Nasty AVG Search Toolbar

[corkyg]

This morning, I did my usual weekly drive rotation. The boot/load cycle was unusually slow, and before it was completed, I got a pop up from AVG to change my search toolbar from Google to AVG. I checked the leave it alone box, and it continued to load. It took a long time. When I opened my browser, it was corrupted with a AVG page, and I could not get to my homepage. I disabled the AVG toolbar, but that didn't work.

Two successive, very slow reboots did not solve the problem. I could not get into MSCONFIG to uncheck any AVG crap. Finally I simply cloned the drive from my good reserve drive, and that solved the problem.

What kind of insidious nonsense is AVG pulling? They cost me a good two hours of work I didn't need, and I will definitely not use any of their products henceforth.

Anyone else suffer a similar invasion?

 

[Mem]

I always double check any software I install,free programs normally try to sneak in something like this or Chrome browser etc...

Anyway removal guide for AVG here http://www.avg.com/gb-en/faq.num-5200 .

 

[PliotronX]

For removing pesky browser addons automagically because I work on a high volume of systems, Adwcleaner does a great job.

 

[Virgorising]

Truly disgusting!!!D: But hi marks for 'insidious nonsense" :sneaky:

Do you run Hijack This? Still very effective re BHOs. I would not be without it.

I so relate to using Old School internal backup strategy to do reverse clones when necessary, however rarely!!!!:thumbsup:

Sometimes, checking what is starting in "services" and deleting the felon if it is there helps. Also, going into the registry and manually deleting keys.

 

[Berryracer]

Use Pale Moon, none of the antivirus/security products toolbars gets installed on it

PS: and never install any toolbars man, I always opt out of any toolbar, be it security or search or what not

 

[Virgorising]

Use Pale Moon, none of the antivirus/security products toolbars gets installed on it

PS: and never install any toolbars man, I always opt out of any toolbar, be it security or search or what not

I ditto. All things Google increasingly out of control and invading privacy with impunity.

I luv Pale Moon.

And, been using IXquick for well over a year as my only search engine. IT DOES NOT TRACK. Also does not try to read yr mind and insult yr intelligence thereby. Nor is it COMMERCE centered. Which Fakebook too is increasingly just to stay alive.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I once downloaded a program and it had all that free toolbar nonsense.
So I unchecked everything and proceeded to install the program.

It loaded the tool bar anyways.

I deleted the tool bar.

I went online and somebody had posted that even unchecking everything the TOS said it would install the toolbar regardless..lolol

That by clicking install you had agreed to installing toolbar..lol

 

[Virgorising]

I once downloaded a program and it had all that free toolbar nonsense.
So I unchecked everything and proceeded to install the program.

It loaded the tool bar anyways.

I deleted the tool bar.

I went online and somebody had posted that even unchecking everything the TOS said it would install the toolbar regardless..lolol

That by clicking install you had agreed to installing toolbar..lol

I have experienced this twice. It's disgusting.:thumbsdown: Desperation sometimes makes for Fascism and trumps integrity.

And these apps cut deals and are hell bent on being able to report a given number of innocent, trusting humans got the unwanted add ons despite they unchecked everything.

 

[Morbus]

Alcohol 120% does that, but it's not a toolbar, it's an unpdate checker that runs minimized and starts on boot.

I killed it with fire to the best of my abilities and it hasn't bothered me since.

That said, people need to be VERY careful about freeware installers these days. Toolbar "no thanks" buttons are usually disguised as "cancel the installation now" buttons, and I've seen a load of different techniques being used:

- grayed out buttons;
- requiring you to CHECK (not uncheck) a checkbox to bypass its installation
- requiring you to go into "advanced installation", and sometimes into a "settings" menu
- "cancel" labeled buttons
- "back" labeled buttons
- "yes" labeled buttons (really, you have to be a special kind of crappy software company if you know you'll get more installs from people who want to avoid your application that from people who don't!)

It's a jungle out there people. Be VERY careful.

 

[Virgorising]

Forgot....I also have this freeware:

http://toolbarcleaner.com/

 

[manko]

I gave up on AVG many years ago when it started to get so bloated with a version update that it slowed down one of my old systems to a crawl.

Were you not able to boot into safe mode? Since you had a backup to restore it wouldn't have been worth the trouble, but I have had luck with boot cds to delete or rename files to disable less malicious junkware.

I've had this happen once with an old trusty freeware update that decided to add a toolbar. The installer froze, so I clicked next again, then when it resumed it flashed past the toolbar screen and I had to clean up the mess. After that, I went back to the old, junk-free version and never recommended that software again.

I feel like I'm taking a chance every time I uncheck one of those boxes (will it really work or not?), so I try to stick with open source or clean old versions as much as possible. Unfortunately, there are many cases where that's not an option, so I have to search for malware/toolbar/adware connections before installing in addition to the usual scans.

 

[PliotronX]

I gave up on AVG many years ago when it started to get so bloated with a version update that it slowed down one of my old systems to a crawl.

Were you not able to boot into safe mode? Since you had a backup to restore it wouldn't have been worth the trouble, but I have had luck with boot cds to delete or rename files to disable less malicious junkware.

I've had this happen once with an old trusty freeware update that decided to add a toolbar. The installer froze, so I clicked next again, then when it resumed it flashed past the toolbar screen and I had to clean up the mess. After that, I went back to the old, junk-free version and never recommended that software again.

I feel like I'm taking a chance every time I uncheck one of those boxes (will it really work or not?), so I try to stick with open source or clean old versions as much as possible.

So depressing! You might have luck with Universal Extractor on the offending installers and spring the executables of the newer versions as a portable distribution. Does the job for me :thumbsup:

 

[manko]

So depressing! You might have luck with Universal Extractor on the offending installers and spring the executables of the newer versions as a portable distribution.

Thanks. I have used that and similar utilities on occasion with some success, but they don't always work. That is a good point though and I always look out for official portable builds if they're available.

 

[Dulanic]

These types of programs are getting insane and sneaky. It isn't enough to just say no, you sometimes need to decline the terms and conditions... which is super tricky since unless you pay attention, you think it's the terms and conditions of the program you're trying to install.

 

[Doomer]

I once downloaded a program and it had all that free toolbar nonsense.
So I unchecked everything and proceeded to install the program.

It loaded the tool bar anyways.

I deleted the tool bar.

I went online and somebody had posted that even unchecking everything the TOS said it would install the toolbar regardless..lolol

That by clicking install you had agreed to installing toolbar..lol

There was a time when said company would have been sued out of existence after answering to the courts. Not anymore. People just don't give a damn.

 

[Virgorising]

That said, people need to be VERY careful about freeware installers these days. Toolbar "no thanks" buttons are usually disguised as "cancel the installation now" buttons, and I've seen a load of different techniques being used:

U bet. Sites I once downloaded freeware from happily became corrupt over time by hooking up with all manner of "installers" you do not want in yr life.

MajorGeeks remains splendid and integrity driven.

I appreciate they who write freewares need and deserve normal income! But sorry, the above (sneaky monkey/trying to get over on us) is not the way to generate it.

 

[Virgorising]

There was a time when said company would have been sued out of existence after answering to the courts. Not anymore. People just don't give a damn.

Important point, above, and sadly, in almost every arena!

New norm emerging via people getting beaten up over time, learning to settle with diminished expectations......general defeatism.

Makes the foxes who try to steal the chicken coop feel much safer. Sadly, they are.

Few mos ago, I bought a sea sponge (crucial for the bath0- form some site in florida. I knew when I got no normal email confirmation form him, only from PayPal, I had been had. I went online and found infinite complaints about this guy from over SIX YEARS! People posted in anguish but did not hang in and say, NOT ACCEPTABLE.....and took action to put an end to this evil.

I emailed PayPal with a clear account, said YOU, PP are the MAIN victim of this lone felon in some basement room in Florida! This is simple: KILL his account and then, make sure he can not open another!!!

And, no waiting, I want a refund issued ASAP; this is what it is, clear as day from this guy's history.

I then followed up via phone. Got fab PP rep, very smart, he got it all immediately, he used the links I had sent to the complaints pages.....going back to 05!!!!! Never received diddly, won't answer emails, the while lowlife deal! Two also said, I complained to PP and they did nuthin. Well you gotta be civilized and clear...or else you do not deserve to be listened to, much less have others act on what you report.

Well! In only a few hours, I went back to the lowlife's site, pretended I was buying another sponge.... and right off got window saying PP account suspended! I also again looked at his big page of "testimonials,' and realized they were all fake....all written (and badly) by HIM.

For over a year I would check his site every few weeks.....same account suspended, but the site was still up! Only recently when I looked, did the hyperlink to Florida Sponges... take me to only server not found.

See? Do not roll over, guys!!!!!! We are all this together!!! Accepting the unacceptable is bad for EVERY PART of us!!!!

 

[PliotronX]

Thanks. I have used that and similar utilities on occasion with some success, but they don't always work. That is a good point though and I always look out for official portable builds if they're available.

Next option: virtual XP in VirtualBox and package up to copy to your host computer with 7-Zip Foolproof! All freeware, no spyware baddies!

 

[corkyg]

Appreciate the discussion. Many good points. This case was did not provide the oppotunity to clean anything. It would not complete the loading process - no commands would work. The clonnbg of the drive from my reserve drive took ten minutes. Was done while I ate breakfast. After that, it has been good to go.

Just to make sure, I did a manual scrub for AVG using RegEdit and also let CCleaner have a shot. No problems after that.

Nothing like a current duplicate drive! I have them in all three computers.

 

[Virgorising]

Nothing like a current duplicate drive! I have them in all three computers.

:thumbsup::wub: If I did not have the backup drives with ongoing updated clones, I could not sleep.

Yep, sometimes you just gotta go in and find those keys yrself and get rid of them.

Wut did you have for breakfast?:sneaky: