Avira

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by JerryM, Apr 16, 2013.

  1. zedi

    zedi Registered Member

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    Yes, I'm seeing this bad behavior on systems with Avira Free Antivirus installed. Very bad behavior by Avira. Firewalls issued all sorts of alerts as they blocked transmissions.

    Avira was really looking good before this happened. Immediately uninstalled Avira on those systems and switched to different products. It's really too bad; before this happened, I was impressed with Avira's performance in recent years.
     
  2. anon

    anon Registered Member

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  3. Anonymous1

    Anonymous1 Registered Member

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    Yes.
    After uninstalling all that bloaty malware, which installed without my permission and authorization, I have now only Avira Antivirus and Avira at "Programs and Features" in Control Panel on Windows 7 64-bit.
    So, I'm sure.
    What's more, like I said, in past I had nearly same issue with "Safe Shopping Session Service".
    I posted it here - https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/avira.345492/page-216#post-2801443
    Before I was using Avira Antivirus Free, same thing today I'm still also using Avira Antivirus Free, but in future, I will probably not be using Avira software anymore, as Avira really getting on my nerves, becoming more and more malware thing, which it should protect us from, not became one itself.
    It's really sad, what Avira becomes more and more.

    Also, looks like there are similar reports about it here - https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/euwed1/avira_free_unautorized_installs/
     
  4. zedi

    zedi Registered Member

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    Yes, I'm sure as well.

    Avira Free Antivirus installed 4 new applications without user consent. The applications, plus their installers (and uninstallers), attempted to transmit data via the internet.

    Those new applications are:
    1. Avira Phantom VPN
    2. Avira Security
    3. Avira Software Updater
    4. Avira System Speedup
    I also noticed that, even after uninstalling all those forced-install bloatware apps, the Avira system tray executable attempted to transmit data every time the user clicked on it, as well as every time the user clicked on any of the main UI elements within Avira Free Antivirus.
     
  5. anon

    anon Registered Member

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    Most probably, both you have the Free Security Suite. Uninstall it (Avira Antivirus AND AVIRA Panel) and install the Free Antivirus from here =
    https://www.avira.com/en/free-antivirus

    Bear in mind that installers for Free Security Suite and Free Antivirus looks the same but the download links are different.
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2020
  6. Anonymous1

    Anonymous1 Registered Member

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    No, I have for sure only Avira Antivirus Free installed for very very long time, as I always download offline installers, if they're available, when I install any software.
    Later it added also "Avira" thing (that boaty control panel).
    So, I'm sure that I have Avira Antivirus Free installed, not other Avira product, like Avira Security Suite.
     
  7. anon

    anon Registered Member

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    ^ That one belongs to Free Security Suite. Why? Because you installed the AV via the offline installer first.
    As I said, uninstall all, then install the Avira free via the dedicated online installer.
     
  8. Brocke

    Brocke Registered Member

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    So the Avia free av doesn't have the luncher? Only the suite is that correct ?
     
  9. anon

    anon Registered Member

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    Nope. The Launcher is obligatory.
    The avira free online installer: installs the launcher and the avira free.
    The avira free security suite online installer: installs the launcher and the free security suite.
    The avira Pro online installer: installs the launcher and the AV Pro.
    etc.
     
  10. Anonymous1

    Anonymous1 Registered Member

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    I'm very sorry, but I don't understand you. Could you explain it, please?

    First you said that I'm having "Avira" which belongs to Avira Security Suite:
    Later you said that it's also installed with Avira Antivirus Free:
    What's more:
    https://www.avira.com/en/free-antivirus = avira_en_froe3_5e092ee308474__pavws.exe
    https://www.avira.com/en/free-security-suite = avira_en_fass0_5e092ee308474__pfsws.exe
    avira_en_froe3_5e092ee308474__pavws.exe = avira_en_fass0_5e092ee308474__pfsws.exe

    As both of these 2 files are identical (bit perfect) per:
    SHA256: 4FEF1A0825C5224EEBFED3DCC53FC5AFC5380208EB6AFC35FF5FE100F5AEB3A6
    SHA1: E0D6118BDB9A20E443BFDEEF8F3374F04FDC6DDA
    Only name is different.

    In past I installed only Avire Antivirus Free with offline installer, that time Avira Security Suite didn't even exist, so I kinda skeptical in your hypothesis, that I installed Avira Security Suite instead of Avire Antivirus Free.
     
  11. anon

    anon Registered Member

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    @Anonymous1 ,
    To make the long story short: My advice in #5605. You may follow it, you may not.
    Many thanks for your help, I'm done.
     
  12. Anonymous1

    Anonymous1 Registered Member

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    I didn't help at all, it was you who were trying to help me and zedi, but still thank you very much for this, I appreciate it very much and I will try your advice! :thumb:
    Maybe it will magically help... ;) but I kinda skeptical on it, as both online installers of Avira Antivirus Free and Avira Security Suite, are identical (bit perfect), only files names are different, but who knows, maybe file name makes difference for online installer on installing what to download and install.
     
  13. zedi

    zedi Registered Member

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    This is incorrect. Do you work for Avira? Please disclose your relationship with Avira in full.

    I definitely had Avira Free Antivirus installed, and not the Free Security Suite. I still have the original installer downloaded from https://www.avira.com/en/free-antivirus, and am willing to help by providing it or a checksum.

    Doing a little research, I now see that Avira has a history of installing unwanted software on people's systems without consent. This may be illegal in some jurisdictions.

    For example, see:
    https://support.avira.com/hc/en-us/...57-Avira-installing-Opera-without-my-consent-
    https://support.avira.com/hc/en-us/...ree-Security-Suite-install-the-Opera-browser-
    https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/euwed1/avira_free_unautorized_installs/
    https://www.tomsguide.com/us/avira-free-antivirus,review-2207.html
    https://support.avira.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360008843398-System-Speedup-and-Software-Updater
    https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/avira.345492/page-216#post-2801443

    Ironically, Avira has repeatedly warned people about Potentially Unwanted Programs, despite claiming that they are protecting people from them:
    https://blog.avira.com/potentially-unwanted-applications/
    https://blog.avira.com/potentially-unwanted-applications-2/
    https://blog.avira.com/potentially-unwanted-applications-3/

    The hypocrisy is notable.

    Upon looking at saved traffic logs, I see that Avira sometimes transmits data via port 80, which is generally used for non-encrypted data (as opposed to port 443, which is generally used for encrypted data).

    I also noticed that Avira transmits data to Google, Akamai, and Amazon servers. This is not necessarily a problem, since the definitions may be stored on cloud servers stored by one of those companies, but it is odd that it is transmitting data to servers owned by all three companies.

    Upon looking at saved traffic logs, I also see it transmits data each time the user simply clicks on main interface elements as well as many times after it completes an on-demand scan via the context menu in Windows Explorer.

    Avira makes a good antivirus tool, but unfortunately I have to conclude that they are willing to install unwanted software without the user's consent, and that this software may immediately transmit data without the user's consent. As such, I can no longer recommend Avira to anyone.

    I welcome a response from Avira by someone willing to acknowledge they represent that company. I am willing to work with them to improve their product and resolve these issues and this pattern of behavior. Simply respond to this thread with verifiable credentials.
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2020
  14. hayc59

    hayc59 Updates Team

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    I am gonna bet Avast bought it! an side bar good luck uninstalling Avira its a real pain *****
     
  15. anon

    anon Registered Member

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    No.
     
  16. anon

    anon Registered Member

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    I have to admit my mistake.

    From the Avira Free Security Suite for Windows web page, you can download the online installer for Avira Free Security Suite, which is normal.
    https://www.avira.com/en/free-security-suite

    But......
    From the Avira Free Antivirus web page, actually you are downloading the online installer for Avira Free Security Suite, which is totally misleading and unacceptable.
    https://www.avira.com/en/free-antivirus

    Avira tries to fools the users.
    Shame on you Avira.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jan 30, 2020
  17. popescu

    popescu Registered Member

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    "Shame"o_Oo_O

    We are at least 2-3 years past this point....
     
  18. zedi

    zedi Registered Member

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    Interesting. Does Avira currently offer a download for Avira Free Antivirus anywhere on their website that actually just installs the Avira Antivirus?
     
  19. anon

    anon Registered Member

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    https://install.avira-update.com/package/antivirus/win/en-us/avira_antivirus_en-us.exe
     
  20. zedi

    zedi Registered Member

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    Curious... Where did you find that link? Has Avira posted it anywhere on their official website stating that it is their free AntiVirus product for consumers (and is it just the Antivirus without all the undesired bloatware)? Are there any published hash values to verify the integrity of that file?

    According to internet records, that site is registered via RegistryGate. According to RegistryGate's whois server, all information about that domain has been redacted by the unknown owner. Not a great way for anyone to instill confidence!

    See: https://www.registrygate.com/en/whois/

    Looking at avira.com, it is also registered via RegistryGate, also with all information redacted. It's strange that a large international business would want to redact their name and contact information.

    After searching through the raw HTML on Avira's official website, I found one place that they link to a file with the same bit-by-bit contents as the file you mentioned.

    It's listed under "Avira Antivirus for Small Business". The source domain is different, but the file was identical (when I checked).

    Here is the link: https://www.avira.com/en/downloads#tab_a2_0

    Interestingly, the linked page states "Note: for the product installation both files – Antivirus and Exchange - must be downloaded. Antivirus includes Client and Server Security."

    So is it really "Avira Free Antivirus for Windows"? The file downloaded when you click on "Avira Free Antivirus for Windows" on Avira's website is very different.
     
  21. anon

    anon Registered Member

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  22. ance

    ance formerly: fmon

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    Hehe, anon ... :D
     
  23. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    I would stay away from this Avira garbage now they have basically became adware. Automatically installing other Avira tools that you don't even need shouldn't be acceptable.
     
  24. imdb

    imdb Registered Member

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  25. LocoSec

    LocoSec Registered Member

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    Hello together,

    Thank you for flagging this issue. First things first: we’re truly sorry for the inconvenience this has caused. We’ve detected a roll-out error which leads to additional programs being pushed to some existing AV users. As a matter of urgency, we are exploring the best ways to undo these changes. In the meantime, users have the option to uninstall these apps via the control panel.

    Best,

    Arthur Lukas Huptas
     
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