Avg pro - then moved to Avast

LittleVoice

Please can you advise? I need help in deciding what to do regarding anti-virus software.

My husband maintained the anti-virus software on my laptop but he died suddenly at the end of August without being able to hand over records about computer systems etc.

Now AVG is popping up regularly to nag me about renewing to stay protected with PRO features which seem to be Online Shield, Free Technical Support, Data Safe and Priority Updates.

Are these worth my while (I have no idea of the cost at the moment) or should I be able to rely on free anti-virus software?


I expect the licence will also be about to expire for the anti-virus software installed on his desktop computer as he may have bought multiple licences at the same time. Does this make a difference?


Sorry, I must sound so dim. I would be very grateful for any help.

esuhl

I've always found that the extra features offered by a paid-for antivirus are available free with other software.

In fact, I always disable a lot of the superfluous features that are installed by default in the free antivirus programs.

So, a free antivirus should be fine. The most important thing is that you keep it (and Windows itself) updated.

I also use SpywareBlaster, which automatically blocks web access to know malicious sites. It's free and dead easy to use. Just make sure you close all browser windows before applying new updates (otherwise they won't actually be applied).

SpywareBlaster: https://www.brightfort.com/spywareblaster.html

And, in addition the occasional scan with your antivirus to make sure you haven't picked up anything nasty, the following programs are generally well regarded.

MalwareBytes: https://www.malwarebytes.com/
adwCleaner: https://toolslib.net/downloads/viewdownload/1-adwcleaner/

Again, the free versions are fine. The paid-for versions update automatically, and I think MalwareBytes runs malware scans in the background (which you don't really need with an antivirus, and it'll slow down your PC).

Hope that helps.

LittleVoice

esuhl wrote: »

Hope that helps.

Thank you very much indeed. I've got a few days to look at what you have so kindly suggested.
- LV

Mr_Toad

Also AVG never miss an opportunity to try and sell you something.

I look after a friends computer she has the free version of AVG and is forever being nagged to 'upgrade'.

If it were left to me I'd swap her AV for one of the other free ones available but she's not keen on changing things.

esuhl

^^ If you want to change to a different antivirus, OP, I find Avast to be very good.

https://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

You'd have to download it first, uninstall AVG, then install Avast (rebooting if prompted). And I'd choose a "custom installation", so you can choose what gets installed.

You only really need the "file shield" and "web shield", and "mail shield" if you use an email client. And maybe "home network security" and "software updater".

AVG is probably fine, although there have been some issues with it in the past (like every antivirus, really):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVG_AntiVirus#Controversy

grumpycrab

esuhl wrote: »

^^ If you want to change to a different antivirus, OP, I find Avast to be very good.

Sorry to hear about your situation. I would get out of your AVG-hell straight away - uninstall it.

Calmly set aside an hour and
1. uninstall AVG; reboot; if it proves difficult to remove for whatever reason AVG do a "remove" tool under here
http://www.avg.com/us-en/utilities

2. Follow esuhl's instructions above to install AVAST free.

LittleVoice

With thanks for the advice I received, I installed Avast and now have an onscreen prompt that it will expire in 3 days.


So it says the free version will protect from viruses and spyware but offering paid for version to include securing identity and data, preventing hacker attacks, securing banking transactions, etc.


I'm sensible with online banking. Do I need this additional protection?


Will I have to renew the free version every month?

bsod

no, you renew it annually, and don't need additional (or any kind of paid for) protection

select free version

LittleVoice

OK. Thanks. Perhaps it was just after the first month that it tried to sell me more.

bsod

it depends how you installed it, if you registered it immediately, and did a custom install to avoid the extra's



(file/web/email shields are the essentials)

, it should be quiet for 12 months. Further popups can be disabled in the settings

John_Gray

Avast bought AVG in July for $1.3B, but there's no news yet about any integration...