Free Avast

[Bazile]

I downloaded the above

It then did a scan and then displayed this page

https://ibb.co/THtJYmF

I then clicked 'resolve all ' and this screen came up

https://ibb.co/vYBr90w


Then this screen came up

https://ibb.co/vYBr90w

Then this screen
https://ibb.co/ZLPXPxb

Looks like I have inadvertently subscribed to a free trial version to be paid for later .
If so how do I unsubscribe ?

Thanks

[JimF]

What operating system do you have installed?

[Buenchico]

I love nice, clear questions with pretty pictures to make them easier to understand!

No, you haven't entered into a free trial of the Premium version of Avast. That's simply what it's trying to get you to do now. Just close the window and ignore it.

[Bazile]

64 bit
Windows 10 Home
21 H2

Is that you need ?

[Bazile]

Chris - Didn't see your reply before i posted details of system.

Even though that last screen says '' cancel anytime before 24 November 2022 and you wont pay a thing ''

Are you saying i have not accepted the free trial ?

[Buenchico]

Yup! It just wants you to sign up for a trial and is pushing you towards it by letting you know how easy it would be to cancel if you changed your mind. You can safely ignore it.

[Bazile]

Ok thanks

What about the three advanced issues it says it's found

Is that anything that I should be worried/ doing something about ?

[Buenchico]

I'd be prepared to bet that every free security program (which is a cut-down version of a 'premium' one) will occasionally tell users that there's something on their computers that needs fixing by the full version ;-)

The 'issues' found by such software often relate to things on your computer that you never use anyway. Or they'll tell you about thins that, for example, any decent web browser automatically blocks.

If you're worried about the possibility of someone hacking your webcam, there are plenty of web pages that tell you how to reduce the chances of it happening for free (although your existing firewall will probably prevent it anyway), including this one from none other than Avast!
https://www.avast.com/c-webcam-security

Even simpler still, just stick a blob of Blu-tack over it!

;-)

[Canary42]

A little red light comes on next to my built-in webcam which is located just above my screen whenever it is activated so I usually notice. I also sometimes hang a small piece of card over it if I suspect a site might be about to use it. One minor drawback is that the screen-brightness-auto-set is compromised but that's no big deal.

[JimF]

If you're using Windows 10 or 11, you don't need a third-party anti-virus application. The updated version of Windows Defender is all you need.

[Bazile]

Now that I've downloaded Avast , do I need a firewall as well , or does Avast include a firewall ?

[Buenchico]

Installing Avast should disable the anti-virus component of Windows Defender but still leave its firewall running. To check if it is, type 'firewall' into the Windows search box and click on 'Windows Defender Firewall'. You'll then see 'Private networks' and 'Guest or public networks'. Beneath each of those you should see 'Windows Defender Firewall state: On'. (You might need to click on a downward arrow to open that panel).

If either setting is shown as 'Off', click on 'Turn Windows Defender firewall on or off' to be able to turn it back on.

I used to use Avast but these days, just like Jim above, I'm happy to stick with the anti-virus protection that comes built into Windows anyway.

[SlackAlice]

//
If you're using Windows 10 or 11, you don't need a third-party anti-virus application. The updated version of Windows Defender is all you need. //
I'm with JimF on this one :)

[Bazile]

Thanks , i'll have a look a later

//I used to use Avast but these days, just like Jim above, I'm happy to stick with the anti-virus protection that comes built into Windows anyway.//

Chris Lol - and the reason i downloaded Avast was because you had recomended it .

If i'm not happy with avast , and de-installed it, would by computer automatically switch windows defender back on ?

[Buenchico]

The auto-update process of Windows security software used to have a nasty habit of getting stuck in a loop, meaning that computers got slowed to a crawl. (It wasn't a rare occurrence. I experienced it myself across many computers over the years).

Therefore I used to recommend that people ditch it as soon as possible. (If you go back far enough in my AB posts, you'll find that I originally recommended AVG but I then found similar problems with that software too. So Avast then became my preferred choice).
However Microsoft seem to have finally sorted out the problem. (It only took them a couple of decades!). So I'm now happy to stick with Windows Defender.

With regard to uninstalling Avast . . .
The program can sometimes be uninstalled in the same way that most software can be but, because anti-virus programs are made deliberately difficult to uninstall, the uninstall process might fail. If so, there's a special tool available from Avast to get around the problem. See here:
https://support.avast.com/en-gb/article/10/?option=av#pc

Once Avast has been fully uninstalled, the Windows anti-virus software should automatically kick back in again. To check that it has though, type 'security' into the search box and click on 'Windows Security'. Click the shield icon in the left-hand panel and scroll down to 'Virus and threat protection settings' to check that 'No action needed' is shown.

If that message isn't there, or if you simply want to double-check that everything is running as it should, click on 'Manage settings' to eventually reach a point where 'Real-time protection' is enabled.

[Bazile]

Thanks