Tech:AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)

Subject: BS: AVG, free upgrade
From: Wordsmith
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 01:53 AM

I was in the process of doing my once-weekly freeware updates, when I discovered that my AVG - for personal use - antiviral program couldn't be updated because "it was now obsolete." However, a click away, on the link they provided in the process, got me the new, improved 7.5 version for free on Sunday. The download only took a few minutes. I was thoroughly pleased with the process. Afterward, I updated my AdAware, SE program and my Spybot as per usual, and then ran my first antiviral scan with the new interface. It ran seamlessly. Software at its best. ;D

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade
From: Rasener
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 04:27 AM

Blimey Wordsmith, you took your time upgrading :-)

Upgraded mine months ago.

AVG is the only one I ever use apart from a once a quarter (or more often if I suspect anything) health check online at the following (which is free from TRENDMicro)


http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 06:01 AM

LMAO......Didja' miss all them friggin' notices that went on for months prior to the cut-off event.....which was something like a month ago? I doubt your program has been doing you much good for awhile.(:<))

Seriously, even on those great setups like AVG that tend to run themselves, you do need to do some monitoring just to be sure things are okay.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade
From: Wordsmith
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 04:09 AM

No, I go to the website weekly, and they never said anything about an upgrade. They updated my data files, and that was that. I update weekly my AVG, my AdAware and my Spybot programs...one right after another, before I do anything other than set a System Restore point. Sorry, it's been a while since I checked this thread...I've been offline more than I've been on, and when I've been here, I've been haunting the Poverty thread. Honest...I merely was doing my weekly routine, when the site told me my version was out-of-date one night. I like their program. It's so easy. Mind you, I did a complete scan of my primary partition that night, which took almost 30 mins. I have a large hard drive. Heh, heh!!! ;D

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 07:24 AM

Braggart!

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 10:31 AM

I looked at the reviews for firewall and antivirus software and thought Comodo looked pretty good. I've been running that this week, and it seems to be fine. I took the Symantec out, but I still use Ghost and Partition Magic. A friend pointed me toward a utility at Norton for removing all of the registry stuff from the Firewall, etc.

I searched at Symantec and found a utility for 2003 versions and earlier, but it directed me to this information:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039?Open&docid=2001101612274407&nsf=nsw.nsf&view=docid&seg=hm&lg=en&ct=us.

I'll get out my Ghost and Partition Magic disks in a while and reinstall them because they'll both be removed when I run this utility.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 12:09 PM

I like AVG. It's free, comprehensive and efficient. Once I clicked on an unfamiliar site, and *immediately* a horn blared and AVG popped up to say that a virus had invaded. It told me what to do, and I followed its instructions.

The scan found two viruses and removed them. It then did another scan and pronounced me clean.

I followed it up by scanning by another service and it too said my computer was clean.

That has been the only time anything was found but I scan regularly.

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 02:29 PM

I searched for AVG antivirus and was led to http://www.grisoft.com/doc/1 - this seems to be a site offering AVG for sale. The free antivirus software is a bit hard to find - it's here (click).

I've used Norton products for years, and they usually cost me next-to-nothing once I've submitted all the rebates. Can't say I'm dissatisfied with Norton, although it does seem to make older computers and laptops run sluggishly. How is AVG better?


-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 11:49 PM

Norton slows down the computer considerably.

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 12:59 PM

Norton used to be 'the one', but they have gotten both careless and pushy, and it seems like to me that they are just doing the minimum since several free programs have become so good.

There are a couple of 'payware' programs which seem to be rated slightly better than AVG, Avast and maybe Comodo.. but it's not clear to me why.

I read the alt.comp.freeware newsgroup every day, and no one seems to have any problems with the free ones. All I know is, AVG, which I have used abiut 4 years now, updates every day at the time I specify...which is 1:03 PM, for some reason I can't remember now. (You can set it to ONLY update manually, and set it to do full scans on a schedule..etc...but I only do full scans 2-3 times a year, and it never finds anything.)

I have seen only 2 virus warnings in 5-6 years, partly because I 'almost' never download email without looking at it online first, and deleting the spam. I got one virus from an infected friend, but AVG nailed it instantly.

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 01:03 PM

Thanks to The Villan I also downloaded the 7.5,    9 months ago.

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: Wordsmith
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 03:54 AM

Foolestroupe, it ain't bragging if it's true!

Good to know the horn blows when you've been bitten by a vampire...oops, virus. I recently took a survey on a site that now has a tentacled...uh, tenuous...connection with Microsoft. I was breezing through it, it held out an entry to a contest as a carrot, when I encountered questions I knew had nothing to do with the site, itself. The questions were related to Microsoft's antiviral and firewall coverage...vs. other programs and listed specific ones including AVG. In other words, it was a fishing expedition, and I was highly incensed that they stuck this in a survey that had no bearing whatsoever to the site. Microsoft makes for some strange bedfellows. My spidey-sense also tingled at the thought that Darth Gates's company might be trolling for more little companies to gobble up. I hate monopolies! And what's wrong with freeware?

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 10:19 AM

Hey Joe.....I'm several years into the AVG myself after leaving Norton and like Bill, I couldn't be much happier. The computer geeks around here all use it as do the Big Dude Geeks where they repair ours and it was those guys that sold me. I had a cleanup and upgrade done to another computer a few years ago and they installed AVG as part of it. They consider it the best free service and far better than most of the pay including Norton and McAfee. Scans the email for me and I have it set to scan monthly on a full scan. Trouble free and works like a champ.....GET IT, you won't regret it.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 10:59 AM

Bill, I thought you used Kerio? Should I have both it AND AVG? Last time i had AVG I thought it was a pain in the arse. Maybe it's improved?

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 11:19 AM

Kerio is a **firewall**...AVG is an **anti-virus**. They have different functions. I also use Proxomitron, a 'web filter' which serves an even different function.

One NEEDS both a firewall and an anti-virus.....life and hassles are improved by using a web filter.

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 11:41 AM

You can think of a firewall as a lock on the door to which YOU control the keys, keeping out those you don't invite in, while an anti-virus is a disinfectant...just in case someone you DO allow in has germs...or they sneak in when you open a window temporarily.

A firewall also controls stuff like what those inside your house (programs) can do about phoning out and reporting on your behavior.

A web filter like Proxomitron helps you see the sites you visit on YOUR terms...it is a pop-up blocker and more. It can block flashy ads that are NOT pop-ups...it can stop a site from re-directing you to another site without your permission...it can control whether clicking on a link open it in a new page/tab....it can deal with javascript...it can prevent a site from putting scrolling text in your status bar...it can control how sites with complex 'frames' are viewed. LOTS more....cookies....embedded objects like music and videos....etc.

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 02:41 PM

Ah...I thought when I downloaded Kerio it had an av program that came with it. I'll have a look. I think it was Proxomitron that gave me fits. So...I'll try AVG again. Thanks, Bill!

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 03:05 PM

Proxomitron does a lot right out of the box, but you have to tell your browser to listen to it by changing a couple of settings in the menu....maybe that was the problem.

AVG also has settings for various ways & times to do updates. There several decisions to make. Check all the menu settings.

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 04:46 PM

Ah, now I remember why I got rid of AVG. Everytime my computer had to boot up, it undid my command to NOT scan email coming into Thunderbird as T-bird times out everytime if AVG tries to scan it. Also, I get most of my email online, now.

I am giving it another try.

Thanks, Bill.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 04:49 PM

between the newest Thunderbird and the newest AVG, I find that scanning time has been improved remarkably. I don't 'think' it will be a problem now.

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: Wordsmith
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 03:56 AM

So, I have Ad-Aware SE and Spybot running alongside my AVG, and they're all free. They work well together, and I, too, never access my e-mail except on a site online. Well, Happy Easter!

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: Stewart
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 10:37 PM

I was relatively happy with AVG anti-virus until yesterday when during a routine virus scan it flagged audition.exe (the engine that runs Adobe Audition 1.0) as infected with a "Trojan horse Clicker.GMC"

I couldn't understand why a program that I've used for several years now could suddenly be infected with a virus. But I reinstalled the Adobe program from the original installation disk, and it immediately flagged the audition.exe file and prevented me from using it. So as long as AVG anti-virus is active I am shut out from using Adobe Audition.

And I'm not the only one - there are a bunch of other unhappy Audition users who are similarly affected SEE HERE. I am still waiting after to hear back from AVG support on this problem. Suffice it to say, there are some very unhappy users out there, and it would seem to be AVG's problem. It would be nice to get some timely support from them.

Any ideas for a better anti-virus program (I dumped Norton for AVG when Norton became too expensive and difficult to deal with)?

S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: BS: AVG, free upgrade (anti-virus)
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 12:04 PM

There are sometimes false positives when someone writes a program with a section of code which is similar to a known virus. It seems to me that a company like Adobe would be smart enough to fix THAT problem in its own software, rather than require hoards of users to look for a 'better' anti-virus....but Adobe has never been known to take any tack except "you adapt to US!"

Then again...Upon reading that link, I see that folks are speculating that a new AVG update may be triggering the alert.
Your choice, but rather than ditch a good AV, I'd hope that AVG & Adobe explore it and resolve the issue...I suppose you 'could' disable AVG temporarily and try installing something like Avast....

since I avoid using Adobe products as much as possible, I'll just see.