AVG8 crappy; freeware alternatives?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MitchellWmA
  • Start date Start date
M

MitchellWmA

After using AVG for years, I'm ready to move on. The latest one is
just so much flash and dash and less substance than before in some
ways. I can't even tell at a glance when it's scanning anymore. But
even more importantly, despite carefully setting options, it doesn't
start scanning reliably, i.e., upon computer startup if time missed.

And I set up that scan to avoid a large drive and yet, it still goes
ahead and scans the drive yet, plain as day, that drive letter is
missing from the drives to scan.

So looking for an alternative as it's time to move on. What other
freeware app have people use that they can recommend? thx ::g::
 
MitchellWmA said:
After using AVG for years, I'm ready to move on. The latest one is
just so much flash and dash and less substance than before in some
ways. I can't even tell at a glance when it's scanning anymore. But
even more importantly, despite carefully setting options, it doesn't
start scanning reliably, i.e., upon computer startup if time missed.

And I set up that scan to avoid a large drive and yet, it still goes
ahead and scans the drive yet, plain as day, that drive letter is
missing from the drives to scan.

So looking for an alternative as it's time to move on. What other
freeware app have people use that they can recommend? thx ::g::
Click to expand...

AVG 7.5 always used to ignore the "dont scan at startup if daily scan
missed"....

I have been checking out the alternatives. Avira is good but has a couple of
drawbacks:

i) Its update mechanism is incredibly unreliable (ie, it doesnt)
ii) When it does update it pops up an absurd screen with a mildy threatening
series of pictures and sentences designed to shock customers into buying
their other products. The claims are quite intimidating.
iii) When it carries out the scan, if it comes across what it thinks is a
virus, the scan stops and you have to make a choice. You cannot just leave
it to scan and deal with all the issues at completion.

Gaz
 
After using AVG for years, I'm ready to move on. The latest one is
just so much flash and dash and less substance than before in some
ways. I can't even tell at a glance when it's scanning anymore. But
even more importantly, despite carefully setting options, it doesn't
start scanning reliably, i.e., upon computer startup if time missed.

And I set up that scan to avoid a large drive and yet, it still goes
ahead and scans the drive yet, plain as day, that drive letter is
missing from the drives to scan.

So looking for an alternative as it's time to move on. What other
freeware app have people use that they can recommend? thx ::g::
Click to expand...

Avira AntiVir® Personal - FREE Antivirus
http://www.free-av.com/
You may wish to consider removing the 'AntiVir Nagscreen'
http://www.elitekiller.com/files/disable_antivir_nag.htm
or
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
It includes ANTI-SPYWARE protection, certified by the West Coast Labs
Checkmark process, and ANTI-ROOTKIT DETECTION based on the best-in class
GMER technology.
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
(Choose Custom Installation and under Resident
Protection, uncheck: Internet Mail and Outlook/Exchange.)

Why You Don't Need Your Anti-Virus Program to Scan Your E-Mail
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm
Viral Irony: The Most Common Cause of Corruption.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx

and (optional but highly recommendable)

On-demand AV applications.
(add them to your arsenal and use them as a "second opinion" av scanner).
David H. Lipman's MULTI_AV Tool
http://www.pctipp.ch/ds/28400/28470/Multi_AV.exe
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp
English:
http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2008/01/09/scan-your-computer-with-multiple-anti-virus-for-free/
Additional Instructions:
http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm
and/or
BitDefender10 Free Edition (*NOT FOR VISTA*)
http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en--BitDefender-8-Free-Edition.html
 
Don't have a free antivirus to recommend, but I can recommend a free
spyware scanner.

http://www.superantispyware.com

Superantispyware free edition is a great spyware scanner and will find
all kinds of problems. It is not any type of real-time application, you
have to manually scan your computer, unless you want to pay for the
professional version.

If I were you I would get Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0. I think it is
much better than avg or avast, or any free antivirus out there. You can
activate a 30-day trial to see if you like it.

http://www.kaspersky.com

I've used these two in combination for a while on my computer and both
work great.

JM
 
Kayman said:
Avira AntiVir® Personal - FREE Antivirus
http://www.free-av.com/
You may wish to consider removing the 'AntiVir Nagscreen'
http://www.elitekiller.com/files/disable_antivir_nag.htm
or
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
It includes ANTI-SPYWARE protection, certified by the West Coast Labs
Checkmark process, and ANTI-ROOTKIT DETECTION based on the best-in class
GMER technology.
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
(Choose Custom Installation and under Resident
Protection, uncheck: Internet Mail and Outlook/Exchange.)

Why You Don't Need Your Anti-Virus Program to Scan Your E-Mail
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm
Viral Irony: The Most Common Cause of Corruption.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx

and (optional but highly recommendable)

On-demand AV applications.
(add them to your arsenal and use them as a "second opinion" av scanner).
David H. Lipman's MULTI_AV Tool
http://www.pctipp.ch/ds/28400/28470/Multi_AV.exe
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp
English:
http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2008/01/09/scan-your-computer-with-multiple-anti-virus-for-free/
Additional Instructions:
http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm
and/or
BitDefender10 Free Edition (*NOT FOR VISTA*)
http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en--BitDefender-8-Free-Edition.html
Click to expand...

Thanks, Kayman! That's really helpful, generous, and much appreciated.
I've been using AVG for 10 years. My ISP (Virgin) offers PCGuard as
part of my computer but it's a wonky program and while I had it on my
computer it started making my XP unstable for the first time ever, so
I've cleaned it off. Look forward to running Avira.
 
Thanks, Kayman! That's really helpful, generous, and much appreciated.
I've been using AVG for 10 years. My ISP (Virgin) offers PCGuard as
part of my computer but it's a wonky program and while I had it on my
computer it started making my XP unstable for the first time ever, so
I've cleaned it off. Look forward to running Avira.
Click to expand...

YW. Credit should go to the authors of these wonderful (free) applications.
I am only a 'messenger' :-)
 
AVG 7.5 always used to ignore the "dont scan at startup if daily scan
missed"....

I have been checking out the alternatives. Avira is good but has a couple of
drawbacks:

i) Its update mechanism is incredibly unreliable (ie, it doesnt)
ii) When it does update it pops up an absurd screen with a mildy threatening
series of pictures and sentences designed to shock customers into buying
their other products. The claims are quite intimidating.
iii) When it carries out the scan, if it comes across what it thinks is a
virus, the scan stops and you have to make a choice. You cannot just leave
it to scan and deal with all the issues at completion.

Gaz
Click to expand...

The last is a problem. But I'll keep it in mind. Thanks.
 
Avira AntiVir® Personal - FREE Antivirus
http://www.free-av.com/
You may wish to consider removing the 'AntiVir Nagscreen'
http://www.elitekiller.com/files/disable_antivir_nag.htm
or
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
It includes ANTI-SPYWARE protection, certified by the West Coast Labs
Checkmark process, and ANTI-ROOTKIT DETECTION based on the best-in class
GMER technology.
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
(Choose Custom Installation and under Resident
Protection, uncheck: Internet Mail and Outlook/Exchange.)

Why You Don't Need Your Anti-Virus Program to Scan Your E-Mail
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm
Viral Irony: The Most Common Cause of Corruption.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx

and (optional but highly recommendable)

On-demand AV applications.
(add them to your arsenal and use them as a "second opinion" av scanner).
David H. Lipman's MULTI_AV Tool
http://www.pctipp.ch/ds/28400/28470/Multi_AV.exe
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp
English:
http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2008/01/09/scan-your-computer-with-multiple-anti-virus-for-free/
Additional Instructions:
http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm
and/or
BitDefender10 Free Edition (*NOT FOR VISTA*)
http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en--BitDefender-8-Free-Edition.html
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks for the great info. Will check them out.
 
Don't have a free antivirus to recommend, but I can recommend a free
spyware scanner.

http://www.superantispyware.com

Superantispyware free edition is a great spyware scanner and will find
all kinds of problems. It is not any type of real-time application, you
have to manually scan your computer, unless you want to pay for the
professional version.
Click to expand...

Thanks! It's one of the apps recommended over at CastleCops. I will
continue to use it.
If I were you I would get Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0. I think it is
much better than avg or avast, or any free antivirus out there. You can
activate a 30-day trial to see if you like it.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Appreciate. But I've been using a free av for 8 years now
and will continue to do so. I have a number of apps, not just one that
over the years have been recommended by the CastleCops anti-malware
steps. Will continue to use what's available. Just because it's
payware, doesn't mean it works and just because it's free doesn't mean
it doesn't work. Safe hex is safe hex. That's what counts.

Thx.
 
MitchellWmA said:
The last is a problem. But I'll keep it in mind. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Small price to pay, I think. Avira has been nicely doing a complete
auto-sceduled scan on my computer every day for the past four or five
and each time it stops at a particular executable program file which it
says contains something similar to a virus. I don't mind. Glad it is
being so cautious. Also when botting the computer up at the beginning
of the day Avira throws it's red umbrella at the screen for a few
moments and that reminds me that I need to make it check for updates.
Easy enough to do.

Eddy.
 
No it's not a problem. If you go into the Avira configuration options
you can change this to, for example, move to virus vault without
stopping.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this, Tom.
 
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