why does avast infect my computer?

system · 2015-08-08T00:23:48.000Z

My computer was running painfully slow so I got a fixmestick and it found a Trogan in avasts software in here ----> ICReinstall_avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe. And avast is flashing screen shots telling me my computer can be fixed if I upgrade (give them money). What’s that all about?

Asyn · 2015-08-08T04:59:28.000Z

Where did you download the installer…?

Attach your basic diagnostic logs. (MBAM, FRST and aswMBR)
Instructions: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0

Asyn · 2015-08-08T08:59:05.000Z

Info from Pondus (thanks pal):

it is a installer that comes bundled with PUP … seems to be made by Advertiso GmbH
hxxp://greatissoftware.com/scan/9d/icreinstall_avast-free-antivirus_setup-exe.shtml

https://www.virustotal.com/nb/file/3017bf4a70ac87ada60acf6f57fbaf61142455d710533cff56e9d1e78b319757/analysis/

Pondus · 2015-08-08T11:43:01.000Z

So if you want avast, then download it from avast

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=174286.0

https://www.avast.com/en-eu/index

polonus · 2015-08-08T14:16:55.000Z

First we have to compliment Pondus for finding all this up for us all, well done, Pondus, well done

You better first uninstall the programme that came with the unintended goodies else you won’t get rid of what wasadditionally bundled.
Then do what Pondus suggests.

polonus

P.S. From this scan you see the relations, why it is insecure, possibly also illegit, and also tracking you:
http://www.domxssscanner.com/scan?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greatis.com%2Funhackme%2Findex.html%3Fpk_campaign%3Daver

-http://www.greatis.com/unhackme/index.html?pk_campaign=aver
-http://www.greatis.com/unhackme/js/jquery/jquery.mousewheel.min.js
-http://www.greatis.com/unhackme/js/sliderkit/jquery.sliderkit.1.8.min.js
-http://www.greatis.com/unhackme/js/sliderkit/addons/sliderkit.delaycaptions.min.js
-http://www.google.com/coop/cse/brand?form=cse-search-box&lang=en
-http://www.intensedebate.com/js/genericCommentWrapperV2.js *
-http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter.js
-//greatis.net/esupport/scripts/track.js (twice)

I get an error here
document.write(‘We're having issues locating the IntenseDebate account for this blog. Please email our support team for assistance.’);

Netcraft Website Risk Rating 1 red out of 10: http://toolbar.netcraft.com/site_report?url=http://s525.c4.crucialx.net
Moreover Greastis has insecure outdated caching: Caching: W3 Total Cache 0.9.1.3 (Outdated)
For the JQuery script, there is a chance for serious conflicts with userforms.

D

system · 2015-12-15T07:06:47.000Z

Asyn post:3:

Info from Pondus (thanks pal):

it is a installer that comes bundled with PUP … seems to be made by Advertiso GmbH
hxxp://greatissoftware.com/scan/9d/icreinstall_avast-free-antivirus_setup-exe.shtml

https://www.virustotal.com/nb/file/3017bf4a70ac87ada60acf6f57fbaf61142455d710533cff56e9d1e78b319757/analysis/

Thanks for the link to the instructions but that link is all Chinese to me? I am not savvy to the terms their using so that info is useless to me. I think I can uninstall avast but that link you sent me get the real avast download doesn’t make real sense to me ether. Why not just go to a page that only has the download avast program and no other confusing info?

Asyn · 2015-12-15T07:11:23.000Z

jessey47 post:6:

Why not just go to a page that only has the download avast program and no other confusing info?

Here you go: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=179855.0

Eddy · 2015-12-15T17:57:53.000Z

fixmestick is very misleading on their website.
“NO software”… eh eh eh
It has a OS, it has 3 av’s on it ( https://www.fixmestick.com/images/content/fix-me-photo4.jpg )

And…
“Try the FixMeStick on 3 computers for 30 days for only $9.95 + shipping and handling.”
Why paying for a trial ?

It is real easy to create one yourself :
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0 > If you cannot Boot the computer
Instead of OTLPE use Rufus if you want a usb stick and not a cd/dvd.
You can throw every (free or paid) tool on it as you wish.

system · 2016-01-04T07:20:35.000Z

Eddy post:8:

fixmestick is very misleading on their website.
“NO software”… eh eh eh
It has a OS, it has 3 av’s on it ( https://www.fixmestick.com/images/content/fix-me-photo4.jpg )

And…
“Try the FixMeStick on 3 computers for 30 days for only $9.95 + shipping and handling.”
Why paying for a trial ?

It is real easy to create one yourself :
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0 > If you cannot Boot the computer
Instead of OTLPE use Rufus if you want a usb stick and not a cd/dvd.
You can throw every (free or paid) tool on it as you wish.

Ok I’ve done a little investigating of my own and it seems avast has a very unusual reputation and not a good one! There is lots of useful true documented information here on this site: http://avastscam.com/ . I know an alder friend that is a pensioner (85 years old) was scammed for lots $$$ of extras that he didn’t need by avasts help line, total scam. I think I’ll be looking for another free antivirus program or even for a paid program and from what I have read about avast I’m 100% certain it definitely won’t be avast…
Very disappointed but live and learn…

Eddy · 2016-01-04T09:20:23.000Z

There is no documented information at that site at all.
The real problem there is that the site owner has no clue at all on how things are working/done.
If avast was fraudulent, they would have been convicted by a court a long time ago and/or.
Go to a bakery to get a bread.
If you are asked “Do you also want a cake?” and you say yes, don’t look surprised that you have to pay for it.

I know an alder friend that is a pensioner (85 years old) was scammed for lots $$$ of extras that he didn't need by avasts help line, total scam.

That is not avast but a third party. That company does provide (limited) support for avast (which is free), but it also offers a "general" remote computer service (not free). https://www.avast.com/total-support

In general :
If people want to buy a car they inform themselfs before buying one.
How much fuel does it consume ?
In what colors can I order it ?
What is the warranty on it ?
Can I get a better radio in it than the standard one ?
etc.

With computers/software (service) people just buy something without informing themselfs and then say “He, this is not what I wanted”, and start to behave like a little kid who broke a vase.
It wasn’t me, it was him.

system · 2016-01-04T10:35:02.000Z

Eddy post:10:

If avast was fraudulent, they would have been convicted by a court a long time ago and/or.
Go to a bakery to get a bread.
If you are asked “Do you also want a cake?” and you say yes, don’t look surprised that you have to pay for it.

I know an alder friend that is a pensioner (85 years old) was scammed for lots $$$ of extras that he didn't need by avasts help line, total scam.
That is not avast but a third party. That company does provide (limited) support for avast (which is free), but it also offers a "general" remote computer service (not free). https://www.avast.com/total-support
In general :
If people want to buy a car they inform themselfs before buying one.
How much fuel does it consume ?
In what colors can I order it ?
What is the warranty on it ?
Can I get a better radio in it than the standard one ?
etc.

Get real man~!!! were talking about an 85 year old grandfather that doesn’t understand computers! your reply for this one shoots holes in any other conclusions you have for me or anyone here that has a beef. You just lost any credibility with that answer.

Also have a look here: https://blog.avast.com/2014/02/20/dont-be-fooled-by-support-scams-get-real-support-from-avast/
This is part of one post there - click on the link above to read about a lot of pissed off customers and the support is from avast and not a third party…
Still Going On Really • 6 months ago
Take a look at http://avastscam.com/ if you want to learn the ins and outs of how Avast’s support scam is being run. That website details the scam, how long it’s been going on, and why it probably won’t be stopping anytime soon. Avast has been running this scam for years, and Avast reps and employees have simply been brushing off complaints and sweeping the problem under the carpet. The BEST thing that customers can do is educate themselves on the issue, tell others, and avoid Avast software since the company is run by less than honest people.

CraigB · 2016-01-04T10:37:56.000Z

What people seem to forget is help for Avast issues are given for “free” here on the Avast forum

Pondus · 2016-01-04T10:53:40.000Z

@jessey47 put your post after/below the quote tag … you may edit your post

moroni · 2016-01-04T12:22:12.000Z

Hello jessey47,

We have never started nor supported any scam to our customers.
While it is true that we had some problems in the past (even after iYogi), that lead to several complaints both here and in other internet portals, in the last five months we have been working hard to fix those problems.
The website you mention quotes the portal customerservicescoreboard.com/Avast to back up their posture. If you visit that portal, you can see that since September to the date there are only about 6 complaints out of 30 regarding the phone support (only one since November).
We also now clearly state what it is to be fixed for free and what is not in our website https://www.avast.com/en-us/total-support and no longer have the “Free 24x7 support” banner at https://www.avast.com/en-us/support

I really appreciate your interest in the quality of our services, but unfortunately since nothing can be erased from the Internet (such old bad reviews or defamatory websites) at the moment we are working hard to fix the past issues, hoping that those fixes will spread and out-date the old complaints.

Moroni

Eddy · 2016-01-04T13:06:27.000Z

the support is from avast and not a third party...

The support is [b]for[/b] avast, not [b]from[/b]. It is a third party that handles the calls. And yes, as moroni said, there has been many complains about the way that company was treating the avast users. I and others have been talking to and working with avast to improve things. This has lead (but not limited) to a major change of the support main page.

There where two main reasons why people complained.
1]
That company wasn’t exactly clear about the fact that support for avast was (and still is free) and that they (next to the limited avast support) also have a “total computer support package” that covers all kinds of computer problems but that the package is separate from support for avast.

2]
Several of the employees from that company weren’t exactly polite towards the callers.

Although that company could and should have been more clear about things, it was nor is a scam.

If you look at complaints, you need to look at them in time frames.
You will see that there are almost none anymore.
Thanks to a group of users that “indexed” the problems and worked together with avast (moroni) to improve things.

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