Why was I forced to upgrade to avast 2015?

system · 2015-07-01T22:00:12.000Z

As the thread title stated, why was my current version of avast upgraded to the latest 2015 version without my approval as it has given me nothing by trouble as I’ve spent the last hour trying to fix this total mess as it took two reboots and manually disabling windows defender to get everything back to what could be called normality.

I was holding off since I was going to uninstall the 2014 version I had installed and then install the 2015 version but I wasn’t to sure if I could get into safe mode in windows 8.1 to do the final clearance of 2014 before installing the latest version and since I heard that it would have been upgraded when I did the upgrade to windows 10 since I could renew my free version and the upgrade (from what I’ve heard) would remove the current version I had installed and replaced it with the latest version during the upgrade procedure.

This sudden forced upgrade is making avast sound more like malware rather then protecting from it, and after the false positives of last month along with the inadequate exclusion system is making me thinking about moving to another anti-virus program since my bank offers a 3 PC pack for free.

Staticguy · 2015-07-02T00:10:04.000Z

Support for older version of Avast will be dropped

https://blog.avast.com/2015/05/06/support-for-older-avast-windows-consumer-version-will-end/

drake127 · 2015-07-02T09:26:34.000Z

The reason is mostly Windows 10 compatibility as Microsoft is pushing it rather agressively. I am sorry to hear that the update didn’t go smoothly, you can imagine it wasn’t our intention. Can you share any details what went wrong?

system · 2015-07-02T10:09:09.000Z

I got a forced update as well. I was surprised when I got the message to reboot my computer. I’m running Windows 7 right now, and don’t have any plans to upgrade anytime soon. That still doesn’t excuse the fact that we are forcefully updated to the latest version. I purposely stayed at an older version for reasons that I don’t want to clutter this thread up with.

When a users make a setting that prompts them if they want automatic updates or not, it’s expected that the program actually follows through with the setting. What’s even the point of that setting if you just pushed the updates regardless of your users’ choice? We weren’t even given a choice in the matter. The setting was pretty much just ignored. I mean, Avast is set to automatically update by default. Users have to deliberately choose the setting to install program updates manually, and those users are probably the ones who know what they’re doing. Why not let them do what they want?

system · 2015-07-02T14:52:47.000Z

Staticguy post:2:

Support for older version of Avast will be dropped

https://blog.avast.com/2015/05/06/support-for-older-avast-windows-consumer-version-will-end/

The 2014 version (version 9) isn’t mentioned, and definition updates are still being provided so that isn’t the reason why.

drake127 post:3:

The reason is mostly Windows 10 compatibility as Microsoft is pushing it rather agressively. I am sorry to hear that the update didn’t go smoothly, you can imagine it wasn’t our intention. Can you share any details what went wrong?

It all went wrong after I got an action centre notification about having no anti-virus protection which I thought was a bug since it’s happened before so I did a full shutdown and started the laptop up again only to find windows defender was running and avast was showing that I wasn’t protected and trying the fix the issues didn’t help so I did a reboot (not a full shutdown) and avast started working as normal but windows defender was still running and I had to access windows defender through the control panel and manually disable it to get it to work.

Also as I said, doing this just because of windows 10 is pointless since in the specifications it states that anti-virus programmes will be uninstalled and the latest version installed after the upgrade is completed.

For Anti-virus and Anti-malware applications, during upgrade Windows will check to see if your Anti-virus or Anti-malware subscription is current. Windows will uninstall your application while preserving your settings. After upgrade is complete, Windows will install the latest version available with the settings that were set prior to upgrade. If your subscription is not current, upgrade will enable Windows defender.

Eddy · 2015-07-02T16:34:42.000Z

Please stop saying it was without your approval…
You did approve it !

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=172142.msg1227932#msg1227932

system · 2015-07-02T20:59:11.000Z

Eddy post:6:

Please stop saying it was without your approval…
You did approve it !

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=172142.msg1227932#msg1227932

I DIDN’T request the upgrade to take place meaning it was done WITHOUT my approval and next time LINK to the license terms where it states that by agreeing to them allows software to be upgraded without user approval and might cause the OS to be rendered totally useless.

If you’re going to be this much of an ass, then you’ve just given me another reason to move to a competitor programme.

Eddy · 2015-07-02T21:08:23.000Z

You don’t have to request it, avast has the right to do so.
By installing you agreed with the license, meaning you did gave them permission.
Other av vendors have it also in their license.

Lisandro · 2015-07-03T00:14:26.000Z

technotron2 post:4:

What’s even the point of that setting if you just pushed the updates regardless of your users’ choice?

Technical reasons and the default setting (manual) required that. Remember that million of users should upgrade and won’t do it without a silent intervention. Anyway, the support will end soon.

MartinZ · 2015-07-10T09:36:34.000Z

Hi Demonix01,

sorry to hear that you got some troubles caused by the update. Please change the Settings->Update->Program update to Manual. That will ensure that we won’t update your avast against your will.

The main reason we are doing this is the Windows 10 update campaign that will start soon and we prefer to have most of our users on Win10 compatible version for smooth transition.

system · 2015-07-21T09:46:41.000Z

MartinZ post:10:

Hi Demonix01,

sorry to hear that you got some troubles caused by the update. Please change the Settings->Update->Program update to Manual. That will ensure that we won’t update your avast against your will.

The main reason we are doing this is the Windows 10 update campaign that will start soon and we prefer to have most of our users on Win10 compatible version for smooth transition.

Incorrect:

Please change the Settings->Update->Program update to Manual. That will ensure that we won’t update your avast against your will.

I had mine set to Manual and it still updated it.

MartinZ · 2015-07-21T11:43:04.000Z

OK I see,

you probably installed one of the earlier versions of 2014. And these are really updated automatically.

Please install this latest version of V2014:
http://filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/58011/

I tested this one right now and wasn’t updated to V2015.

Vladimyr · 2015-07-21T15:54:47.000Z

For me, the link on that page downloads the latest version (10.3.2223.1143) so it’s no help.

system · 2015-07-21T20:29:18.000Z

MartinZ post:12:

Please install this latest version of V2014:
http://filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/58011/

I tested this one right now and wasn’t updated to V2015.

Which older version did not update?

As the other gent said… the latest version on that page is the current 2015 version.

Eddy · 2015-07-21T20:45:07.000Z

Only if you open that page and select “download this version”.
There are older versions listed there.
You need to select one of those first.

Besides, if one google a bit…
It is not hard to find a download of a old(er) version of avast.

system · 2015-07-22T00:20:36.000Z

Eddy post:15:

Only if you open that page and select “download this version”.
There are older versions listed there.
You need to select one of those first.

Besides, if one google a bit…
It is not hard to find a download of a old(er) version of avast.

Now I’m totally confused. According to your other post here https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=173916.0 and the blog post the end of support only effects those on version 8 or lower. But the force update is effecting version 2014 on version 10’s. I think my previous version was either 10.0.2206 or 9.0.2021 (reinstall last fall) and it was a force update to 2015.

So I’m still looking for a older version 10 that will not update to 2015 by itself as my earlier version 10 did so it’s a matter of not finding an older version but finding one that wont be forced to update.

MartinZ · 2015-07-22T07:39:27.000Z

Hi Microbell.

the version 2014.9.0.2021 works:
http://www.oldapps.com/avast_antivirus.php?old_avast=15232?download

If you prefer version 10 (V2015), then I highly recommend the latest version 2223.

Martin

system · 2015-07-22T08:33:38.000Z

demonix01 post:1:

This sudden forced upgrade is making avast sound more like malware rather then protecting from it, and after the false positives of last month along with the inadequate exclusion system is making me thinking about moving to another anti-virus program since my bank offers a 3 PC pack for free.

It is pure malware. They need to be able to push you ever more annoying spam popups and steal your information for selling it to advertisers. That is why you are forced to update the program. Soon it will be time to ditch the piece of shit. RIP avast.

system · 2015-07-22T09:08:45.000Z

MartinZ post:17:

Hi Microbell.

the version 2014.9.0.2021 works:
http://www.oldapps.com/avast_antivirus.php?old_avast=15232?download

If you prefer version 10 (V2015), then I highly recommend the latest version 2223.

Martin

Thanks Martin. I downloaded 2021 and will install later. Version 2223 is the new version which is causing problems hence is why I’m looking for a 2014 version as my last was running smoothly. Thanks again!!

Lisandro · 2015-07-22T13:31:37.000Z

bugmenot post:18:

It is pure malware. They need to be able to push you ever more annoying spam popups and steal your information for selling it to advertisers. That is why you are forced to update the program. Soon it will be time to ditch the piece of shit. RIP avast.

No, it’s not at all. Your words are pure FUD.
Read our blog where we explain in details - and in non-that-technical words.

We have always strived to have an honest relationship with our users, and we will continue to do so. Currently we do not make any money from this relationship but it is an experiment as to whether we can fund our security products indirectly instead of nagging our users to upgrade. As most people are aware, most all products we use every day—Chrome, Facebook, Firefox, WhatsApp, Gmail, etc.—are indirectly funded by advertisements. In most cases though, the products directly examine what users are doing and provide them targeted advertisements. Although we suspect some security companies are doing this, we do not believe it is the proper approach. Instead, we think that this anonymized, aggregated approach is much better to maintain the trust relationship that we think is so important between us and you, our loyal users.

Vincent Steckler, Avast CEO

Vlk, Avast CTO, talks about this https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=171725.msg1218988#msg1218988

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