Pros
It kept my system clean for many years
Cons
Uses pop up advertising in paid version, forces changes to search agent and home page
Summary
I feel the need to push this topic out onto the internet with any channel available to me. I can not find a review anywhere that exposes the nature of the current version of Avast Premier. I choose antivirus, anti malware, and firewall products to limit my exposure to the dark side of the internet. But avast has changed their business model to paid customers to a unscrupulous system. In the fully paid Premier version, I was getting pop up advertising trying to sell me on additional products. You can imagine my reaction, as every 3rd word , and all punctuation was a curse word.
Having been a long time evangelist of the Avast product I was truly aghast at what happened next..
I started getting pop up alerts that I had browser extensions that had a low reputation among users.
Here are a couple items that caused this alert
Angry Birds - From the Chrome store
Dragon Naturally Speaking browser plugin
There were other inane browser extensions, but consider it so forth and so on.
So a low reputation, does this mean that no one cared to give avast their opinions,or was it reviewed as low reputation and truly bad software? What real reason would there be for them to flag items such as these, where is the malicious intent that I should heed these warnings and rid my system of them. seems more like FUD to me.
So as an advanced internet user and technician, I took no heed to these warnings, but after a while the alert pop ups get OLD, and I tired of them, so I though, OK lets go ahead and uninstall them , and I can be done with these alert pop ups.
Now this is where the fun starts, I click the option to remove the heinous Dragon Naturally Speaking extension from my browser, but my options were limited, I thought the system was broken. I was being prompted to change my search agent and browser home page to either Yahoo, or Bing.
ummmmmm no, I dont think so, I do not know why I am being forced into making changes, just seems wrong....
Yes seriously, you can understand that an extremely vehement raging rant of cursing followed this discovery,
why was a fully paid for Premier (highest level) software acting with actual malware intent to change settings to my system other than what I had chosen. This is the Exact definition of malware, and persons less technically inclined than myself would unwittingly click ok and fall into this trap.
I called bullshit, and thought I better inform Avast support right away that their software had been compromised and was infecting my computer, which I had paid them to keep safe!
To see a chronological review of my support case, and see the magic happen
click this link dmmclan.net/forums/index.php?/topic/2296...-premier-is-malware/
Pros
Finds viruses that McAfee and AVG doesn't find. Had features that AVG doesn't have.
Laptop runs faster after uninstall McAfee and installing AVAST
Cons
Can't access military emails after installing AVAST. This means I will not be able to use AVAST on my laptop I use for military emails, and will be forced to use another free program. But never, never, never will I use McAfee with it's annoying popups and begging to upgrade.
Summary
AVAST free gives me enough virus protection and doesn't slow my computer down. However, until they figure out a way that I can still use Outlook Web Access to check my military emails, it will remain useless to me on my favorite laptop.
Pros
The software works great. It integrates well with Thunderbird. It is great at catching bugs on your computer.
Cons
Support is the pits. Changing your billing information is a nightmare with this company.
Summary
I've had Avast for 2 or 3 years. And I like the software. There is no question that this great software. But changing billing information is a nightmare.
When you install the software, you have the option of having it renew your subscription automatically. But changing your billing information is a problem. There doesn't seem to be anyone in the billing office. They ask you to submit a billing support ticket and they say that they will get back with you at their leisure. I submitted a ticket for a change in billing 6 weeks ago and they haven't gotten back with me yet.
I just reached a live person in Technical support by phone and they stated that they don't deal with billing issues.
My Avast Premier software subscription runs out at the end of the month. I've concluded that I won't be renewing my subscription with Avast...
Pros
The best antivirus software currently on the market. Neither these single virus, spyware and malware,
I can not bypass Avast's protection. Also, on the internet, the infected site, not
can be opened.
Cons
I use Avast since version 4.0, and to present the latest, and is pleased to be recommended to all who want adequate protection for your computer.
Summary
For me personally, there is no better antivirus program from Avast.
Pros
Antivirus module works as well past versions
Works well enough on single computers not on network
Cons
1. Don't use safezone with dual monitors unless you like rebooting your computer to escape it. Can be disabled in browser plug-ins but that will disable webrep as well if you want it for some reason.
2.Buggy firewall will decide from reboot to reboot rather it will connect with other computers and devices in network.
3.Combining the 10 former categories into 5 makes the interface much more of a pain to navigate. Finding settings and MAKING THEM STICK from reboot to reboot is a problem.
4.Getting worthwhile technical support via their "evangelist" infested forums is rather like spending a month in a North Korean labor camp.
5.This last one is completely my opinion so take it for what it's worth but to me the UI looks pug ugly compared to past versions.
Summary
Avast 2014 (9) show no improvement over version 8 while in fact takes many steps in the wrong direction. This is mostly a poor shuffling of tools already available in the earlier version to give the illusion of improvement without any. Buggy Firewall makes it hardly worth more than the free version without any firewall at all.
Avast has put out years of good antivirus suites and hopefully over the next several months can work out the many, many problems currently in Avast 2014.
Read reply (1)
Reply by cgeo09 on October 26, 2013
Totally agree. Safezone popups are annoying and there seems to be no way to disable it. Also no way to use password manager in safezone. Forums and support are useless, I notice, when searching that this safezone problem has been around since 2011. I am a 3 year Avast user but after using Avast Premier for a week I am really considering return and refund.
Pros
The Shields,firewall and antispam are very rough on virus.
High detection rate and low false postives
Light impact on pc
Sandbox,Software updater and browser cleanup are great !!
Cons
Nothing..... avast! rocks
Summary
Was using the free antivirus and later upgraded to internet security and Now using avast! premier.avast! protects you from all nasty things.If you are going to buy antivirus then avast! is the top pick.
Even avast! free is the best in the free antivirus world
Pros
None so far
Cons
Price is a little high
Summary
Good product for anyone to use.
Pros
avast + adaware + "some common sense" and my pc has been clean for 5 years.
Cons
1. bloatware: they seem to forget that they are about keeping pc clean, not about becoming "swiss army tool" for pc .. they went tooo far
2. version 8 is not tested properly for Vista;
when I tried to update on pc with Vista it refused to restart (hanging) ... I tried 5 times, before I reverted to version 7
Summary
good software
skids toward bloatware a bit lately
version 8 is not properly tested for Vista - read: cons->2
it is free, which is "priceless"
Pros
Avast is a decent security option but this review is about the tenacity of this website criticising a developer for installing bloatware!!! Download.com USED to be my only stop for downloading programs but now the CNet installer is so loaded with bloatware I have taken my browsing and downloading elsewhere. That the above reviewer has the sheer gall to bad mouth Alwil, a developer that provides a viable security solution that is free and used by millions throughout the world, for including a few REPUTABLE programs that are easily opted out of in their installer beggars belief. The CNet installer is one of the worst offenders in this regard and responsible for foisting more unwanted DISREPUTABLE programs on unknowing users than perhaps any other source on the net
Cons
See Above!!!
Pros
Absolutely destroyed my laptop, writing this on my daughters netbook. Cnet you must be getting paid by avast and above reviews are from ghost writers. Cannot access safe mode on my windows 8 laptop
Cons
Crapware crapware crapware crapware crapware crapware
Summary
avoid avoid avoid avoid.
Read replies (3)
Reply by rogermanawatu on February 8, 2014
Seamus McKenzie,
I am sorry your laptop died as you were installing this software. I work as a handiman in a small college in Vanuatu. I have used Avast here since 2009, when it solved a virus problem for me. Since then the program has gotten better and i have opted to pay for 3 licences on my family computers. I have no connection to Alwil Software, or any software company and I think what you have written is unfair. I have used it on XP, win7 and now windows8 and the program seems to be getting better. So I hope you can fix your computer, I suggest bleepingcomputer.com and try the avast free antivirus to start with. Kind Regards, Roger Levy
Reply by techcrazey on March 31, 2013
Silly Nooby Troll Go Home!
Reply by jeffz2012 on March 19, 2013
It seems that they released 8 too fast without proper testing.
I had similar problems with Vista.
Try version 7 - long running, tested, proven and free - I can assure you, you will love it.
I guess Avast is just turning into another member of "betaland", which equals "lets develop something new fast and use users as beta testers" ... pity .. I hope they will come around and stop alienating users.
Please Wait
