Best Free Virus Protection for its price (free) Please Read

Going up against the likes of McAfee and Symantec is no easy task. However, Grisoft's AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, available as a free download from the company's Web site, is a viable alternative to what the established antivirus market leaders now offer.

At the heart of the software, now in version 7.5, is the AVG Control Center, which presents a graphical interface that contains the software's main antivirus-protection functions.

The interface shows you, at a glance, the main protection features, the calendar dates on which the next tests and program updates are scheduled to run, and the current status of the program's Virus Vault, which is where infected files are first quarantined and then subjected to further treatment.

Whenever the state of any Control Center component needs attention, the software highlights the relevant panel in red and the program's system-tray icon turns grey. One potential trigger of this feature is when the program's virus database is out of date and needs to be updated.

Features

The intuitive Control Center provides for a high degree of customizations should you wish to change any of the default settings. For example, you have control over which features can run automatically as well as the time at which they will be engaged.

The Control Center also provides easy access to the program's test center as well as to Grisoft's online antivirus updates and Virus Encyclopedia.

The software gives you the ability to limit virus scans with certain file criteria -- such as specific classes of file extensions -- so you don't have to run time-consuming scans on all your PC's files. In addition, you can exclude specific directories from the routine scans.

The program can heal infected files automatically whenever it is possible to do so. When it is not possible to extract a virus from a file, the software will place that file in quarantine so you can take a look at some point down the line.

The Control Center also offers the option of configuring several advanced settings, giving you more direct control over certain processes. For example, you can assign specific shortcut keys to frequently used functions and you can configure what functions you want appearing in the Control Center itself.

Rounding out the features is an e-mail scanner that can check inbound and outbound messages for infections.

Performance

Grisoft AVG Free Edition is designed to operate on both Windows and Linux machines. Moreover, the program is fully compatible with the latest 64-bit operating systems.

I liked the fact that Grisoft AVG consumed just 29 MB of my available hard-disk space as opposed to 54 MB for the other antivirus program that I am currently running. Also, while most antivirus applications are major resource hogs, there was no system slowdown with AVG installed. And it ran quietly and unobtrusively in the background.

I was surprised to find that Grisoft AVG quickly identified three infected files on my laptop that had somehow slipped through the net cast by the other PC program I typically use for antivirus protection. For this reason alone, Grisoft's free offering was an eye-opener for me.

Luckily, Grisoft's antivirus software was able to heal one of the infected files automatically. The other two files had to be deleted manually.

Before downloading the free AVG software, check the documentation to be sure that there are no known conflicts with any of the software you are currently using. Although I did not encounter any problems while running two antivirus programs simultaneously on my computer, Grisoft does not recommend the use of more than one antivirus product on the same operating system.

The company also advises that AVG installations might fail if Norton Internet Security software is installed on the same PC. Fortunately, there is a way to make an end-run around this particular snafu by uninstalling Norton, rebooting the PC, installing Grisoft AVG, and then reinstalling Norton.

The Verdict

As we all know, with new viruses coming out almost every other week, your antivirus software is only as good as the latest update. This software offers free lifetime updates.

Given that the Grisoft offering is free, computer users concerned about security issues have an excellent, no-cost opportunity to see whether their existing security measures are really catching all the bugs.

The only caveat to the deal is that Grisoft does not offer any technical support for the free version of its antivirus software. And the free version is available only to home users. Businesses have to pay for a license.

The bottom line is that Grisoft's free antivirus program offers a lot for no price whatsoever.

Grisoft AVG Free Edition

Pros: Right price; intuitive interface; small, quick program; free updates.

Cons: Free version offers no technical support.

Verdict: The bottom line is that Grisoft's free antivirus program offers a lot for no price whatsoever. However, the free version is restricted to home users. Businesses must purchase the AVG Full Edition.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Price: Free

Web-Site to download this --->

http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free

Thanks For your time.

~Snakebite420

P.S-

Please keep this post alive, I would like everyone to know about this...

Yeah AVG is great I have it!

Thank you for copying a 2 month old news article, word for word.

You should be smacked for that. Extremely hard. :notalk:

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