Warning: New version of Avira Antivirus automatically installs ASK toolbar

[Ketchup]

My CCleaner doesn't. Get portable or slim, and you should be hitchhiker-free.

Good to know. I am in such a habit of unchecking these things any more, I really don't care if it comes with the stuff anymore, as long as I can unselect it.

 

[abaez]

berryracer's vendetta against MSE is just comical. I remember reading his first hate thread like two years ago.

 

[Berryracer]

berryracer's vendetta against MSE is just comical. I remember reading his first hate thread like two years ago.

if it was good, I would be praising it everywhere

I love the fact that it is the least obtrusive, no ads, no nags, wish it performed better

 

[Anubis]

Any company bundling shovelware needs to go bankrupt lickity split. This is an absolutely awful business practice bundling that crap into a product.

so like 99% of companys because everyone seems to bundle in chrome now, which IMO is crapware

 

[John Connor]

LOL! Yeah.

 

[balloonshark]

http://www.avira.com/en/avira-searchfree-toolbar

If I remember correctly I did a custom install and made sure both boxes were unticked when it came to the ASK screen. I'm not sure what happens when the program updates...

If I see ASK I'll be going with Avast. I install Avast on my relatives machines.

 

[John Connor]

I still use Avira on my desktop, but will be installing Bitdefender on my parents computer. I was reading about it and it looks like it has a great detection ability and removal ability. I read on Wikipedia that Bitdefender was incompatible with Comodo firewall, but I ran them side by side in a Win 7 virtual machine and got no trouble.

 

[Slickone]

This tells how to uninstall the toolbar without getting rid of the web protection.

 

[John Connor]

Did a fresh install of Win 7 and added Avira and there was no tool bar. Just choose custom install. I have Avira on the desktop and Bitdefender on the laptop. I used to have Avira on both. When I installed Bitdefender on the desktop it deleted some stuff I didn't want deleted, or at least quarantined them. So I used Avira now on the desktop.

 

[gamerboi]

so i got a notice on my screen that Avira has a new version.
i let it download and run the thru the install.

i chose 'custom' install because the "recommended" install usually installs the stupid ASK toolbar or whatever adware.

well, i get to the next screen and Win7 warns me that Avira is trying to install the ASK toolbar. WTF?!

i say not to that. rest of the install is ok.

Avira is getting shady...

Ye, I hate these damn installers

You have to be careful these days with installers - you have to watch out fo r these things man!

Even "respected" programs and companies are using those these days.

 

[mikeymikec]

there are much better free options out there like AVG for example which gets very good detection rates according to the latest AV Comparatives tests

Which also bundles crapware in the form of the AVG Toolbar. The only difference is that it's not running off the Ask search engine, the benefits for AVG remain the same. AVG also tries to peddle "AVG Tune Up", even to users who have paid for an AVG product (though curiously the AVG Toolbar doesn't come with the paid versions IIRC).

As for Avira, I too have seen Avira/Ask toolbar on customers' computers with Avira AV installed.


Perhaps I'm being overly cynical, but IMO honest AV just isn't a profitable (enough) business these days, though I'm wondering whether there's a niche in the market for users who don't want to be taken advantage of - a decent product coupled with a genuine "do no evil" motto. I also wonder whether traditionally free services such as FB and e-mail could profit from a paltry monthly charge in exchange for no advertising, no undesirable behaviour and a service that works.

 

[Pardus]

Avira toolbar can be easily removed from Control Panel > Programs and Features.

 

[Hugh Jass]

if it was good, I would be praising it everywhere

I'm sure MS cares.