After a smart scan, Avast shows that one advanced issue is found which is 3 of my primary folders are vulnerable to advanced ransomware. I choose resolve and Avast shows all clear. What exactly happened with this “all clear”? Avast Pro does not, as far as I know, have a ransomware shield so I am baffled.
In the first image, If you clicked the > did it expand the details to indicate what these folders were ?
EDIT:
I just ran the Smart (NOT) Scan and it gave the same 3 primary folders. I expanded it and it is total rubbish, I don’t use these default folder locations and are empty (so not really vulnerable).
EDIT2: Essentially the same in mine
Hi David. The folders are Documents, Desktop, and Pictures. I have attached an image.
I did the Resolve and it did go through to the up-sell to purchase AIS.
Mine wasn’t quite making it to the AIS upsell. The, “All clear! We’ve help maximize your security,” didn’t make sense. I’m just going to completely ignore the smart scan.
Thanks a bunch, David.
Then, I hit “Done” and it tries to upsell to VPN. See attached. There are more screens including showing my ip address and then giving me pricing for the VPN.
Geez.
Yes… the old thing 
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=227753.0
and this what drove me to the edge as well
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=227473.0
:
Who knew the Smart Scan would be used as a marketing tool? Misguided marketing department. I will no longer use the Smart Scan, but I’m not willing to give up 894 days.
You’re welcome.
Personally I rarely ever do on-demand scans and that includes the Not So Smart Scan.
I normally only run them in beta testing (and I have stopped that) and as a result of questions in the forums.
Have you disabled the promotion of other Avast Apps, in your paid Avast Pro ?
I think it is in the AvastUI > Menu > Settings > Privacy section. That said I don’t believe this cr4p coming out of the Not So Smart Scan is included in this ‘don’t bug me with ads setting.’
This constant up-selling in my opinion is more likely to pi55 off users (especially if they are already paying customers), than it is to induce them to purchase.
I really don’t like this give the user a headache and sell them an aspirin.
I rarely perform on-demand scans, but haven’t looked into the GUI for a while so I started exploring again.
I only leave one box checked to share threat information with Avast and uncheck all others.
The upsell does bother me but not enough to throw away my remaining subscription (approximately 30 months). I would really like Avast to change their marketing tactics, but they don’t seem to want to listen.
I appreciate your input.
Thanks a bunch for the info. Disappointing to say the least.
Smart Scan is Smart only for Avast in that it upsells products for them. Not so much for the average user.
No such thing as a one-button push for everything…
Frankly, IMO I think the logic of this continued marketing approach is that the upselling will/does generate more “new” purchases of products then it causes existing users to leave Avast and move on.
From my perspective, I believe this to be true, even though I don’t support this approach.
Marketers/data analysts do in-depth all-inclusive research and have obviously found this approach productive (generate “increasing” capital) or they would have abandoned it years ago.
It’s a business first.
Edit Info.
I hope that this approach avast is taking to lure people to their paying product will paying off on the long run and they are braking even when their already paying customers leaving.
In fact, several of my wife’s friends that are running substantially large law offices in Ontario just dropped about 350-400 corporate licenses after10 years or so .
This might seem like a small thing, but forcefully redirecting already paying customers to your website(s) where you advertising more of your products I don’t think it’s smart, obviously I’m not the only one who see it that way.
Good things come to an end and even thou, at this point in time doesn’t seem that way, but I have personally seen big thriving businesses slowing to a crawl and vanishing due to their ignorance and overconfidence.
Greed Is Your Worst Enemy
The biggest unknown is:
A: How would they know who leaves because of this, more so how many would be free users and how many paid users pi55ed with these ads (in a paid program).
B: The unquantifiable damage done by word of mouth recommendations for Avast. Word of mouth is probably the best and cheapest form of advertising you can get.
I honestly don’t know how they could quantify or even gather that data/information. Very few people would take the time and bother going through the process of registering for the forums and registering their feelings about these advertising tactics. They would probably take a different route and not recommend avast to their friends and family.
Yes, time will tell.
It will show in the Stock Revenue either way.
Word of mouth can be a good thing or your worst enemy and I don’t think at this point it benefits avast at all.
But there will be no way to tell what the reasons are for any fall or rise in stock value and that could be down to other things, such as purchase of other companies/products, e.g. AVG.
Marketing would be happy to take credit for any rise but any fall I’m sure there is lots of wriggle room for them to get off the hook.