Would you use AVG (free) as your only AV?

Hi

Just wondering what people think of the idea of using AVG (free) as their only anti-virus? Do you think it's good enough? Also how would you say it compares to AVG (pro) version. Thanks for any help.

 

Personally I would not use avg as my only antivirus. There are to many better av's available. There are people out there that use only avg pretty much without problems but I am not willing to take the chance. You can check the detection history of avg here

 

No, never. Thank you!

 

If you are restricted to free AV programs and you like AVG, I would still use an additional free AV such as F-Prot for DOS, BitDefender or eScan's AV Utility as a backup scanner. Or you could run one of the on-line AV scanners frequently to backup AVG.

In addition I would also think about installing a free antitrojan program for another layer in your defense.

However, at the present time there are some 'good' offers for commercial AV's which will give you better protection than AVG or AVG Pro; for example Command Antivirus for $15 and AVK for $9.

 

I did this for a while. While I never had any problems, I think I was lucky. If I had to use only free AV software, I would use AVG Free as my resident AV along with another product (F-Prot?) as my on-demand scanner.

 

No, never. I wouldn't use it period, even with another AV.

 

No, wouldn't use it either. There are a few better free ones in my opinion, Bitdefender, Avast Home, even Antivir.

 

I am now using AVG (FREE) and find it easy to use and maintain. I also find that it updates it's VDF's on a frequent basis.

I tried AVAST and found it to be cumbersum.

I used AntiVir/PE and it's (Internet Updater) is a hunk of junk .

I have not tried bitdefender (Perhaps some comments on it)?

I also use a2 (No problems).

I also use adaware (No problems).

I also use sypblaster (No Problems).

I also use spybot (No Problems).

Thanks
Wildman

 

There would be no harm in having a weekly online scan to compliment AVG and enharnce your protection. Its free to do so . I use the RAV online scan weekly . http://www.ravantivirus.com/

 

avg is ok - avast home better as it has more protective features. i like avast.

 

I have tried AVG, not impressed when a virus went straight past, also had 5+ friends become infected over the following 5 months.

See the following thread for what I use personally...

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=43117

Hope this helps...

Cheers

 

i ditched avg free cuz it lagged behind with updating. it did however, catch viruses that norton missed, i use zonealarm pro over the free version because i found unless checked frequently, it allowed nasties to write itself in to freely access the internet. with the pro version any changes require my password. the pro version also has mailsafe and automatically quarantines any infected attachments.

blackspear the other freebies such as ewido and script defender interest me. will check them out. am running a clean puter [2 yrs. +] and tests indicate i do not exist on the internet nor can tests fool my zonealarm pro.- must live a charmed life well sort of.

 

I would most certainly not use AVG as my only AV. If I used it, I'd want a good free backup AV, like F-Prot for DOS, and maybe BitDefender Free.

 

Thanks everyone for your very helpful replies.

 

I am currently using AVG as my only AV, but only temporarily until I decide which one I want to buy (probably NOD32). I have pretty safe browsing habits though, I always keep up on critical updates, use Firefox, run ad aware and spybot, don’t use any type of P2P program, don’t download anything unknown, barely use my e-mail and I never open ANY attachments, I also don’t visit any adult or sketchy websites. So I am not too worried but I want to get a good AV for piece of mind.

 

Isn't this a little bit paranoic?

I use p2p programs, happy open file attachments ... so I can see that my antivirus really works. And it does its job very good!

 

Hahah…Yes, I have OCD.

 

Each to their own Kloshar...

Cheers

 

And what is OCD?

 

OCD= Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and I don’t think I really have it, but I am pretty obsessive about some things, such as computer security and neatness for example.

 

That description would mean that I (and I suspect a lot of folks around here) have OCD as well.

 

Sure, it might be a little paranoid. But remember that the only thing that can really protect you from malware is a healthy dose of paranoia.

 

No, I would no longer use AVG as my first line antivirus defense. I've mentioned on some other thread that I did use AVG exclusively for a couple of years -- years ago, and it never let me down. The Internet is a more dangerous place today. I don't think AVG (at least their free version) has kept pace.

There are other, better, free av's available. Personally, I think it's wiser to bite the bullet and select a good pay antivirus if at all possible. There are many listed right here on this site.

 

OK, never say never -> I even downloaded AVG 6 and tried it.

Very dissapointed!

I downloaded some viruses from Kazaa and started them. There was no response from AVG. What the hell?

I used RAV online virus scann so I checked if downloaded files were really viruses and they were. I thought:"Keep this AVG **** away from me!"

And then I scanned my disk with AVG, and ... miracle - it found all viruses. (they were just Beagle.Z)

But I was still unhappy because AVG didn't detect them when viruses were downloaded and when I run them.

I don't know what to say ... maybe dissapointed or maybe happy. Who knows.

 

Good information. It would be more helpful if all would indicate why they think the way to do however.

I don't know if any program is better than another, but I do know which ones work for me and why. I also know if I don't like a program and why.

Rember some of us are novices at these computer things, so please keep it simple and informational.

Thanks

Wildman