We recently updated our avast after getting hit with quite a bad trojan virus. To get our computer fixed we were directed to IYOGI support. It has been $169, three weeks, 6 phone calls, over 25 hours of having IYOGI take control of our computer and we still have problems. We are looking for help and don’t know where to turn. They keep telling us they fix the problem and the next time I open my home page (huffington post) a tab opens telling me my computer is horribly infected and I have to pay for and download software to fix it. We are wondering if IYOGI is a scam and they are actually putting viruses on our computer. Can we contact anyone directly at AVAST? Any suggestions?
Welcome to the forum greendogs.
Sorry to hear about your problems. Doing a simple Google search reveals that there appear to be
many others with similar nightmares.
According to the ad, the first 30 days of support are supposed to be free ???
Did you try the forum to solve your problem ??? We know it is free and more times than not,
very successful.
Well avast have been using iyogi on trial for a while as an alternative support method. There is nothing wrong with using either the support.avast.com site and submitting a support ticket. Or you can use the forums, ideally posting in the viruses and worms forum.
What do you mean by a tab opens (do you mean window or tab on your browser) ?
What browser are you using ?
I have just visited the hXXp://wXw.huffingtonpost.com/ site with firefox (I use NoScript and RequestPolicy add-ons, but did some selective acceptance to get things working) and no avast alerts nor any pop-up windows or tabs, so is that the URL you are having the problem with ?
Do you have this with any other URLs as it is strange only to have it on one site ?
There is a script tag on the source code (see image1) of the huff post home page that to me is a little suspect as the site has a bit of a poor rep, see http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/crwdcntrl.net and http://www.robtex.com/dns/crwdcntrl.net.html.
So I don’t know if this script tag is actually meant to be on the huff post home page, given it is redirecting to a tags sub-domain the tags. bit in front of the domain name. That is running the javascript file cc.js now I don’t know what that .js file does or if the tags is in any way related to tabs if it is trying to open a new tab I don’t know.
Can you post a small image of this tab that you are getting ?
According to the ads here http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download its supposed to be complety free no for 30 days as i seen nothing mention for 30 days only.
Mr.Agent
We have had the same issue…our lap top came loaded with the “free” AVAST and not because of a virus but because of the repeated warnings by AVAST that the “free” period was over…out of laziness…we just subscribed. CHarged twice on cc statement…a very long wasted day off (Saturday) was spent on the phone with AVAST…who eventually threw us to the wolves IYOGI for $169.99… (on top of the $59.?? by AVAST)to totally f up both our new lap top and our 1 yr old desk top…very frustrating and I am on a mission to inform as MANY people as I can so they don’t go through what we are GOING through. Right now I can’t even use my desk top…so much time wasted on the phone with horrible communication and passed on from one person to another. Sorry I don’t have any advice…I’m going to take both my laptop and my desktop to someone local WHO I TRUST…and probably pay the max for troubleshooting whatever CRAP IYOGI and AVAST has eroded me with. I feel RAPED. If I save one person from this nightmare…Merry CHRISTmas!
We can help you here with your problems with your machine if you give us a chance and we are free. Can you tell us in more detail what the problems are? Thank you.
Dear jjill,
Welcome to the forum and my apologies for your difficulty.
Please contact the CEO of Avast Vince Steckler. He is currently reviewing the service rendered by iYogi to avast! users.
and deserves a chance to intervene in this matter.
You can reach in by email at steckler(at)avast.com (replace the (at) with @ to make it a usable email address)
The 30 days you mentioned refer to the length of time you have to evaluate the product before registration is required.
The registration and program are free for home use.
If you have any other computer issues, all of us here are more than willing to help and as already mentioned, our services are always offered for free by users of this help forum.
Have a Merry Christmas and a great New Year.
(I have already sent an email to Mr Steckler alerting him to this post and I’m sure he’ll be looking for your email to him.)
We can fix any issues and better than other online computer repair service
Welcome to the forum d_man8888,
Would you care to explain and expand your initial remark so that possible issues you may have
with that service can be looked into ???
SPAM (and reported)
I too have had a horrible experience with iYogi and am disappointed in Avast as a result. I have sent an email to Steckler with the details with the hope that feedback re: iYogi will lead to some correction and elimination of hard sell, strong-arm tactics and incompetence, ineffective service.
When I contacted iYogi by phone I was told:
A. told by iYogi “support had expired.”
B. I needed to buy tech support to have problem(s)fixed as these “allowed viruses to enter machine, disable Avast and continue”
C. I asked:“it seems I have no choice then do I?” He said he would turn me over to the technician AFTER the transaction. I felt pressured to buy the service as this implied iYogi would not assist me then (or in the future) without a buying a subscription
The iYogi “fix" cost me $169.00 and left my system with additional problems!
In brief –
my system info
Desktop
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
X86-based PC Ver:5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
Hewlett-Packard /Model HP d530 CMT(PB134U)
I suspected a virus/malware had disabled my Avast program (& perhaps others)due to usual indications [but I had not made hardware/software]
could no longer update Avast (my paid antivirus)
could no longer update Microsoft
could no longer update Malwarebytes
running very slowly
Problems AFTER iYogi service:
1. After re-start - unable to reconnect with internet – hence
* could not update windows/Microsoft
*could not update Avast and other programs including Malwarebytes
2. I’ve consistently had a shut down problem:
* last initialed shut down (1/12) @ 3:30 am & had not shut down by 12:30 pm
& need to be shut down manually
+ manually = (i.e., turn off machine)
* error on screen:: “Windows shutting down” until manual shut down
3. Start and run not just very slow but slower than before the service
(the cache & temp files were cleared)
4. Pop-ups purportedly from Avast but never seen before
for $169 iYogi tech:
- cleared cache & temp files
- obtained my Avast license # & began downloading it from the website – I reminded him I had the disk – he asked me to insert and run it.
- downloaded & installed Malwarebytes - already on my system – & potentially compromised; he did not do a clean install
- told me “all registry errors were fixed automatically.”
I could have done steps 1-3 myself (and in fact did re-install Avast with my disk. (However, I would have done a clean install of both Avast & Malwarebytes)
Although I was finally able to fix the internet connection & acquire Microsoft updates,
the problems with shut down, an even slower start/run and pop-ups that began AFTER iYogi service persist.
I provided this info on a support ticket - however, now even more hours are required.
In the past I have recommended Avast! to others who have purchased it and now will
have to inform them of this incident - warning them of iYogi. Further, I will refrain from recommending or purchasing Avast to others unless this can be resolved.
lemotjuste,
You did the correct thing by emailing Mr. Steckler and he WILL be following up on this issue. In the future, I would recommend first that you come to the forum for support/help for Avast, and second put in a technical support ticket online since we are quick to respond here on the forum and available 24/7.
I have also been giving feedback to Mr. Steckler and there may be changes in the future when it comes to iYogi. Therefore please consider using Avast as you have in the past, but again come to the forum for support as your first choice. Thank you again for your feedback.
Thank you for your quick reply & encouragement!
My initial problem I could not find answer in the Avast forum and needed immediate assistance so contacted iYogi – won’t do it again even if it means driving back to the office at 3 am to work.
I have put in a technical support ticket online in addition to the email.
Since I have recommended Avast to colleagues & friends I feel a moral obligation to at least worn them about iYogi.
I believe when you receive a response back from Mr. Steckler you will be pleased to know how much he cares about Avast as the company and it’s users/customers, and does appreciate the feedback, and will take action on it. Although you want to warn them of iYogi, please let them know to contact the forum first for support. Thank you for continued use of Avast and please let us know if there is anything else we can do to assist you.
I am a reseller for Avast and have had two customers now who have had bad experiences with iYogi. I am appalled to hear one of them charged $250 for them to answer the question - “How do I schedule a scan with Avast?” The customer was asked to install iYogi’s remote control software, do a spyware scan and other things. In the end, they never did actually answer the customer’s question. This is extortion and a scam in my opinion. I do not think iYogi should be the recommended support option by Avast!
As has been said the avast CEO Mr Steckler, steckler (at) avast (dot) com has requested info about iYogi, so if you have time to recount your customers experience.
During the Evangelists meeting in Prague there was a discussion about - and with the guys from Iyogi as well. We agreed that the Evangelists will test Iyogi, and provide feedback about their experiences to both Iyogi and Avast!
Greetz, Red.
Which number did they use to call iYogi? The user should call using this number : http://www.avast.com/support-contacts
To be honest i never really liked 3rd party but still official support. And for some reason they all end up in India… Not that i have anything against India ppl, but it’s just not good.
In my opinion nothing beats specially trained staff that work with avast! and nothing else day after day.
Good example are Evangelists here, those of us who stick around here day after day. We know avast! in depth and we aren’t driven by any sales. We just want to help. So if anyone asks how to schedule a scan we answer that directly.
I never had to deal with iYogi but these complaints really aren’t that rare from what i can see here.
People who know nothing, even that the forum exists, might need it. And I too accept that this is the best place to ask things as there are many who are better experienced. But there are some set of people who still want telephone support, who doesn’t even know that forums exist. Fyi, I am not anyway related to iYogi.