Avast installed their own web browser without permission

rezerekted

rezerekted

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Apr 6, 2015
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Last night my firewall alerted me to Avast wanting give internet access to an exe file which I thought was an update of some kind for the AV software, turns out they installed their own Chrome based browser called Avast SafeZone Browser. This would have installed silently without my permission if my firewall didn't alert me. WTF?
 
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Hmm, thanks for the heads-up. I seriously will look into this. If Avast are abusing their permissions, than goodbye in not dealing with them anymore.
 
Ok so I just would like to say they ARE doing exactly this. I woke up to find Avast safezone's shortcut on my desktop, removed it, and called them up on the phone to b**ch them out. My suggestion would be for more people to do the same (866)-951-7679. They need to realize this is a problem. Instead of blocking unwanted software they go ahead and add it? They could have offered it instead rather than just going ahead and installing it....

Before today I would have recommended Avast (with settings all tweaked to highest otherwise it's junk) but now I'm seriously debating on finding something else. The rep I spoke with tried to tell me safezone was installed with Avast (somehow they seemed to think I installed Avast while I slept?) which drew out my frustration even more... I ended up cussing him out telling him I'm getting a new antivirus, and hanging up the phone. At this point I'm not sure what to do as I don't exactly have another choice of AV. Avast tweaked out has done well for me for years. I can't remember the last time I had any kind of virus get through. My fear is that if I switch to some other AV it may let something through and have me in an even worse predicament... Sooooo... I guess I have to test some others out on my laptop or somethin. Any suggestions on which to try? MSE any good?
 
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Yea, I checked the Avast forums and lots of complaints about it but it is removable in the Avast settings too so not a big deal to me. Just another browser to use if needed and it does have a more secure mode it switches to for banking, they say it detects banking sites and then switches to privacy mode automatically.

I read Bitdefender now has a free version and they are rated very high for AV, also read it is lighter on resources than Avast too. That is what I would switch to if switching.

Free Antivirus Software - Download Bitdefender Antivirus Free
 
What I giant pain avast caused me today. On top of the bloody browser installing itself without notice (yes I had it also). It decided League of Legends was suspicious and kept shutting it down, took me a couple hours to figure it out after reinstalling LOL 2 times (avast was in silent mode).

I'm done with it, been many, many years on avast and have many rigs, stations, laptops, phones.. Etc... Putting rigs on defender temporarily while I decide which AV to use.
 
Noticed this as well on two of my systems. Pretty crappy of them. Might have to re-think using their products.

This is the response from them on their facebook page to another user:

Very sorry about this, Matthew. SafeZone has been one of the key features of Avast premium versions for years. It is valuable for banking and shopping because it runs in its own sandbox and it shields against local and network-based attacks. We are offering it to a limited number of Avast Free Antivirus users to give it more exposure and gather feedback.

Thank you for telling is that you are unhappy with the way it was installed. We are working to fix that now.

If you would like to uninstall SafeZone Browser or any other Avast component, then please go to your Control panel > Programs & Features > Double click on Avast > Select Modify > Uncheck the box next to the component you want to remove > Next > Finish.
 
primetime said:
2 yrs now and nothing but defender.....not a single infection or even spyware for that matter
Click to expand...

Yea, but do you supplement it with Malwarebytes, etc.? I have a load of little apps for specific viruses but consider a main AV and Malwarebytes as basic must haves.
 
rezerekted said:
Yea, but do you supplement it with Malwarebytes, etc.? I have a load of little apps for specific viruses but consider a main AV and Malwarebytes as basic must haves.
Click to expand...
well yes "the free version"...but i swear mb has yet to find a single thing yet. I guess i run a scan every 90 days just to check...its always finds nothing:). Part of me thinks its all do to how we have our browsers set up with disconnect, addblocker, popup blocker and mix that with common sense...im no stranger to free streaming movies or ball games.

edit: a bit of a disclaimer...lol i dont frequent those "other sites" so if you do yea...a paid MB's is recommended in those cases
 
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I use the free version of MB too and it never finds anything either but has a couple of times in the past. I also have Spybot, SuperAntispyware, AdwareCleaner, CryptoPrevent, Malwarebytes Antirootkit, and a few other things like HijackThis, etc. You know, just in case. It is hard for me to pick up anything from porn sites because I have uBlock and noscript and Avast has browser protection too. It is the ads on porn sites that are usually the security risk. Spybot has the option to add thousands of bad sites to the Host file to block bad sites too, which I do use.
 
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I stopped allowing Avast program updates over a year ago because they install so much crap that is not easy to block with a granular HIPS.
It was tough work so I rolled back to an earlier version and stuck with it.
After this I've had enough, looking for another AV.
 
primetime said:
troll away bud..yea ok
Click to expand...
I didnt troll you, I pointed out a truth because you seem to be oblivious.
Considering the potential consequences, you shouldnt be childish.
Your data, your problem.
 
That SafeZoneBrowser says it automatically switches to sandbox mode when it detects a banking site. Well, it doesn't work with Canadian banking sites because I tested it on two chartered banks last night and it did nothing. It does have a button to force it to manually switch to sandbox mode though, which is good. Maybe I have to actually login before it switches?
 
rezerekted said:
Yea, I checked the Avast forums and lots of complaints about it but it is removable in the Avast settings too so not a big deal to me. Just another browser to use if needed and it does have a more secure mode it switches to for banking, they say it detects banking sites and then switches to privacy mode automatically.

I read Bitdefender now has a free version and they are rated very high for AV, also read it is lighter on resources than Avast too. That is what I would switch to if switching.

Free Antivirus Software - Download Bitdefender Antivirus Free
Click to expand...

I was about to install this but the terms/agreement says they use peer 2 peer to distribute patches and it uploads exes so they can scan them.
By agreeing to the tos you agree this will happen.
ffs.
I'm going to try AVG.
 
Oh, I didn't know that. I'm just staying with Avast myself but there is Avira and Panda to check out too, I've used both in the past and all the free ones have something you won't like.
 
I ended up going with Panda free.
Rated very highly, dead simple, doesnt piss me off.
Cool.
 
Until you decide to uninstall it. :)

Even months later after uninstalling and using their uninstall tool (maybe I used an outdated version of the tool by mistake) I was finding remnants of their software all over the place, Including an entry for their firewall in network connection even though the free version does not include the firewall.
 
The install looks neat, 2 root folders in progx86 and 2 in progdata.
5 executables running.
No firewall files or executables running here.

They do have a feature to monitor URLs for phishing if you choose to install it.
Perhaps it was related to that.
 
update

When booting windows, shortly after the desktop appeared I used to get around a 10 to 20 second pause where mouse clicks wouldnt take effect until after the pause.
After uninstalling Avast, this has gone, I can use my desktop immediately without any waiting.
Panda AV doesnt do this :)
 
Nenu said:
The install looks neat, 2 root folders in progx86 and 2 in progdata.
5 executables running.
No firewall files or executables running here.

They do have a feature to monitor URLs for phishing if you choose to install it.
Perhaps it was related to that.
Click to expand...

Look in your network properties where you find protocols like IPv4 etc., there should be one there that is related to Panda firewall even though there is no Panda firewall installed.
 
Curious, did you run CCleaner to see if the entiry(ies) get removed, or does it just become accumulated junk in the registry?
 
rezerekted said:
Look in your network properties where you find protocols like IPv4 etc., there should be one there that is related to Panda firewall even though there is no Panda firewall installed.
Click to expand...
Yes I explained that.
Its a filter that allows them to verify URLs are safe. Part of the free versions operation.
There is no mention of firewall.
It says Network Activity Hook Server Lightweight Filter Driver.
 
Yakk said:
Curious, did you run CCleaner to see if the entiry(ies) get removed, or does it just become accumulated junk in the registry?
Click to expand...

CCleaner didn't find and remove them but I found another reg cleaner that did, loads of reg entries too.
 
Nenu said:
Yes I explained that.
Its a filter that allows them to verify URLs are safe. Part of the free versions operation.
There is no mention of firewall.
It says Network Activity Hook Server Lightweight Filter Driver.
Click to expand...

Yea, and when I researched that it said it was related to the Panda firewall, maybe they were wrong.
 
Nenu said:
update

When booting windows, shortly after the desktop appeared I used to get around a 10 to 20 second pause where mouse clicks wouldnt take effect until after the pause.
After uninstalling Avast, this has gone, I can use my desktop immediately without any waiting.
Panda AV doesnt do this :)
Click to expand...
Actually I believe that stall is from the boxes for root-kit scan at startup and raw disk access during boot-time scan, first 2 checkboxes in troubleshooting. I leave them checked since I would rather have to wait a few secs longer to start the comp than have some nasty virus go right to whatever it wants to before avast starts.
 
I ran Avast for years before switching to 8 and now 10 (which both includes AV) and was always very happy with it's ability. It's still the AV I would use if I switched to a third party solution.

Regarding the crud, Avast has always had a lot of crud but you could always do a custom install and uncheck everything you don't want (which is pretty standard now days for free software).

Looking into this it appears that Avast Safe Browser is an optional component that you can choose not to install. Are people saying they did a custom install, unchecked the software, but later saw it installed?

If that's true, it sounds like people are probably using a component or clicking on the browser link within the tool menu and since it's missing the AV installs the browser to activate that feature. Avast needs to correct this 'bug'.
 
I haven't used any AV programs in years, but this would certainly make me uninstall one. It is irrelevant that it's easy and clean to uninstall. I don't like anything installing programs without letting me know and without my permission. Dumbasses.
 
bigdogchris said:
I ran Avast for years before switching to 8 and now 10 (which both includes AV) and was always very happy with it's ability. It's still the AV I would use if I switched to a third party solution.

Regarding the crud, Avast has always had a lot of crud but you could always do a custom install and uncheck everything you don't want (which is pretty standard now days for free software).

Looking into this it appears that Avast Safe Browser is an optional component that you can choose not to install. Are people saying they did a custom install, unchecked the software, but later saw it installed?

If that's true, it sounds like people are probably using a component or clicking on the browser link within the tool menu and since it's missing the AV installs the browser to activate that feature. Avast needs to correct this 'bug'.
Click to expand...

No, Avast was already installed on my PC and it auto installed the browser. It's OK though, I am actually using it to make online purchases anyway.
 
Thanks for posting, I didn't notice this.... but it did install on my PC as well. Removed and uninstalled the whole thing, will try something else as I no longer trust Avast.
 
I personally haven't used Avast, CCleaner, AVG and a few other things for many years now.

Use a few things these days with Win10, and have no problems, too many people still want to run old OS's.

Redstone is getting better, might actually start using Edge soon really.
 
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