Why did Avast install Chrome on my computer?

I just installed Avast on my new computer, and was greeted with a dialog box afterwards asking me to make Chrome my default browser. I never installed Chrome on this computer. Why would you install something that I don’t want? Why do you do this underhanded stuff?

Can’t argue with you but, I don’t represent Avast.
When you do an install, you need to use custom not default and look before selecting next.

I get it. I’ve learned that I need to uncheck several boxes before every Adobe Flash update. But it just seems backwards to the goal here, of an antivirus/anti-malware program to install something behind your back in a very sneaky manner. Ah well, time to find something else for virus protection.

Just add, if I remember correctly ( as I recently installed the Stable Version) I believe there is a small box in the bottom left-hand corner of one of the stages when installing that asks if you want to install Chrome and you have to “Uncheck it” so Chrome isn’t installed.

The real issue is not that Avast is offering to install Chrome for you, but that that install is pre-checked, (default opt-in) rather than you opt-in as you would if the install box was not pre-checked (Avast offers the box and if you want it, you must check the box to have it installed).

In other words, all default installs by Avast are pre-checked to install where you must uncheck anything you don’t want. All default opt-in, to defeat, you must opt-out. Use custom install.

A good program to prevent auto-installs commonly found on free programs: https://unchecky.com/

That is true and that practice has always concerned me from the start.