Even if you disagree, do you really believe it’s good to foist it on users without prior consent ?
You’re attitude is, frankly, arrogant. Are you some omnipotent being ?
There’s going to be a backlash. avast will lose the good will (what’s left of it) that it has.
If you wanted to add a browser to make browsing safer then it should have been built from the ground up, not some additions to a freebie one. Just my opinion.
And I do not think adding it to an update was a very wise things to do. With some computer users this could initiate panic. We have enough problems when installing new software with programs trying to add toolbars, etc. without programs trying to add extra ones via the back door.
I’m sure you have already lost a number of users through this mistake.
I just noticed the SafeZone browser icon on my desktop, so I went to the control panel and removed the feature through the Avast program modification option.
I only use Avast with the File, Mail, and Web Shield options (nothing else), and I never wanted the browser feature installed.
It would be appreciated if the Avast developers did not have the program automatically install additional features without prompting users.
Please let me step back and understand one thing. SafeZone is a product feature, one that we have had in the paid versions of Avast for 4+ years, and one that has been a key differentiator between free and paid editions of the product.
Now, we have made the feature available in the free version of the product as well. Frankly, we were expecting people to be excited, but most of the feedback has been negative. So I am trying to understand what we actually did wrong.
I assume the main problem is not that we have extended the feature set of the free product (i.e. changed the feature mix a bit by moving something from paid to free). The problem is that we haven’t messaged it enough? Or the fact that the feature happens to have its own desktop icon? Or that the feature happens to be a browser?
I would really appreciate if you could help me understand this better.
Thanks much,
Vlk
Simple. had we been informed that a free browser was available if we wanted it and given the option of downloading it or refusing it there would have been no problem I am sure.
It was good that it was given on the Free version of Avast, no problem there.
It was just a bad decision to add it in an update and stick a shortcut on everyone’s desktop. How were people to know if it was genuine or a fake?
@Vlk - As I said on the previous pages, yes, it’s kinda annoying that it has been installed automatically without a message or something, but for me it’s not necessarily bad. If I don’t use it, it doesn’t hurt from what I saw. Or I can uninstall it. Probably.
From what I saw, the users are mad because there wasn’t an update window which asked if we want to test/install this new feature. Like when Avast updates itself to a newer version. Anyway, not everybody is upset about this, I’m sure. Some are thrilled to use a features that was there only for users who payed. 
I respect your answer. But you already (at least) once “screw it up”.
This. Except one addendum:
It was just a bad decision to add it in a “virus definition update” and stick a shortcut on everyone’s desktop.
After reading the reactions of the local evangelists, it is probably not a big surprise that they just do not understand why people do not accept everything grateful and willingly what is set before them.
It testifies to a big dose of arrogance and ignorance, simply underestimating the arguments. Frankly, I did not expect anything else. I am disappointed anyway.
And be sure: I don’t want it, I don’t use it and therefore I have uninstalled it immediately.
Thats not the problem. The problem is, that a software has to ask me, wether I want a new component or not!
Not to ask, as Avast it does is characteristic of malware.
This situation reminds me of this one, another example of a company that thought it new better than its
users:
It really has nothing to do with extending the feature set of avast free, it has all to do with delivery. Releasing it as an unannounced background update.
The first most people knew about it was the new Desktop Icon after the installation/update for the SafeZone Browser. Others with system checking/monitoring programs got a notification of the new scheduled task creation for launcher.exe to update SafeZone Browser.
Many people A) didn’t understand what the SafeZone Browser does (naturally) and B) thought you were installing another browser without their knowledge (a bit like Google Chrome).
I think the time for this delivery would naturally have been a program update (11.2.xxxx) when information of this new feature for avast free could have been notified. This may well have been better received in a regular program update, getting a product feature that had previously only been in the paid products.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I’d say it’s a combination of everything you just mentioned. I only found out this had installed, when trying to open web pages stored on my hard drive, and suddenly Windows 10 was asking me what browser to use, instead of just opening the page with Edge as it has always done. This new browser just came out of thin air, and that was very disconcerting. Once I figured out what it was and where it came from, I was less annoyed.
Daily I am inundated with every site trying to get me to change my browser, so there’s a lot of built up resistance to changing. I use the browser I use for very well thought out reasons, and having someone wave a new browser in my face isn’t that welcome. Everyone says their browser is the best, the most secure, the fastest, and well, everyone can’t be right. So I think it can only be expected that people who have entrenched on one side of the browser wars aren’t going to be happy about this. Just my opinion.
I found it on my computer after I was away for an hour and left it on. It reminded me of an article I read about companies like Avast anti virus spying on us. If you read the fine print you’ll find they admit that they keep all our computers info, including your IP address! They admit to sharing it with others. So if you don’t want a company spying on everything you do on your computer I wouldn’t use it. It’s a blatant violation of privacy and I’ll be changing to Kapersky.
I successfully uninstalled all of the Avast components with no issue. I want nothing to do with Avast because it had the poor judgment to install Safezone on my PC without EVER asking me if I want it. In the uninstall process, it asked why I was uninstalling the program and I was happy to provide an answer.
As far as some Avast spokesperson on here telling me I should stop complaining and be grateful because I was given something for nothing, that is just plain idiotic. I was also given chicken pox, cancer, crumbling bones, and many other “freebies”. Should I be grateful for those “somethings for nothings” also? Avast accessed my personal computer and downloaded software I DO NOT WANT and I should be grateful? What a crock! What I AM grateful for is getting ALL the Avast software off my computer for good.
I really appreciate that Avast is free and that it is updated and maintained.
Unfortunately, security and/or antivirus software is still needed these days. I doubt most people really want to install it in the first place. I would not expect people to get excited over new security software features like they would if they were to get new features for entertainment (games, music, video, etc.) software or software that makes tasks more convenient or easier.
For any new Avast feature added, ideally what is needed is:
This really goes for any feature on Avast. There is poor documentation on many of the features, and going to the forum looking for answers is not a good solution.
1]
There is a FAQ on the avast website.
2]
None.
3]
It is as with all applications, between 0% and 100%
There are a huge amount of variables that define how much cpu time is used.
Even a 0.1c difference in room temperature already is changing the cpu time used.
4]
Diskspace is not really a issue for many years anymore.
But yes, it is possible and a idea for avast to do so.
5]
I agree.
Or at least a window telling the user it was installed, what it is and a link to the e.g. the FAQ page (or something like this)
Just removed the module and during the uninstall I saw a “uninstalling kernel driver” text go by. Why does a browser need a kernel driver? What driver(s)? What does SafeZone browser actually do?
This was an annoying experience. Because of sneak install and now uninstalling, I have to reboot! (I don’t reboot often and it’s a pain when required because I have lots of programs open and I have to save & close all and then open all again and set things the way they were before)
Vik, as a person who has used Avast for nearly a decade (since mid 2006) this truly is one of the company’s biggest mistakes.
Like it is for so many people this is the straw that broke the camels back and is making me leave Avast.
I was not notified, asked, or otherwise prompted regarding the installation of this new “feature”. I did not ask for this new “feature”. I will not use this new “feature”, ever. Really the only reason I am even on this forum right now is to express to you just how badly you have betrayed the trust of your users with this decision.
Goodbye Avast
Edit: Further, yes having to reboot to remove this crap when obviously you didnt force a reboot to install it is absolutely infuriating.
Since I didn’t have Chromium/Blink based browser installed, I guess I’ll keep SafeZone browser.
I don’t like that I can’t install Chrome extensions. I tried to install uBlock Origin since built in adblocker is too basic.
Also I would like to install Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey (Opera extension) because of some useful user scripts (AntiAdware,AdsBypasser,Anti-Adblock Killer|Reek,
Google Redirect Remover etc.).
Like someone before I also noticed that it is possible to uninstall SafeZone browser with iObit unistaller (old portable version).
While I think its awesome that the Avast team decided to make their SafeZone Browser available for all, I dont approve of a feature that is optional in the installer being installed in the background without my permission. EULA or not.
Maybe next time have Avast popup with a message with said news and explain what makes said feature so great and why we should use it and give us the option to agree or disagree to an installation.
On a side note, I highly approve of the ability to modify the Avast installation from “Programs and Features/Change”. I did not know this was a thing until this happened.
Thank you.
I was forewarned about this covert installation from security forums. I too would have liked a bit of warning or a yes/no install option. Having said that, if it is safer for online monetary transactions I’ll very probably keep it. I always thought Chrome was the most secure, but I believe it’s also the most targeted as well.
Is it my imagination or is Avast SafeZone very similar to Opera? 
Oh yeah, I’m not too keen on the fonts! lol