Avast 8 Released

[FerchogtX]

You don't have to download the browser cleaner, although you can......

If you play the video below at 720p and in the full screen mode, you might be able to see at the top of the screen that this is in a VM that is all patched up. You just have to get the player's tool bars out of the way. IE9 is clean (no add-ons). Enabling the Avast add-ons first and then clicking on that download button still crashes IE9.



:::not impressed:::


It is not like there are lots of other things installed into this frozen VM:

View attachment 257617

To be clear, I don't need this solved; I'm just looking around Avast 8 for my own info. I was going to play with that tool as a stand alone. I'm sure if I installed Opera, it would download the tool

I had that issue with v7 too, what I did was to reboot system, run IE on your default homepage (bing, google, etc...), then exit, go to avast and disable webrep addons (if you need too, rebooting solves the problem alone), then you are ready to go That happened when I wanted to see my devices in my avast account...

 

[JerometheGiraff]

I want to replace Norton down the road, is this a good alternative ?

 

[lehnerus2000]

It must depend ...

They are still present, but you can decline the invitation to install them, but only in full installer, if you upgrae from your curent Avast UI, they only ask you if you would like to install google toolbar after a reboot.

It must depend on other factors (like your country?).

It didn't ask me and it isn't installed in Firefox 19 or IE9.

 

[UsernameIssues]

I want to replace Norton down the road, is this a good alternative ?

Sure. Avast has a good reputation and it gets along with W7 just fine. If you like the things that it has to offer, then go for the free or the paid version. You can pick which parts to install. Other users like the free MSE antivirus tool, but it is very minimalistic (which is fine with me). If you want little icons beside each link in a search engine return, then go with Avast because MSE does not offer that.

In my limited testing of Avast 8, the software update tool works well. It provides a warning that a software package needs updating, then you can click a button and Avast will download the program and start the install. You manually finish the install just like you would any other install. To totally automate the install, you must buy that as an extra feature.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

I want to replace Norton down the road, is this a good alternative ?

Sure. Avast has a good reputation and it gets along with W7 just fine. If you like the things that it has to offer, then go for the free or the paid version. You can pick which parts to install. Other users like the free MSE antivirus tool, but it is very minimalistic (which is fine with me). If you want little icons beside each link in a search engine return, then go with Avast because MSE does not offer that.

In my limited testing of Avast 8, the software update tool works well. It provides a warning that a software package needs updating, then you can click a button and Avast will download the program and start the install. You manually finish the install just like you would any other install. To totally automate the install, you must buy that as an extra feature.

How does it hold up against Norton, the same ?

 

[gregrocker]

Any program that adds in so much crapware you need a map to dodge it all is no longer credible.

Twice this weekend I had to uninstall Chrome and Google Toolbar after I'd told Avast Custom install NOT to include it. This included 80 abandoned registry keys found by CCleaner, and untold other corruption left behind as always turns out to be the case.

When you compare this hour of wasted time to the 30 seconds it takes to install MSE and be done with it, it makes no sense to stick with Avast out of a sense of loyalty - no more than it did years ago to stick with AVG after they bloated themselves out of the game.

Sorry but I had to vent after going through all that for a frickin AV. Who designs these "improvements?" A saboteur?

 

[Urthboundmisfit]

Any program that adds in so much crapware you need a map to dodge it all is no longer credible.

...

Who designs these "improvements?" A saboteur?

+ 1. Former long time Avast user. The final straw for me was Avast's iYogi "support" fiasco.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2012/03/aghast-at-avasts-iyogi-support/
https://blog.avast.com/2012/03/15/iyogi-support-service-removed/
Avast Antivirus Drops iYogi Support — Krebs on Security

 

[indianacarnie]

Sometimes it seems that way! Leaning on a big break anyway, changing email's for sure but not sure what yet, may be looking for new A/V too.

 

[UsernameIssues]

I want to replace Norton down the road, is this a good alternative ?

Sure. Avast has a good reputation and it gets along with W7 just fine. If you like the things that it has to offer, then go for the free or the paid version. You can pick which parts to install. Other users like the free MSE antivirus tool, but it is very minimalistic (which is fine with me). If you want little icons beside each link in a search engine return, then go with Avast because MSE does not offer that.

In my limited testing of Avast 8, the software update tool works well. It provides a warning that a software package needs updating, then you can click a button and Avast will download the program and start the install. You manually finish the install just like you would any other install. To totally automate the install, you must buy that as an extra feature.

How does it hold up against Norton, the same ?

The feature sets are comparable. There are companies that attempt to compare protection levels and rate AV tools. There is some debate as to the value of those comparisons. I don't have any data that suggests Norton is more effective or efficient than Avast or vice versa. (Both Avast and Norton products attempt to watch over too many things for my taste.)

There are people that I support that do not feel comfortable using MSE because it does not give them the feedback that products like Avast, AVG, Norton do. They want the little icons beside links in search engine returns and some of the other types of feedback missing from MSE.

I'm far from a fan of MSE. It has had its share of problems and I've wasted hours on the phone with Microsoft over MSE issues. I've also had to clean up after several infections that MSE let thru. But I still install MSE for those that I support because it plays nice with other programs and the operating system.

 

[A Guy]

Never had any of the issues Greg mentions with Avast myself. Not sure it is the program, or the users Greg is helping. That may be the dividing line. For ease of installation, MSE, for better protection, Avast. A Guy

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Never had any of the issues Greg mentions with Avast myself. Not sure it is the program, or the users Greg is helping. That may be the dividing line. For ease of installation, MSE, for better protection, Avast. A Guy

I've never had a problem with AVAST! I have with MSE.

 

[chris1neji]

I had issues with Avast 7, where connection was working fine after hours I couldn't access any site. I later tested Avast on and off and it was the cause of my problem. I decided to use MSE, but it's extremely minimal which is excellent for users who don't want to deal with it or for users who want something simple. Apple has a history of claiming that their products are simple that has allowed them to be perceived as better products by the consumer population.

Now that a new version is release maybe it will work for me (Using win8) I just love hanging out in SF more.