AVG Free is now 8.0; bloatware or no?

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iladelf

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I'll answer that yes, I believe the good ol' reliable free AVG antivirus has now become a bloatware piece, in this new incarnation of 8.0. It's almost one of those "Swiss Army Knife" programs I can't stand (AV, antispyware, link scanner, etc.), and on a brand new install of Windows, doubled shudown time, from 15 to 30 seconds, and NEARLY TRIPLED BOOT TIMES, from about one minute to just under three minutes.

Granted, the machine I tested this on was an underpowered laptop (2.4 GHz P4 with 192 RAM), but still, that's frickin' ridiculous.

I was basically completing final reinstall procedures with this Windows install; now looks like I'll have to start all over. Here's hoping the uninstall procedure brings the boot and shutdown times back to normal. No program should make your computer act like it has Windows Rot right after a clean install. I've loved AVG for years; looks like they've laid an egg.

Right now, I'm not happy with ANY of the free AV programs anymore; none of them seem lightweight like they use to. Only thing I'm test-running (and liking) so far is Threatfire, with nothing else on my daily surfer.

What's your take?

PS Don't believe me? Read some of these comments:

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/0...ed-now-with-protection-from-spyware/#comments
 
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But guys, you forget the most important thing: It so darn pretty. All blue and shiny. Thats what matters, just ask people who like Vista, Nero, Roxio, and Norton.

All sarchasim aside, I just installed it on a virtual machine and I'm already not liking it very much. It seems all the former good programs are going this way now.
 
I sold AVG 8 Internet Security on a users 7 year old computer and it really slowed that machine to a crawl. I also had to stop the Web Protect stuff from running to get AOL v8 to run. It works, but you had better have a newer PC to run it effectivly.
 
So, what's everybody using instead of AVG now? Avast? Many clients need lightweight AV because they don't have the most powerful computers.
 
Anyone use Antivir much? I haven't had a chance to try it out. How is it's footprint and system usage?
 
I use Avast because I never liked AVG. Avast's boot time scan is very helpful, so thats why I stick with it.

As far as a free, ultra lightweight antivirus, has anyone tried about Comodo Antivirus? I like comodo software because it's all free, even to commercial users, but I haven't used the antivirus much.
 
My problem with Avast was it just didn't catch anything atleast not on an already infected machine however AVG cleaned it up. I can't say I would continue to use AVG now that it is no longer a clean efficient app but this does leave us in a tough spot for free solutions.
 
From what I've seen most people seem to be moving from AVG to Avast. This might be the nail in the coffin for AVG among the tech crowd.
 
I'm going to test Comodo Antivirus. I know they make the best firewall I ever used.

I did try Antivir for a while on my kids computer and found it to be about like AVG, but I did not like the user interface.
 
I agree, Gunslinger....Avast's default settings are SUPER annoying. The popups and the sounds should be disabled by default... I always change the annoying settings every time I install it. Aside from expired keys, it never prompts me or alerts me....unless it detects something, of course.

Also, I tried to test out Comodo a little while ago and found out that it won't install on Vista...so I won't be using that.
 
iladelf said:
I'll answer that yes, I believe the good ol' reliable free AVG antivirus has now become a bloatware piece, in this new incarnation of 8.0. It's almost one of those "Swiss Army Knife" programs I can't stand (AV, antispyware, link scanner, etc.), and on a brand new install of Windows, doubled shudown time, from 15 to 30 seconds, and NEARLY TRIPLED BOOT TIMES, from about one minute to just under three minutes.
Click to expand...

I haven't experienced any negative effects in system performance or boot/shutdown times on any of the machines I have updated to AVG 8 Free. However I dislike the new Link Scanner because it slows the browser, and turning it off leaves an exclamation point on the tray icon. It would have been nice if they put an entry in custom setup to not install this feature as well as the anti spyware feature, but at least there is a way to not install that component.

Run the installer with the following switch
Code: 
/REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSurf /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSearch

Other then this annoyance I think AVG Free is still a a solid anti virus with some welcome new features such as the inclusion of "potential unwanted file detection" previously only available in the paid version of AVG. I also believe AVG was long over due for a gui update, and the new version seems to be friendlier to new users then 7.5 was.

For myself I dislike having the spyware component built in, but feel it is a great addition adding an extra level of protection for my home customers.
 
AVG 8.0 Fine for me.

I have installed AVG 8.0 on multiple computers and mostly on slower less powerful computers and they seem to be doing fine. I do however disable the link scanner by going into firefox addons and disable it there so I don't see the exclamation mark at the bottom. You can also disable it inside of internet explorer. I also disable the daily scan option when installing... find this gets annoying for my clients. :)
 
Has anyone here tried Clamwin as a Desktop AntiVirus, not just portable AV. I know that it does not have a Resident Scanner and that you have to manually scan, bu is there a way to schedule a weekly scan.

I need a lightweigh Free AV for a client as I installed AVG and they are complainging that PC has become too slow. Usually for business users I install NOD32, for home users AVG and for those willing to pay I also use NOD32. I'm also considering using Avast for clients, what default settings shoul I disable?
 
A couple of weeks ago I was trying to help my sister out with her computer over the phone. The thing was so damn slow that we eventually gave up. So I went over a few days later to give her computer a tuneup, cleaning, and security makeover. I installed AVG 8.0 on it and was unhappy that it had something running constantly and taking up 50MB of memory when AVG 7.5 only took up something like 5MB.

Another program I am starting to dislike is Comodo Firewall. They are loading in extra junk but for now you are able to disable it all. Hopefully Comodo doesn't sabotage their free firewall also.
 
Ok, I'll be the odd man out. I used to be a proud supporter of AVG, but after 8.0 bloat, just can't do it. So in process I have tested AntiVir, it is alright, but scan is extremely slow, and doesn't have email shield. I have switched over to PC Tools AntiVirus, lightweight (4.8-5.3mb) and the interface is clean.

Have been testing Threatfire also, and I really like it. One of the nicest apps in awhile. But, don't use it with AVG 8 it will bog.

Just my opinion.
 
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