Hello!
I am using avast 2014 free and am happy with it, but I see they now have made a new one, the 2015.
I am wondering if they will do another forced update on it, as they have done a few times in the past? When does this usually happen? Im asking because a lot of people seem to be experiencing freezes and hangs with 2015. Has this been fixed?
Also this new home network security thing, what is it and can it be disabled? Will it mess up my ISPs stuff?
Thanks for any and all replies.
All you ever wanted to know about the New Avast Home Network Security San:
https://blog.avast.com/2014/11/04/avast-2015-new-feature-home-network-security-scanning/
It doesn’t change things but makes you aware of possible insecurities and shows you how to fix them. 
Bing, I am in same boat as you…very conservative to jump blindly into new version of A/V release.
I’ve been using Avast for many, many years and each Fall the new “release” is always buggy…but after couple releases of code it stabilizes…usually around March following year. The only thing you can do is to read these Forums and see how the releases progress and what is fixed, etc. On all but one of my PCs I’m running 2014.9.0.2021 …which Avast has said they do/will support…ie, no forced update. However, that usually changes over time…I’m guessing by time we approach Fall 2015 for Avast 2016 release. For me, I don’t have the time to “debug” or be impacted by the new release’s early code glitches…so, I personally make the decision to be six months behind the curve…call it leading edge instead of bleeding edge.
Also, you may not have the luxury but I have a PC that we rarely use for much and I load the latest Avast on to use as test bench.
Hmm thank you. So it does not do anything to the network without me running a network scan?
It seems they have changed the scan modes as well? Are The simpe fast and full virus scan (without any grimefighter or network stuff) still in there?
I have been burned by this before too and I am on the same version as you are. Glad to hear they will still support it, I am not the best on pcs so troubleshooting avast is difficult to say the least.
For me I’m an x-IT guy…also I ran software development group at large company.
Thus, I only use Avast FREE and just the Shields.
So, when I install I go to CUSTOM and uncheck every item in Tools and only have Shields & Language checked.
Again, this is my personal choice…and I’m VERY glad Avast is smart enough to put the new stuff in “Tools” and also for those who want extra function/features to pay for. So, for "me’…as example, there are alternatives to GrimeFighter that are not as intrusive and have much better history…ie, CCLeaner. Also, for the Network feature it really comes down to your Router and how good it is and how you set it up. I think Avast is obviously catering to the masses that just buy something, plug it in, run the wizard and done. If you take the time to config your router (go to that vendor’s Forum) you can do all the things (and more) that Avast’s network tool is doing.
So, for me…I don’t like these “push button” tools because I’ve found they can break more than they can fix.
Same way in A/Vs…just look at the crazy folks who use PCMatic or some of those other online/adverstised ones.
Like everything in life, it really comes down to where you spend your time. I’ve found some reading on Forums can save you a nightmare of impact on your PCs. Heck, I don’t even install MS Updates or iTunes until I google search and see. Just last November Microsoft borked some of those updates…and even Avast had an incompability. There is leading edge and bleeding edge…I fall on the former…to me “stability” is more important than the very latest/greatest.
As far as SCANs…they are there…just go into FULL scan and “Schedule” it for early morning before you wake up.
Depending on your PC it can be 30 minutes to an hour…I have it set to run daily.
If you look my signature I use OpenDNS to filter/protect my internet at home…best $19 a year…even Free if you don’t want to tweak. It protects the whole family because your are just using their DNS servers and it apply your account rules to it…ie, nothing to change on your PCs…just the DNS address in router. I have Avast FREE Shields with daily scan as you saw, and MalwareBytes Pro (active version) with daily scans (not same time as Avast). Active Avast & MBAM work fine together…one covers what the other does not. I combine this with a good router with configs I got online from my vendors Forum. All this is inexpensive and fairly easy to maintain. Others will tell you about other items they use for adware, software firewalls (I just use Windows default) but while all those are great as you layer then the complexity of maintaining go up expotentially. Thus, you have to balance your time vs protection.
I also use Mbam. Saved me a couple of times.
So if I understand you correctly, it will not scan my network unless asked to and normal virusscans are still in there like in 2014? Not just this “smartscan” nonsense?
Also I tend to just install over the existing version when updating, dont know if that makes a difference?(ie no network scan?)
If Avast alters network settings it is a major hassle for me to get it right again…
Yes, the normal scans are the same…I agree on the Smart Scan stuff.
However, if you just disable that Network stuff in the installer you don’t have to worry about it.
You can get rid of GrimeFighter and all the items you don’t want even as part of the “custom” install…whether “used” or not.
Also, doing “over the top” updates is never ideal…take a look at my signature on clean un-re-install How-To thread.
It really does not take that long and it a MUCH more solid install that just over the top update.
I see.
Thank you so much for a very clear and precise answer!
And for having the patience to put up with a newbie 
No problem…Avast is just like any other A/V or software package…some crud mixed in with the good.
On A/V side, Avast IMHO is heads above the others and there is SO much MORE crud in the others…or less features.
Avast Team has nice balance of pushing new items but allowing configurability to what you want and don’t want.
Some of the “simpler” A/Vs are so watered down you really have no protection but people love them since simple.
Some of the others are SO bloatware and there is no way to strip out the crud.
Avast offers a good mix and basically the reason I’ve been with them so long.
My only true complaint is their Fall Releases of new version is consistently too buggy for my tastes.
All of us at one time were newbies.
After several months of ignoring/dismissing the nag to upgrade from Pro 2014 to Pro 2015, yesterday afternoon my daughter reported that “Avast! suddenly began downloading and installing the upgrade w/o permission”. Or at least that’s what she tells me. The upgrade WAS indeed installed; whether she did or didn’t approve the installation cannot be determined with any degree of certainty.
Given that my daughter was playing a game at the time, and that most of her games require furious clicking all over the screen, I think it’s more likely that the nag popped up unexpectedly and she hit the GO button accidentally w/o noticing what was happening until the download had already begun.
But it is POSSIBLE that my daughter did NOT give the upgrade permission to proceed. So I decided to post a cautionary note in this topic just in case the upgrade really WAS “forced” on her (as the OP feared it might be).
Since the forum is full or rumors of yet another impending upgrade in the near term, I have as a precaution changed the upgrade mode from “Ask” to “Manual”. Hopefully that will eliminate both the risk of an unintended upgrade and those annoying nags. We shall see…
Unfortunately, this does not matter…there have been other threads and while Avast has never commented every Super Moderator/Poster here says Avast feels they have the right to push the new install whether you like it or not…so in other words the “Ask” or “Manual” setting means absolutely nothing. This is VERY sore subject for me and I’m furious Avast would do this. No other software makes that decision…not even MS. Avast will do this EVEN on the previous versions (eg. Avast 9/2014 build 9.0.2012) they have formally said they support…so the “excuse” of you need to be on the newest does not fly with me. My concern (proven out many times) is the 'Fall" releases of Avast software are WAY too buggy for me so I wait because stability of my PC is more important than the bleeding edge protection…that is why I choose the “Manual”. I do agree if they have a Emergency Update that they push this and reboot if needed…but in the above cases they do upgrade and forced reboot with no emergency need. My concern ?..just look at all threads where this borked people’s machine…many were not Avast’s fault…but there are many that are. The proper way, IMHO, to do this is determine when you want to take the plung and do a CLEAN un-re-install (see my signature for How-To). Why ?..many of the issues people see have come from these “over the top upgrades”.
Bottom line, Avast does not care…I think their Mktg guys are more interested in getting their #s than the possible impact to people’s PCs. Their decision to do this contradicts what they say by combination of stating what versions they support, inclusion of “Ask”/“Manual” option, etc…but yet will force an update on your machine and reboot regardless. Now your daughter may have hit the upgrade button but be for-warned…Avast will upgrade your machine & reboot no matter what your settings are if/when they choose to do so…just a matter of time. :-[
Setting program updates to manual and having the latest build of any major version should be safe enough. I cannot promise that you will never get migrated but so far we have been consistent in this regard.
I think I understand both sides of the assertion.
What I have on my PC is personal and my domain, I want to be in control of that domain.
Having said that, I personally wouldn’t want, as a developer of software or otherwise, folks running around with my older, less technologically advanced product, potentially causing infection rates to go up, detection rate to go down and therefor users trust in my product.
If one is not using the most up to date/effective technology available by a software developer in it’s latest versions and an infection is acquired, who will be blamed?
It’s a conundrum. :-\
It really shouldn’t be a conundrum. We are talking about the product that protects your computer, not a game you’re playing.
Updates to Avast include updates in the protection it offers.
If you don’t want to keep the software that keeps you safe updated, the you really don’t value your security etc. :o
I am with schmidthouse and bob3160 on this one. Why don’t update to the latest version of any antivirus when it says that an update is available and the user clicks some other options such as “No” or “Ask me later” or etc? Updates include the latest bug fixes, fixes issues, and most importantly improves the overall program and it’s protection. I have my avast set on “Ask when an update is available” so when it notifies me that an update is available I save my work that I am doing and I immediately update it. The way I see it personally and it’s my own opinion is that if avast users doesn’t upgrade to the latest version for a long time/months it should be forced update to the latest version. We have our own personal data and stuffs that needs to be kept private and we certainly don’t want it to go to the wrong hands by hackers and our computer compromised with malware.
I was hoping this was true but it does not appear to be…this happens every so often to folks…and frankly not sure why…it did to me months ago on two PCs out of six at home that all six were running “latest build major release (9.0.2021)”.
Luckily one machine was OK and now using as “test” machine for 2015…the other because it installed NG was almost un-usable…and for some reason hosed my internet connection (on all PCs) across the house/router. Once I uninstalled and put 2014 back on everything was fine.
I don’t disagree with the “philosophy” of what folks are saying but the issue/concern is the “state” of the new (call it Fall release) Avast software. Just look at the 2015 and 2014…both “Fall” releases were very buggy and some of the impact on users was not good…yes, many/most were fine but how do the few feel that machines were totally borked. So, the real question becomes “when” & “how”…not if…that is fine. To this regard, everyone will agree here that a CLEAN un-re-install is always better than and over-the-top. Also, if the user has no idea when this is going to happen there is sometimes no recourse for correction if something goes wrong. So personally I’m looking for some middle ground here…basically I’m asking for notice. Avast says they “officially” support some of the older versions…if that is true then they should honor the “Manual” or “Ask” selection and not “force” the upgrade for those. If (when) Avast is going to force then notify us those versions are no longer supported. Bottom line, give us some communication other than waking up one morning and seeing our PCs have rebooted with new program version of Avast and having “hoped” all went OK. I can think of several ways to communicate this to people…popup notification, stopping VBS updates on old versions (yes this can be done since Avast DOES know what version you are running), release notes in the new version…something/ANYTHING that allows me to manage my conversion. I don’t think it is too much to ask to formalize the process to notify the users of a hard cut-over deadline.
Bottom line is there is big difference in bleeding edge versus leading edge…but that definition as we talk about Avast & A/V is in the eye of the beholder…so we aren’t going agree…which is OK. Like you guys, I applaud Avast for pushing the envelope and especially allow all the Custom Install options…but just give us users notice on the “forced installs”. Whether all of us argue that a user should or shouldn’t be on the latest/greatest just provide the information/notice that could allow something that “could” negatively impact a person’s PC to be managed…not forced. If I’m given the notice and ignore then shame on me.
Anyway, my two cents.