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.

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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.

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

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

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.

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 which prevented it from coming back once I had logged off.

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

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 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 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.