A ProReviewer Mini-me Review

This is an overview of the program and not a more detailed review

What Is It?

AVG Anti Virus 8 is the little brother to AVG Anti Virus 8 Pro and as you will see it provides much more than just virus protection.

Why Would You Want It?

Everyone needs to have anti virus software installed even if not connected to the Internet or behind a router. Even if you are normally vigilant and careful about what you download, email you open or files you copy from removable media, it only takes a moments distraction or perhaps hitting the wrong button in a message box for a virus or Trojan to get into your system. Once it’s there it will probably be impossible to completely get rid of the problems it has caused. Therefore you still need to take care even when you have an anti virus software properly installed and running!

Even if you can remove all traces as well as recover files and registry settings that have been deleted or changed, it will take you many hours. Even then will you be sure that nothing is left behind? From personal experience I would suggest if you get a virus follow information you will find on the major security/anti virus sites to make sure you are safe from it returning or lurking on some other drive and then reinstall your OS from your last backup.

A good anti virus should prevent this from happening (providing it is set up and used properly as well as updated regularly)

What Does It Do - The Essentials?

Summary:

• Anti Virus Protection
• Anti Spyware Protection
• E-mail Scanner
• Real Time Scanning of accessed files

Pros: What’s Good?

• Freeware

• Installs/Upgrades without restart
• Regular Threat Database Updates
• Scheduled Updates - user definable
• System Scan schedules user definable
• Improved User Interface
• Good options and controls
• Good Help File

Cons:What’s Not So Good?

• Not the best Anti Virus Solution in independent tests

Having said that I have been using AVG Free for several years and had only one infection which was my fault (See my note above about distractions and taking care). Probably the main reason I am still using it is that it is installed on several PC’s and laptops which I own or maintain for family members. They are all familiar with AVG and the investment of my time and theirs in making a change has not been considered worthwhile.

What the Developer Says:

The developers site gives the following information:

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0

Basic antivirus and antispyware protection for Windows available to download for free. Limited features, no support, for private and non-commercial use only.

More Information can be found here:

Homepage

Help

The User Interface

The extensive descriptive details provided by AVG on each screen can be seen by clicking on the screenshots below to enlarge, therefore I don’t propose to add much text .

Once installed the User Interface can be accessed by Right clicking on the System Tray icon to reveal the menu:

This also allows a manual update to be performed

Overview Window

The various component windows can be accessed from the icons displayed or from the top menu bar:

Anti-Virus Component

Anti-Spyware Component

E-mail Scanner Component

License Component

Link Scanner Component

Resident Shield Component

This allows you to manage any Exceptions ie Applications that are flagged as a potential threat but that you know are safe.

Update Manager Component

an update in progress

There are various tools you can access from the top menu or from the component screens:

Scanning Option Screens

Selecting Drives to scan:

Advanced Settings

Help

What are the Technical Details & Compatibility?

What is the My Free Review Experience?

My experience with AVG 8 Free is limited to a couple of days but it certainly seems to be an improvement on AVG 7 in the GUI and options plus having additional protection components. So I will rate it as:

Good with plenty of tools and options

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This entry was posted on Monday, April 28th, 2008 at 8:11 pm and is filed under Portable Freeware. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.