Avg spy

[alga]

It appears from AVG `s license conditions that they reserve the right to collect personally identifiable information on the user's computer, such as IP address, hardware, and installed software. That would so far be in order if you ask the user nicely whether you would attend. Forcing the user to participate in this, is against common decency, and we condemn such practices. Even though AVG probably will not misuse this information.

Another problem with AVG was signed, even today. I installed AVG `s free LinkScanner. The included "Security Toolbar" which includes Yahoo search is winged by a priori, so the less attentive user will have this installed, a quick installation of the program. Various toolbars should be something you even opt, and not something you will impose, in the way it is here.

I chose to install the toolbar, to see what security features it could possibly contain. In the next screen I get offered to opt in to Yahoo as my default search provider. This was such an option, so you have to put a checkbox if you want this. Fine enough, I failed to put the check mark, to keep Google as my preferred search provider.

When I saw had finished the installation, the Google toolbar popped up with information about my default search was being changed to Yahoo. If I had not received the warning, my search would therefore have been hijacking of the AVG to Yahoo, against my wish. I find it totally unacceptable that a security firm carries out acts which would otherwise only be done with dishonest software which they claim to want to protect their users against.
> skift

[Raymond]

That is why I strongly suggest people to stay away from AVG.
Use Microsoft Security Essentials or Avira.

[djwatford]

Does this just apply to the free version?

[newprouser]

their standard seems to have fallen considerably from last year. ever since they had 3 consecutive problems last year, they've been in news for all the wrong reasons.

[Bluedot]

Yes I've faced this problem too. Not only AVG, few other software too make the installation of Yahoo or Ask.com toolbar forced or forcefully make them the default search providers. It's Yahoo or Ask's marketing strategy - forceful installation of their software through popular security programs. These companies pay the antivirus companies to do this, which results in increasing disappointment among the customers against such antivirus companies or such search engines.

When will they ever learn !!

[luffy]

It's money. Most customer is noob. Only a few know about Ask toolbar is bad.

[jock]

I just downloaded AVG and it gives you the option of Downloading the Toolbar and Yahoo search.
I had no problem downloading AVG without the addition of the Toolbar and yahoo search.
Avg is free and we still moan about it .
I think you will find that McAfee used to have the same [right to collect personally identifiable information on the user's computer, such as IP address, hardware, and installed software.]Now not sure if they still do it or not.
A lot of folk have been moving from Avira because of the constant pop ups that they get wanting them to upgrade to the paid version.
Avast unless it has changed recently when running a full scan which would take about 3 hours on my computer.if it found any problems it would stop scanning until you gave it the go ahead to carry on.
That was ok as long as you were in the room with it but if you went out and came back in a couple of hours it may have only scanned for 5 minutes and then stopped at the first problem.
At least with AVG you can set it to scan when you are going out and it will automatically power down the computer when it has finished.

[leofelix]

I
Avg is free and we still moan about it .

AVG is ad-supported.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/AVG-Free-Edition.shtml

Installers Hall of Shame (Unwanted add-on)

[freewear]

It appears from AVG `s license conditions that they reserve the right to collect personally identifiable information on the user's computer, such as IP address, hardware, and installed software.

That is why I strongly suggest people to stay away from AVG.

If you think AVG has a questionable license, take a good look at Comodo's EULA. There's threads all over the net disscussing their privacy issues.

[safeguy]

That is why I strongly suggest people to stay away from AVG.
Use Microsoft Security Essentials or Avira.

I support that...Avira is the way to go...AVG is not bad for free despite the toolbars (you can opt out from it)...but why opt for a Toyota when you can get Mercedes