AVG is engaging in questionable activities (warning)
AVG is engaging in questionable activities (warning)
i'm not sure if shady is the right term here. recently i visited my friends' houses, and most of them were using the trial pro version. i thought they accidentally clicked on the upgrade button thinking it was an update, but it actually happened often. people were getting the 2015 update from avg, and sometimes "ultimate protection" was set by default. when i upgraded my computer downstairs, "basic protection" was selected automatically. but after updating my laptop to the 2015 version, "ultimate protection" was chosen by default as shown here. if you have a non-technical friend or relative, let them know about this situation. they might have upgraded by mistake. you can use a simple downgrader tool from avg to fix it.
I've only noticed the massive banner at the bottom that reads "UPGRADE NOW," which I accidentally clicked on, yet I've never seen anything similar before.
It's due to the fact that the word FREE is often misinterpreted as a special term, though it's simply a regular word. Additionally, the default settings for major updates differ between the basic and Pro versions, which can be confusing.
Be very cautious when using installers now. Many free, high-quality programs allow third parties to insert malicious code into their installers. It’s important to thoroughly review each section to confirm nothing harmful is being added.
It's becoming more common these days, and AVG is now filled with their own intrusive software. Features like the AVG toolbar and Secure Search work, but from a security standpoint, MSE matches AVG Free without any ads or tricks to push you toward a paid plan.