AVG Anti Virus - What’s Going On? Has It Lost Its Shine?
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I usually keep an open mind when it comes to software and when something better comes along I’ll make the switch. For years I have always recommended AVG to my family and friends because it has always kept my system virus free, plus you can’t beat the price which is free. But during the past several months I have noticed an increase of those posting who are not happy with AVG.
So this morning when I read this article about another who is dropping AVG, my ears perked up. Is it time for a change?
Here is what the author wrote:
AVG has lost some of its luster. While the program is still reasonably fast and is easy to set up, in one recent A/V tests its ability to spot malware was quite poor. I ran my own version of this test on a Windows 7 VirtualBox Virtual Machine, and well AVG did much better, it still didn’t find as many bugs as the German G Data, today’s Gold medal A/V program or Avira, my current pick of the English language A/V program litter.
More significantly, AVG recently misidentified critical files in Apple’s iTunes application as malware, This made it impossible to run iTunes. Ow!
Now false positives, when an A/V program misidentifies a threat, happen quite a lot. But, I can’t recall ever seeing a blunder this big. ITunes may not be as popular as say Microsoft Office, but it’s got to be one of the most top ten Windows applications out there. How can anyone with decent quality assurance release an A/V update that blows iTunes up!?
In addition, AVG has started using nag announcements with the free version of their program. I’ve always hated nag-screens, and while AVG’s aren’t that bad, I’d rather not see any.
If all there was to complain about was a nag-screen I’d still be recommending AVG. These other quality problems though have me concerned. So, until AVG gets it act together, I’m going to be recommending the aforementioned AVG alternatives and other programs such as ESET NOD32 and Kaspersky Labs’ Kaspersky 2010 for my Windows using customers and friends.
With the Internet becoming ever more dangerous for Windows-based PCs, I can’t recommend a program that’s seems to have slipped from its once lofty peak. I hope AVG climbs back, but, for now, AVG is no longer on my recommended A/V program list.
So what do you think? Is it time for a change? I’m going to test Avira AntiVir Personal edition and will be reporting back with my findings.
What do you recommend for me to use?
Comments welcome.
9 Comments
Buffet
August 21st, 2009
at 3:05pm
Since you asked…..NOD32 is the ONLY way to go!
Denny
August 22nd, 2009
at 5:03am
—- OH — Geezzz,,
etim
August 22nd, 2009
at 6:26am
I dumped avg months ago and am using avira w/out major complaints. Their nag screen can be turned off–I think the makeuseof site shows how.
I’ll run other assorted av programs to double check avira every month or so–so far it hasn’t missed anything scary.
Dave
August 22nd, 2009
at 11:36am
I too have ditched AVG after being with it since I first got into computing. I tried to be loyal but the nag screen is irritating and the latest versions seem to be slowing my machines down, especially one particular older one. Now use Avast, which seems to be pretty good. Only slight annoyance is having to re-new the free registration code every now and again. Not sure of the purpose of that, unless it’s just to keep awareness of the brand in the user’s brain!
AVG Anti Virus - What?s Going On? Has It Lost Its Shine? - Lost Blog
August 22nd, 2009
at 12:03pm
[...] This article is featured on the custom Lost Blog at Auto-Blogs.us. [...]
OLDM8
August 25th, 2009
at 12:46am
Call me cynical but I have never trusted AVG, simply because “Why would you give something that is REALLY good away for free?” My first thought is, “That it can’t be too good in the first place, to be given free to all”.
I have always used Trend Micro Anti-Virus, yes it is slightly expensive but you get what you pay for [a virus, malware & spyware free computer] with only the odd problem.
zitiboat
August 31st, 2009
at 12:48pm
Actually “OLDM8″,
AVG’s free version just does not have the extra advanced user tweak tools and auto updates.
My own reason for dumping AVG is the incompatibility with Windows7 RC.
After being tired of seeing the warnings “you do not have an antivirus security program running”, I went to MS referral site to see what they recommend since my purchased copy of Norton360 was useless with Win7. They regard it as the only good solution.
It broke IE8!!!
AVG blocks part of Internet Explorer8 Tab functions.
AVG blocks JUNO email from starting due to the integrated IE browser and port watching!
I am having much better luck with “IObits Security 360″ and have also downloaded the BETA version of “IObit Advanced Care”
What Is The Best Free Anti Virus Program? You Decide ~ The Blade by Ron Schenone MVP
September 1st, 2009
at 12:27pm
[...] On August 21, 2009 I wrote a piece about what was going on with Free AVG, citing another article in which the writer had stopped recommending Free AVG to his family and friends. [AVG article on August 21, 2009] [...]
What Is The Best Free Anti Virus Program? You Decide | dv8-designs
September 1st, 2009
at 10:42pm
[...] On August 21, 2009 I wrote a piece about what was going on with Free AVG, citing another article in which the writer had stopped recommending Free AVG to his family and friends. [AVG article on August 21, 2009] [...]