OK, this issue has me beat. I have a paid, legal copy of Avast professional 4.8. Last week it alerted me to a potential virus on opening a site page. I quickly got out, did a scan, all OK. NOW! I am getting the red and yellow box alert that my copy is a pirate, [ B*ll S**t] Just to be sure it was crap, I down loaded upgrades - no problem. Still get this box and I simple X it off until about 12 hours later and there it is again. To be absolutly sure I wasn’t dreaming, I re-entered my serial code - all OK
but still this box keeps popping up telling me I have a pirated copy of avast. I’m convinced I downloaded a piece of virus code that avast can’t identify that stuffed up one of it’s files. Short of dumping Avast and reloading it blah blaqh blah - has anyone encountered this thing before ? It is annoying but has no effect on upgrades of program, virus files or anything else. Detection, scan and removal of virus still functions like always.
If my memory serves me right v4.8 is no longer supported.
I suggest you update to the latest version using a clean install.
Download and save the version you desire.
http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/avast_internet_security_setup.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup.exe
Download and save http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility
Run the uninstall utility then install the latest version v8.0.1483 then reboot. 
Version 4 VPS updates are still being offered. http://www.avast.com/download-update
Dropping support for Avast4.x has been mentioned at least for the past 2 years. However, only Avast has the answer as to when the hammer will fall.
I agree that jackolan should update to the latest version if his OS will support it. He should be able to also upgrade his license to the new version for the remainder of the term.
I wish they have already dropped it.
It was blocking some improvements in the virus definitions database of superior versions…
What is it blocking ?
Nothing really as the avast 4.8 update stream if separate and different to that of avast 5/6/7/8.
What it is doing is taking up avast resources and manpower still having an avast 4.8 update stream.
It was my understanding that v4.8 was no longer supported at the end of last year (2012). ???
No still hanging on by a thread.
I noticed! You’d think that having 4.8 around the update servers must be working overtime. :
You’ll have to ask Igor.
As far I remember, the technology behind the new virus definitions can accelerate scanning and reduce size (readings of the disk).
But this is being blocked because of the opened 4.8 stream.
It can’t be the virus definitions differ from one to the other because of the differences in A) how the definitions are handled and B) the fact that avast can’t do some of the things that avast 8 can, behavior shield, autosandbox, etc. So there is little point in them being included in 4.8, but that is no reason why they wouldn’t be in the other virus definitions stream.
That is why I believe the VPS streams split in the first place.
If you have time, search for Igor’s answers about this. I know there are some imposed limitations to upper versions due to the fact of 4.8 is still alive.
I can’t remember a post of that nature, it doesn’t seem logical that virus definitions can’t be applied because of the limitations of avast 4.8 when there are different virus definition streams.
Yes, there have been topics that relate to features in later versions not being available to earlier OSes, but I haven’t heard that in relation to virus definitions.
Well… we can’t remember everything ;D