from the launcher.

BTW,if Avira launcher has no use, people that know better, can easily disable it in services. I've done that as well, no effect on Antivirus. Peace.

So I went in my VM to check out your claims on it installing without an option to opt out and here are my screenshot.

On my next screenshot, I clicked custom install and WOW look what I found, options to opt out of installing the extensions, I marked them out clearly for you in case you miss them again.

Final verdict, let's take a look at Chrome after the installation has complete. Look ma! No extensions!

 

[Deleted member 2913]

Guys, I didn't mention, right after Avast install, you will get extension installed or will definitely get extension installed.

I mentioned my experience & others have also experienced the same in Avast forum including many experienced safe zone installed, couple experienced product upgrade even though was set to manual, etc...

I also mentioned my experience in Avast forum when Avast Online Shield was installed...a member mentioned there was some kind of fix or something related to AOS that could have triggered the install.
And when safe price was installed here, I mentioned this too in the same thread in Avast forum...a member mentioned he too did custom install & didn't experienced this And dont know why it happened here.

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=190878.0

 

[harman]

So I went in my VM to check out your claims on it installing without an option to opt out and here are my screenshot.

On my next screenshot, I clicked custom install and WOW look what I found, options to opt out of installing the extensions, I marked them out clearly for you in case you miss them again.


Final verdict, let's take a look at Chrome after the installation has complete. Look ma! No extensions!

"your claims on it installing without an option to opt out "?

sorry I didn't make any claims about Avast; I was talking about Avira. In fact I haven't used Avast after it has let me down twice while Avira finally saved my back, on both the occasions (though it was during windows XP days).

P.S. does any one know why we don't have an option for Avira in "personal details". I wanted to update my current antivirus to avira form avg butin the drop down list there are names of all antivirus except Avira....