Hot Take ESET now detects Avast/AVG Secure Browser installer as PUA

[Anthony Qian]

ESET is now detecting Avast/AVG Secure Browser installer as a potentially unwanted application (PUA). This is somewhat surprising to me, as Avast and AVG are both well-known and "reputable" security companies. The detection name is Win32/Avast.AVGSecureBrowser.A, which seems to have been added a few days or weeks ago. Now this detection is among the daily top threats in the world, according to ESET Virus Radar.

Any thoughts on this? Does Avast/AVG Secure Browser exhibit unwanted or PUA-like behaviors that warrant this detection?

 

[nickstar1]

It could be a false positive i would submit it to support and see what they say... Would be interesting to know the outcome.

 

[Moonhorse]

Avast or AVG does not install browser within their installers, you have to manually download browser if you want to use it.
AVG banking protection only works with AVG browser, so one that wants to have such protection needs to install it

Personally i think AVG/AVAST browsers arent pua/pup catecory as they dont install anything else than browser with their installer

 

[Anthony Qian]

It could be a false positive i would submit it to support and see what they say... Would be interesting to know the outcome.

As this detection name is very specific, I believe it is not a false positive...

 

[Shadowra]

Probably a false positive, or the fact that Avast/AVG were reselling personal information in 2020 via their Jumpshot channel...

Honestly for me, Avast / AVG SecureBrowser are not PUP

 

[Anthony Qian]

Probably a false positive, or the fact that Avast/AVG were reselling personal information in 2020 via their Jumpshot channel...

Honestly for me, Avast / AVG SecureBrowser are not PUP

ESET seems to detect this DLL file (VirusTotal) in the Avast Secure Browser installer as PUA.

 

[silversurfer]

ESET is known for "aggressive" detection regarding PUP/PUA. Nothing to worry about if you ask me Most forum people should be aware about that.
Avast just want to advertise their browser it's same practice like we saw in cases when certain software trying to install other browsers like Chrome, I recall even Avast installer did that in the past or may still does it...

 

[SeriousHoax]

ESET also added PUA detection for Microsoft's Bing Wallpaper, so they are a vendor who are very aggressive regarding PUA and not afraid to add detection for even popular products. I guess this detection fall under PUA which ESET users need to enable manually meaning ESET don't detect it by default.
I installed Avast Free in a VM yesterday and the installation of Avast Secure Browser was ticked by default. Probably that's the main reason they have added the detection. Many Avast users would end up having Avast Secure Browser installed unintentionally if they don't pay close attention, which can be considered a PUA behavior from Avast.

 

[Abdel-Rezak]

Yes, Avast and AVG Secure Bowsers are unwanted programs (PUP) because they slow down computer. I have installed Avast Secure Browser Pro(I got a giveaway key) last year and my P.C become very very slow. When I have uninstalled Avast Secure Browser my P.C return to a fast state ! I don't like programs that slow down me.

 

[Azure]

ESET also added PUA detection for Microsoft's Bing Wallpaper, so they are a vendor who are very aggressive regarding PUA and not afraid to add detection for even popular products. I guess this detection fall under PUA which ESET users need to enable manually meaning ESET don't detect it by default.
I installed Avast Free in a VM yesterday and the installation of Avast Secure Browser was ticked by default. Probably that's the main reason they have added the detection. Many Avast users would end up having Avast Secure Browser installed unintentionally if they don't pay close attention, which can be considered a PUA behavior from Avast.

That makes sense.

And it seems to fit their criteria

Potentially unwanted applications | ESET Glossary

Grayware or Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) is a broad software category whose intent is not as unequivocally malicious as with other types of malware, such as viruses...

help.eset.com

Grayware or Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) is a broad category of software, whose intent is not as unequivocally malicious as with other types of malware, such as viruses or trojan horses. It may however install additional unwanted software, change the behavior of the digital device, or perform activities not approved or expected by the user.

 

[Nightwalker]

ESET is known for "aggressive" detection regarding PUP/PUA. Nothing to worry about if you ask me Most forum people should be aware about that.
Avast just want to advertise their browser it's same practice like we saw in cases when certain software trying to install other browsers like Chrome, I recall even Avast installer did that in the past or may still does it...

Pretty much that, it is clearly not a false positive, the detection name makes it that obvious (Win32/Avast.AVGSecureBrowser.A).

Meanwhile, I agree with the detection, it is a PUP/PUA.