Same for me, but I was updating Java instead of Adobe stuff. I'm pretty sure Avast bundled Pokki, and some bs game called Dragons of Atlantis, with my Java update.

Yup, just the software updater. Ill still use Avast for virus scans but I wont be using it to update any more software haha

I know no more about it than you do. But we're not the only ones to notice this. See this blog post, for example, for an insight into how OP might have accidentally installed it.

Guess I shouldn't recommend Avast any more, however much I like the AV software. I'll keep using it until I decide on a replacement but I definitely won't be using its software updater.

Yes

I will stop recommending Avast!

I was not using it myself anymore anyway, I shifted to Bitdefender Free AV on my main computer.

On my laptop I have MS Security Essentials, because when I'm traveling it is really easy to stop auto update virus signatures and not consume the 500 MB/month data bandwidth of my 3G modem.

I'm going to install Avast on a Windows 7 ultimate system with minimial installed programs and test this.

I installed Avast. I ch0se not 2 install Google Chrome (default), and I chose custom install to look at the options but left everything default. I saw @ module called software updater, and it was checked by default.

After installing Avast and running the initial scan., I have no programs such as "Pokki",., or "Dragons of Atlantis". I have not however updated any software with the Avast software updater, all my software listed in it is up to date.




UNLESS SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED, DO NOT POST THIS LOG.
IF REQUESTED, ZIP IT UP & ATTACH IT
.
DDS (Ver_2012-11-20.01)
.
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Install Date: 2/5/2014 12:42:39 PM
System Uptime: 5/24/2014 12:54:27 AM (0 hours ago)
.
Motherboard: Dell Inc. | | 0WG261
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz | Microprocessor | 2992/800mhz
.
==== Disk Partitions =========================
.
C: is FIXED (NTFS) - 74 GiB total, 43.719 GiB free.
D: is CDROM ()
.
==== Disabled Device Manager Items =============
.
==== System Restore Points ===================
.
RP54: 5/24/2014 12:48:53 AM - avast! antivirus system restore point
.
==== Installed Programs ======================
.
Adobe Flash Player 13 ActiveX
Adobe Flash Player 13 Plugin
Adobe Reader XI (11.0.07)
Algebra Solved!
avast! Free Antivirus
Definition Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB982726) 32-Bit Edition
Dropbox
HP LaserJet Professional P1100-P1560-P1600 Series
Java 7 Update 55
Java Auto Updater
Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit version 0.09.5.1000
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1
Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1
Microsoft Office Access MUI (English) 2010
Microsoft Office Access Setup Metadata MUI (English) 2010
Microsoft Office Excel MUI (English) 2010
Microsoft Office Groove MUI (English) 2010
Microsoft Office InfoPath MUI (English) 2010
Microsoft Office OneNote MUI (English) 2010
Microsoft Office Outlook MUI (English) 2010
Microsoft Office PowerPoint MUI (English) 2010
Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010
Microsoft Office Proof (English) 2010
Microsoft Office Proof (French) 2010
Microsoft Office Proof (Spanish) 2010
Microsoft Office Proofing (English) 2010
Microsoft Office Publisher MUI (English) 2010
Microsoft Office Shared MUI (English) 2010
Microsoft Office Shared Setup Metadata MUI (English) 2010
Microsoft Office Word MUI (English) 2010
Mozilla Firefox 29.0.1 (x86 en-US)
Mozilla Maintenance Service
MyITLab
myitlab Plug-in/ActiveX Installer
Pre-Algebra Solved!
Security Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1 (KB2898869)
Security Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1 (KB2901126)
Security Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1 (KB2931368)
Security Update for Microsoft Excel 2010 (KB2826033) 32-Bit Edition
Security Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2553284) 32-Bit Edition
Security Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2687423) 32-Bit Edition
Security Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2810073) 32-Bit Edition
Security Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2826023) 32-Bit Edition
Security Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2826035) 32-Bit Edition
Security Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2850016) 32-Bit Edition
Security Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2878284) 32-Bit Edition
Security Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2880971) 32-Bit Edition
Security Update for Microsoft Word 2010 (KB2863926) 32-Bit Edition
Service Pack 2 for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2687455) 32-Bit Edition
SumatraPDF
TP-LINK 150Mbps Wireless N USB Adapter Driver
TP-LINK Wireless Configuration Utility
Update for Microsoft Access 2010 (KB2553446) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Filter Pack 2.0 (KB2878281) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft InfoPath 2010 (KB2817369) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft InfoPath 2010 (KB2817396) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2589298) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2589352) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2589375) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2597087) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2760598) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2760631) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2794737) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2825635) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2825640) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2850079) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Office 2010 (KB2878225) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft OneNote 2010 (KB2837595) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Outlook 2010 (KB2687567) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 (KB2837579) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft SharePoint Workspace 2010 (KB2760601) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Visio 2010 (KB2880526) 32-Bit Edition
Update for Microsoft Visio Viewer 2010 (KB2837587) 32-Bit Edition
WinPcap 4.1.3
Wireshark 1.10.6 (32-bit)
.
==== Event Viewer Messages From Past Week ========
.
5/24/2014 5:29:04 AM, Error: bowser [8003] - The master browser has received a server announcement from the computer JF98-K690 that believes that it is the master browser for the domain on transport NetBT_Tcpip_{F4AA1082-2D27-48E2-BEAC-FD1081D1. The master browser is stopping or an election is being forced.
.
==== End Of File ===========================

Gabe (and others)

Just an update to say I've chosen to continue using the Avast AV product... but only because there's an option to turn off the software updater entirely. It's in Settings - Tools - Software Updater.

Happy with it otherwise, but distinctly unimpressed with the bundling of crapware.

I don't care much about being able to switch things off. I have booted Avast off my computer. **** them. I can recommend bitdefender free AV. I think it is really good.