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Downloads: Antivirus
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
License Type: Free
Price: Free
Date Added: Jul 2007
Operating Systems: Windows 2000, Windows 9.x, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows Vista
File Size: 32208KB
Downloads Count: 1002250
Author: Grisoft

Free program protects against viruses and hackers.

Editor's Note: PC World tested AVG 7.5 Anti-Virus Professional Edition in our April 2007 antivirus roundup. Its 91 percent overall malware detection rate puts it in the middle of the pack in that critical category. The software's last-place proactive protection performance, clunky interface, and lack of U.S. phone support, however, dropped it to seventh place in our rankings. The file offered here is the slightly different free-of-charge version, not the $30 Professional Edition.

AVG Anti-Virus Professional did a fine job in the disinfection tests, reversing more than 80 percent of changes made by malware. It was the only program that removed all malware files and reversed both changes to the Hosts network settings file, though like every other app it missed some less-important Registry changes.

But in proactive protection tests, which use one-month-old signature files to detect new malware, AVG ranked last. It failed to detect about two out of every three malware samples.

Also, the program puts the user in charge of too many decisions that require too much know-how. To schedule a scan, for example, you have to wade through a "test manager" and figure out the differences between a complete test, a detailed test, a detailed user test, or a simple user test. Grisoft plans to revamp the interface, but we found this one hard to manage.

Grisoft's AVG Anti-Virus integrates nicely with Eudora and Microsoft Outlook to quarantine suspect e-mail messages, and scans all programs' e-mail traffic over POP3 and SMTP protocols. However, it was only one of two programs (Trend Micro's AntiVirus plus Anti-Spyware 2007 being the other) that don't scan Web traffic, and it also doesn't directly support any specific IM clients.

AVG 7.5 Anti-Virus Professional Edition is the least-expensive option of the eight programs we tested in our "Virus Stoppers" antivirus roundup.

Note: The paid Professional version is $30, and renewal costs a scant $15 per year thereafter. The free version offered here lacks antispyware protection and has a limited ability to schedule scans. We tested the Vista version of Grisoft AVG 7.5 Anti-Virus Professional Edition for our "Virus Stoppers" roundup. An XP version of the software is also available.

--Ryan Naraine

Registry Mechanic
Significantly Improve PC Performance and Stability – Guaranteed. Free Trial!
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Free, secure Spyware scan. Winner of the Best Anti-Spyware. Rated 5 Stars!
Kaspersky Antivirus 7.0
Award Winning Antivirus Protection. Free 30-Day Trial! Official Site.
All Antivirus Downloads
To re-sort this list, click a column heading.
File Name Downloads License Date
Free and easy anti-spyware and antivirus solution with automatic online updates
676 Apr 2008
Free mobile anti-spyware and antivirus solution with automatic online updates
253 Sep 2007
Free mobile anti-spyware and antivirus solution with automatic online updates
441 Nov 2007
The free AVG Anti-Root is designed to protect you. It does one thing, and one thing alone: finds and kills rootkits.
Reviewed
146719 Free Jun 2007
Free program protects against viruses and hackers.
Reviewed
1002250 Free Jul 2007
Update AVIRA Desktop for Windows with latest virus definitions and scan engine, helping you to stay protected even when you do not access the Internet on a daily basis.
1496 Trial Jan 2006
Painlessly protect your computer from viruses.
Reviewed
1386 Shareware Oct 2005
Scan for more than 8000 virus signatures, and detect polymorphic viruses as well.
Reviewed
47142 Free Jul 1997
This antivirus removes I-Worm.Sobig viruses directly from your mailboxes!
447 Shareware Jan 2006
Scan for the AccessIV virus, and repair corrupted Access 97 databases.
Reviewed
8969 Free Jul 1998
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