Avira Software Has Gone To The Dark Side

Really? I thought the latest av comparatives report showed they are not as good as the last time?

 

I'm using Avira free for about few months now,despite the fact that i have licenses for 4 another AVs.It's very light,it's doing its job properly,i have updates every 2 hours ( ) and the avnotify...what is that??
As for the new webguard for the free version...why the heck i would need it,when i have Sanboxie?

 

Microsoft Gold Certified Partners - nope

Hi Folks,

Actually there are no more Gold Certified Partners.

11 Key Things About the New Microsoft Partner Network
http://rcpmag.com/articles/2010/10/01/11-key-things-about-the-new-microsoft-partner-network.aspx

... 400,000 formal partners, ...

1. 'Certified' Out the Window
The term "Certified" as a label for partners is nearly as old as Redmond's formal engagements with partners, but it's gone now. That means partner companies will no longer be Microsoft Certified Partners or Microsoft Gold Certified Partners. This is one of the most profound branding changes to the program, with implications for how nearly every Microsoft partner company presents itself to the world.

... IAMCP went from the International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners to the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners.

... partner branding for different levels -- such as the old Microsoft Certified Partner, Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Registered Member -- is finished. Every company is simply a Microsoft partner now.

There is a bunch more.
Here is about the numbers:

The requirements ramp up for the Gold competency, for which partners must employ or contract with four Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs).. (continues)

It looks like Uniblue should be reported to IBM, that they deliberately have not followed an 8-month old directive about the name. This can also give Avira yet another out from any agreement they entered.

Microsoft Gold Certified
Recognized for outstanding levels of competence and excellence
http://www.uniblue.com/company/microsoftgold/

Microsoft can also be notified about the fabrications in those claims. I'll try to get some of this together more later and contact some MS officials.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

 

Reminds me of Avast Free and Google's agreement with the Chrome offering at installation. Hmm.

SourMilk out

 

Et too Brutus

 

In a way yes, except that in avast!'s case you don't lose program features by not installing the additional software and that software isn't rogue. In Avira's case both of these things are true.

 

IMO, there are clear and distinct differences between what Avast is offering/doing and Avira's choices.

One example... Here at Wilders, there is a large group of users that talk about the benefits (and their happy use) of Chrome. Where are the users saying the same about the Ask Toolbar? Uniblue?

2nd example... If you refuse the Chrome installation on Avast (and I always do), you get the same antivirus product either way. Unless I am mistaken, with Avira, acceptance of the Ask Toolbar is required for the Webguard module. Less coverage unless you install the slimeware.

I am not at all saying Google is without it's issues. And I wish that all marketing "add-ons" (my word) were opt-in, not opt-out. But even from a distance, Avira has chosen questionable business partners and practices.

 

Whether the added software installation is popular or not, it is not what the downloader wanted. If one were to install Avast Free and not notice the Chrome offering (pre-selected), they would end up with what they wanted and possibly what the didn't want.

I wasn't taking a jab at Avast but focusing on the "additional software" that is offered or pre-selected during install that could be called unethical. If I wanted the Ask toolbar, UniBlue software, or Chrome, I would download them on my own without the help of free software.

SourMilk out

 

You are not mistaken.....

 

avast! team was or still is adding Google Chrome beacuse it adds additional security value. Which we cannot say the same for all these stupid toolbars.
Chromium is also used inside avast! SafeZone. So that sort off makes sense in the end.

 

I only installed avira once, after half a day of pop ups reminding me I had to buy it in a month made me remove and never use again, how a company can package something it once called a risk is crazy, as is anyone who thinks this is acceptable.

 

Well said my friend.

 

looks they removed the uniblue nag

 

Maybe, maybe not. They might just cycle thru several nags and rotate them.

 

Quick question. On their site it says the WebGuard is not available in the free version, but now you can get it if you install the Ask toolbar? That actually seems like a good thing. Can you uninstall the toolbar but still keep WebGuard afterwards?

 

According to what I read at Avira's site you have to have Ask Toolbar in order to have the WebGuard. No Ask Toolbar then no WebGuard.

 

That's a shame. I think Avira is one of only a few free antiviruses to not offer web protection.

 

Re - WebGuard

You don't actually NEED it ! Avira scans web pages & downloads already

If it detects something dodgy/nasty etc, depending on how you've set the options, it'll either block or delete it etc, or alert you for a decision

*

@ Steven Avery

Good catch I think you "might" be right, it "could" be a way out of any contract that Avira has signed with Uniblue. Let's hope so

 

Softpedia has now changed their description for Avira from freeware to ad-supported. From Ibrad's post #143: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Avira-Criticized-for-Recommending-Controversial-Product-205954.shtml

TH

 

With respect I'm not aware of anyone rendering their system unusable by running Google Chrome,a feat that the Uniblue junk is more than capable of.IMO there's no comparison between the 2 companies add-ons.

 

Good summary at the Security Garden

Avira is no longer on their recommended list.

 

Panda Free according to posts here at Wilder's has or had a toolbar and you could uninstall the toolbar and retain it's web guard. Whose toolbar it is or was though I don't know.http://wiki.cloudantivirus.com/index.php/Panda_Security_Toolbar

 

Saw Steven Avery's post over at Avira's forum.

Now that is scary.

 

Comodo has had it's own issues regarding toolbars but were cough given a pass here by Kevin McAleavey. Remember him? https://forums.comodo.com/empty-t24483.0.html
Also here's another thread . https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=247771

 

AVIRA was good when it was unpopular and with great heuristics.