While running setup for PDFCreator 1.5, (with "Expert Settings" option selected) I reach a screen titled "AVG Security Toolbar". The only choices are "Express" and "Custom". The text at the bottom of the page says,
By clicking "Next" you agree to the AVG "End User License Agreement" and "Privacy Policy".
The only buttons shown are, Back, Next, and Cancel. Since I choose to not accept their EULA, my only option is to click "Cancel". This cancels the PDFCreator setup completely.
There is a sub-option under "Custom" that says, "Install the AVG Security Toolbar". It's possible that proceeding with that option unchecked will prevent the installation of the unwanted AVG software. Is this correct?
If setup is run in standard mode ("Expert Settings" option not selected), is the AVG toolbar installed by default?
I've had enough bad experiences with "stealth" installations that I will not blindly assume anything.
I don’t believe that anyone thinks “I wish I had a toolbar in my browser.” I often uninstall toolbars from other’s computers and I have never had them ask "can I have the toolbar back?"
AVG and the other browser toolbar developers are engaging in a sleazy business that depends on tricking people into installing their products. I am very disappointed that PDFCreator is willing to participate in this kind of activity.
PDFCreator is a great project. I am sure you can develop a business model based on helping people instead of tricking people.
The AVG advertisement screen is a bit hard to understand. We are talking to AVG to improve it. The basic idea of AVG was, to aloow deselction of the offer with a single click. You can do this by clicking custom installation. As you pointed out, the AVG options are disabled then. As first quick fix, we will then hide the text "By clicking “Next” you agree to the AVG “End User License Agreement” and “Privacy Policy”."
We hope to be able to further improve it soon, but we need to get a new screen from AVG for that.
Regarding the second question: The same AVG offer screen will be shown when you did not choose the expert settings checkbox on the first screen. This just controls screens for PDFCreator specific things, like installation folder, start menu folder, printer name and that.