AVG Free

[throdgrain]

Isnt going to be free soon apparently. Does anyone have any suggestions for a replacement?

 

[Jonty]

Hi throdgrain

Where did you hear it isn't going to be free? (I'm not doubting you, just curious). AVG just released v8 of the free version recently, so I wouldn't too much about it disappearing overnight.

As for replacements, I can't really recommend any, sorry (I don't use one, and I still maintain that if you browse safely and know your stuff, you'll never need one).

Kind regards

 

[Kryten]

Just started using AVG Free 8 on the laptops I refurbish, seems fair so far. I've not heard anything about it being chargeable anyway other than the popups on startup which occasionally invite you to purchase the full costed suite.

 

[throdgrain]

I keep getting messages from them to that effect. Maybe I mis-read it, Ill wait till another comes along.

 

[dysfunction]

avast! antivirus - high security and protection from malware with anti-spyware and anti-rootkit software built in is pretty good if you find AVG is no longer free

 

[nath]

I've yet to see a pop up asking me to move to AVG Pro but I just got back from a clients who was complaining about that. Bit of a pain given that all the years I've used AVG free I've never seen it ask for money even once, and any time I recommend it to a client I always say "oh and it'll never expire, never ask you for money". Doh.

Anyway, it could be that they're gradually going to stop supporting AVG 7.5 and want people to shift to AVG 8. I notice their site is becoming much more like the realplayer site - "Get Realplayer FREE click here! Are you sure you wouldn't like the pay one? It's great! Honestly, try it it's wonderful! No? Are you sure? But look at the wonderful features! Oh alright have the free one you tight bastard."

 

[Kryten]

True. I still need 7.5 for the 98 and Me systems I occassional (annoyingly, begrudgingly) have to re-image.
But I understand you don't often get something for nothing, especially when you're primarily a money making business such as this.

 

[Yaka]

used avg for abit but its failed to pick up a trojan, that was listed on its site since 2007,

its been reckomended to me by alot of peeps but i wouldnt recomend it,

 

[Kryten]

Well, you always get what you pay for, and I'm never going to begrudge a package for missing a particular nasty/virus/trojan, because there's not a single package that will get them all. And for that reason alone, I'd also be rather unhappy to pay for software to miss one or two nasties when a free package is just as good.

Besides which, the best form of protection is the article sitting in front of the keyboard, not any peice of software or hardware behind it. A computer is just a computer and no amount of heuristics, hardware or software is going to ever replace common sense.
The day that happens, Skynet will be blasting the shit out of us

 

[bob269]

I've always used Nod32 Antivirus Software - from ESET never had a single issue with virus or spyware and thats with viewing dodgy pron sites :d

Uses very little resources also.

 

[Cromcruaich]

Got prompt today from avg saying i should upgrade to ver 8 by end of may - ver 8 is available for download now and is still free.

 

[TdC]

still free? ok then, I'll do it and see what happens. Always been very happy with AVG in the past.

 

[Ch3tan]

I'm very dissapointed in AVG. Constant popups on 7.5 telling you that you will no longer be protected if you do not upgrade to AVG 8.0. Then the links take you direct to the checkout for the full version that you must pay for. The links for the free bogstandard only anti-virus version are well hidden.

Your casual user will feel they have to buy. They are cashing in on the insecurities of web users, and its sad as they have been a company who have offered very good free protection for a long time.

 

[nath]

I manually moved to 8 before those pop ups started happening, but a number of my clients will no doubt be getting them. That's really pretty annoying.

 

[Ch3tan]

Today I upgraded to 8.0 free. Had to manually search for the link. I was getting a popup more than twice every five minutes. This popup had no close button, the only way to get rid of it was alt+f4 or click on the link to take you to the AVg checkout. I'd send your clients a link to 8.0 free if I were you.

 

[TdC]

I believe the link to 8.free is this: http://www.grisoft.cz/filedir/inst/avg_free_stf_all_8_100a1295.exe

 

[Starman]

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

 

[Jupitus]

I'm very dissapointed in AVG. Constant popups on 7.5 telling you that you will no longer be protected if you do not upgrade to AVG 8.0. Then the links take you direct to the checkout for the full version that you must pay for. The links for the free bogstandard only anti-virus version are well hidden.

Your casual user will feel they have to buy. They are cashing in on the insecurities of web users, and its sad as they have been a company who have offered very good free protection for a long time.

I just got the prompt so took a close look.... there is the big button to click, or a small link saying 'view all AVG 8.0 products' or something, which in fairness does take you to an easy place to get the free version.... it IS a very small link though

 

[Kryten]

End of the day, AVG Free is purely a loss-led product designed to entice users to purchase the full suite or other Grisoft products. You don't often get something for nothing, certainly in the corporate/business world.
And for that, I'd put up with twice the nagging.