It is my pleasure to inform you that SafeZone Browser is now available for all Avast users. It has been one of the key features of the premium (paid) versions of Avast for many years, and we’ve now made it available to our free users as well.
SafeZone is designed to be a fully fledged web browser. It can be used for everyday browsing and contains great features, including:
Pay Mode - SafeZone Browser takes the worry out of online banking and shopping. When SafeZone detects that a user has visited a banking website, it will automatically open the web page in an isolated session. This provides a secure connection where a user can proceed with financial transactions without the fear of his/her password or personal financial information being stolen. To further increase security, the browser provides an encrypted connection through Avast’s own DNS servers, protecting users who connect using an unsecured Wi-Fi network.
Ad Blocker - SafeZone Browser includes a built-in Ad Blocker that stops annoying ads using lists established by the community, and therefore improves the browsing experience by enabling faster website loading. Thus, the user can browse on websites or read online articles without viewing pages packed with banners, pop-ups and other bothersome ads.
Video downloader - This feature allows YouTube, Vimeo and other streaming websites’ fans to quickly and easily download videos to watch later, even when they are not connected to the Internet.
SafeZone is also designed to provide the ultimate online protection and protects users against potential attacks, malware and phishing schemes. Unwanted toolbars and add-ons have no chance to get into SafeZone and spy on you.
I’m using the free version of Avast. Today I found surprisingly a new icon on my desktop. Installing new software on my computer, without my explicit approval, regardless what kind of software it is, is not tolerable!
It would have been good if the notification came first not after deployment.
Seems strange to get shot in the foot when giving away what was previously a product only in the avast paid products.
Personally this should have come in a regular program update and again it should have been a notification within the program (not the forums, after the fact). Not many people visit the forums unless they have a problem and this auto update without notification has brought many users to the forums to complain.
I have removed all Avast products from all 7 of my computers/tablets/cell phones because of this intrusive, sneaky installation on my main PC without notifying or giving me the option to allow the installation or not.
This stupid move is going to cost Avast. The person who made this dumb decision should be fired.
No had no right to put a internet browser on my system. I agreed to you updating my antivirus program that’s all. You are a antivirus company not a internet browser company. If your terms of agreement are so vague that it allows you to add any program you want to my system with the word Avast tied to it then maybe you need to update your terms. Just because you call it Avast Browser in my option does not give you the right. I thought i agreed to updates to the antivirus program solely. I uninstalled your crappy browser. If this is how you justify yourselves then maybe its time i switch to AVG. Now how can i trust you to protect my system when you justify the right to do what you want. I run a VPN and other specialized programs to protect me online i don’t need your lack luster browser. I think im not alone on this. You will be lucky if you don’t loose a good percentage of your customers on this blunder. I will have to put in thought about dropping Avast for this stunt.
pat >:(
I’ve already seen that it is available! Now how do I make sure it’s completely removed and who’s going to apologize for forcing this crap on to my desktop?
Remove it through the Control Panel > Programs and Features (Add/Remove Programs) > Select Avast > select Change > Uncheck the SafeZone Browser.
Allow the process to complete and reboot your system.
To re-install the feature once you decide you want the extra protection just reverse that procedure.
I still have the SafeZone browser installed but it causes my pc to run slower. I noticed the start page is Chrome but I don’t have the Chrome browser installed so why is it showing Chrome?
I was somewhat surprised when the Avast SafeZone Browser just auto-installed on my PC upon an update I did. I wasn’t even given an option to decline!
I own the free antivirus version and there is no unistall option for the ASZ browser included. All I can do is remove the installation folder manually and then clean the registry. Very annoying.
I feel flattered to have been chosen to test this browser, but for God’s sake, ask first and also include an uninstall option for free users if you must force this software upon them without their permission! Thank you.
ask first!! could of been simple, could of had no outrage. No one likes forced software upon them without their knowledge! Similar to… oh yea, malicious software.
I’m another unhappy recipient of the forced Avast SafeZone browser install. IMO, this is wrong in so many ways.
Is there not a EULA, Privacy Policy and/or other documents connected with installing the Avast SafeZone browser? I’ve been using a computer over 20 years, and I’m not aware of any software that can be installed without the user agreeing to certain terms, conditions and/or and policies.
Perhaps Avast is taking a page from the Win10 book of dirty tricks. I was forced to sit through a 90-minute mandatory Win10 update involving undisclosed items the other day that abruptly occurred right in the middle of my workday (I work via the Internet). I had to agree to it if I ever wanted to get back into Windows. I’ll be dealing with that, however, by switching back to Windows 7 very shortly.
I was appalled to see that Avast had also forced software on me, which occurred as I was trying to work, as well. This is a highly invasive and risky maneuver for Avast. I feel my privacy (or what’s left of it) has been invaded and my livelihood has been interfered with, and I no longer trust Avast because of it.
I don’t need nor do I want another browser, and I already have quite enough security, thank you. It does a great job of protecting my system.
I’ve uninstalled Avast SafeZone and I’ll be rethinking the advisability of my continuing to use Avast AntiVirus. I also plan to tell others about this experience.
Here’s something you might want to keep in mind: You just don’t do this kind of thing to people and expect them to feel happy about it. Would anyone at Avast be happy if it were done to him or her? Shame on you guys. I thought Avast was better than this.
