AVG Anti-Virus version 7 (free) release available...

AVG/Grisoft.com ^ | Nov 11, 2004

[TomGuy]

AVG Free Edition is the well-known anti-virus protection tool. AVG Free is available free-of-charge to home users for the life of the product! Rapid virus database updates are available for the lifetime of the product, thereby providing the high-level of detection capability that millions of users around the world trust to protect their computers. AVG Free is easy-to-use and will not slow your system down (low system resource requirements).

Highlights include:

..Automatic update functionality

..The AVG Resident Shield, which provides real-time protection as files are opened and programs are run

..The AVG E-mail Scanner, which protects your e-mail

..The AVG On-Demand Scanner, which allows the user to perform scheduled and manual tests

..Free Virus Database Updates for the lifetime of the product

..AVG Virus Vault for safe handling of infected files

..Great customer satisfaction!

Please note that any previous version of AVG Free will be un-installed automatically during the installation of the new AVG Free.

http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

[TomGuy]

Link to version 7.289

http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

[backhoe]

Kool! Thanks for posting.

[anniegetyourgun]

I really like this product. Thanks for the headsup on new release.

[Khurkris]

Any comments on how this compares to Norton Anti-Virus. My Norton subscription has just expired and I am considering this prog instead of paying for another year of Norton. I have been very happy with Norton for the last 4 years. Thanks for yr feedback.

[longjack]

I saw the thread this morning over at DSLReports

I downloaded and uninstalled over the top of AVG 6 without problems on W2K. The download and update were reasonbly quick on a 748K down DSL connection.

The interface is a little more advanced, but still easy enough to figure out. The only thing I had to do was to manually enable the e-mail scanner after the install, and reset the times for auto updates and scanning.

The thread over at DSLReports mentions that AVG 6 support will expire in a month or so.

longjack

[LibWhacker]

Thanks, been waiting for PC-cillin to release its latest version because I'm fed up with McAfee and Norton and I've heard PC-cillin is pretty good. But maybe I should try this instead since I'm really running on fumes here (a one year-old version of NAV that hasn't been updated in nearly a year!).

[TomGuy]

I used to have McAfee, but even on a 1.8 mhz Pentium 4 it got sluggish with glut-ware.

I switched to a version of Trend Micro. I still use it, but it has changed ownership and a new version is coming soon. I'm not sure what the cost will be.

I recently started using AVG. It seems to work pretty well. I haven't had any problems, and it doesn't take over the system resources to run. [I have it set to auto update and run daily during a time I am away from the pc.]

I like it (ver 6). I just downloaded 7.289 and will check it out.

[the crow]

bump for future comments. thanks for the post.

[Wooly]

Although the free version of AVG is good, a better free AV program is Anti-Vir at the link below. Both programs have a small footprint, but the update system, along with the reminder is better with AntiVir and their update servers are very fast. With AVG the free update server can be really slow sometimes or not even available.
AntiVir is also really great at stopping dialers and trojans.
I have used both on over 100 computers that I have built for people and even the lamers managed to keep the AntiVir Program updated unlike the AVG installs.

http://www.free-av.com/

[Wooly]

By the way the AVG Professional version ($33.00) is a really great product, that does not have the shortcomings of the free version and it features two years of updates. Much better than Norton, McAfee, or Panda AVs.
I use this version on my home machines.

[Bubba]

It's called...
Mac PowerBook G4... running OS 10.3.6

[aliquis]

Thanks a lot. It's a good product.

[Calvin Locke]

...how this compares to Norton Anti-Virus.

I just saw a ZDnet Anchordesk article on Norton/McAfee/PC-cillin last Friday.

Here's the link: Why you should ditch Norton AntiVirus

I've never tried PC-cillin myself.

I've been using Norton AV/Firewall for years, and it is a dog.

I used McAfee's Guard Dog years ago, and liked the interface for what it did at the time.

I'm more likely to go with PC-cillin or McAfee after my Norton expires, depending on the rebates offered.

[machman]

I use AVG on my laptop running Win98se, works great, I guess I'll update.

But I use Avast! from Alwil sotfware on my desktop running XP. It also works great. Are either of them better than Norton or McAfee? I don't know, but I do know I've had trouble with Norton before, never with the free ones though.

[Wooly]

Stay away from McAfee, not only is it a resource hog, I have seen serval computers where it has caused real problems much like the virus infections it is suppose to protect from. My own belief is that if it were not included on so many retail box computers the company would be out of business.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping

[conservativepoet]

I use Avast too. I've only had one misfire with it, it thought that one of my TuneUp 2004 files was a virus, but it's been pretty good. Seems less of a drag on my computer compared to Norton and McAfee. McAfee caused some conflicts so I got rid of it. I wish Norton's code was not so demanding on the system.

[Dacus943]

I have been using Avast for over a year. It too is free, loaded with features and updates in small packets that take mere moments to load.

http://www.avast.com/

[drpix]

For a larger universe of product reviews, download.com is very useful. It's not only a high volume download hub - where download statistics are posted - but it also maintains reviews by tons of users. Here's the links for the 2 free anti-virus products mentioned:

AVG

AntiVir

[George W. Bush]

Any comments on how this compares to Norton Anti-Virus.

I've switched over a dozen people in the last year.

I really can't find any difference. They're just as safe as with Norton thus far.

Norton makes more sense if you buy the suite and get the firewall and antivirus integrated. I own ZoneAlarm but there are elements of the Norton firewall that offer much better reporting. The parental controls and spam blocking and antispyware features in the suite are only okay but need to get better. Norton offers a lot in the suite but if you're only after antivirus, I'd say go with the freebie.

I'm going to uninstall my Norton and go with this new AVG personally.

I saw a recent special on Norton AV 2005 for only $15 shipped from Amazon. Look around and see if they still offer it. So you might look for some specials if you want all the features and integration.

[js1138]

placemarker

[sonofatpatcher2]

BUMP for later

[GarySpFc]

Ping

[75thOVI]

AVG ping

[Wooly]

For those who do not know, the Norton Branded products are not the same as when they were by Peter Norton. Today they are owned by Symantec as they have been for several years and Symantec has proven to be a company that relies more on the product's reputation from the past than the present. They have also show an uncanny ability to buy very good products and and never update anything but the box. Their firewall is still basically the old @Guard Firewall and they have recently bought all of the PowerQuest line of software, which I also expect to go down in quality.
Norton AV, starting with the 2003 version has had problems with the auto-update system and other problems which many times will cause you to reinstall the product a couple of times during the year's subscription.
Norton Systemworks will kill a computer running XP or 2000 if you use any of it's features.
Forget Norton!

[68skylark]

ping for later reference

[Littlejon]

I have used AVG for a long time and I love it! It is easy to use and you can set it up and "forget it". I would recommend it to anyone.

[pollywog]

I had Norton's antivirus and installed the AVG program when it expired. I love AVG and would pay for it over Nortons.Easy to install and use.

[wouldilie]

I've been using AVG on my machines and on a lot of friend's machines for several years. I think the stuff is great. It finds problems that Norton and McAfee don't. I'm gonna upgrade for sure.

[2nd amendment mama]

I have used AVG for quite a while now and have been extremely pleased with it. In fact, I recommend it to all of my customers. It uses far fewer resources than Norton and isn't half as intrusive on your computer. I highly recommend it. Stop wasting your money on Norton.

[Khurkris]

folks thanks for the feed-back. I dl'd AVG, disabled my Norton and am giving AVG a test run.

I very much appreciate the help and suggestions. AVG looks good so far and is not a resource hog.

I run Mozilla FireFox as my main browser so I am looking for any conflicts with it. Nothing major so far. We'll see.

[Khurkris]

Thanks and see post #31

[Free Vulcan]

I have been using both as companions to each other for about 9 months. Both seem to catch what the other doesn't. I put AV on my father's computer yesterday, it caught two trojans that Norton or Tauscan couldn't.

Also, the new AdAware Personal is awsome, and really gets alot of stuff. Excellent companion to Spybot S&D.

Anybody with opinions on SpywareGuard and SpywareBlaster from Javacool?

[UCANSEE2]

bttt.

I have been trying these AVAST and AVG and so far my PC (at home) is infected with trojans and viruses like crazy.

Every one of these free softwares tells me I have the trojans and viruses, but then tells me they can't remove them.

I installed AVAST, and now it won't UNINSTALL no matter what I do.

[edchambers]

Just curios what is the difference between the update I just installed and the new version? Is there one?

[Old Professer]

I've been trying to figure out how my FAT 32 got corrupted on my local HD D:; it happened last night after a warm boot caused by no sound problems.

I tried a DOS level directory call and got a message that files were unreadable.

So far, everything is back to normal but I can't do a System Restore; apparently the required files were stored there.

I had just updated and reloaded Spy Sweeper prior to my wife telling me there was no sound.

Are those files lost forever or is there a partitioning repair procedure that could make D: readable again?

[Free Vulcan]

Yeah, I tried Avast, and that's the reason I ditched it. I finally had to do a dirty delete by going to Explorer and deleting the folder it was in, then running my registry cleaner.

Try AV Personal, http://www.free-av.com and see if it will remove the stuff. If not, you might have to reload everything, unless somenone else here knows a trick or two.

[AFPhys]

Thanks for letting us know about this.

[VOA]

bump

[TomGuy]

When I ran McAfee, I had the same problem---couldn't get rid of it.

I was running their AV and thought I'd try their firewall. Didn't like it, because it locked up my system. So, I went back to ZoneAlarm.

Every so often something McAfee would try to load. I'd scandisk, run fixit, try every registry cleaner, etc. McAfee would still try to load something every few days.

I finally had to do a format and reinstall everything to get rid of it.

===

I can't get RealPlayer to load. Something happened late last week, because it was working. Now, nothing. It won't even fully install.

System Restore won't work either. XP may be good, but it isn't that great. I need to do a clean and reinstall [drats!].

[TX Bluebonnet]

read later

[Capitalism2003]

EVERYONE should have these two programs as well. They kill those nasty SPYWARE programs that slow your machine down and report your surfing habits to advertisers.

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://download.com.com/3000-8022-10122137.html

Ad-Aware
http://download.com.com/3000-2094-10045910.html?legacy=cnet

Install both programs, then UPDATE them online for the latest definitions. Doing a complete scan with both programs and using the "immunize" function of Spybot should kill lots of bad stuff and prevent future spyware from being installed on your computer.

[TomGuy]

Yes.

A couple of other 'must have' programs that watch for 'intrusions':

Prevx (free home edition)
http://www1.prevx.com/

WinPatrol (free home edition)
http://www.winpatrol.com/

These watch for any program trying to install itself or change your current install. They aren't for novices, but aren't that difficult to figure out.

[Kryptonite]

BTTT

[Quix]

I used it 5-6 years ago.

It missed some things then.

I'm not very willing to depend only on it.

Does it fight with Norton or vice versa if both are used?

[Titan Magroyne]

Bump for later. Thanks to all those in the know contributing to this thread.

[KneelBeforeZod]

thanks for the post. I downloaded it and like the new GUI.

It used my old serial # and it actually kept my mail settings it seems.

and it seems to catch viruses that 6.0 didn't... 6.0 would actually give popups about viruses, asking to run the program...but then wouldn't clean them. This version seems to have solved that.

[this_ol_patriot]

The below are from Usenet posts in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general and
microsoft.public.security.virus.

I keep them around for the links just in case. Take them as is I haven't used everything here and cannot vouche for their safety or if they work.

---

Start with Trend Micro's Sysclean. Download it and the signature file,
turn off system restore, boot into safe mode and run it. Then reboot
and try running a full AV scan with your Norton AV program after
updating the defs. Also run at least two of the listed online scans:

Trend Micro Sysclean
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp

Trend Micro Signature File
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp

Online and Downloadable Virus Scanning:

Panda ActiveScan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

Bit Defender Online Virus Scan:
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php

Symantec Online Virus and Security Scan:
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp

TrendMicro:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

McAfee Online Virus Scan:
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/mfs/default.asp

RAV AntiVirus - Scan Online
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/

After that scan for adware/spwyare and other nasties:

Run these programs to check for spyware/malware. After installing
update them, then boot into safe mode and run them. You should update
and run them weekly.

Cwshredder
http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Ad-aware SE
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10247783.html

Pest Patrol Free Pest Scanner
http://www.pestscan.com/ScanOrTrial.asp

After your system is clean use these programs to help keep it clean:

Spywareblaster
www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Spywareguard
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html

IE-SPYAD
http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm

Make sure you have a firewall active at all times. If nothing else use
the one built into XP, but there are a variety of free third party ones
that do a better job from Sygate, Zone Alarm or Kerio.

Sygate Personal Firewall
http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm

Zone Alarm
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?lid=staticcomp_za

Kerio Personal Firewall
http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html

Lastly check your system for vulnerabilities. Make sure you have all
the latest security patches from Windows Update too.

Websites which will check for vulnerabilities:

Browser Security Tests:
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym

http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/

www.pcpitstop.com

---

If it is associated with malware it takes a combination of programs to
clean a system.

Run these programs to check for spyware/malware. After installing
update them, then boot into safe mode and run them. You should update
and run them weekly.

Cwshredder
http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Ad-aware SE
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10247783.html

Pest Patrol Free Pest Scanner
http://www.pestscan.com/ScanOrTrial.asp

If you’re still having problems after running these then run HijackThis
and post the log to one of the specialty forums, _NOT_ this one.

HijackThis
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155

Forums to Interpret HijackThis Logs:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/

After your system is clean use these programs to help keep it clean:

Spywareblaster
www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Spywareguard
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html

IE-SPYAD
http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm

For viruses, start with Trend Micro's Sysclean. Download the file and
signature files. Turn off system restore, boot into safe mode. Then
boot normal and turn system restore back on. Run a full AV scan with
whatever AV program you have. Run at least two of these online scans
regularly in addition to your regular up to date AV program:

Trend Micro Sysclean
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp

Trend Micro Signature File
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp

Online Virus Scanning:

Panda ActiveScan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

Bit Defender Online Virus Scan:
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php

Symantec Online Virus and Security Scan:
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp

TrendMicro:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

McAfee Online Virus Scan:
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/mfs/default.asp

RAV AntiVirus - Scan Online
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/

F-Secure:
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml

Sygate Personal Firewall
http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm

Zone Alarm
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?lid=staticcomp_za

Kerio Personal Firewall
http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html

Lastly check your system for vulnerabilities. Make sure you have all
the latest security patches from Windows Update too.

Websites which will check for vulnerabilities:

Browser Security Tests:
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym

http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/
www.pcpitstop.com

To check if what other programs may be causing problems use clean boot
troubleshooting:

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=316434

[Ryan Spock]

Ping for later

[Professional Engineer]

I've had v6 for quite some time. Works like a champ on any machine I've tried it on.

I even found virii on a "protected" network machine at a previous employer.