system
1
Today I updated Avast Free through the program. After the required reboot I was thoroughly pissed off to see that I was getting DropBox as well. There may well have been an opt-out after the reboot, but I should NOT need to sit through a reboot to catch it. And believe me, a reboot on my tired old Vista machine is a long painful process.
If anyone at Avast is listening, at least have the decency to offer the opt-out during the initial installation phase, not after the reboot. The current situation is unconscionable.
system
4
+1
But don’t hold your breath, we commercial product users get the same crap hoisted upon us as well. If Avast Senior Management no longer care about their paid customers then I feel sorry for you free guys, you’ll be waiting forever for a change in these spammer tactics by the Avast Marketing Militants ;D
Eddy
5
I should be opt-in, not opt-out.
Many people don’t pay attention when installing/updating something (they should, I know).
system
6
+4
A new installation has clear opt-out possibility.
But, as Paul_D observed, when updating from GUI and it occurs after reboot, it’s hard or impossible to catch. Unless you have another way, a firewall or HIPS, to alert that the offer wants to install.
system
7
I agree with all of you, however the best way to install any product is to do a Custom Install and read what you are installing before you click. This way you avoid things you do not want like add-on’s, toolbars, etc. Always do Custom Installs and read before you click.
system
8
But this is NOT an installation, it is an UPDATE through the GUI …
system
9
I also updated throuigh GUI and had to opt out of installing Google toolbar. Updating Avast Pro 
system
10
I am fully aware of all that and practice it religiously, as my original post indicated. And as AdrianH says, this is not an installation, but a (should be) routine update.
I have an aging Vista machine (overdue for replacement) and I load quite a bit at startup. Reboots can take up to five minutes. Yes, I know it’s my choice, but that doesn’t alter the fact that Avast’s behaviour in this instance is unconscionable
jvidal
11
I always update using the installer, that way I can opt out of the unwanted crap…NEVER through the GUI as you [i]will[i] get unwanted junk installed
jvidal
13
Yeah, I know, but it’s a workaround.