Windows 7: Standard Users can update AVG

AVG Protection
3

OK. Got the free version back now.

The button Get it Free causes AVG to be updated to the trial version even when selected by a non-administrator.

PC Tune-up does not install, but asks for an administrator password, which is what I would expect.

I don't know exactly what happened yesterday, but AVG was updated, presumably by a marketing message or other notification which the standard user clicked on, and they also managed to install Chrome at the same time.

Adobe Flash also manages to bypass administrator privileges, but I am 99% certain that it was AVG as that was the only other program which was marked as updated yesterday.

When updating a program which is already installed, there seem to be some circumstances where the WIndows installation checks are bypassed. Perhaps the update takes administrator privileges from the running copy of AVG (I would imagine that AVG needs them to do some of the things it does).

For new programs the installation checks seem to be working.

7

Hello Mark,
We understand your concern. Please be informed that the AVG program will generally prompt for admin permission to install any software associated with AVG. Could you please check if you have set the AVG to run in standard account as well?
Thank you

1

I have AVG Anti-virus on my Windows 7 PC (64-bit Home Edition). I have separate non-administrator accounts set up for my children. Whilst most software requires an administrator password to update, AVG pop-ups allow my children to click on OK and AVG will then upgrade, installing optional software (which my children don't know how to avoid).

1) Why does AVG allow this to happen - only administrators should be allowed to upgrade software, and standard users should certainly not be allowed to install new software such as Chrome?

2) How do I prevent it? Will setting a group policy on Windows Install help, or does AVG bypass this?

3) Can I redirect all the pop-ups to an administrator account?

I do want to keep AVG up to date, but I want an adult to be responsible for it and not have my children installing software or changing everyone's homepage.

Thanks for your help.

5

Hello Mark,
We understand your concern. Please be informed that the AVG program will generally prompt for admin permission to install any software associated with AVG. Could you please check if you have set the AVG to run in standard account as well?
Thank you

8

Any progress? Can you reproduce this, or is there something odd with my Windows 7 setup?

2

Thanks for you quick response.
I let AVG set itself up (from my Administrator account) so I haven't set anything special. Are there options within AVG that I should be looking at?

MSCONFIG shows

  • AVG Framework being started from HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and also HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
  • AVG Internet Security System being run from HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
I can't see any other AVG programs being started I certainly don't have anything in my Startup folder to do with AVG.
Does this give you enough information? Do you want me to look at anything else?
4

Hello Mark,
Thank you for the information. The AVG program will not set to run automatically in the standard mode. Please try to install any other AVG application from standard account and check if it gets installed without prompting for permission from admin account.
Thank you

6

Any progress? Can you reproduce this, or is there something odd with my Windows 7 setup?