AVG giving up free edition?

Lorna Allison · Post by **Lorna Allison** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:51 am

and finally ...

I did a double click on the AVG programme in the Download folder and it started the installation.

When all was finished and installed I clicked on the AVG icon at the rt foot of the desktop and found it telling me that I had the 8.5 edition and also that I am not covered for anti-virus and anti spyware! Is that normal with a free edition. If so I should think I shall have to buy cover.

I was happy with how version 7 went. Anyone know if 8.5 is less cover than 7?

Regards

Lorna

Post by **marilyn morning** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:14 am

I was happy with how version 7 went. Anyone know if 8.5 is less cover than 7?

Hi Lorna,

Someone with more computer experience than I will be along shortly, meanwhile take a deep breath

you're doing fine. 8.5 would be an upgrade from 7. All you need to do now is run a free spyware program along side of your virus protection.

I use Spyware doctor, but there are plenty of free programs out there. Just do a google search for free spy ware.

http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/

Regards
Marilyn

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:14 pm

Hello Lorna,

The latest AVG Free Edition version is 8.5.278a1439 (or at least 8.5 something) released on 4th March 2009. What you get with the different versions of AVG is shown on this page. http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-v ... ee-edition

What you don’t get with the Free version is “Protection against identity theft, hacker attacks, infected downloads, infected instant-messaging and spam”.

I have version 8.0.237 which is about the same. (I don’t think the Update system has got around yet to updating current users to the latest version.)

Possibly your current installation may not be fully updated or some parts of it may not be fully functional. With my version, if everything is OK the AVG icon in the system tray at the bottom right of the screen should be a square consisting of yellow, blue, green and red and not a reddish blob. When you click on the icon a window should open which on the Overview tab should display at least seven functions with green ticks and a big green tick at the top.

If you don’t have that click on the Update Now tab and see what happens.

I’ve found the Free version to be perfectly adequate but you need to be sensible about how you do your web surfing and not jump in where wise men etc., make sure you’re getting all your security updates from Microsoft (Automatic Updates), use the latest version of I.E. or use an alternative web browser such as Firefox. You can use an additional Free Spyware scanner such as Adaware or the one Marilyn mentioned but you have to remember to scan your system every so often to remove the usual garbage that accumulates. AVG should get rid of the worst of it and the other program will pick up the crumbs.

Whether or not you upgrade to the Pro Version US$34.99 or the Internet Security suite at US$54.99 is probably a matter between you and your budget.

See how you go, if you’ve restarted your computer since writing the above, the problem, if there was one, may have corrected itself.

Alan

Lorna Allison · Post by **Lorna Allison** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:54 pm

Cheers Marilyn & Alan

I am going to try to add a spyware programme and yes you were right Alan, when I went online this morning and followed your advice all the boxes now have a green tick, great.

Thanks very much, everybody. Am now breathing a happy sigh of relief.

Lorna

Post by **marilyn morning** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:23 am

Am now breathing a happy sigh of relief.

Hi Lorna,

Great News!

I normally run a spy ware scan at least once a day to keep my computer running in tip top shape.

Regards
Marilyn

christopherpm · Post by **christopherpm** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 3:22 pm

I am an IT Consultant by trade, and the rule of thumb (especially with Anti Virus and Internet Security products) is "you get what you pay for". AVG is a poor product - even the paid for version. In the past, when AVG Paid for edition has gone wrong, I've had to wait over 2 months for a reply from their *support* department.

The best product on the moment by far, is Kaspersky Internet Security. It has one of (if not the best) detection rates of virus, spyware, spam etc. PLUS if you purchase the 2009 version from a retailer (not directly from Kaspersky), you can use the license with the 2010 version which you can download from their website.

ACTUALLY - having just checked, you can buy the 2010 version from Amazon UK for £23.99 and that will give you a license to run it on up to 3 computers.

Lorna Allison · Post by **Lorna Allison** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 10:20 pm

Thank you Christopher for your interest and help. I shall look up the links and investigate.

regards

Lorna

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 3:53 am

From what I’ve read over the years Kaspersky makes the top of the list in any Anti Virus software comparison. However it is a paid for service and many people are for whatever reason not into paying for computer software. Kaspersky has a free online virus scan available on their site in case anyone has any worries about whether their AV software has missed anything. http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner

I used to use AVG until fairly recently but it started to annoy me and I swapped to Avast and it’s much less annoying. Programs start to annoy me when they try to complicate things and try to look like their paid for comrades (and start spreading rumours that they want to be paid for as well.) The spyware scanner AdAware has been annoying me for quite some time. It is no longer the program it used to be and I will shortly give it the boot. I think free and simple is best.

One thing you can be sure of is that if you’re catching viruses and other nasties, you or someone using your computer, is doing something stupid or being careless. If you’re going to be stupid and careless and like a babe in the woods go charging off into the dangerous world of the internet without reading up on the basic safety rules and you only have Windows and Internet Explorer for protection then you probably need the best Anti Virus money can buy.

Everything I use is free and there’s usually a free version of almost every type of software available that does exactly what you want of it and which isn’t cluttered with a multitude of features that nobody uses.

All the best,
Alan

christopherpm · Post by **christopherpm** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 9:14 am

Currie wrote:Kaspersky has a free online virus scan available on their site in case anyone has any worries about whether their AV software has missed anything. http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner

It should be noted however, that the free online scanner will NOT clean your PC if it does find anything...

TalkingScot.com

AVG giving up free edition?

My two pence worth