Blocking the Annoying advertisements in Avast! Free Antivirus

Computer tips | May 2, 2010 | Security software, windows | 4 Comments

I’ve been looking at the differences between Avast! antivirus Pro and Free editions. I know that Pro version  includes the features of a script shield as well as a sandbox.However,the real time and behavior blocker in Avast free will also take care of any scripts.And since I am  sandboxed, I really have nothing to worry about it.I finally found the only reason I can see to get the Pro version is to disable the uber annoying ads.

Avast! Free Antivirus come with one ad on the Summary Current Status page.as seen in the screenshot below.

Blocking the Annoying advertisements in Avast! Free Antivirus

Blocking the Annoying advertisements in Avast! Free Antivirus

Then,I find two simple ways to Block the Annoying advertisements in Avast! Free Antivirus.

Updated: This methods are no longer available.

1,If you are using  a  firewall, It is very simple to Block the Annoying advertisements in Avast! Free Antivirus.Just block avastui.exe outbound connection with your firewall.

2,If you are not using a firewll,it is simple to achieve the goal too.You just need to edit the HOSTS file on your computer to block this ad entirely, while keeping your system fully protected.

All you have to do is open the HOSTS file as an administrator and add just one line, which is:
127.0.0.1 program.avast.com

The places to look for the host file in Windows 7 and vista is:

C:\\windows\\system32\\drivers\\etc

For Windows XP, the jpst file is located in:

c:\\windows\\system32\\drivers\\etc\\hosts

Then restart your PC and the annoying advertisements should have gone. So just enjoy Avast! Free Antivirus with no Annoying advertisements. This method will only work until Avast updates it’s location of the advertisement.

If you are using AVG or avira free antivirus,and want to block their advertisements  just check another two earlier articles.

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4 Comments
  1. ducsu

    I, too, am annoyed by the advertisement. I have the free version and is registered with over 277 days left. We shouldn’t have to see the ads for registered customers.

    Editing the hosts file doesn’t work anymore.

    • william

      @ducsu, yea, you are right. This method does not work anymore.

  2. Mick

    Won’t work anymore. I’ve tried it like it should, but ads remain. I guess since their latest update to avast! Free v. 5.0.667 they made some changes like you already mentioned. There’s also a green upgrade button added on top of the interface, on the upper right corner. What’s that good for? avast! FREE is the best protection you can get for both novice and advanced internet users: 7 realtime shields, the best anti-rootkit engine known, incremental updates without slowing down your system (avast! 4.8 did! V.5 doesn’t), antispyware, mailscanning, and much more. All you need for free! I do not see the advantage of paying lots of Euro’s for their paid products, their added value is quite trivial. You need a good free firewall alongside with it to feel more secure? Try PC Tools Firewall Plus v6 (freeware too). Better score than former champion Zonealarm and setup in 1-2-3 by each novice user. ….just some advice, I’m an experienced professional ICT’er (myself).

  3. Matt

    Thanks for the tip it was annoying all thoses pop ups