Script to Update License

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I am trying to create an automated script to update the license file for a number of avast machines. The license is stored in the registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ALWIL Software\Avast\4.0\RegData

The issue is that avast’s self defense module is prohibiting the key from being modified before it is turned off. I cannot find a way to disable the self defense module automatically. Is there a way to silently update avast’s license key for Home Edition 4.8 without user interaction? Thanks in advance.

2

avast! Home is not designed for remote administration. Only changes to settings and files instigated or approved by the user sitting in front of the screen (or viewing it remotely) will be allowed by the self-defense component. If it can be disabled automatically it’s not much use as a self-defense module!

3

For security reasons, like UAC on Vista, there isn’t such a method (malware could use it if it is there…).

I think Silent Installation is only available in Professional version.

4

I am also trying to achieve this same result. The customer has many sites with computers (typically laptops) spread around and no WAN infrastructure in place. Because of this it is not practical to use ADNM to provide central management but we need a way to update the license keys via a script (or similar) that doesn’t need user intervention.

We have remote control and scripting capabilities over the machine but can’t trust the users to follow manual instructions…

Any further thoughts or advice?

Thanks,
Edmund

5

Do you mean that you don’t have an ADNM console setup because of this?

Even though the Laptops don’t have a connection to the network all the time, I suspect that they have to return to work at least occasionally, don’t they? Eventually their domain logins will stop working if they don’t.

A VPN connection would allow the client to update it’s license. Provided that you have ADNM setup, and have inserted the new key using the AMS tool. As soon as the laptop joins the network and tries to update from the mirror, it will pull the new key, either from VPN or by being on the network.

6

In this case, they don’t have any servers or common infrastructure; there is no domain: the whole setup is distributed and outsourced. Each site is almost stand alone with just 2 or 3 computers, no servers and no IT staff so we just need a simple way to push the new license keys on to each machine without the users having to be involved.

ADNM also has a slight problem in these disconnected environments because the license key issued to NetClients is only valid for a short time, it doesn’t issue a the original key for the whole period so even if there were a domain, the NetClient key would expire long before the domain logon.

Is there no way we can drop the new key into a text file or registry key and have Avast Pro pick it up in some way?

Edmund

7

I believe you can use the aswChLic.exe file, if it’s inside of avast! installation folder.

8

Hi Igor - do you know where we can get the aswChLic.exe file as I can’t seem to find it in any of the obvious places I’m looking. If it’s been removed, could you send it to me offline?

Thanks,
Edmund