So long AVG Free

[budz]

Oh and I also use windows defender as well with all my pc's.

[DarrellS]

People seem to feel that Grisoft owes them something when they've never paid the company a cent.

I've never paid Avery Lee any money for Virtualdub either but he doesn't bomb users with popups begging them to buy his software. I never asked Grisoft for anything. They offered me AVG Free because they said they cared about internet security and the spread of virus and trojans. I figured that they made enough money off of businesses that they could afford to do that but I guess not. I don't get any pop-ups from AdAware to get me to buy their pay version.

Everyone could just keep spreading virus and trojans if no-one offered a free solution. Most users only collect free porn and bootleg music and videos so it's no big deal if they have to keep erasing their hard drives and recollecting it. Now if you run a business where a virus could destroy you then I can see paying for protection but the last protection that I paid for left my computer full of trojans and virus and I used it for three years. I might as well have not used an antivirus program at all.

Most cities offer free clinics to the poor to control the spread of disease. It's good if you can afford to pay for everything that you want (or need) in life but most people have trouble living from week to week or month to month. Expecting people to pay for every little program or website on the internet is expecting a little too much. If you start demanding that they do then they will find other solutions or find other ways of getting it. This used to be called freenet where everyone shared everything until people figured out they could quit their real jobs and make millions (or billions) off of it.

Like I said, I can understand the ad on the screen but I can't understand a security program stooping to the same tactics that got me to install security programs in the first place by hijacking me.

[Seeker47]

Did you go AV only or the Internet Security? Either way if you haven't upgraded as I understand it their is a free upgrade to version 8. I had to get the AVG8 IS key as it is different from the older AVG7.5 IS key.

Where did you find a free upgrade path for v. 8 ? I looked around for one, but must have missed it.

I have seen a advert from them contained in the different modules when I bring them up on screen. Maybe others are confusing that with oop-Ups?

Could be -- I'm not sure.

Only AVG 8 Internet Security and in the near future Spysweeper. These are the only active protection programs. And at work AVG8 IS and Spysweeper 5 and 10 or 11 others as needed

If you have several AV &/or several anti-spyware programs installed (particularly with active protection running) I think the chances of them clashing with each other and with other apps that you run go up exponentially, perhaps bringing your system to an unusable state.

Although I would never rely upon just one review or review source, I was a bit surprised to read this:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130869/article.html

I did not expect AVG to finish that low in their ranking. (They did not consider Sophos or Avira, and what used to be Ewido is now something else.) Not many free ones left, apparently. No matter how well it rated in comparative tests like these, I wouldn't install anything from Symantec again, not even if it was FREE.

Personally, I think the best first line of defense is a good hardware firewall, something much better than the firewall portion you commonly find built in to a lot of routers these days. Not cheap protection, but I think it has more than a little to do with why there has been so little getting through for the AV and AS programs to deal with, over the last few years.

[TBoneit]

Just a quick thought. I looked ast the posted review and it is a year old. I can say I like the feature set for version 8 of AVG Internet Security. It has already saved me from going to some malicious websites found through Google. (Search Shield)

http://www.grisoft.com/ww.support then look or this heading
1148:I am using 7.5 edition, how can I upgrade to AVG 8.0? which should lead you to
To upgrade your 7.5 commercial edition to the corresponding AVG 8.0 edition for free, please click here http://www.grisoft.com/ww.90223 and follow these steps:

1. Enter your 7.5 LN into the web form and click on the button „Upgrade to AVG 8.0“
2. The web will display your new 8.0 License Number and the appropriate AVG 8.0 installation package download link.
3. You can also enter your email address to have the new 8.0 LN delivered by email.
4. Run an AVG 8.0 installation and enter the new 8.0 LN in the application.
(to avoid some mistakes, we recommend that you use the copy and paste method

The following AVG 7.5 to AVG 8.0 FREE UPGRADES are available for all customers of AVG 7.5 commercial editions:
Current AVG 7.5 Product Corresponding AVG 8.0 Product
AVG 7.5 Anti-Virus, AVG 7.5 Anti-Spyware, AVG 7.5 Anti-Malware ................ AVG 8.0 Anti-Virus
AVG 7.5 Anti-Virus plus Firewall .................................................. ...................... AVG 8.0 Anti-Virus plus Firewall
AVG 7.5 Internet Security .................................................. .................................... AVG 8.0 Internet Security
AVG 7.5 Internet Security Home Edition .................................................. .............. AVG 8.0 Internet Security 3-pack
AVG 7.5 Anti-Virus Network Edition, AVG 7.5 Anti-Malware Network Edition ..... AVG 8.0 Anti-Virus Network Edition
AVG 7.5 Internet Security Network .................................................. ..................... AVG 8.0 Internet Security Network
AVG 7.5 Anti-Malware SBS Edition .................................................. .................... AVG 8.0 Anti-Virus SBS Edition
AVG 7.5 Internet Security SBS Edition .................................................. .............. AVG 8.0 Internet Security SBS Edition
AVG 7.5 Email Server Edition .................................................. .............................. AVG 8.0 Email Server Edition
AVG 7.5 File Server Edition .................................................. ................................. AVG 8.0 File Server Edition

Hoe that helps

[TBoneit]

Oh yes, Just a note, I've been running Spysweeper and AVG 8 Internet security together on this test computer for 3+ weeks now and no problems so far.

OTOH I have seen Problems with Trend IS and the Spybot Search & Destroy immunization process.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Oh and I also use windows defender as well with all my pc's.

IMO Windows Defender is useless,other programs catch malware that Defender misses.

[aedipuss]

i don't know about defender being useless. it's silent for sure and never pops up claiming to have killed a badie, but it seems to get the job done. i have one test winXP machine that's been worked online 16 hours a day for over a year with just defender and avg 7.5 free and it hasn't had a single infection of any kind yet.

[budz]

Oh and I also use windows defender as well with all my pc's.

IMO Windows Defender is useless,other programs catch malware that Defender misses.

Which is why windows defender isn't the only spyware program that I use. I've mentioned I also use spyware blaster, spybot search and ad-aware.

[lordsmurf]

PCWorld is the tabloid of the computer world. It's not even worth wiping your ass with, much less reading.

I've seen so much kooky BS in that magazine in the past 2-3 years, it's not even funny anymore. It's sad and pathetic, and I hate the people read/buy that crap thinking it's got good reviews or information.

So take anti-AVG scores with a grain of salt. Those scores all looked about even anyway, and you never know what the % actually represents.

[TBoneit]

I have seen Windows Defender catch things the other programs missed. They all miss some things.

[bigstusexy]

I think you are correct with that. I do run AVG on one computer and have seen that ad. I use a remote control program with that computer and Avast claims it is malware and I've found no way to get it to ignore it.

What remote control software is it?

[guns1inger]

Unfortunately Windows Defender sets it's threat assessment based not the actual threat from he software involved, but based on Microsoft's financial involvement with the companies that produce said spyware. There are several well documented cases of threats dropping from High to Low virtually overnight because M$ bought the company that was producing the software being monitored. Use it, by all means - it is certainly better than nothing, but set all threats to be removed automatically, and have spybot run at least once a week anyway. Defender also struggles to cleanup a couple of particularly nasty beasts - FunWebProducts and MyWebSearch being two of them. It finds them, but leaves most of them behind. Spybot nails them completely.

[Seeker47]

http://www.grisoft.com/ww.support then look or this heading
1148:I am using 7.5 edition, how can I upgrade to AVG 8.0? which should lead you to
To upgrade your 7.5 commercial edition to the corresponding AVG 8.0 edition for free, please click here http://www.grisoft.com/ww.90223 and follow these steps:

1. Enter your 7.5 LN into the web form and click on the button „Upgrade to AVG 8.0“
2. The web will display your new 8.0 License Number and the appropriate AVG 8.0 installation package download link.
3. You can also enter your email address to have the new 8.0 LN delivered by email.
4. Run an AVG 8.0 installation and enter the new 8.0 LN in the application.
(to avoid some mistakes, we recommend that you use the copy and paste method

The following AVG 7.5 to AVG 8.0 FREE UPGRADES are available for all customers of AVG 7.5 commercial editions:
Current AVG 7.5 Product Corresponding AVG 8.0 Product
AVG 7.5 Anti-Virus, AVG 7.5 Anti-Spyware, AVG 7.5 Anti-Malware ................ AVG 8.0 Anti-Virus

<snip>

It looks like the key phrase here is "commercial" (i.e., paid) version; most of us who were using the AVG 7.5 free version won't be eligible for any such offer. In other words, the free AV ride from them ends with version 7.5 (?)

Avast (or Avira), here we come . . . .

[DarrellS]

Avira is supposed to be better than Avast or AVG but it comes with a nag popup also. There is a way to turn this nag off if you have XP but I don't think it works for us Windows 2000 users.

[guns1inger]

Avira doesn't seem to scan emails in the free version. That is a big hole.

[Ai Haibara]

Avira Anti-Vir's still got a real-time scanner, though, so if there's any virus behavior, or a suspect file written, it'll still flag it (yes, as the email/attachments are written to disc, or the email is viewed.)

The 'nag' popup is basically an ad for their pro/commercial version, that (attempts to) display when you update the virus definitions. (It'll also still display an ad if you block the popup component via firewall, but the ad won't change as often.)
I've heard that the update servers for the free version may also be a bit slower; they're certainly a little difficult to connect to at times, but there's probably a high load on them at times.

[Jester700]

Spyware Terminator is a possible free alternative to Defender.
I like Avira on my PC, but put Avast on friends' boxes to avoid the nags.
So, my dad wants a PC rag - if PCWorld sucks, what's the best alternative?

[MJA]

I trust MaximumPC

[Seeker47]

O.K., no doubt about it now -- I just got a separate popup ad for AVG 8. If this is going to be a regular, intrusive thing, I would definitely be inclined to ditch AVG.

[TBoneit]

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0
Basic antivirus and antispyware protection for Windows available to download for free. Limited features, no support, for private and non-commercial use only.


http://free.grisoft.com and several pages and clicks its there. Includes Search-Shield

Would you have rushed to make the free version 8 before all the paid versions were ready? I would not have.

However it is available now. I downloaded and installed it and it is 45.5 mb in size. It now has the version 8 paid interface.

I see it looks like it was released today. Press release
http://www.grisoft.com/ww.811.ndi-93836

[Faustus]

I did see one pop-up weeks ago, but not since. I almost forgot that it had happened.

I have been happily using AVG 7.5 free for some time, but I am worried about AVG not being good enough now . (I also use COMODO Pro, and Spybot S&D) I had terrible problems today that could be related to my security software.

I installed DSL service on Friday evening, to replace dialup, and had great difficulty getting my new ISP's installation software past AVG and COMODO. I couldn't keep all COMODO's processes from running no matter what I did, and had to manually kill AVG's. I ended up un-installing them. I spent an extended period online without any security programs running, to get DSL installed. After that, I re-installed my security programs, downloaded the updates and scanned my system using all of them. Only one piece of malware turned up, and I deleted it. I thought everything was fine.

Yesterday, I turned on my PC and surfed and set-up happily all day, but today, I couldn't get Windows XP to load all the way, and it keeps rebooting. Safe Mode didn't work. It could be bad luck that a file suddenly became corrupted, or it could be a trojan.

I ended up pulling out both HDD's and installing an old 20 GB HDD I had in a closet, and spent most of the day getting Windows XP installed and updated, plus web browsers and email going.

I have been looking for another anti-virus program to scan the HDD's I pulled. Avast migh be OK, but are there any other good ones?

Sorry my new job is crazy so soemtimes I just can't visit for periods of time.


I have AVG Internet Secruity installed without the firewall but I hate software firewalls.

I upgraded to version 8 for free when it was offered and so far love it. It takes care of the few complaints I had about the program. (such as their ancient update mechanics)

[usually_quiet]

I had to have a some kind of firewall, because when I still had dial-up, my computer was under almost constant attack while I was connected, about once per minute, according to COMODO. I chose COMODO because I have only one old PC, and a router or good hardware firewall seems like overkill. I'm not seeing any firewall events at all now that I changed ISP's, which blows my mind. While I put things back together, I'm still using AVG 7.5 free, and so far, no problem. I like COMODO, and have resisted installing using AVG 8 because of the firewall, but if I can opt out of that part, maybe I'll give it a try.

I'm beginning to think that my problems might have been caused by an MS update, not a trojan or a spontaneously corrupted file. Today I read a post here from somebody else who reported symptoms similar to what I experienced, related to SP-3. I did get an update the day before my problems began, but I was tired that night, and neglected to look to see what it was before shutting down my computer.

Its not all bad though. From the amount of useless crap I've found on my hard-drive, I guess it needed a good cleaning anyway.

[redwudz]

I think you are correct with that. I do run AVG on one computer and have seen that ad. I use a remote control program with that computer and Avast claims it is malware and I've found no way to get it to ignore it.

What remote control software is it?

I use Radmin 3.0. I use it for maintenance on my video servers from my laptop over a gigabit LAN from the front room, and one computer that's set up just for encoding. I also use it for access to my Mini-ITX HTPC as it doesn't have a monitor, just a projector for video out.

Some remote control programs are identified as malware because they can make changes in a computer from off site. That's also one definition of a malware program. I don't blame Avast for that, It's just being through, but I haven't been able to keep it from attacking the Radmin server. AVG, for good or bad, leaves the program alone.

Only the encoder PC is connected to the internet and that's the only one that has a antivirus or software firewall protection. The other three are blocked from internet access by their Mac addresses using a hardware router.

Radmin 3.0 is a very good program if you are interested in remote control of a PC. There is also a handy freeware program available that stores the passwords so you don't have to input them every time you access a remote PC.

EDIT: I also let Defender run in the background on my Vista computers. Hasn't found anything, but hasn't caused any problems either. I also let Windows firewall run. As long as they get along with my other programs and don't cause any slowdowns, I don't have a problem with them. But I depend on a hardware firewall, Comodo software firewall, Avast, SpyBot, and SpyWare Blaster for most of my protection. None of them have failed me in quite some time.

[Seeker47]

I'm not seeing any firewall events at all now that I changed ISP's, which blows my mind.

Most broadband users do NOT have a fixed IP (or so I thought). The fact that your provider changes your IP every 45 minutes or so (?) -- the "lease" -- wouldn't that tend to make you a more difficult target ? (But not as difficult a target as over dialup.)

While I put things back together, I'm still using AVG 7.5 free, and so far, no problem. I like COMODO, and have resisted installing using AVG 8 because of the firewall, but if I can opt out of that part, maybe I'll give it a try.

I prefer to be able to choose a separate anti-spyware, so if AVG 8.0 does not let you opt out of that component, I can foresee a problem. I wouldn't want to change over to the new version before I can find out more about this.

[TBoneit]

Free AVG 8 has no firewall or antispyware, that comes into play in different paid versions such as the Internet Security version. I'm not sure why you wouldn't want a A/S function in the A/V though.

I ran the Internet security version 7.5 & 8 along with Spysweeper, AVG A/S, Windows Defender, Spybot, AdAware Free, Super A/S free and so on. No conflicts.

[Seeker47]

Free AVG 8 has no firewall or antispyware, that comes into play in different paid versions such as the Internet Security version. I'm not sure why you wouldn't want a A/S function in the A/V though.

I ran the Internet security version 7.5 & 8 along with Spysweeper, AVG A/S, Windows Defender, Spybot, AdAware Free, Super A/S free and so on. No conflicts.

That seems to contradict their comparative chart, at
http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition

The reason is that I already have paid subscriptions to a couple of other A/S products, though I only use one per boot partition, if it relies primarily on an Active Mode to be effective. (On Access, as opposed to On Demand -- like Spybot without Tea Timer.) Tech Support from these vendors has cautioned against having more than one of these products in active scanning mode, due to the likelihood of serious conflicts that can hobble your system -- and I have seen that happen in the past.

[gadgetguy]

Most broadband users do NOT have a fixed IP (or so I thought). The fact that your provider changes your IP every 45 minutes or so (?) -- the "lease" -- wouldn't that tend to make you a more difficult target ? (But not as difficult a target as over dialup.)

ISP's do not change your IP address every 45 minutes. Your IP address remains the same for as long as you are connected regardless of whether you're on broadband or dialup. If you disconnect, the lease refers to how long you can remain disconnected and still be able to receive the same IP address when you re-connect.

[usually_quiet]

Most broadband users do NOT have a fixed IP (or so I thought). The fact that your provider changes your IP every 45 minutes or so (?) -- the "lease" -- wouldn't that tend to make you a more difficult target ? (But not as difficult a target as over dialup.)

ISP's do not change your IP address every 45 minutes. Your IP address remains the same for as long as you are connected regardless of whether you're on broadband or dialup. If you disconnect, the lease refers to how long you can remain disconnected and still be able to receive the same IP address when you re-connect.

That would fit in better with what I observed in the Comodo firewall events logs produced when I was still using dialup. Even so, one attacker or another used to find me within 2 minutes of logging in, even if my IP address had changed. ...and I had set up Comodo to stealth my computer's ports to everyone.

I don't know why things are different now, though I am certainly happy about it. Perhaps AT&T's network was less secure than Verizon's, or perhaps something that I once had on my system and don't have anymore (due to having to re-install everything) was responsible. Although it seems the problems stopped as soon as my DSL connection was up and running.

[Poppa_Meth]

I haven't used AVG 8 free. I switched to Avast before it came out. But I'll wager that it does have Anti-spyware, they've just combined the virus and spyware scanning engines into one now. It's gotten difficult to separate the two types of threats anymore.

[bourboner]

Is it safe to say now that all the panic was over nothing? AVG was just advertising their next major update? I've always used AVG and never had any problems. Updated to 8.0 and everything's fine.