Avast Antivirus Free.

I have been using Avast Free Antivirus for more than 4 years without any problems. It quietly does it's job in the background. It has a relatively small footprint and the false positives are extremely low. It's set to automatically update the Engine and virus definitions, and to notify me of Program updates. So far so good...

But, now it's doing things without my knowledge.
1. Avast SafeZone Browser. This downloaded and installed without any input from me - twice! It even added 2 shortcuts to the Start Menu. The folder in Program Files now has a size of 364 MB!

2. Avast Antispam. Also downloaded, installed and disabled Windows Defender (Windows 7) without my permission.

It's always great when free software adds additional features/components but, it's not acceptable when they download and install without the users knowledge.

It might be time to move on...

 

Was that a default install/upgrade? Was there no Advanced/Options checklist available?

 

Nothing.
I didn't even know about Avast SafeZone Browser until I noticed it on the Start Menu, and Avast Antispam until I wanted to do a scan with Windows Defender.
The latter was turned off and I couldn't turn it on. These are the messages I got.




Not knowing what happened, I edited the registry to turn on Windows Defender but after the next restart it was again turned off. By chance I discovered Avast is the culprit.

 

Okay, thanks.

I have an Avast program update waiting for a reboot so it can kick in, I'll try to pay close attention to anything visible or changes noticed.

 

Thanks.
I'll appreciate feedback of your update.

 

NTR, I found nothing changed here, File System Shield only, same settings, no new Scheduled Tasks, nothing new seen in Group Policy, nothing new in Autoruns, nothing different logged that I noticed.

On the file space taken, I have 487 MB (x64), definitions take 100MB+, the Setup files 208MB, the 150MB files in the root look like the main program. I'm not concerned about them taking space, other good AVs are likely to take up a similar amount of space.

Are you using a Beta version, maybe? Was this a 'new' install?

 

Not a Beta version, and not a new install.
I think I need to do a complete uninstall/re-install.

AVAST Software: 973 MB
Avast: 608 MB

• defs: 98 MB
• setup: 347 MB

SZBrowser: 364 MB

The space doesn't really concern me - it's what's downloading, installing & self-enabling that I won't except.

 

Yes, that SZBrowser is a chunk of data downloaded for nothing.

BTW, I think my reboot was needed to clear a bug that tried to 'upgrade' to a previous version, not for a program update: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=189836.msg1344234#msg1344234

 

Agreed. To me it's irrelevant whether it's 30 MB or 300 MB - it's my paid for data which I could have use for something I want/need. I don't have unlimited/uncapped data.

 

Back in the old days I was a big AVG fan, then it goat so bloated it was a nightmare. I tried many others - Avast, Avira among others - but they all went the same way. A long time ago I settled with Comodo, unchecking anything they want to add whether it's a search engine, home page or their browser. It leaves me alone and it's simply the best. Doesn't add rubbish, doesn't harass me.
I recently tried 360 Lite on one of my smart phones - bugger that! It's insanely annoying for no good reason so, as with my other smart phone and tablet, I stick with Comodo Mobile. No nagging, no nonsense.

 

I was quite satisfied with Avast. The free version now also includes a (nightmare) firewall - it automatically adds a program to the allowed list. The settings are to involved for the regular* internet user - what's wrong with allow/disallow?

* I have learned more than 100 software programs but, I'm not prepared to learn the finer details of security software when they all try so hard to be different. And you can't 'create' anything with them.

 

Which component do you call the firewall and why don't you disable it if you don't like it?

 

I did disable it. And in all fairness, I enabled it unlike the Antispam.



And now Avast's Notification Area icon looks like this. I'll uninstall it.
FYI I did not OK it's download.

 

I'm pretty sure Web Shield doesn't equate to a firewall, more like MBAM Premium's MWAC? browser module (or a good, like hpHosts, hosts file). It may be worse (for your privacy, at least), if it filters or logs everything through their servers.

 

Web Shield doesn't require a firewall.
The Firewall was only recently added to the free version of Avast while Web Shield has been there since day one.

 

Umm, I've got the latest version of Avast Free but no firewall option. Are you using the trial?

 

No trial.

 

I always use the Customize install option with Avast free, and most other program installs as well.

Of course, first uncheck the Google Chrome install options on the first dialog screen.
Then choose the Customize link directly below the big Install button.

You can avoid problems and program bloat by Unchecking All of the Components that you do not need.
As for myself, I want only the antivirus protection.
I do not have an email application installed, so I also omit the Mail Shield component.

This is what the Component install screen looks like with my setup:

@Eldon
I don't remember what the Program Uninstall features are like in Windows 7, but in Windows 10, when you select a program in the list, there is a Change option at the top of the list.
You can select Modify when that runs and it will present the Component install screen.
You could also just run the Install program again.

 

Thanks mjnc.
I allways select the custom or advanced option when installing software. The last time I installed Avast was years ago. I don't recall having the Custom protection option, unless I just opted for Recommended protection.
I'm going to change the installation via Programs and Features.
Look at the options I have.

 

Same version, different components, something's very different and it looks like my version of the latest version of Avast Free ties in well with mjnc's, perhaps a complete uninstall/reinstall would remove whatever old dregs are causing your latest version to have such different options:

 

Thanks satrow.
I wouldn't call the additional components I have 'old dregs'. Antispam & Firewall were never there.
Maybe Avast likes me. I hope she looks like Summer Glau...

 

Still, not having installed it afresh for a couple of years does indicate that your 'version' is most likely to be some hybrid.

 

I did a complete re-install less than 6 months ago... sorry about that.
But, it's the same version as yours - 12.3.2280.

 

Download the latest installer, run it and go Customize, what do you see offered?

 

I can only do that next month - my ISP has changed my contract without my knowledge.
The build no. is 12.3.3154.19.

 

Same build # as mine.

Just the online downloader, not the full package.

 

Downloaded the installer and it's a file - no extension. I gave it the extension .exe and ran it.
I have no explanation why/how all those other components were added.

 

My stub installer is 6MB and called avast_free_antivirus_setup_online.exe.

I still suspect your last install picked up *stuff* from an older install, likely because ASWClear hadn't been run after the last uninstall. No easy way to test out that theory, especially for you on a limited data connection.

I don't think I ever used it but I do have a vague recollection of a firewall in some older version. The Avast inbuilt help file here mentions the firewall.

 

Mine is also 6 MB and called 'avast_free_antivirus_setup' - no file extension.

Downloaded from here - Download@ Authors Site.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/avast_free_edition.html

My help file refers to 2014 but the file was created/modified 20 August 2016.

 

So Avast added the firewall component to Free sometime prior to 2015, subsequently pulled it, but haven't cleared out the traces (or in your case) the needed files, since then.

 

If you Unselect Hide extensions for known file types, you should see the .exe extension.

In the file Explorer menu, select Tools > Folder Options > View

 

There was no file extension.

 

I just got avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe from that location.

Eldon, some of these issues might be down to interference from security or other utilities you have installed, something in your browser, perhaps?

 

The only security I have is Avast Antivirus, Windows Defender & Firewall.
I used Internet Explorer with Tracking Protection Lists for the download.
Never had this strange issue with an executable file downloading without a file extension.

I'm writing it off as 'one of those things'.

 

In Firefox, I recently downloaded an executable that didn't have a file extension. Windows/File Explorer simply had the word "File" on the right side of the item in my Downloads Folder. I added .exe like Eldon did and the executable worked. But, apparently, something's going on with downloads for more than one item.

 

This is what uBblock Origin thinks of that source. Wonder why - it's clean on VirusTotal.

 

Affiliate tracking site, from Peter Lowe's Ad server list, so that would be because that server serves up adverts?

More info on that list here: https://pgl.yoyo.org/adservers/

 

Do as I say, not as I do eh?

 

You have the option to allow it, or to remove the Peter Lowe's Ad server list.

 

If I download it from the Avast's website, hehe, but why would I when it is also stored here? I have uBlock Origin as well and got the same result. Usually, I temporarily allow it or permanently unblock it if I know where the source is coming from.