Yeah, there is an update. I think it's the latest small bugfix that I've sen on beta board. Yeah it went final: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=168376.0
AVAST 2015 R2 SP2 beta Beta contains these improvements: - Server busy problem in Avast UI with loading some remote content - Incompatability of FS shield with TrueCrypt - FS shield - lscache.dat improvements - File-system shield exclusions fixed - StreamFilter - Improved compatibility with other AV products - and performance and stability improvements https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=169573.0
Beta contains these improvements: "Added option to install Skype during Avast installation " realy? nice "improvment". For me,avast becomes more and more PUP. Chrome,Skype,Dropbox,Grimfighter and all the other useless things.
That is absolutely true for the majority of us security-minded users. But for the majority of regular internet users out there, they would have no idea to do Custom installs. Add to the fact that every software/installer out there that bundles PUPs has different ways of visually tricking those users into installing PUPs and that is why it's such an epidemic these days. Although I am certainly glad that Avast allows a Custom install to avoid those PUPs and they don't resort to the level of trickery of most other software out there.
According to bob3160 on the avast forum, Skype was a hidden install in the Beta. No option to opt out. That is bad. I installed avast using the stub installer once and it installed Dropbox with no opt out. https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=169573.0
I understand they need something in return for free version but seriously, why all this crap? Am I installing an antivirus or a multimedia entertainment system? I'm not affected because I'm advanced user but time and time again, I've seen countless systems with avast installed and all that bundled crap even though users weren't even using that stuff. For example I have relatives who use Firefox and ALL of them had Chrome installed. Why? But of course, avast!. And that really annoys me. It's idiotic. But that's just my opinion, I'm not in charge for their product and that's their decision. I just think it's not a particularly good or smart one...
The "free" model is broken IMHO. It's no longer enough to just advertize the paid products; instead we have tricky bundleware, etc. It would be more honest to just discard this approach completely and offer only subscriptions with optional trials. I much prefer to pay for security software that is free of advertizing.
A lot of this started happening when the two private equity firms, Summit and especially CVC, became a majority owner. What really concerns me is the addition of Grimefighter. That has caused all kinds of issues with peoples computers including wireless adapter that no longer function. I think it puts Grub into the boot loader but I could be wrong. @Victek, I have Bitdefender Free on a couple of computers and there are no ads or popups. You do have to have a Bitdefender account though. Detection seems to be good.
Investors aren't in the charity business, they want a return on their investment. What's also troubling, based on one such personal experience, as well as a number of mentions on their forum, is that nowadays even after initial install of Avast utilizing the custom install option it's no guarantee that you won't end up with things you opted out of with the next program update thru the GUI.
That's why I don't use Avast. It was a great, even more than great software in the past, but now....it's a malware itself.
Not only that, people who opted out of NG using the custom install had it put on after a program update. I have Panda on an old XP computer and after turning off Panda News in settings, I have not had one popup or ad.
Happened to me. The result was my system started crashing every few minutes until I uninstalled Avast, and later figured out that's what it was.
I stopped using Avast on anything around the time their forums got hacked, and I was using paid version at the time. I didn't like where they were heading with add-on B.S., for one thing. I don't like that Java (Ask toolbar on their installs and updates, maybe) and others do it, either. Unsuspecting people (those who click through everything or don't understand what some of that crap is) get hijacked and have no idea what happened.
Just curious here... are you guys opposed to any kind of offers at all, or do you make distinction based on what's offered, how it's offered etc?
I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm opposed to any "offers" at the time of installation, and even doubly so if they are "recommended", and even triply so if they are already checked and you have to opt out. That's just shady. Some of us have been around the block a time or two and just look for it. Most, however, just want to click and get the installation started because they don't know any better -- I think these folks are the actual target audience. And if something gets installed, they may have no idea how it even got there much less how to get rid of it. For me, I just think "offers" during installation are slimy.
i thing there is a reason why Unchecky have Avast in its list,same as COMODO is in the list. Normal user simply dont do a custom install and do next,next,next and than they have all things off bloat on there pc. Avast is a security vendor or a pup vendor? avast should flag there own installer as pup. i do not recommend it for a long time now duo the bundled bloat that have nothing todo with security. Its all about money i gues and that is rough enough.
