Why do you assume we want to use something and don’t give us the option to disable it…
I know the state of every software on my computer, and I don’t want these pop-ups warning me about it.
Is there any way to disable it completely? (I know I can stop it, but it goes back to active on every reboot)
Thanks.
Why do you assume we want to use something and don't give us the option to disable it...controlpanel > ad remove programs > avast > uninstall > change ...... uninstall the modules you dont want ;)
Thank you.
Though it would be a LOT more intuitive to have an option to disable it on the UI. I don’t usually go to Uninstall to remove/disable some minor feature…
I don't usually go to Uninstall to remove/disable some [b]minor feature[/b]...from your first post it did not sound like a minor issue ;D
Listen up, avast: The discontent you see here is nothing compared to the thousands of users who aren’t savvy enough to find this forum, let alone comb through it to find these (rather well-hidden) steps to disable this mostly-unwanted feature. I guarantee you those thousands are now simply planning to switch to another product at the end of their current subscription cycle, rather than tolerate a pop-up at every logon or research how to turn it off.
You should have learned from the demise of other AV products that decided to be perpetually intrusive: McAfee and Norton, once the grand dames of the industry, are now despised by virtually everyone for this very reason. I firmly believe that most of your current user base is people who came to avast as a REFUGE from obnoxious features like this. And I guarantee you will LOSE your precious market dominance within a year if you don’t take PROACTIVE steps to detoxify the damage it has already done.
The feature needs to be disabled by default (at any install or update), and you should do this quickly. I bought my son a new PC yesterday night and was planning to buy avast for him when it arrives. Now I probably won’t, because even though I know how to avoid the annoyance, I have no confidence that you won’t dream up another.
Producing software that intrudes unnecessarily is the expressway to failure. Ignore this at your peril.
I have a similar point to make to that of Mark99. I updated my Avast Pro from 7 to 8 and am now pestered every two to three days with a a screen to install Adobe Air (which is claimed to be something to do with security). There are only options to install or remind me later. Why in the name of all that is holy can they not put an option to disregard it completely? I have not found anything to explain the relevance of this to my virus protection and I have no intention of installing it until there is a clear reason to do so. The technical support that I have emailed about this have not responded. I do not mind being reminded of updated versions of Avast but I object to being nagged in this way. Has anyone found a a way round this? Am I the only one steamed up about this?
With all due respect it’s just not that difficult to choose a custom install.
Any software I install is done via a custom install. That way it is I
who chooses what is or isn’t installed. 8)
More than this, I can’t understand (deeply) why do you not like this feature… I love it… Specially set it as automatic in my mother computer 
Add my name to this list of unhappy Avast users saddled with something I don’t want and have not been given a way to DISABLE in the Settings options.
Please remove this feature or give us a way to DISABLE it.
That will be in the next program update (don’t ask when as an avast user I don’t know), until then follow the instructions on the first reply of this topic.
Upgraded from 7, NO “custom” install choice, avast installed software updater and other things I didn’t want!!
Fortunately after some time browsing the net, found a way to get rid of the not wanted modules (windows->control panel->add or remove programs->“avast” change/remove->Change & next). Idiotic that one can’t stop/disable e.g. software updater from the program itself. I can stop any shield permanently from the UI, why not software updater? (it restarts after every reboot)
If somebody wants to check for program updates, I recommend: SUMo.
I just logged into to say, of all the years of yous Avast this new “Feature” is the most aggravating thing I’ve ever seen from this program. I’m now looking around for an alternative AV.
There seems also a place in the settings to click an option to “stop” but in the next few hours the damn thing comes back asking again to update “Air” anyways. WTF!?
For any who might say I should have chosen “custom install”, I did a custom install, this new "Feature came in an update after the fact and added itself automatically without an option to chose what was or was not installed.
Now I’m in the Manage Programs ready to delete this supposed " Module" I NEVER asked for. Here’s another problem, there’s just one “Software Updater” listed, it does not indicate if it’s the updater for AVAST itself or if it’s the one nagging me about the third party programs like Air and Flash.
Who ever in Marketing put this on the Lead Engineer to have this feature made is not our friend. Stop it.
Edit to add.
Now that I’ve uninstalled via (windows->control panel->add or remove programs->“avast” change/remove->Change & next) “Software Updater” Windows is now saying Avast may have been uninstalled incorrectly. %$#@! Now I’m wondering if this Stupid software is even protecting the PC anymore because you can’t have things up in the air like this on the software protecting your PC.
Read the first reply that shows how to remove it completely.
Thanks for the reply. I did as the first reply indicated and now Windows thinks it might not have been uninstalled correctly now. It seems the Avast selective uninstaller doesn’t work right.
I’ve been down this road to many times on Windows PCs, next thing you know you’ve spent and entire weekend debugging stupid software for someone. I can’t do that. If it doesn’t work right AVAST can fix it or stuff it.
If you happen to cancel or stop the process windows can come up with the not installed correctly message. I get it frequently when starting the change/remove process to capture images and then cancel, but I tell it it has and that has never been a problem.
Edit: I have just used that on my XP system to remove the software updater and on successful update, I get the standard Restart to complete the changes. So I’m not sure why you experienced a problem.
I have a simple resolution that should work temporarily. Go to the software update page and for each program that it is monitoring click on “more details” then in the drop down select “ignore program” . It will no longer monitor these programs and the change persists.
Welp, I didn’t cancel or stop the process, as is SOP I let it do it’s thing. Kind of sad to see that Windows alert pop up afterward.
The SITREP now is that I’ve completely uninstalled then re-installed custom again. Hopefully no updates return that nag popup. Thanks for putting up with my rant. I’ve dealt with a lot of weirdness over the years but it’s usually from graphics software the AV.
Now I’m off to see if I have time to finish another thing I was supposed to be doing…I got up early to test some graphic files for a friend and squandered my time on this instead.
Edit.
@ jwa, thanks for the added input. I didn’t see that option going through it. I’ll go back and look for that if it persists again. Thanks.
Nortonitus setting in eh?
Instead of adding more bloat and rubbish the majority of people don’t want why don’t avast concentrate on making a more streamlined and better product?
Adding this crappy software updater and then deliberately hiding the method to get rid of it has lost avast many friends.
And you by a fact know that majority of 180 million users hate Software Updater? I’m an advanced user and i like it…
I like the idea but the implementation requires a bit of work. A lot of times the update list is simply not current for days on end, kinda defeating the purpose of having the updater in the first place especially for time sensitive security patches. Example being when Java update 17 was released, Avast still listed update 15 as the most current version for days. I also seen the same thing happen with Chrome and flash.
It shouldn’t be that hard, there are a couple of RSS feeds which exist to notify people of security updates. If you don’t use RSS feeds, Oracle and Adobe have specific emailing list that email you whenever there is a patch.