[PSA For Avast! Users] Disable/Turn off the "Self Defense Module"

I've just encountered an annoying and absolutely intrusive feature of my favorite "Free" Anti-virus provider Avast!It's called the "Self Defense Module" which when turned on "allegedly" prevents malware and virii from disabling and/or even uninstalling the AV. Sounds too good to be true? Yes it does because it comes at a terrible price :PAs it turns out this feature conflicts with Windows' (any version) native "system protection" system, namely the "system restore" system. With "SDM" (for short) turned on any created system restore point gets corrupted and therefore unusable :oHere are two threads that reported this issue on Avast!'s webforum some time ago:https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=162728.0
https://forum.avast.com/?topic=155852.0And here's another issue where Avast! messes around with System Protection's "Allocated disk space" setting over shooting the setting to 50% of the disk:https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=162041.0Finally there's my current issue:https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=174508.0Where Avast! is setting the allocated space a little to small at 3% thus DELETING all of my previous restore points as that's just how Windows do things instead of at least keeping one (the latest) at least :PSo for now I just disabled this extremely intrusive feature and am hoping for the best. Good thing I've been Malware and virus free for the entire year though :)For those of you fellow Avast! users who'd also want to turn this intrusive feature off you can do so by accessing Avast!'s UI then clicking on Settings > Troubleshooting and there it will be, just untick its option box then confirm that you're turning it off and you're done.

you don't need 50% system protection space, there's no need for more than 10%.I don't like avast! anymore anyway, because they started using their 'emergency updates' procedure for normal updates, which means the comp regularly sits at a black screen for 10 minutes during startup and I get called to 'fix' it.

Replying to #2

Indeed but for a while Avast! seems to have broken that fact. And now they seem to have fixed it but in the opposite direction, forcibly setting the allocated space to 3%.

Loonylionyou don't need 50% system protection space, there's no need for more than 10%.I don't like avast! anymore anyway...

These current new features they're adding (which I feel are unnecessary) is slowly getting to me as well...If AV vendors would only step away from subscription based payment methods and just let us purchase a life time license, I'd buy one in an instant. But asking for $30+ USD for a full year subscription is just asking too much IMHO.

Loonylion...because they started using their 'emergency updates' procedure for normal updates, which means the comp regularly sits at a black screen for 10 minutes during startup and I get called to 'fix' it.

That's such a scary scenario loony, glad I never encountered anything like that... yet.

Loonylion · #2which means the comp regularly sits at a black screen for 10 minutes during startup and I get called to 'fix' it.

Seriously, i use avast and the longest i get is 42 to 23 seconds.....or are you exaggerating. Yes i literally use a timer to see how long it takes my computer to start.

Replying to #4

I'm not exaggerating, it's long enough for mum to think it's broken and come and get me from upstairs, and for me to do ctrl alt del to find that avast! is doing something and to sit and wait for it to finish. It's easily multiple minutes.

Replying to #5

ok that there just tells me everything i need to know.

I since i know on my new laptop, gotten my restore points so much filled as to 50% of my HDD space, wich is about 250GB.
It would fill everyday and i had to remvoe it and set it to max 2% but it would just go back day after day of making restore points for some reason.Could this also be avast?

Replying to #7

Most likely, take a read on this thread to make sure:
https://forum.avast.com/?topic=162041.0Also one of the forum moderators on Avast!'s webforum suggested uninstalling the "Virtual Machines" component of Avast! because some people have also reported having issues with it. To do so, run Avast!'s uninstaller (through "Programs and Features" within "Control Panel" but instead of choosing a full uninstall select "Change" instead, then untick the "Virtual Machines" option at the middle column. Let the changes go through and thereafter reboot your system.

Speaking of Avast, they recently removed their Anti-Virus app from the Play Store. Now there're only; Battery Saver, Anti-Theft, Ransomware Remover, BackUp & Restore, and SecureLine VPN in the app store. Basic services free with in-app purchasable premium features.

Replying to #9

What the heck~!? :oRFE: Addendum:It seems even the folks at Avast!'s webforums are perplexed at this sudden disappearance of the app from the app store:https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=174822.0

Who wouldn't. It may be free (basic service), but those who had paid premium have every right be to worried.
I had installed the anti-virus app free version, removed it to make space for other app, miraculously the Anti-theft feature (integrated to the already removed anti virus) still function. Everytime I change the SIM card with another, my other phone would still receive alerts.Weird huh? I wonder why and what's going on.

Finally some light has been shed regarding the missing Avast! app from Google's Play Store:

VlkHi everyone,As many of you already noticed, our two flagship Android apps, Avast Mobile Security (AMS) and Avast Cleanup, were removed from Google Play since this past Saturday.This is because they have been (unilaterally) suspended from the store by Google.The official reason we have been given is that the way we distribute/recommend the apps is not compliant with Google Play's policies.
Since Saturday, we have been working diligently to get the problem resolved. We expect that the apps will return to Google Play in the next few days.Users who already have the apps installed on their devices shouldn't experience any problems (and the virus definitions continue to be updated even during the time the app is suspended from the store, i.e. you are still protected against the latest threats).Thanks, and sorry for the inconvenience.
Vlk

Source => https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=174955.0RFE: Addendum:The app is back on Google Play Y'all :)

Took 'em long enough :Phttps://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=174508.msg1252450#msg1252450

I thought I read something about Avast and AVG the other day selling data collection to third parties.I still use COMODO and it seems to work just fine.