So apparently the updates and support for the free AVG version 7.5 run out today.

Is it worth paying for version 8.0?
I've seen an offer from AVG that I can pay £59 and protect 3 computers, but it adds, "for one year".

And if not AVG, what else is available?
TIA, Alcazar

 

version 8 is still free ?

mine was, on my desktop at work/home and my laptop ?

 

yeah, Just download AVG 8

AVG Free - Download antivirus and antispyware software for Windows XP and Vista

 

NOD32 (you have to pay)
I use Avast which is pretty good imo (and free for home use )

 

avg. 8.0 in my own opinion uses alot of resources.

NOD32 Pay? hahahhahahahahahahah

 

AVG 8 - Free, but you run a great risk of contracting some very nasty viruses, (as I have found first hand on a number of occaisions when trying to rescue machines with it installed). I don't recommend you install AVG on any machine which has stuff you want to keep, or any personal data, or is a bit tight on system resources.

Nod32 - About £25 a year, and so much better for it.

 

Your PC must suck

 

I found v8.0 to be very slow compared to v7.5 - and it kept crashing Firefox.

Swapped it to Avira Untitled Document - much better

 

Just installed 8 on mine (Thanks for the link Pimmo ) as the 7.5 runs out tonight and so far there doesn't seem to be any noticable speed difference on my PC between 7.5 and 8......... first download was just as quick, so time will tell, but so far it's fine.

 

I think the problem with AVG v8 is by default it turns on plenty of stuff, that you're better off going into the config screens and turning off.

I'm trialling Avira now after someone on here recommended it. It's ok, but has big splash screens asking you to buy the full version whenever you update online. In addition, there's quite a pause while it virus checks incoming emails in Outlook 2007, which is a personal bugbear of mine (and I run a high-ish spec machine)

 

Yes that splash screen is a bit annoying, but it has such a smaller footprint than AVG 8 that I am going to stick with it for now.

 

ahhhh that is why i think it uses alot of resources.


nod32? YOU PAY? WAHAHAHAHAAH

 

You obviously aren't a very savvy computer user then wwp8.

Given the number of machines that I've had to rescue that have had AVG, Avira, or Avast installed (AVG is by far the worst) I think it's worth it. You may be happy to run the risk of being infected, losing data, and perhaps even have all your personal details spread around the interweb, but I'm not

For example, only a couple of weeks ago I had to work on a machine for a teacher from the school my mum works at. It had AVG 8 installed. I got rid of that, installed Nod32, and it found 23 genuine infections that AVG had completely missed.

You may be happy to use free software for this stuff, but personally I wouldn't take the risk. After all, most people spend more than that down the pub of an eveing. I find it incredible that people are willing to run the risk for the sake of such a small sum of money. Each to their own though. Good luck

 

Ah, but did you run the scan on AVG first ? who's to say a scan was ever run and if it was run, how do you know the person actually acted on the results??

Bit of an unfair comparison.. I've installed AVG on plenty of PCs.. in fact its my first choice and its found virus every other anti virus I have ever heard of has missed.

So I think unless your planning to install serveral virus scanners your not gonna catch each one ! Thats where common sense and a firewall come into play.

 

Yes I did, and AVG didn't pick up the infections. I know the user involved had run scans as well

Very odd. In all of the comparative, vb100 tests etc, it comes out pretty low on the lists, and I've had to rescue literally dozens (probably over a hundred) machines with it installed over the last couple of years or so. It's also a resource hog.

However if you like it....

Firewalls have no effect on viruses

 

I hate multi quotes

a firewall should stop your information being passed to the word, as you mentioned in your previous post !

 

That depends on the firewall. Most only block incoming stuff by default (not outgoing).

 

common sense and a firewall ...

 

That's ok for you and me, but in my experience most people generally haven't got much common sense where computers are concerned (mainly due to a lack of knowledge about how they work). If they have been infected, AVG isn't picking it up, and the firewall isn't blocking it, how would they know? Most viruses are pretty unobtrusive these days.

Recommending that they install substandard products just because they are free is not a good idea in my book

 

I'm honored that you consider me to be anywhere near your level of computer savvy.

I don't think this is going to go anywhere, until I'm shown to be wrong, which will probably happen one day, I'll keep using AVG. I do take on board your suggestions though and will advise of them with my next customer.

Cheers.

 

i have avg 8.0 and have beenok so far, i run it with adaware and also spybot, the only virus i have ever had is one of tyhose things that tell you you have a virus then wont £30 but spybot got shot of it .

 

Spybot does not remove viruses. It removes spyware. A completely different thing altogether. If all you run is AVG, and it has missed something, how do you know if you're infected or not?

 

How about i email you and Iain a virus and we see which one picks it up, my monies on Iain's Nod32

 

You'd be better sending it to one of the PC I've setup for others .. you wont get it through to me

 

ive been using bitdefender, its £15 for a 3 pc license and its picked up everything i've thrown as it.

got a pcworld (thats the website not superstore) gold award over all listed above. PC World - Chart - Top Antivirus Software

Antivirus software - BitDefender - The future of security now!

 

AVG 8 is more covert than 7.5 which I don't like - it doesn't flag up when its scanning and hence give you the option to disable it. This disabling is useful if I'm video editing and with Photoshop and other progs also running etc

It is definitely free though!

D

 

well ive been ok so far, and we use it at work as well