AVG internet security, what are the for's and againsts?

ljfx

I've been using AVG for years and never had a problem. With automatic updates almost daily its always up to date with the latest viruses

scrumpypaul

hi

i used avg for a year or two, but then it corrupted when i tried to update it.

since then (and for about three years now) i've used avast, which is really easy to use, runs in the background, updates automatically and generally fits the bill for my anti-virus needs. free download for personal use.

kidcat

I have been using it for a few months having used both McAfee and Norton before that, it definitely runs better and doesnt slow the machine the way the others did.

hannah19790

scrumpypaul:
hi

i used avg for a year or two, but then it corrupted when i tried to update it.

since then (and for about three years now) i've used avast, which is really easy to use, runs in the background, updates automatically and generally fits the bill for my anti-virus needs. free download for personal use.

Oh, not heard of that one.Thanks x

**duckmagicuk2**

IMO it is better at finding viruses too.

hannah19790

ljfx:
I've been using AVG for years and never had a problem. With automatic updates almost daily its always up to date with the latest viruses

Thnks for that x

hannah19790

Do I need to uninstall my norton 1st?

nuabdi

Free AVG is not the best in finding viruses
AVAST is a resource hog (takes a lot of your CPU and memory space)

for freeware, use AVIRA antivir instead, combine it with threadfire and comodo firewall
for paid software use kaspersky or NOD32

dxx

The smart money, I've always found, is to not use AV at all.

There's two good reasons for this. First, is that viruses generally aren't all that bad. I mean, really, what do they do? Slow your system down, get in your way, cause you bother? Precisely what a virus scanner does, then. The only difference being that the virus scanner is there all the time, the virus is only there when you're silly enough to pick one up.

The second reason is that you really do have to be silly to get yourself infected. Viruses are easy to avoid. Simple as this -

1) Enable automatic updates (this will keep you safe from worms in a way that no virus scanner can)
2) Don't download anything you don't want (that's to say, if you go to a website and a popup comes up telling you to download and install Setup.exe for whatever reason, just don't)
3) Don't use pirated software (or if you do, check the comments out first to see if anyone's had trouble)
4) Be wary of anything offered to you, and always ignore internet popups

Basically, be dubious of everything, and you'll never get a virus, spyware, adware, a worm, a trojan, or anything. Malware doesn't just install itself. It's you, the user, that choses to let it or not. So don't let it, and save yourself the hassle of a virus scanner.

DAMNOME

hannah19790:
Do I need to uninstall my norton 1st?

Use the Norton Removal Tool to make sure you remove it all

This will be a helpful read too about what is free antivirus is available aswell as firewalls etc

DAMNOME

dxx:
The smart money, I've always found, is to not use AV at all.

csiman

dxx:
The smart money, I've always found, is to not use AV at all.

There's two good reasons for this. First, is that viruses generally aren't all that bad. I mean, really, what do they do? Slow your system down, get in your way, cause you bother? Precisely what a virus scanner does, then. The only difference being that the virus scanner is there all the time, the virus is only there when you're silly enough to pick one up.

The second reason is that you really do have to be silly to get yourself infected. Viruses are easy to avoid. Simple as this -

1) Enable automatic updates (this will keep you safe from worms in a way that no virus scanner can)
2) Don't download anything you don't want (that's to say, if you go to a website and a popup comes up telling you to download and install Setup.exe for whatever reason, just don't)
3) Don't use pirated software (or if you do, check the comments out first to see if anyone's had trouble)
4) Be wary of anything offered to you, and always ignore internet popups

Basically, be dubious of everything, and you'll never get a virus, spyware, adware, a worm, a trojan, or anything. Malware doesn't just install itself. It's you, the user, that choses to let it or not. So don't let it, and save yourself the hassle of a virus scanner.

I wouldnt agree that the smart money is on your tactics. Each to their own but some viruses can completely blitz your system before you have a chance to run any scanner.

hannah19790

Yes, with my knowledge of computers and anything technical I don't think I can take the risk of not having any AV at all - it would be just my luck..!! Thanks for info though x

nicknack

The title of the thread suggests you're thinking of getting AVG Internet security which to the best of my knowledge is not free. If it's AVG Antivirus you're thinking of that is free, but to replace Norton Internet Security (as opposed to just Norton Antivirus) you will also have to install alternatative software for Firewall, Antispyware, Antispam etc).

with regard to dxx's advice about not using any protection at all - that's fine advice for an experienced user, but these days it only takes one mistake when clicking on a link to take you to a dodgy site that will result in you ending up in a hell far worse than a pc with resource intensive security software.

AVG internet security, what are the for's and againsts?

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