Avast + Chrome = Trouble When Searching For Hubs

1. 74

   Swisstoonsposted 9 years ago

   Avast Security software and Google Chrome are conducting some sort of war...and it is adversely affecting searchers ability to reach our hubs.  Anyone using the Chrome browser (not just us hubbers) who has the Avast software on his machine will (when searching for a hub) have the link to that hub displayed next to a yellow minus sign on the SERP.  When the yellow minus sign is hovered over, the user sees the message, "This site has a bad reputation." (If you have Avast and use Chrome, go ahead and search the title of one of your hubs to see what I mean).
   
   It's hard to tell whether it's a case of Avast wanting to peddle another browser or search engine...or a case of Avast actually trying to protect people from Chrome's snooping and glitches.   (I know I've had numerous problems with Chrome...a malfunctioning scrollbar on Facebook, for instance.)
   
   The problem only occurs if a web user is google-searching on Chrome and has Avast, not when searching with IE or Firefox.
   
   I saw an older post about this in the Forum, but the post was quickly off subject and dominated by some unrelated discussion.  The question of what to do about this was never addressed.   I don't know how many Avast subscribers (across the internet) are also using Chrome...but this can't be helping our numbers.
   
   Anyone know anything about this or have a plan to remedy this situation?

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   1. 59

      Nancy Hardinposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thomas, I wish I could help, but I use Firefox, so have not experienced this. Hopefully some others will chime in soon. Best of luck and hope this is straightened away soonest.

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      1. 74

         Swisstoonsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Hi, Nancy.  The heckuvit is, all of us are being affected by this regardless of which browsers WE are using.  What matters is which browser and anti-spy software combo any google searcher is using.  Anyone out there who browses with Chrome and who has Avast on his machine will be told that any (and every) HubPages article has a "bad reputation"...even if it's in the Number One position on the SERP.  Lets hope such users are very few in number.
         

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         1. 59

            Nancy Hardinposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            But WHY? What do they have against writers who simply write? We don't do any underhanded things, so what are we being penalized for? For the few rotten apples in the barrel I suppose. Oh I'm not liking that!

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            1. 74

               Swisstoonsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               It's a puzzlement.  I think the "war" is mainly between Avast and Google (Chrome).  Hub Pages between Avast and Chrome is a little like Poland between Germany and Russia.

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               1. 90

                  Whatsittoyouposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  I am using Firefox and Avast.  When I search for hubpages, I get the yellow symbols that says this site has a bad reputation.  I would post a picture to prove it, but I don't know how.

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                  1. 74

                     Swisstoonsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                     I believe you.  Guess that shoots my theory, then.   I wonder why I don't see any symbols at all when using Firefox.   Whatever is going on, it's not helpful.   Guess it's time to write to Avast Support and see if they have an answer.

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                  2. 74

                     Swisstoonsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                     I've just sent the following message to Avast Support and will post any response here.
                     
                     "Why is any search for Hub Pages returning SERPs full of yellow minus symbols and the message, "This site has a bad reputation"?   This happens each time I use the Chrome browser. 
                     
                     I didn't think this was a problem using Firefox or IE, since I see NO symbols at all (green or yellow) on the SERPs when using those browsers. But others are reporting the yellow symbol when using Firefox as well as Chrome.
                     
                     What gives?"

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            2. 74

               Swisstoonsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               Yesss!  A little victory.  Avast has now agreed to "un-blacklist" Hub Pages.  Our hubs will now get the green check mark instead of the yellow minus sign.  I finally heard back from Avast support.  Here is the email received this morning:
               
               Hello again Thomas,
               
               Sorry for the late response.
               
               The reputation of the website HubPages.com has been changed to positive now. I hope this resolve the issue you are having.
               https://www.google.com/search?q=hub+pag … #q=hubpage
               
               If you need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us again.
               
               
               
               Best regards,
               Rojan Piya
               Technical support | AVAST Software s.r.o.

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   2. 88

      GA Andersonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Firefox and Avast also show the warning message
      
      GA

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      1. 74

         Swisstoonsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         I'm only getting it with Avast/Chrome...not Avast/Firefox.   There are no green checkmarks and no yellow minus signs when I use Firefox.
         

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   3. 74

      brakel2posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Do you have WOT installed on your computer, and is that where you see the yellow and green circles? WOT shows good and bad sites.

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      1. 74

         Swisstoonsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         No.  In fact, I had to google "WOT" just now to find out what it is.  "Web of Trust."

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2. 74

   Swisstoonsposted 9 years ago

   I did a little more research and found out why there were no symbols on the SERPs when I used Firefox and IE; I had not enabled Avast on those two browsers!
   
   But now that I have, here is the puzzling thing:  When using Internet Explorer and doing a goofle search, my Hub Pages get a GREEN CHECKMARK next to them, meaning, "This site is safe."
   
   But when I switch to Firefox, I get the same YELLOW checkmark that I get when using Chrome...meaning "This site has a bad reputation."
   
   So, there appears to be no conflict between IE and Avast...but a conflict between both Chrome and Firefox and Avast.
   
   I've just written a new email to Avast about this and will post their response here.
   

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   1. 74

      brakel2posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I have Chrome and Avast and have no warnings. Maybe I need to enable them to see it. However, Avast notified me of blocking a malicious site during my use of Chrome yesterday. Everything is a mystery. I hope the email helps, because Chrome is rising in the ranks, and we do not need any more problems with Avast and people trying to visit our wonderful HubPages.

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      1. 74

         Swisstoonsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, that's the key...enabling after installing.  I had not enabled Avast on FF even though I'd installed it.

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   2. 74

      Swisstoonsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      This is the response I received from Avast this morning.  It makes no sense, so I have asked for a clarification.  It makes no sense because when I googled the title of a brand new page written by another writer, it also had the yellow minus sign...even though it would hardly have had a chance to have been read.
      
      "Hello again Thomas,
      
      Thank you for getting back to me.
      
      The reputation is different on the search results on both web browsers because the search results (Google) are not the same.
      
      The ranking is done on individual page of a website by Avast users. Therefore some page of the same website may have good reputation and some may have bad.
      
      Best regards,
      Rojan Piya
      Technical support | AVAST Software s.r.o."

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      1. 74

         Swisstoonsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Here is the latest NON-response response from Avast to my specific question re the yellow minus signs that appear next to all HP searches in Google: 
         
         "Hello again Thomas,
         
         My apologies for the late response.
         
         The rating should change as soon as users start giving positive ratings to the pages of the site. Unfortunately, currently there is no other way to change the rating of the web page manually.
         
         Best regards,
         Rojan Piya
         Technical support | AVAST Software s.r.o."
         
         He never addresses my specific question as to why even brand new Hub Pages which haven't had a chance to be rated by anyone get the minus sign (the ALL do!).  In any event, we Avast users can try giving positive ratings and see if it accomplishes anything.

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