My recent experience with Avast antivirus software.

[KE4AVB]

Just got vent my frustration with Avast.

I just now recovering my main computer from the last Avast update. The first time a month ago it crash my system I went back one restore point. This time Avast software wanted to install another software update which let it do thinking maybe they fixed the problem. Again it caused DNS errors. This time I call Avast support 800 number. They wanted to access my computer which I agree as I felt it was their software that was causing the problem. After a few minutes said it was not their software and want $120 fix the problem which I declined.

Now here is what the tech did to me. He locked my Firefox software to where it would only access my home page; nothing else in Firefox. I rebooted my computer and it would only boot in safe mode and refused to access any of the back-up files. The tech even deleted my administrator password. I was lucky enough to have set a back-up administrator account which the tech apparently didn't see. I was able to restore everything but keep coming up memory crashes which for some reason Windows wasn't adjusting the disk memory cache. The system is still refusing to access my Windows 7 install DVD but I know why as I got put the DVD drive back in as I am using it on the shop computer.

It didn't even dawn on me until the next day what comment the tech made. It was when I told him I would straighten the system myself as I didn't have funds to space at the current time. Here what he said "Fix IF you can or call us back and pay the $120.00". It sounded like stories I have heard where a group would put software on your computer for free and then want money to remove it.

I am dumping Avast and going back to Avira. It has been just one bad experience for me and they have lost my trust. I am glad I do both daily and weekly backups to a large hard drive on a networked drive.

[bgsengine]

I would highly recommend AVG - much more reasonable cost and does not install as deep to a drive as norton, and much better than McAfee - have had no trouble with AVG, though I do have it set on where I have to approve or decline a whole lot of firewall things (by choice) - It took some reading and several months of tweaking bit by bit but it has been problem free for me.

Use caution assuming that your full re-install or recovery solves the problem (Unless you have replaced the whole hard drive) - it would be no trouble for a remote tech to install a back door rootkit on your boot partition which would just re-launch itself as soon as you start up (hidden partitions)

Have only ever had experience with AVG, McAfee and Norton - Panda and Avast Ive read horror stories about both, so never even tried them. Norton eventually caused the PC to crash (memory hog) and installed so deep to the system it was impossible to completely remove it (haven't used it since 2005-ish) - McAfee - have used many years but I dislike the company as they (experienced with 2 people I know, besides me..) want to get you to auto renew - and then they send reminders and notices making you think you may as well go through the renewal process - and then they end up re-subscribing you to TWO software subscriptions when you have only one computer - then you get 2 auto renew charges a year.. - I got nailed by that trick twice and they do not make it easy to figure out which subscription is for which currently installed version you have.

So, on my latest PC I removed McAfee (not gonna give them a 3rd chance!) and installed AVG paid version (can get free version too) and it has been excellent so far. - my other McAfee installs, I completely ignore the "renew now and save" emails and just let the auto renew go through.

[rrrhre2s]

I am wondering if this could have happened in your case:

You Tube video

https://youtu.be/FR44IVgaNpE?t=828

Carey Holzman and Tech support scam artists ...

This is where he brings up Google that tech support number before calling them...

rrrhre2s

[bobodu]

I have been only running the free AVG for years and years.....

[38racing]

I have been only running the free AVG for years and years.....

Ditto ( the metric version)