Google Chrome now bundled with Avast

You wouldnt necessarily expect it, but Avast and Google Chrome have teamed up. Google’s browser has paired with one of the most popular free security programs in the world so that when users run the Avast installer on a computer that has neither Chrome nor Avast, they’ll be offered a chance to install Chrome simultaneously. This is the first such bundling for Avast in its 21-year existence.The Chrome installation window in the Avast installer is cleverly polite.

The Chrome option in the Avast installer does two things differently from the more familiar opt-out user experience that many programs provide in an installer in exchange for financial sponsorship. For one thing, the Chrome window only turns up if you dont already have it installed, but more importantly, it forces users to actively choose installation. Neither the “yes, install” nor the “no, dont install” radio buttons are checked by default. Of course, users are forced to check off “no” if they dont want it, but this should dramatically cut down on the incidence of accidental installations that tend to plague otherwise-similar piggybacking installs.

A Google spokesman indicated that other deals might be in the works.

“Users response to Google Chrome has been outstanding, and were continuing to explore ways to make Chrome accessible to even more people. This could potentially include distribution via a number of channels, such as the distribution we are currently doing with Avast.”