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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: 1002957
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 program protects against viruses and hackers.
Reviewed
1002250 Free Jul 2007
Free antivirus utility works within your browser to scan your hard drive.
Reviewed
342072 Free Dec 2005
Protect yourself from hackers, privacy threats, viruses, and spam.
Reviewed
257682 Shareware Feb 2005
Scan your latest known viruses, and display a list of infected files,
Reviewed
199393 Free Aug 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
Scan and eliminate viruses with this free tool, created by the developer of PC-cillin.
Reviewed
142082 Free Mar 2006
Remove all variants of the Klez worm family.
Reviewed
98299 Free Oct 2002
Remove the W32.Blaster worm with this free tool.
Reviewed
88893 Free Aug 2003
Block Trojan horses and worms with this specialized program.
Reviewed
84611 Shareware Aug 2007
Keep abreast of new viruses every day--without really trying.
Reviewed
82059 Trial Aug 2007
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