Avira

Refactored Virus Definitions beta test
https://betacenter.avira.com/key/mps_vdf_beta

 

Getting the deal...

Just got an email from Avira : 80% off , OPTIMIZATION SUITE , 2 years /3 devices for USD 70.99. That means regular price would have been USD 354.95.

Looking for a bridge to jump off...

 

I tool advantage of this sale for my Avira Pro renewal!

Combined with the Avira Phantom VPN - Lifetime - deal I got earlier this year, I have no complaints!

 

Avira Console (aka Avira Launcher) version 1.2.125.20160 released today.

https://www.avira.com/en/download/product/avira-antivirus-pro

 

Avira Console (aka Avira Launcher) version 1.2.126.10632 released today.

https://www.avira.com/en/download/product/avira-antivirus-pro

 

Good day

I'm using Avira Free Antivirus 15.0.43.24 (Virus definition file: 8.15.17.12 + Engine Version: 8.3.52.152) and Avira is in 1.2.126.10632 version as it shows "Programs and Features" in Control Panel on Windows 7 64-bit.

Today, Avira installed without my permission "Safe Shopping Session Service.exe". Is it just me or for others it installed too?

I'm getting more and more skeptical to use Avira, which pains me, as I'm big fan of it from very long time and I always remember that Avira was at the top in detection rates.
First - new GUI for Avira Antivirus is slow, feels laggy and using too much CPU compared to old Avira,
second - pushing forcefully Avira loader without option to remove it, if Avira Antivirus is installed, it was possible before to minimize software bloat,
third - starting, loading and "initialization" times are too long compared to old Avira
and forth - this "Safe Shopping Session Service.exe" thing installed without my permission...

 

Hi, I'm using the pro version albeit with the same version and engine numbers that you posted, but there is no safe shopping session installed. Check this link:
https://www.file.net/process/avira safe shopping.exe.html

 

Thanks, but fortunately, it's not Avira Safe Shopping.exe, but Safe Shopping Session Service.exe and it doesn't look like it's some kind of malicious software, but it will be odd if it will be, as I'm using Avira Antivirus.

I want to add some more information about these files:

"Safe Shopping Session Service.exe"
File description: Avira.Plugin.Session
Type: Application
File version: 1.1.10.3420
Product name: Avira.Plugin.Session
Product version: develop-05effa4c846a682c8779df3f9c74e36b70d4afca-20181128-140930
Copyright: Copyright 2018
Size: 108 KB (111.528 bytes)
Modification date: 2018-12-14 10:45
Language: Neutral Language
Original file name: Safe Shopping Session Service.exe
MD5: 2a2a12c5723a1102bce5d94e414e2930
SHA1: 4778029b9c65289d0c5818f6bd7223b6788d8c48
SHA-256: 2bc0e3ce6c70375f92506d30bd75210c3c4fc764a7abede51d19250fc1f1ce9a

and "Safe Shopping Session Service.exe.config"
Size: 248
Modification date: 2018-12-14 10:45
MD5: 6f40e89aae980ec92094e796d0e0923e
SHA1: bfb7da8aceeb612b6ec509d70e1ab847264f6355
SHA-256: df16a9bbbf8a4a10ecbd429b7ea749056a25f27a6ec3fde22b97e77c05b9872b
opening this file in Notepad shows:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
  <startup>
    <supportedRuntime version="v4.0" sku=".NETFramework,Version=v4.0,Profile=Client"/>
    <supportedRuntime version="v2.0.50727" sku="Client"/>
  </startup>
</configuration>

Both are located in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\Launcher"

~VT and similar links removed per Policy.~

 

+1
(Win 10 Pro x64, v1809 / Avira Antivirus Pro 15.0.43.24 & Avira Launcher version 1.2.126.10632).

 

Avira "Safe Shopping Session Service.exe" also got installed on my PC without my permission.

How can I disable/uninstall this bloatware?

I can't believe this. Very bad move Avira.

 

Thank you very much for your confirmation!

For archivisation purposes, as I didn't see that it also comes with all this bloat (thank you anon very much for finding this!), I'm adding "Avira.SafeShopping.ConnectPlugin.dll" info:

File description: Avira Connect NGSA Plugin
Type: Application Extension
File version: 1.1.10.3420
Product name: NGSA Connect Plugin
Product version: develop-05effa4c846a682c8779df3f9c74e36b70d4afca-20181128-140931
Copyright: Copyright Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG 2018
Size: 42,8 KB (43.880 bytes)
Modification date: 2018-12-14 10:45
Language: Neutral Language
Original file name: Avira.SafeShopping.ConnectPlugin.dll
MD5: a906c9c5a31bf9cac08970d5b7ae3683
SHA1: c1de963ab14b8a2720db48634023f2b6529b566f
SHA-256: c7fd1998eb6648eae7144a1c1fc97ab78ef5f7b665cdc7a3bd017c0c2a1e5c9e

and this "NGSA", I hope it's not NSA (National Security Agency), like National Global Security Agency=NGSA...

 

@marcuskng , @Cmhelper,
Any comments?

 

same here - showed up on my machine as well. not cool.

 

Disable Safe Shopping with the old trick:
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Safe Shopping Session Service.exe" /v "Debugger" /d "NUL"

 

Avira Console (aka Avira Launcher) version 1.2.126.28786 released today.

https://www.avira.com/en/download/product/avira-antivirus-pro

 

Thank you very much for your confirmation!



I'm also seeing on reddit, that this Safe Shopping Session Service.exe is causing massive problems with web browsers:
https://www.reddit.com/comments/adr9wj
https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/adj1so/avira_makes_chrome_slowlaggy/
https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/ad4y5y/chrome_freezes_every_2_seconds_would_really/
https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/ach4di/help_chrome_constantly_freezing_unfreezing/
https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/adt62r/psa_if_youre_experiencing_huge_lags_on_chrome/
https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/ad8qh4/psa_uninstall_avira_safe_shopping_bollox_from_the/
https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/adie6c/chrome_lagging_to_the_point_its_unusable/
https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/adgtjz/chrome_freezes_every_5_seconds_for_510_seconds_im/

 

Wow, this is unbelievable. Avira really screwed up this time.

Yesterday my Avira Launcher also updated to version 1.2.126.28786.
Has this version fixed the "Safe Shopping Session Service.exe" bug?
Or is uninstalling Avira the safest choice at the moment?
Because all of the Safe Shopping Services are still located in the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\Launcher" folder.

 

They are working on a fix:

Bug in Avira Safe Shopping Plugin freezes Chrome, Avira Promises to fix the issue
January 8, 2019
https://techdows.com/2019/01/uninst...me-freezing-issues-google-also-said-this.html

 

What do you mean by "this time" ??

Since I used Avira years ago, one way or another they will find an opportunity to screw up things.

- replacing firewall with Windows Firewall
- implementing Avira launcher
- I remember something about browser...

Anyway, since BitDefender free, I trashed Avira paid for good (2 years left in subscription)

 

I was planning to buy Avira but that is a no no deal for me ..... what is still left in the market with all the complaining with almost every vendor....?

 

I was reading this positive review of Avira Pro:
https://www.cloudwards.net/avira-review/
Among the free features considered excellent by the reviewer is "Privacy Pal":

I wonder if anyone is using it, and whether it is worth installing...

 

i think it's been mentioned in this thread before. imo, it's useful for removing traces from browsers and other associated stuff.

 

a) Yes.
b) Yes.

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/avira.345492/page-209#post-2749598

 

Thanks, I didn't pay attention at the time, I'll give it a try now...