I recently found out that avast! 8 had been released, and i’m concerned about the direction avast! seems to have been taking. I have been using avast! since it was skin-able, and often preferred it for it’s light, unobtrusive nature. I had come to avast! from AVG, leaving the latter because i began to notice more and more “bloat” with each subsequent version. While the addition of tools and resources on an antivirus is, to some degree, easily anticipated, if not digestible, to combat advancing security issues, it’s when antivirus software begin to treat you like you have no clue regarding what you’re doing that i begin considering alternatives.
The inability to select (or deselect, more specifically) new features during software updates from version 7 to version 8 i find to be distressing. I don’t like software modifying itself, especially when it involves the download of software updates, without my consent. The ability to do a customized avast! update would personally be appreciated, rather than taking for granted that users want new features installed.
I would also like to comment on my recent experiences with avast! phone support. I called yesterday to ask about the nature of the software update, where installation files were saved, and if they downloaded by default. I was told that avast! did NOT download installation files by default, and that they were saved to either the program folder for the software which was being updated, or the downloads folder.
I then checked, and found that avast, by default, DID download installation files automatically, and that of those that i checked, they were located in the windows TEMP folder. I found this after a nearly 2-3 minute pause after providing a name and telephone number, during which time i asked if the agent was there, and had the privilege of listening to what sounded like another support agent seemingly arguing loudly with someone…
I’m unhappy with where avast! seems to be going. I was fine when update pop-ups began including advertisements, i was fine when auto-sandbox was enabled by default, remote-assistance has genuinely been helpful, but the nature of the Software Updater, immediately being functional before i can disable it, has been off-putting, and i personally don’t like that it wasn’t a selectable item. I’m aware that i can change/remove avast!, but if avast!'s un-installation practices are any indication, i don’t know if i would prefer that, either.
I’m now considering alternative antivirus software. I’m personally not appreciating the services rendered by avast! post version 7. It’s unfortunate that to completely remove avast! at this point would potentially involve a reformat, and i don’t know what to say to the many i’ve recommended avast! to.
Are there any plans to modify the update process? I’m guessing i’m not the only one who is currently unhappy with avast! / the inclusion of the Software Updater, and other components which are installed without consent or notice.
I don’t mean to have this thread just a series of complaints, but i really DO or DID like avast! It’s just when software starts trying to take ownership from the user, i begin questioning my choices.
Hope that you all have an excellent day :)…
As a side note, a friend recently uninstalled avast! because he thought it was data mining software, and he believed the GUI to be unprofessional, and appealing to the “lowest common denominator”. I and others had some fun at his expense, more specifically about the GUI. I mentioned a few nights ago that avast! 8 had been released, he jokingly asked if they had gone so far with the GUI as to add a smiley face…
