Avast users should take note and read this blog
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2012/03/aghast-at-avasts-iyogi-support/#more-14120
I've had two of those phone calls (a while ago), about the security of my computer, but at the time no one really knew how they were picking their targets.
Now I know. Thanks hazel, nice thread.
Great find, Hazel. Thanks.
Pity about Avast. Have to start watching it a bit more closely.
I got MSE. No hassles.
Follow up here.. Avast has suspended, for now, its relationship with iYogi.
The iYogi President sent a letter to Brian Krebs who first posted of this scandal. Read the letter in this link, scary, I think the guy sees it differently to his 'customers' (Starts 'Hi Brian' down the page a bit.)
+1. Scary is the word. If that letter represents the official company attitude, iYogi is in trouble and maybe doesn't even know it yet.
edit: Would never have tried this without a good virtualizer app running.
For curiosity, I just installed their free dashboard and had a chat with thier technician. Dashboard app immediately pops up a "scan" window and finds several issues, mostly accurate but harmless. Tries to phone out. The technician answered honestly that the diagnosis is free, but the fix costs money. I didn't go any further than that.
Looks like a typical online fixer service, except for the implication that it is free, which it is not. Don't know how well they would have done at fixing my issues. Didn't get that far. Also don't know how much clutter would be left on the computer if one didn't have a clean reboot option.