Travel Technology - AVG 9.0 comments

i currently have 8.5 free, which works. any reason to go to 9.0?

is it more baggage?

I've never understood why anyone liked AVG. It's nagware. I installed it on a relative's PC and it kept nagging them to upgrade.

I replaced it with Avast and it runs so much smoother.

Now I'm hearing Avira is one of the most effective free anti-virus software now. I tried Avira but was not crazy about it - a huge nag screen will pop up from time to time, very hard to get rid of.

I run a combination of Avast + Threatfire to get the bases covered. Least amount of nag and you still have adequate protection.

I've installed Microsoft's new free antivirus, Security Essentials, and have been pleased with it so far. It is fast, free, and as unobtrusive as any antivirus I've ever used.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials

I dropped AVG 8.5 free like a bad habit as soon as MS Security Essentials came out. MSSE is much less resource intensive than AVG.

I agree with previous posters. AVG seems to have lost their way. I'm using Avast these days for my Windows VM's.

I installed 9.0 the other day and I don't see any difference from 8.5.

I didn't get nagged by 8.5 and I'm not getting nagged by 9.0.

I dropped AVG 8.5 free like a bad habit as soon as MS Security Essentials came out. MSSE is much less resource intensive than AVG.

Does Security Essentials cover all like AVG or AVIRA ..... does?

I have MSSE since some days/weeks. I also had AVG 8.5 which I changed to AVG 9.0 some days ago. Had some problems with AVG 9.0 and removed it and installed AVIRA. So, now I am running MSSE + AVIRA. My PC runs 64 bit VISTA SP2. So far, no problems.

I replaced it with Avast and it runs so much smoother.

I find Avast's scanner really, really slow when you are re-opening a Firefox session with multiple tabs.

I've installed Microsoft's new free antivirus, Security Essentials, and have been pleased with it so far. It is fast, free, and as unobtrusive as any antivirus I've ever used.

Does it also replace Microsoft's Windows Defender?

I've been running AVG 9.0 without any hassles, but I've never run 8.5. Also have installed it on machines for several friends, one of which had a virus and some trojans that Norton didn't find but AVG killed without a problem. It is resource intensive when a scan is running, so I set it to run when I'm usually not using the PC. If I am using and notice it is running it is simply two clicks to kill it until the next day.

The only issue I've had is a couple false alarms being warned about unsafe websites.

Now I'm hearing Avira is one of the most effective free anti-virus software now. I tried Avira but was not crazy about it - a huge nag screen will pop up from time to time, very hard to get rid of.

It's super-easy to block the pop-ups on Avira. A quick Google search will tell you how.

I've got Avira (free version) and it's zero problems for me.

I have been problem AVG won't let me do it onto Windows 7. So the downloading has been failed from internet connection. So could you please figure it out what is the happening for now. What about anti-virus should have to be installed onto Windows 7. So unfortunately, I'm sorry that I can't help it out there.

I find that AVG uses a lot of power when running on my Laptop, I'm thinking of switching to Avast

I find Avast's scanner really, really slow when you are re-opening a Firefox session with multiple tabs.




Really? I use FireFox 3.5 with many many tabs and notice no slow down with Avast.

You may want to check your extensions / add-ons to see if they are causing the slow down.

I think that AVG main point is the price, and when MS got it's product there is really no need for another product.

But I would like to give you another advice: if you don't download P2P files, delete suspcious emails and don't visit rogue sites, I would go with no antivirus at all. there is really no need for antivirus if you are a smart user.

I think that AVG main point is the price, and when MS got it's product there is really no need for another product.

But I would like to give you another advice: if you don't download P2P files, delete suspcious emails and don't visit rogue sites, I would go with no antivirus at all. there is really no need for antivirus if you are a smart user.

Erm yes except that even regular sites can become infected with viruses and malware. Digitalspy.co.uk had a problem with malware (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/20/digital_spy_malware/) (that didn't just affect them) and that's not a rogue site by any means and that's just the first one that comes to mind.

One of AVG's most controversial component is Link Scanner, which is installed by default. It blocks the browser from displaying the web page until all the links have been checked with AVG's servers. This additional work makes loading web pages much slower and raises privacy concerns about what AVG does with the history of your links.

I think that AVG main point is the price, and when MS got it's product there is really no need for another product.

But I would like to give you another advice: if you don't download P2P files, delete suspcious emails and don't visit rogue sites, I would go with no antivirus at all. there is really no need for antivirus if you are a smart user.

It's self-serving on their part, but you ought to read this (http://www.sophos.com/blogs/chetw/g/2009/11/03/windows-7-vulnerable) before considering running windows without a virus scanner.

Does it also replace Microsoft's Windows Defender?

Anyone? :)

I have used AVG sucessfully now for about six years. Yes, one should disable the link scanner.

As far as 8.5, one can turn off all the NAG, there is a setting there. From that point, all it does it update and run.

I also don't find it much of a resource hog, of course when it is doing a scan, like any Virus scanner it is going to use a lot of resources, but other times no. It does a very good job, especially for free.

I haven't upgraded to 9.0 yet, and probably won't, unless my win7 systems will require it. I haven't heard any problems with it though. I think AVG wants more intergration of their spyware and other scanner feautres, AND to make it more novice user friendly.

As for the MSFT offering. MSFT ONE, or whatever it was was also free (after they tried paid) and NOBODY used it. Just because MSFT puts out a free product does not mean there will be adoption. Most vendors like Dell and Lenovo and HP still have relationships with third party virus software providors and they will continue to put their crapware on their systems. So, MSFT may have a link to install, but I don't see it coming on the base systems en masse.

Personally, I didn't like the MSFT product now to replace the working AVG installs I have.

But I would like to give you another advice: if you don't download P2P files, delete suspcious emails and don't visit rogue sites, I would go with no antivirus at all. there is really no need for antivirus if you are a smart user.

It's akin to saying that you don't need to wear a seatbelt if you're a safe driver.

Does it also replace Microsoft's Windows Defender?

Yes. They intend for it to replace Defender and Windows Live Onecare.

I think that AVG main point is the price, and when MS got it's product there is really no need for another product.

But I would like to give you another advice: if you don't download P2P files, delete suspcious emails and don't visit rogue sites, I would go with no antivirus at all. there is really no need for antivirus if you are a smart user.

Exactly! Because there's never any way you'd ever mistype a url or not be tricked into accidentally opening a file. :rolleyes:

One of AVG's most controversial component is Link Scanner, which is installed by default. It blocks the browser from displaying the web page until all the links have been checked with AVG's servers. This additional work makes loading web pages much slower and raises privacy concerns about what AVG does with the history of your links.
I used 8.5 w/ no nags and now use 9.0 w/ no nags. No resource difference between the 2 that is noticeable.

The link scanner can be disabled in 9 by simply using the advanced install option and unchecking a box.

It's akin to saying that you don't need to wear a seatbelt if you're a safe driver.

Except that in traffic, there are relatively few people actively targetting your car!

Except that in traffic, there are relatively few people actively targetting your car!

Yes sadly there are loads of people targeting your PC, although a friend of mine might say that during rush hour on the M25 in the UK there are plenty of people targeting your car.

Years ago, I went to a site reccomended on the intranet of my former employers for information, and was thereafter presented with various IE pop ups for different bits of spam when using my computer. It was most annoying so I contacted the IT dept and asked if someone could come up and remove whatever was causing it. I explained that this site was listed on the intranet as a usefull information site and that was where I thought (correctly) that it had started from.

The IT guy cannot remove the problem says he will get the site removed from the intranet and my PC will have to be wiped so could I save everything I needed elsewhere and they would replace it. That PC had a full antivirus suite on it and even after repeated cleaning with various different software products they couldn't remove the malware.

To check the site was indeed the cause of the infection I went to an internet cafe in my lunch hour and went to the same site. Sure enough the same thing happened, although they didn't seem to mind as each PC was running deepfreeze (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Freeze_(software))which prevented it from coming back once I had logged off.

One of AVG's most controversial component is Link Scanner, which is installed by default.

Not anymore. There is a selection screen during the installation that lets you decide whether to install it or not.

I have been problem AVG won't let me do it onto Windows 7. So the downloading has been failed from internet connection. So could you please figure it out what is the happening for now. What about anti-virus should have to be installed onto Windows 7. So unfortunately, I'm sorry that I can't help it out there.

I had a similar issue trying to install it on a friends laptop. I thought it was an internet connection issue (was on a T-mobile aircard), but I had the same problem on my own network. The default install sets up a small download manager, which then downloads the complete program during setup. The download manager was failing.

Try using this link: http://free.avg.com/us-en/download?prd=afg#tba2
Download the second file (72.6 MB one). Just run the file and it will install from your computer instead of using the DL manager. Nice to burn to a CD/USB drive in case you are setting up on multiple PCs too.

I think that AVG main point is the price, and when MS got it's product there is really no need for another product.

But I would like to give you another advice: if you don't download P2P files, delete suspcious emails and don't visit rogue sites, I would go with no antivirus at all. there is really no need for antivirus if you are a smart user.

I mean no disrespect, but if you think that on today's internet that you can get by without any malware protection on your machine then you don't understand the current threat environment.

Many valid, respectable sites have had malware injected into them via SQL cross-site scripting attacks. Sites serving ads have been duped into serving up a helping of malware along with them. Popular gadget site Gizmodo just apologized to their readers for being duped like this.

In short, in addition to being smart about how you use the internet, you still need some form of anti-malware app. If not, it's only a matter of time before you get infected.

I run Ubuntu and don't bother with anti-virus software.

:)

I run Ubuntu and don't bother with anti-virus software.

:)
I use ClamWin with Ubuntu because I may share files between Ubuntu and Windows OS. It's to protect Windows OS and files I may share with others.

I use ClamWin with Ubuntu because I may share files between Ubuntu and Windows OS. It's to protect Windows OS and files I may share with others.

So you run ClamWin within a virtual windows box on Ubuntu?

I concur, running without anti-virus is foolish, no matter how safe you surf. The bad guys are always coming up with new ways to deliver virus payloads, and what you know to be a safe practice today may not be safe next week.

I've been running AVG for years now, since AVG 4, now at AVG 8.5. The early versions were CPU-intensive during scans, but that problem seems to have been solved. I have it set to not nag me and not pre-check the links, and it's done a great job for me at a price (free) that cannot be beat.

So you run ClamWin within a virtual windows box on Ubuntu?
Sorry, ClamAV within Ubuntu. In my virtual XP I also run anti-virus.

I installed the new version on a new Windows 7 laptop, without link and email scanning. It seems to be working ok so far -- no noticeable problems and it installed fine.

I went to d/l the free AVG 9.0 this morning and they offered a AVG free full 9.0 for a month. Ok so I installed it. Unfortunately it gave me hangups time after time and slow d/l. I uninstalled to to the free version and it too gave hangups. Uninstalled it and all is well. I run Win 7 with FF3.5 and the new beta FF3.x

MisterNice

I run AVG 9 on Windows 7 Ultimate and also do not getting any of the nagware. It runs in the background and it's not intrusive at all.

I've been running AVG for a while and haven't really thought much about it.

I never typically put anything on my VMs and one of them got some malware and it was actually malwarebytes that got rid of it after trying avg. I still run AVG as my av software, but it probably is time to reevaluate.

My boyfriend's company's software has a hard time with most of the more traditional companies like Symantec and Norton. My company runs Symantec endpoint protection and our software runs fine, but his software gets hung up on clients running Symantec.

It is pretty amazing how well viruses are spreading. Several of my hospitals have been hit with something even though they typically have fairly good security practices.

Really? I use FireFox 3.5 with many many tabs and notice no slow down with Avast.

You may want to check your extensions / add-ons to see if they are causing the slow down.

I installed Microsoft's Security Essentials, and the slowness was even more dramatic. E.g., everytime I would work with a file (like simply deleted an email from my pop3 client) there was a noticeable lag.

So now I'm back to AVG free and so far so good. Faster than either Avast or MS.

I installed Microsoft's Security Essentials, and the slowness was even more dramatic. E.g., everytime I would work with a file (like simply deleted an email from my pop3 client) there was a noticeable lag.

So now I'm back to AVG free and so far so good. Faster than either Avast or MS.

cblaised:

I don't believe that Microsoft's Security Essentials is slowing your PC.
I have Microsoft's Security Essentials running and also Avira .. and the PC is very fast. Es mentioned before, I had AVG running for some time. When I changed to AVG 9.0 I had some problems and removed it. I have Vista SP2, 64 bit.