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Price: Free
Date Added: Jul 2007
Operating Systems: Windows 2000, Windows 9.x, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows Vista
File Size: 32208KB
Downloads Count: 1003629
Author: Grisoft
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
| Most Recent Reviews | User Rating |
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Reviewed by:
romeo1790305
Tue Apr 15 09:54:04 PDT 2008 Duration of ownership: 7 Months Strengths: well i dont no if it has any strengths althogh it says it does but by using it im highly dissapointed Weaknesses: well grisoft avg says it is a good virus scanner and remover and it is free i have no beef whith avg or grisoft it is light on the system says it removes viruse but dosent just quarintenes them and if it cant remove it well oh well it stays Overall Evaluation: my evaluation whith it is avg virus scanner its free for windows xp i dont no about vista you cant perfome a wekkly or monthly scan it scann on its on it has a low detction rate around the60s n dosent really protect you although its free some pages and forums i read ssay its not free any more overall avg to me is not good use it at you own risk really it does not remove all the viruses and dosent have a rootkit in it just plan virus scanner as i quote i dont use it at all any more some say its good but thats them |
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Reviewed by:
vincentt
Mon Mar 17 00:26:20 PDT 2008 Duration of ownership: 12 Months Strengths: Good virus protection features, light on system, quick updates, system is well protected. AVG performs better than most paid Antivirus softwares even as compared to giants like Norton/Symantec. Weaknesses: None for the free version, but would prefer to have internet security & spyware protection too on the free one, rather than running 3 different (free) softwares on the system. Overall Evaluation: AVG being free and easy to use provides good security to the system when online. It detects virus's on the fly and ensures the same with the least amount of processing power being stolen from the processor to achieve the functionality. Good Job guys. |
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Reviewed by:
FLBEACHBUM00
Tue Feb 12 19:06:53 PST 2008 Duration of ownership: 0 Months Strengths: Weaknesses: Overall Evaluation: |
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Reviewed by:
bob12
Wed Sep 19 12:58:16 PDT 2007 Duration of ownership: 0 Days Strengths: I have tried to downlload this product several times and it keeps telling me that the files are corrupt. I have e-mailed tbe vendor seveal times and he refuses to reply! I had used to product before but I had to re-load Vista and forgot to save the License # and Grisoft couldn't give it to me Weaknesses: It takes several hours to do the download Overall Evaluation: Very dissatisfied |
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Reviewed by:
taylor270
Tue Aug 21 06:11:32 PDT 2007 Duration of ownership: 6 Months Strengths: Weaknesses: Overall Evaluation: If you are having problems with the license key, do not download AVG from the PC World link. Use this link.free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/ or, if you use Google search, type in avg free. |
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Reviewed by:
gr1971
Sun Aug 12 13:16:35 PDT 2007 Duration of ownership: 10 Months Strengths: i just love it,great protection against all threats Weaknesses: non yet Overall Evaluation: i cant find any faults at all,much better then the over rated norton,it detected viruses that norton didnt even know was there and when working together with AVG's anti spyware and anti root kit its perfect,norton has been binned |
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Reviewed by:
swcramsey
Sun Aug 05 16:53:56 PDT 2007 Duration of ownership: 0 Months Strengths: Weaknesses: Overall Evaluation: I agree with the last posting because after trying many times, the installation always asks for a License number. I sent an explanation request to PCWorld, and they responded that I must contact the "author" and that PCWorld is not responsible for the "problems" with downloads on their web site. I am very disappointed with this answer. I guess I have to use the notion of "what do you expect for free". |
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Reviewed by:
Truck6911
Sun Aug 05 09:40:56 PDT 2007 Duration of ownership: 0 Days Strengths: Weaknesses: Overall Evaluation: Above it's says "License Type: Free", IT'S NOT !!!! Right at the begining of the installation, it keeps asking for a License Key. If a program says its FREE it shouldn;t ask you for it |
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Reviewed by:
Raymond070748
Fri Jul 20 08:06:09 PDT 2007 Duration of ownership: 5 Days Strengths: Its ability to detect a worm that Norton was not able to see. Weaknesses: It lacks a better feature for updates. The program has indicated on a couple of occassions that it is not fully updated even though it is already set for automatic updates. Overall Evaluation: It's a free program that clearly works better at detecting viruses or worms, far better than the over-priced Norton or McAfee, and I certainly like it better. This, then, is probably why I would pay for the full version of AVG, though a bit down the line as I continue to evaluate it. |
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Reviewed by:
yatchwei
Sun Jul 08 20:38:03 PDT 2007 Duration of ownership: 1 Years Strengths: quite good.... n it is free, nt charged!! Weaknesses: ned to awy update Overall Evaluation: suitable to use |
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Reviewed by:
theonlybuster
Thu Jun 07 04:28:18 PDT 2007 Duration of ownership: 3 Years Strengths: As everyone says, IT'S FREE! AND IT WORKS. Great competition to the well renoun Norton series. Has just the right amount of features so you're not stuck running wildly through the internet looking for a help me guide when you actually get a virus. Very smooth, and easy to get along with. Still hard to believe it's free. Though it's a trial previous versions will not run out and operate about the same. Weaknesses: Honestly there's barely anything wrong with it. IF you want to be picky, if you're not using a fast connection it can sometimes take 2 or 3 times to connect before it updates itself. The auto-scan is choppy in the trial version (though it works great in the purchased version). Overall Evaluation: This is the next big anti-virus program because it works great AND it's free. |
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Reviewed by:
dacohenz
Mon Jun 04 18:32:46 PDT 2007 Duration of ownership: 12 Months Strengths: It's free and does not use close to the memory that McAfee and Norton use. I use this on my computers and my clients, and have yet to have any problems. Weaknesses: None for the price Overall Evaluation: It is good effective software, especially if you are strapped for memory and cash. Dave http://www.davescomputerserv.com |
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Reviewed by:
sandeepownzzz
Thu Dec 28 04:41:01 PST 2006 Duration of ownership: 3 Years Strengths: Free. Detects most viruses. Also able to detect some spware. Weaknesses: It expires Overall Evaluation: I have been using this antivirus at home for 3 years. I currently have it running on 5 computers, but I have recently swtiched so avast! because I recieved notification that AVG will no longer be free after January 14, 2007. Avast is basically the samething, but I disklike the interface, but it is skinnable to your liking. |
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Reviewed by:
andrewsx
Wed Dec 20 21:42:42 PST 2006 Duration of ownership: 6 Months Strengths: Weaknesses: Overall Evaluation: |
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Reviewed by:
jwbjerke
Thu Dec 07 16:57:17 PST 2006 Duration of ownership: 5 Years Strengths: lightweight, stays out of the way Weaknesses: none Overall Evaluation: I am an IT pro and run AVG on my personal machine and recommend it to my family and friends. I pair it with the free Windows Defender from MS for spyware protection. |
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Reviewed by:
sataan
Wed Nov 29 17:01:31 PST 2006 Duration of ownership: 4 Years Strengths: Easy on system resources, auto updates everyday, auto test everynight, all for free? You can not beat this product. AVG also plays nice with Linux. Weaknesses: The interface is a little weak but what do you want for free. Overall Evaluation: I have AVG free anti-virus on my 3 computers and have installed it on dozens of others and have never had a problem on any of them. Comebine this with some great free anti spyware/ anti trojan apps like ASquared, Spybot S&D, Adaware, and Microsoft's Windows Defender and you will have a safe & secure computer. Through in Zone Alarms free firewall and use Mozilla's Firefox as your primary browser and your computer hum along for years without any problems. AVG is also much easier on your systems resources the most of the big name commercial brands like McAfee and Norton. It is, what it is, a great FREE antivirus. |
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