I’ll give the short gist it’s been a torn in my side lately but it concerns me not that I can safely say Avast was the culprit of my problems.
Recently I reinstalled windows 10 and avast. I must stay on one of the earliest versions of Windows 10 due to using a cable card for my cable tv. I inadvertently installed the entire suite of Avast. I test drove it. Found I liked some of the other features and decided why not give it a shot. Normally I only install Virus, Mail, Web. I blocked Windows Update service from running. Proceed to get the rest of the computer setup.
I wake up next morning and the PC’s has been updated. So I thought OK maybe I screwed up and forgot to disable Windows Update. During this time the HDD in my 2nd computer died I had to reload windows on it. Liking some of the new found features I reinstalled the OS on both computers. Reinstalled the Full Avast Suite. Disabled Windows Update. Went about my business the very next day I’m back on the latest version of Windows. Thinking WTF. I reloaded both computers last night from scratch again.
PC one I installed only Avast Mail, Virus, Web. Set the PC up disabled Windows Update Service.
PC Two I inadvertently installed the entire avast suite. Realized my mistake and instantly went to the control panel and uninstalled everything except Mail, Virus, Web. Disabled Windows Update Service
To my surprise this morning PC Two was updated again to the latest version of Windows 10.
Now that you have a short gist of the story. I have a few questions.
- Why is avast turning on services that the user has disabled?
- Why did the avast software continue to function in a capacity beyond what I authorized it to do?
I was intrigued by some of the features avast offered but now have some security concerns. I’d like to think I’m wrong but given the context of the what took place. I’d say the likely hood of my forgetting to disable the Windows Update Service this many time to be in probable. I also took great care in ensuring the Service stayed disabled by having the services.msc window open at all times to ensure I was not losing my mind.
Prior to responding please understand I draw my conclusion as Avast being the culprit by sheer process of elimination, random one time change during Avast Installation. Subsequent verification of my process being the exact same outside of Avast. I’m open to other suggestions as a possibility with in the realm of reason.
Thanks
Steve E.