right v4 was fine.
But when you see what avast do against others : https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/
maybe it’s time to change for better protection and free too (without advices too…)
Complaining is a right of a customer (a user in this case). And no user can be made to work as a developer. On the other side, if developers want to make their software the most popular, they have to be more responsive to users’ complaints.
As for me, I don’t understand why the developers chose such a really childish look for the new version. Flying shields and folders over the mountains - why mountains and why the icons fly up over them? Next, why the main screen is brightly white? Why are the fonts so small and thin? A large white sheet with unreadable words on it - that’s the main screen now.
And more, what is the Applications permissions page for? When I opened it, I saw just an unclickable list of my applications. And what should I do with it? To look at and read it?
Next, I am a man who wants to be informed of the security status of my device. In version 4 I was informed through notifications that AMS is checking all new versions and applications. Version 5 tells me nothing and I’m not sure if it functions at all: all the notifications are hidden.
Finally, why AMS says that the permission to install apps from third-party sources is a security issue? This option is always off by default but usually on by users. Google Play isn’t the single source of applications. Users have already been informed by Google when they turned this option on. Why should Avast remind me about it again and again?
George that’s an excellent post with well made points.
Like many, I am really surprised with what Avast have done to the Android app. Must have been one of the owners’ kid’s school project I think. I can only assume that a paid version must be coming and this app wrapper with no protection will soon allow our devices to become infected and we will have no option but to pay for the app that actually protects like the previous versions did. That shiny new headquarters has to be paid for I guess. 
Anyway… does anyone know if the new Android app actually has any resident protection like it used to? Also is there a log we can view to see what it actually does? No firewall now is very scary. Removing that must have come from very high up (the accountant or CFO perhaps) or someone who understands very little about device protection. No one who has put years and years into securing our devices would ever choose to remove that.
So, what should we do now? Do we need another app to protect our phones etc?
Avast version 4 looks good! Why did I trust Avast and change to version 5? It’s quite embarrassing really. Google Play had no images of the new GUI when version 5 first became available so those of us who updated as normal had no idea of the scam Avast had pulled until we realised our reliable AV app was no more. 
There used to be a great AV app from Avast that was discontinued after version 4 apparently. It was called Avast Mobile Security. If you can track it down and find it, have a good look, as it was a perfect EXAMPLE of what a good Android AV app could be! I would love to see something like this become available again.
Hi guys, for AMS 4, see: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?msg=1285354
Is there some place the that the previous version’s apk might be downloaded? I really want to put avast back on but there is no way I am putting that current cartoon version back on.
Thanks for any help in advance.
Hi,
I can email you the link if you want.
Filip
Would it not have made more sense to use that line pasting the link? Is that some sort of rules violation. Wouldn’t avast have a link? Last question Should I have started with thank you.
Hi,
I can’t get a confirmation whether the link is truly public and I can post it here or if it’s just upon request.
Filip
A simple Google search came up with several sites where you can get the apk from.
One of them is this : http://www.apk4fun.com/apk/80945/
I don’t know that website and can’t tell if it is trusted.
So if you gonna download and use that apk, it is at your own risk.
I got the update notification this morning - whilst I did think of not updating - I went ahead to see what all the noise was about.
The UI certainly doesn’t portray a serious security based application, it reminded me of the Telly Tubbies (childrens TV) or the old Windows screen, but both of those has more rolling hills than these pointy mountains.
It isn’t a good look, its awful only saving grace I suppose is I don’t live on my phone or the avast interface, but when allied with dropping the firewall makes this a serious issue. Personally if the firewall wasn’t ready, why the hell release what is now an incomplete security application.
sorry to contradict you, but this simply isn’t true. The new version isn’t to use, in fact it’s impossible to use due to the fact that it crashes non-stop. I literally cannot do anything without the app crashing. Scanning is impossible, manually updating is impossible, even just having the interface on for more than a few seconds is impossible. Also, the interface is anything but easy to use. What I want to see during a scan is a proper progress bar, the names of the apps and files currently being scanned and a regularly updated list of problems found, not colorful cogs and shields flying over a green field. I also heard rumours about ads. I specifically removed all apps from my device due to the insupportable frequency of ads for romanian scam- and virus sites. Provided the crashi issue is fixed, the moment I see another “gdataro” ad in an antivirus app, I will be deleting it without second thought.
there’s another issue. Reverting to the previous version is not going to work. Apparently it’s no longer supported. I kept getting an error message saying “recovering your subscription failed”. So new version, old version, doesn’t matter now, because avast simply ISN’T GOING TO PROTECT YOU ANYMORE.
@Eddy, just wanted to say thanks for the link. It really helped.
The problem I was having was firewall related. There were certain apps that I choose when to enable wifi access. Due to the removal in this new version I had no way of enabling said access. So, once again thanks for the link.
To Avast! I will not be updating until you all make a real antivirus. This new “thing” is a very poor and inferior copy of something I liked…
I appreciate the effort to try something new, but I think you all went about it in the wrong way. We should have been notified about the drastic changes. The look is not the real issue, functionality is. I hope you guys can get it right.
You know all of this feels eerily familiar. This whole thing reeks of Google. Is there any chance they bought Avast while I wasn’t looking?
You never know… :o
How much time do you suppose it will take for me to get used to advertisements popping up in your app? I had paid for this product. Now it’s become an advertising platform for you. I can tolerate a lot, developers trying out a new look is not a crime, but hijacking my network bandwidth and taking up my time with your advertisements for other products is just not friendly or respectable.
At least my old version worked!!! Now it won’t even run a scan!!! >:(
Hi,
can you send me a PM with the email address you purchased the license to? I’ve been told all users were notified yesterday. I could check what happened to your email. Are you sure it’s not in your spam folder?
Filip