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10493
June 13th, 2011 14:00
Avira Joins the Dark Side?
Looks like Avira has partnered with the highly questionable Ask.com, and Uniblue RegistryBooster, installing both by default with their free Anti-Vir AV.
These programs are adware at best, possibly scamware, and have no place belonging in a security product. I once used, trusted, and recommended both the free and paid versions of Anti-Vir.
No more. Like Ad-aware, Zone Alarm, Comodo and AVG, they have lost my trust.
http://forum.avira.com/wbb/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=131604&pageNo=1
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/uniblue-registry-booster-c337077.html
http://www.pcqanda.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=2&topic_id=533340&mode=full
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siljaline
94 Posts
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June 18th, 2011 00:00
Corrine's Blog information has confirmed that Avira has gone to the dark side - I would be livid if I was an Avira user.
Bugbatter
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June 13th, 2011 16:00
:emotion-39: [smut filtered]!
Bugbatter
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June 13th, 2011 17:00
The day may come when we remove this from our list of free AV software here and at a few other sites.
Thanks, Joe, and keep us updated on developments if I miss them.
joe53
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June 13th, 2011 19:00
Thanks Bb:
I can't confirm these allegations. I just downloaded/installed the default Anti-Vir on my XP system, and see no evidence of any tool-bar or of the UniBlue RegistryBooster. Not in my IE8 add-ons, nor in my Control Panel> Add or Remove Programs.
Very curious!
joe53
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June 14th, 2011 19:00
More info
It seems that this Faustian deal only applies to the beta version of SP2, due to be released by Avira soon (which explains why I didn't see it in the current free version I trialed):
forum.avira.com/.../index.php
Also this from Softpedia:
"In addition to the RegistryBooster controversy, Avira seems to have also upset some users by bundling a rebranded version of the Ask toolbar in the upcoming AntiVir Personal SP2. Screenshots published by the company suggest that a Web protection component called WebGuard cannot be installed without this toolbar...
Update: We have changed the licensing type on our Avira AntiVir Personal listing from "Freeware" to "Ad-supported" as a result of this incident."
Ref: news.softpedia.com/.../Avira-Criticized-for-Recommending-Controversial-Product-205954.shtml
Shabby practices, Avira!
- Cripple your AV unless one accepts the rebranded Ask toolbar?
- Foist this useless toolbar on new users by making it install by default?
- Aggressive scareware ads from a useless wholescale registry cleaner? And one that is notoriously difficult to uninstall, from all I have read?
Shame on Avira. (What were they thinking?)
Bugbatter
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June 16th, 2011 09:00
Corrine's blog: http://securitygarden.blogspot.com/2011/06/avira-antivir-adds-ask-toolbar-and.html
mombodog
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June 19th, 2011 10:00
Too many free choices, knock them off your list! Too bad some companies do this for profit.
Bugbatter
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June 19th, 2011 13:00
Pretty soon that list may be pretty short.
I believe we'll add a caveat instead: http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=10996.0
joe53
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June 19th, 2011 18:00
Adding a "caveat" about declining unnecessary toolbars is well and good for knowledgeable users, but I worry about new users. Once they see a free program on a recommended list from a trusted source, will they read the fine print in the generic preamble and recognize Avira's rebranded Ask toolbar for what it is?
I doubt it. More likely they will just click on "accept" for everything Avira offers. Including an aggressively marketed Uniblue Registry cleaner, especially if pushed as a free trial. WOT's Uniblue website rating is not encouraging:
http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/uniblue.com
At the very least, I would suggest that your list might have to include the specific proviso about Ask in the Anti-Vir AV entry, as was done for the free ZoneAlarm firewall entry here:
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=8659.0
I suppose we will have to wait and see how Avira actually rolls out the new version of the free Anti-Vir, and what extras (and how they) are offered. Perhaps they will moderate their offers, make Ask an "Opt-in" option, and dump Uniblue.
But I am not optimistic.