AVG AV Free Edition 9.0 Review

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT update to version 9.0.790 just yet. If you have done so already, you probably can't connect out to tell anyone about your problems.

I manually updated this morning and had nothing but issues, similar to this AVG Free Forum Post: Cannot Connect To Websites After AVG Update. I spent many hours trying to diagnose the problem, to no avail. I'll detail what happened in the next several posts.

In the end, I had to revert back to AVG Free Edition 9.0.730 (FileHippo file in case you need it and remember to update the virus definitions ONLY) in order to connect out.

 

As one can see from my previous post's screen capture, this 9.0.790 version update was a huge 6.8 MB, with a lengthy number of fixes and improvements.

The installation went fine, prompting a reboot at the end, which I did. Afterward, I went looking for any changes. Under Tools > Advanced Settings, Version AVG Free 9.0.790 has a new process called Cache Server and although the AVG Free User Manual has not been updated yet, the recent AVG Paid Anti-Virus User Manual 9.0.23 details this process as (screen capture is mine):

I decided to test this Cache Server process, detailed in the next 2 posts.

 

Using the same parameters described earlier at the beginning of this thread, Fast Scan Whole Computer took 1 hour and 23 minutes to scan 512,485 objects.



My CPU fan kicked in 6 times during the above test, while scanning these areas:

OpenOffice Portable, VLC Player Portable, Adobe/Macromedia (Studio MX 2004 & Dreamweaver CS4), Common Files (mainly Microsoft Office 2003 and the aforementioned Adobe/Macromedia), Program Files (Java and Microsoft Office 2003).

I guess-estimate that the CPU Usage averaged 85% during this first test. The completed scan found 8 (known by me) False Positives, which were moved to the Virus Vault:



Afterward, I checked Task Manager to see if the AVG processes had quieted down and indeed they had (you can check these results against the first ones I published at the beginning of this thread):



Next post: final test.

 

Before initiating the second test, I restored the False Positives back to their proper places so the test would be the same. Fast Scan Whole Computer took about 31 minutes to scan 417,769 objects, about 95,000+ objects less than the first scan.



My CPU fan never once kicked in during the second test and I guess-estimate that the CPU Usage was an average of 55% during this test. The completed scan found the same 8 (known by me) False Positives, which were moved to the Virus Vault. Here's the Task Manager after the second test.



Conclusion: Based on these results, the Cache Server process not only cut a subsequent scan's time by 52 minutes but also reduced CPU Usage by 30%, without the need for the CPU fan to ever kick in. Finally, progress in an area that AVG users have complained the most.

Alas, I wished this story had a happy ending, but trouble was brewing ahead without my knowledge. Next post.

 

Giddy with excitement and ready to post my findings here, I start Firefox 3.6 and it does not connect, just like the fellow in the AVG Forum thread. I kept reloading the Home page and once in awhile, it would partially render, but never finish. I try my seldom used IE 6 and experienced the same thing.

At first, I thought it was my ISP, because I was even having issues downloading emails (time outs), so I go to my laptop (Win 7, IE 8, MSE, Win FW, Wireless) and no problem whatsoever connecting out. I double check the AVG Advanced Settings and every checked item is the same as before.

I decide to do an AVG Repair Installation, thinking that something went wrong with the initial install, and afterward, same issue, except that Firefox would connect to some sites, fully, but not others.

Remembering the previous issue with Zone Alarm, I unchecked the Load at Startup box and reboot the PC, confirming that ZA is not running in the Task Manager. Same thing, no outbound connections and when available, partial Web site rendering.

Decided to do an AVG Add & Remove Component install, thinking that maybe some remnants of the LinkScanner or Web Shields were installed without my knowledge. Everything checks out and still with ZA not running, the same issue continues. That's when I checked the AVG Free Forum and saw that post. Finally, having had enough testing, I revert back to AVG Free Edition 9.0.730 and my connection problems disappear. Enabled ZA and no issues since.

Note: Be aware that the Optimize Scanning feature will be enabled, after the 9.0.730 installation, for a few minutes.

Something is amiss with this new AVG 9.0.790 version and ZA (or at least my old version of it), is not at fault. Better keep your current version updated with virus definitions, until AVG figures out what's wrong. If an AVG user has found this connection issue, with the same or different firewall, please do post for the benefit of others who might be reading this.

 

ski123, you are correct. The only difference (from my previous screen shot) is the Language Files:



I still have not upgraded to this version. There are more users beginning to post their problems (Cannot Connect To Websites After AVG Update) and one even stated that without using ZA, they still can't connect. Some have only enabled the LinkScanner, and others have only disabled the Email Scanner, eliminating the connection issue. However, AVG is insisting that the current predicament is a ZA problem.

 

Satyre, first, welcome to Wilders!

Unfortunately, if you have AVG set to do an Automatic Update, whatever is in the pipeline (whether it's virus definitions, spyware db and/or program upgrades) will be downloaded and installed. The way to limit the download is to do a Manual Update, after disabling the Update Manager via the GUI and also Advanced Settings, un-checking what you don't want.

Before attempting this, download and read the User Manual to familiarize yourself with the procedure. Afterward, you can keep up with all daily AVG Updates by visiting Wilders' Update Alerts forum. The Updates Team (ourstanley and roddy32) do an excellent job of keeping current with all updates.

Should you have any more questions, don't hesitate to post back.

 

Brocke, if you read my post #130, I do use MSE in my Win 7 laptop. I keep up with AVG, and have it in my Win XP SP2 rig, because quite a few non-techie family members use AVG. Sincerely, as AVG has gotten more difficult to handle for them, I have slowly moved some members to MSE. Eventually, they will all get there. In the meantime, I keep posting for those AVG users (family members included) who might benefit from my experience.

 

BC, I don't have the answer to that question and only time will tell whether old ZA versions will be affected.

The fact that some AVG users (who don't utilize ZA) are having problems tells me, that there's more to this story than AVG is letting out at the moment. Version 9.0.733 works perfectly and 9.0.791 does not, so there has been a major change somewhere.

The whole thing is a shame because AVG finally was able to cut down the scan time and CPU usage with its new Cache Server component, as detailed in my posts above.

Until this issue is resolved, IMO I don't think AVG will end 8.5's support. My advice to you is to keep using 8.5 and update it daily.

 

BC, with your version 8.5, I would do both program and virus defs. That's what I have instructed some family members (who have not upgraded to version 9.0) to do.

As I understand it, the Certificate Check insures that a program has a valid, digital certificate and if it doesn't, it flags the program as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Programs). The Polymorphic Detection improvement would help catch newer malware, so to skip this update would place your PC at risk.

I know you always hesitate in updating AVG, however, all you have to do is create a Restore Point before doing so and if you encounter any issues, just go back to that point.

Ibrad, in version 9.0, AVG has done a better job of separating virus defs from program updates yet I agree that sometimes AVG creates a mess of confusion with their updates!

 

robin, thanks for the heads-up!

I really liked that Cache Server feature, so let's hope they can quickly find what's behind the connection issues.

 

Ibrad, if this is on the level, there are 3 AVs competing for attention, never mind S&D's TeaTimer, so an update from any of these programs could turn that PC into a brick. Hopefully, your friend has a recovery disk or at the very least, created a backup disc when that PC was new, for times like this.