Avira free antivirus adds "Safe Searching" feature [aka Ask.com toolbar]

[Miramonti]

Their boards have gotten slammed pretty hard...and these are just the ones that haven't gotten deleted. Still no direct comment on the practice from Avira, lol.

 

[Bill Brasky]

It does not say NO and YES, it says Install Now and Install Later. 😡

You have to close the pop-up with the red X.

 

[Fardringle]

I honestly don't see why this is being made into such a huge issue. After clicking "install now" it gave me a screen asking if I wanted to install the toolbar and set Ask.com as my home page. I removed the check from both of those boxes and proceeded to upgrade my Avira without the additional Ask.com software. Yes, I'd prefer to not have it there at all, but it's very easy to just tell the program not to install the extras.

 

[Bill Brasky]

I honestly don't see why this is being made into such a huge issue. After clicking "install now" it gave me a screen asking if I wanted to install the toolbar and set Ask.com as my home page. I removed the check from both of those boxes and proceeded to upgrade my Avira without the additional Ask.com software. Yes, I'd prefer to not have it there at all, but it's very easy to just tell the program not to install the extras.

I think people are irritated because even if you jump through the hoops not to install the toolbar, three Ask files are still downloaded and put in your Avira folder. One of them connects to the internet and phones home after *every* reboot. These files are:

ApnToolbarInstaller.exe
ApnStub.exe (phones home)
ApnIC.dll

I found this on the Avira forums as a quick fix (I chose to boot into safe mode and it seems to have worked):

"You can delete them by either doing a safe boot or (easier) by going into configuration - expert mode > security > uncheck "protect files and registry entries from manupilation". Then delete said three files from your avira folder in "program files". (Don't forget to check the entry in "configuration" again!)

1. Delete the three files following my method above.

2. Open a command prompt screen as administrator (Start > All Programs > Acessoires > right click command prompt and chose "run as administrator")

3. Type the following lines (the location of your avira folder depends on your configuration!):

cd c:\program files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop
md ApnToolbarInstaller.exe
md ApnStub.exe
md ApnIC.dll
attrib +r +a +s +h ApnToolbarInstaller.exe
attrib +r +a +s +h ApnStub.exe
attrib +r +a +s +h ApnIC.dll

This creates three hidden, write-protected directories with the same names as the ask.com files. Since no files can be added to a folder that already has directories with the same name, Avira's update process will skip adding the ask.com files to your Avira folder.
I tried it and it doesn't produce any errors or intervene with other updated files."

 

[lxskllr]

I think people are irritated because even if you jump through the hoops not to install the toolbar, three Ask files are still downloaded and put in your Avira folder. One of them connects to the internet and phones home after *every* reboot.

I'm irritated because it's malware like behavior AFAIC, and I can't recommend Avira to people anymore. I deal with the lowest common denominator, and many of the people can't jump through hoops. Hell, some of them are lucky to get the computer turned on, and have a workable desktop. I might as well be giving them Gentoo, and telling them to build their own O/S. Granted, these people aren't the ones bothered by extra toolbars, but I try to reinforce the notion that toolbars are for n00bs, and are inherently bad. What will they think when the software I recommend installs toolbars?

 

[Bill Brasky]

I'm irritated because it's malware like behavior AFAIC, and I can't recommend Avira to people anymore. I deal with the lowest common denominator, and many of the people can't jump through hoops. Hell, some of them are lucky to get the computer turned on, and have a workable desktop. I might as well be giving them Gentoo, and telling them to build their own O/S. Granted, these people aren't the ones bothered by extra toolbars, but I try to reinforce the notion that toolbars are for n00bs, and are inherently bad. What will they think when the software I recommend installs toolbars?

After reading your post, I absolutely agree with you on all counts and just remembered I've installed Avira on my girlfriend's laptops and *gasp* her parent's computer. D:

 

[Ryland]

I uninstalled Avira when I first heard they were going to do this and switched to MSEE.

 

[VirtualLarry]

One question about MSE since all you guys have switched...does it update on it's own, or through windows update?

It uses Windows Update. If you have Windows Update set to "Never" in Win7 HP (64-bit, though I doubt it matters the bitness), and install MSE, it changes your auto-update preferences to "Automatic", without telling you.

This is because it uses the WU engine behind-the-scenes to update.

 

[metamorphosis]

I'm irritated because it's malware like behavior AFAIC, and I can't recommend Avira to people anymore. I deal with the lowest common denominator, and many of the people can't jump through hoops. Hell, some of them are lucky to get the computer turned on, and have a workable desktop. I might as well be giving them Gentoo, and telling them to build their own O/S. Granted, these people aren't the ones bothered by extra toolbars, but I try to reinforce the notion that toolbars are for n00bs, and are inherently bad. What will they think when the software I recommend installs toolbars?

This sucks. Avria had the best (least intrusive system impact) performance of the antivir apps, and now they've cluttered it up. I've also installed it on a dozen or so machines, so this really bites. Having read the administrative response on their forums, seems like it only dials home for three reboots, to confirm whether or not the ask.com toolbar is installed-

 

[Harvey]

Heh, figures. I've seen Avast try to pull similar bundleware stunts.

True, but I still like and use Avast. A lot of software tries to add toolbars and other crud on istallation, but at least, Avast makes it clear when they do it, and they accept your choices when you uncheck the options to install them.

 

[pyonir]

It uses Windows Update. If you have Windows Update set to "Never" in Win7 HP (64-bit, though I doubt it matters the bitness), and install MSE, it changes your auto-update preferences to "Automatic", without telling you.

This is because it uses the WU engine behind-the-scenes to update.

That's what I was afraid of. I turn off Windows Updates and do it manually when I get around to it. Been doing it that way for years and have no issues at all. I won't be using it then.

 

[BTA]

That's what I was afraid of. I turn off Windows Updates and do it manually when I get around to it. Been doing it that way for years and have no issues at all. I won't be using it then.

I'm not sure he's right. I always have my machines set to tell me when there's a Windows update but let me download and install. After installing MSE it did not change this (I just checked) and MSE says it last updated itself today.

 

[Miramonti]

I'm not sure he's right. I always have my machines set to tell me when there's a Windows update but let me download and install. After installing MSE it did not change this (I just checked) and MSE says it last updated itself today.

I think there is some sort of integration with Windows Update, perhaps checking for program updates, but definition updates are done with it's own program, mpcmdrun.exe. Each time MSSE starts, mpcmdrun.exe checks for updates. (atleast once a day that is, as I get an alert after I boot up in the morning.)

This is completely independent of Windows Update. If "check for latest virus/spyware definitions before running a scan" is checked, mpcmdrun.exe will again do the checking before a scan is run.

I like to be able to control my updates too, and I always have WU disabled until ready, and each morning I block mpcmdrun.exe on a per-session basis.

I will probably open it up to check for definition updates freely in the near future, but I first want to best understand it's behavior/timing that it contacts servers. So far I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary (such as some sort of data mining/reporting) that makes it appear to be doing anything more than checking for updates.

 

[Muse]

You have to close the pop-up with the red X.

You mean the one at the top right? Please excuse me, I'm color blind ... to me it's just the close X. Yes, that's the one I've been using. Three such closings and it doesn't bug me any more???

 

[Muse]

I honestly don't see why this is being made into such a huge issue. After clicking "install now" it gave me a screen asking if I wanted to install the toolbar and set Ask.com as my home page. I removed the check from both of those boxes and proceeded to upgrade my Avira without the additional Ask.com software. Yes, I'd prefer to not have it there at all, but it's very easy to just tell the program not to install the extras.

That's the most ridiculous bag of shit. Click Install Now is the way to avoid installation. D::'🙂eek:😱:hmm: Who in his right mind would guess that?

 

[FishAk]

1. Delete the three files following my method above.

2. Open a command prompt screen as administrator (Start > All Programs > Acessoires > right click command prompt and chose "run as administrator&quot😉

3. Type the following lines (the location of your avira folder depends on your configuration!):

cd c:\program files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop
md ApnToolbarInstaller.exe
md ApnStub.exe
md ApnIC.dll
attrib +r +a +s +h ApnToolbarInstaller.exe
attrib +r +a +s +h ApnStub.exe
attrib +r +a +s +h ApnIC.dll

This creates three hidden, write-protected directories with the same names as the ask.com files. Since no files can be added to a folder that already has directories with the same name, Avira's update process will skip adding the ask.com files to your Avira folder.
I tried it and it doesn't produce any errors or intervene with other updated files."

Thanks, Brasky. That works great.

 

[Muse]

It uses Windows Update. If you have Windows Update set to "Never" in Win7 HP (64-bit, though I doubt it matters the bitness), and install MSE, it changes your auto-update preferences to "Automatic", without telling you.

This is because it uses the WU engine behind-the-scenes to update.

So, if I install MSSE, I'll have Automatic WU enabled? This means MS decides what files I need, downloads and installs them automatically? I figure this is OK for MSSE, not so sure about all the other stuff, though. What are the issues?

Another question: MSSE works for XP Pro too? I have one Win7 64bit laptop, but my other machines are all XP Pro.

 

[Muse]

That's what I was afraid of. I turn off Windows Updates and do it manually when I get around to it. Been doing it that way for years and have no issues at all. I won't be using it then.

Well, I believe you can opt to download them automatically but only install upon your say so. That way I think you can choose what to install, what not to install. A balloon appears in your tray. Of course, that's another bugaboo. But that's what I've been doing on some of my systems.

 

[Muse]

I'm not sure he's right. I always have my machines set to tell me when there's a Windows update but let me download and install. After installing MSE it did not change this (I just checked) and MSE says it last updated itself today.

Oh, so MSE will update itself automatically even if you have Windows Update configured to download and ask before installation?

 

[FishAk]

I have MSE, Avira, and Malwearbytes- all the free versions installed- at the same time- on several W7 installs. The Avira and MSE apps include RealTime protection.

Malwarebytes had a "RealTime protection" promotional that lasted for a couple weeks recently. It's on demand again now.

I had interference between MSE and Avira on one occasion. Both wanted to quarantine a trojan at the same time. I had to temporarily disable one, and let the other handle it. That is the only time I have had an issue running multiple antimalware products, and the solution was simple, and straight forward.

MSE has not changed settings for the way I get MS updates- ever. I have "Check for updates but let me chose whether to download and install them" selected in all instances, and I have not had this setting get changed yet. (I just checked my GF's system, and it still has the correct setting)

There are two separate updates for MSE. One set is updated through the MSE console itself, and there is also an updated definitions download that you get through Windows Update.

 

[Arkaign]

^^ Running multiple AV products with active protection simultaneously is not recommended.

Hilariously, I did see a divide by zero (just an expression) that resulted from this configuration. It was a conflict between an old McAfee business AV product and Symantec endpoint. A virus came in through an email I think, and one of the AV programs was like ooo, whats this? I'll put you in the quarantine, which is when the other AV program was like, how interesting? I'll put you in my quarantine, which is when the first AV program was like, wow, another virus? I'll put you in my quarantine, and on and on. It was actually kind of awesome to watch, this poor old P4 1.8 or so was beating its brains out trying to endlessly shuffle the virus around.

 

[Anubis]

^^ Running multiple AV products with active protection simultaneously is not recommended.

ive been running both avira and MSEE for years on more then 1 comp and 3 different OSes without issue

 

[Arkaign]

ive been running both avira and MSEE for years on more then 1 comp and 3 different OSes without issue

Well, I should clarify. You can sometimes have more than one AV product installed, but it's usually bad news to try to have more than one installed with the typical realtime scanning that is enabled by default. Quite often installing a new product it will either warn you that it's detected a current AV product already there and offer to remove it, or refuse to install until the previous AV product has been removed.

Exceptions are configurations which have explicitly been tested to work together without conflict, eg:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiscanning

 

[FishAk]

Running multiple AV products with active protection simultaneously is not recommended.

I understand it's not recommended- even by some experts. At the same time, it is recommended. I know this, because I personally recommend it.

I have had a few instances where one product caught an intruder, while another missed it. The one time I had a conflict they couldn't resolve between them, it was easy to fix. I don't schedule their scans to run at the same time, but in my experience, they actively protect quite happily together.

 

[Arkaign]

I understand it's not recommended- even by some experts. At the same time, it is recommended. I know this, because I personally recommend it.

I have had a few instances where one product caught an intruder, while another missed it. The one time I had a conflict they couldn't resolve between them, it was easy to fix. I don't schedule their scans to run at the same time, but in my experience, they actively protect quite happily together.

Fair enough, and if you need harcore AV, I could see that being decent. I haven't had a virus/spyware in about 10 years though (had a pc get hit with Blaster, but took about 10 minutes to fix that back in '03). I run MSE (used to run Avira, before that AVG before it became bloatware) and if I'm going to venture off the comfortable internet I just use a VM. I'm very picky about reduced performance 🙁

The bottom line is what works for you is best though, and your scenario sounds loads better than some neophyte who's managed somehow to install McAfee and Norton Internet Security simultaneously 😀