Is Kaspersky Free Gone now?

[Guest]

I just tried to go to the UK version of the free download page https://www.kaspersky.co.uk/free-cloud-antivirus   and I get this today (16th Feb. 2022):  

 

Please tell me you are not ditching the free version of KSC :-(

[Flood and Flood's wife]

Hello @smipx, 

Welcome back!
https://www.kaspersky.co.uk/downloads/free-antivirus

 

 

Thank you🙏

Flood🐳+🐋

[Guest]

😀   Thanks Flood.  I repied to that post.  In the world of free offerings KSC is the only option now if you don’t want your poor Granny to be conned into spending £100’s pounds by the likes of Avast and AVG. 

 

 

[Guest]

Seems that you cannot go to the UK site anymore you have to use: https://free.kaspersky.com/  and then select your region.  Not a UK region now but I will install European as we may not be part of the EU but our privacy laws are very closely aligned still. 

[Flood and Flood's wife]

Hi @smipx, 

You’re most welcome!

https://www.kaspersky.co.uk/downloads/free-antivirus

Just found it🕵

Thank you🙏

Flood🐳+🐋

[Guest]

Yes thats the other page i was going to try and I get the 404 error.  All other pages and all other websites are 100% okay - just that page.

[Guest]

Ive tried it on Edge, Firefox and even a second laptop on W11 and W10

I’ve also tried it on TOR and I get the 404

[Guest]

But……   https://www.kaspersky.co.uk/free-cloud-antivirus    works now !!   Must be some glitches while they update their sites. 

 

[Flood and Flood's wife]

Hi @smipx, 

Ok, something quite odd happening, we going to video it, give us a few minutes please? 

Thank you🙏

Flood🐳+🐋

[Guest]

When I download the EU product from the global site I get the following splash screen: 

and then the installer:  ks4.021.3.10.391en_25100.exe 

 

with the end result: 

when I use the URL https://www.kaspersky.co.uk/free-cloud-antivirus and follow through I get this page:

and the installer: kaspersky4win202121.5.11.384aen_33704.exe 

With the end result: 

With a 3rd Accept/decline option (over and ablve “Marketing” and “Security Network” called “Data Processing for using the Web Portal”. Not sure whether to accet or decline that one as a rule going forward.  I expect “accept” after reading it briefly:

 

[Flood and Flood's wife]

Hi @smipx,

Regarding Data processing, it’s personal choice, (personally), when it comes to ‘sharing’ our data, beyond what’s required to save our lives, we decline; but, if that statement is that you can’t use the web portal unless you accept that screen & that means you can’t use the software, then it would be ‘Accept’… 😶

Link

 

Thank you🙏

Flood🐳+🐋

[Guest]

On the new version it looks like the options below are missing or have moved:

 

I hope this doesn’t mean that we are going to get bombarded by popups and ads to upgrade like you do with Avast / AVG ??

[Flood and Flood's wife]

Hi @smipx, 

1. Show us the screens from the new  version please? 

Thank you🙏

Flood🐳+🐋

[Guest]

This new version is still 2021 though right?  Is there a newer 2022 in the pipeline over an above this do you think or is this the new Free offering that was being talked about over at 

Link

 

[Guest]

They are ALL new screens  - total change to the interface and onboarding process.  It’s best if you install it and see for yourself - its all change!!

[Flood and Flood's wife]

Hi @smipx, 

Kaspersky FREE [21.5.11.384.0.191.0 (a)] = MR5, from the new range

 

Thank you🙏

Flood🐳+🐋

We’re not installing the free version, if you need our help, please post images, because that’s how it works. It’s called team work. 
 

[Guest]

it also installs some PUA according to Windows Defender: 

 

 

[Jbennett360]

it also installs some PUA according to Windows Defender: 

 

 

Don’t think that has anything to do with Kaspersky. That relates to BitTorrent, according to everything Google shows.

[Guest]

I am doing some more research on it :-)

 

[Guest]

I installed qbittorrent and utorrent yesterday (utorrent by mistake) but KAS flagged nothing.  When I did a reinststall of KAS it removed itself - that PUP popped up in Defender - then KAS reinstalled itself so it may have been utorrent that installed it but KAS and Malwarebytes did not care. As soon as Defender re-enabled itslf during the upgrade it obviously had a problem with it. 

[Jbennett360]

I installed qbittorrent and utorrent yesterday (utorrent by mistake) but KAS flagged nothing.  When I did a reinststall of KAS it removed itself - that PUP popped up in Defender - then KAS reinstalled itself so it may have been utorrent that installed it but KAS and Malwarebytes did not care. As soon as Defender re-enabled itslf during the upgrade it obviously had a problem with it. 

There we go then! :)

[Guest]

Actually - in fairness to the above mentioned programs it was actually an admin tool I use for passwords - My Bad - I apologise to Kaspersky unreservedly.

[Guest]

It’s been a while since I have looked at the Free version and the little tweaks to make it work well.  What are people’s take now on the Browser Addon (specifically for the free version).  The concensus was that it was of no benefit if you are on free (as well as no real use to keep the free VPN and the free Password manager due to restriction on the free offering). I don’t use the safe money or vitrual keyboard either.  I have other tools that cover that.  I also use ABP for adverts (or Ublock Origin) so am covered for that too. 

 

I was looking at the blurb about the plugin and it mentions: 

 

- Private Browsing – informs you about attempts by websites to collect your data and allows you to block collection.- Kaspersky URL Advisor – marks search results with colored indicators according to the link’s security level.- Anti-Banner – blocks advertising banners on websites.- Dangerous Content Blocking - prevents a website from loading if it is deemed a dangerous or phishing website by Kaspersky.

 

I think that the dangerous website blocking works without the addon and private browsing / antibanner is covered by the adblockers I already use

 

Opinions gratefully received.

Thanks guys

Paul