Free AV: AVG vs Avast?

Caveat

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Hi

Having major PC slowdown issues with AVG 9.0 - it seems to be a fairly common problem.

Avast often seems to be recommended as an alternative. However, from googling a bit, although Avast appears to be much lighter to run, it looks like there is some negative feedback re it's actual effectiveness.

Anyone here any views?
 
+1 on Avast, ive been using it for almost a year since my free Norton ran out and have never looked back.
 
Antivir is not free when I log on to it unless you agree to purchase another product. Am I missing something?
 
OK thanks all - just downloaded Avast 4.8. Seems fine - full scan about 50 minutes so all good.
 
lightswitch, I have free Antivir and I didn't buy anything. Tha laptop starts up now faster than when I had AVG.
 
Antivir is not free when I log on to it unless you agree to purchase another product. Am I missing something?
Yes, you must be missing something. You click on the big 'Download FREE Antivir' button and then click on the 'Continue to Download Antivir Free Version' from the suggested download site. The only niggle with the free version is that on start-up there is a pop-up ad.
 
I'm an IT specialist by trade, hardware and software. Only advice...

Never pay for AV if it is for home use, its free free free. I use AVAST, its been voted better than Norton and some say better than McAfee.

If you use it for commercial use, you need to pay....... read the terms and conditions.

Any retailer bundling AV software with a pc with a discount exploiting people in my opinion. Its free.

P.S. You can only ever have one AV software running on you pc/laptop. Also, keep your firewall turned on, Automatic upadates on, and if you can get spyware blaster. Thats free too, (again for personal and educational use, commercial guys need to pay)
[broken link removed]http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
 
THanks Orionsstar for the tips. I managed to download avast but am having a problem deleating Noton and Samantec from my programme list. When I atempt to do this my pc crashes, any tips regarding this? Cheers, LS>
 
I think from memory there may be uninstallation issues alright. An insidious programme if ever there was one.

Try googling the problem for starters - I think the problem/solution may come up on a few forums. Also, do you have anything that will clean your registry? Norton leaves plenty of 'bits' behind - try CCleaner (free) if you don't have it.
 
Don't uninstall it from the control panel add/remove. Use the norton uninstaller.

Then shred the norton disk, burn the remains, then through the dust in the canal.
 
AlbacoreA is right, ues the uninstall function.

Make sure you have the installation exe file (setup). Disconnect your laptop from the internet, uninstall the old AV.

You will be at a vunerable state if you have no AV and still connected to the web. If there are any rootkits or trojans on your pc that hid themselves from the AV software they could invoke. Get the old AV off, the new on on, reboot, connect back to the web but dont browse until you have updated your AV dats (virus definitions) This is done automatically.

Some nasty programs pass themselves off as free AV software, pretend to do a scan of your pc (but dont actually), they tell you that there are lot of viruses and give you a link to a site which will help remove them (for a cost). The problem is a Trojan Horse (like a virus) in the guise of a ligitimit AV program. If you have one of these, you need to backup your data and rebuild your machine!
 
Have to say in my experience its rare to get a virus or trojan these days if you use any common sense at all. The only people I know who get them are people with very little computer experience, who click on ads, and downloads all sorts of apps, usually by accident. I don't think I've seen any on my own PC's in 10yrs or more, and its a good few years since I've seen them on anyone elses PC. I work in IT, so see a lot of PC's and as such I'd be the IT support guy for a lot of friends and family.

Perhaps if you worked in somewhere like PC World you'd see a lot more I dunno.
 
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