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October 5, 2009 5:00 AM PDT

AVG: Version 9 faster, includes ID protection service

by Seth Rosenblatt
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The feature-rich versions of popular security program AVG have been updated, with AVG Technologies claiming faster scan times, faster boot times, and other under-the-hood improvements. While version 8 introduced a consolidated product line, making those features work better together takes the attention of AVG Internet Security 9 and AVG Anti-Virus 9.

AVG is making some bold claims for these updates. The company is touting scan times that are "up to 50 percent" faster, based on marking files safe until their file structure changes, and boot times that are "10 to 15 percent" faster. Memory usage is also expected to be "10 to 15 percent" better, as well. The built-in firewall, available only in the Internet Security version, uses a new database for automatically determining if certain programs are safe to access the Internet without user input. This trusted database, called TrustedDB by AVG, should be less intrusive by querying for user input 50 percent less often than in the previous version, says AVG. Also, the installation process has been shortened from 22 screens to 11.

There are few wholly new features available in version 9, but an interesting one is the Identity Theft Recovery Unit. Included in AVG Anti-Virus and AVG Free, but only for users in the United States, ITRU is a business partnership with Identity Guard which provides "consumer identity theft solutions." Accessible only from the browser toolbar, which only works in Firefox or Internet Explorer, the service provides "a dedicated identity theft recovery unit with fraud experts," to assist handling, getting and analysing a credit report, enrolling in credit file monitoring, and offering report-filing support.

In hands-on testing last week, I found AVG to be relatively easy to navigate around, although the interface could be simpler. When you click on one of the items in the main window, you must double-click on one of the features to access more information on it. A single click, or even a mouse-over pop-up, would make the experience faster. Before I even ran my first scan, AVG detected icons associated with Pidgin as threats.

AVG 9 looks very similar to AVG 8. Most of the changes are under the hood.

(Credit: Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt/CNET)

Double-checking them against Avira and McAfee revealed those detections as false positives, and when I finally ran the Fast Scan it took longer than 20 minutes. That doesn't compare favorably to competitors, some of which can complete a first Fast Scan in around 60 seconds. I was also surprised to find that Mozilla Thunderbird was not automatically approved to go through the firewall, despite the new firewall trusted database. While the installation process offers to install the browser toolbar for you, it doesn't seem possible to opt out during the installation and then install it later from the AVG interface, a strange oversight.

AVG Internet Security 9 is available for $49.99, and AVG Anti-Virus costs $34.99. Both come with a one-year license and a 30-day trial, although AVG Anti-Virus lacks the firewall, identity protection, antispam, and system tools that come in AVG Internet Security. Fans of the free version of AVG 9 will have to wait a bit longer, as AVG always delays the release of Free until after the full suites have been made public.

Seth peers into the deep, dark corners of software so that you don't have to. He has yet to suffer a single nightmare about OS/2. You can follow him on Twitter.
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Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 2 pages (52 Comments)
by tipoo_ October 5, 2009 5:52 AM PDT
I wonder how this will stack up in Norton's performance challenge (google it!).
Reply to this comment
by wahoospa October 5, 2009 6:26 AM PDT
"While the installation process offers to install the browser toolbar for you, it doesn't seem possible to opt out during the installation and then install it later from the AVG interface, a strange oversight. "
I'll pass on this bloated program. Plus I do not use anyones toolbar except the one that comes with my browser. The browsers toolbar is sufficient for me. I have seen peoples browsers with 5 and 6 toolbars and they look like crap taking up much of the viewing space of the browser.
Reply to this comment
by Lerianis3 October 5, 2009 8:28 AM PDT
The diss about toolbars I have to agree with. There is NO reason for any toolbar to be installed, save the one for the browser protection bar.... oh, wait...... that is what this is and it is a NECESSARY part of the install.
by Grifter02 October 5, 2009 9:58 AM PDT
@Lerianis3:

How is it a "NECESSARY" part of the installation if it's optional?
by srosenblatt October 5, 2009 11:13 AM PDT
There seems to be a misunderstanding about the toolbar. You can install it during the main installation process, or you can opt out. If you opt out, but want to install it later, you must re-install AVG. There's no other way to install the toolbar after installation has been completed without re-installing.
by DMBoricua October 5, 2009 5:12 PM PDT
This program is not bloated. You have complete control during the installation process. You can choose not to install the toolbar, and just have the basic free antivirus program. This is a great program and works great together with Firefox with the link scanner.
by ComputerAce October 5, 2009 6:53 AM PDT
Wow....AVG 9 installed very quickly and counter to what was said above, the toolbar was optional for me.

However, I like the idea of Identity Recovery so I installed.

Way to go AVG!!!
Reply to this comment
by irishrebelmom October 5, 2009 6:59 AM PDT
I have used AVG FREE since their first product hit the market and I can tell you that I have NEVER had a problem with my computers. EVER. Never experienced Identity Theft or any other maladies.

Maybe some call it 'bloated' and some rant about the time it takes to scan, but I can assure you that these are both small issues versus having to spend hours trying to rid yourself of a pest, or worse, having to take it to someone to do it for you and pay $.

As far as I am concerned, NONE of the other companies are true competitors. I recommend AVG to everyone I know...and tell them to get rid of the other programs they may have.
Reply to this comment
by troyoverton October 5, 2009 10:09 AM PDT
@irishrebelmom:

While I will concur in your experience with AVG, I must say that I also have had a very smooth past with Grisoft/AVG products. I have used the free version for many folks who simply refused to invest in any software when a "free" counterpart existed.

I would STRONGLY caution you about blanket statements such as these, as it is well known that each of these programs have strengths and weaknesses that may suit them to a particular user. It is also unwise to suggest that no other application on the market can do what AVG does.

Many times, I find that a users ability (or lack thereof) to be responsible online has far greater impact on the amount of viruses or malware found on their machine, and the same is true for phishing schemes that lead users into a ID theft trap.

In closing, its always best to recommend more than one option, and to recommend a combination of applications that are independent of each other but that work together to achieve a common security goal. Give the end user a few choices, and remove yourself from claims like "This is what you said to put on and now I have viruses so you fix it. For FREE." We all know someone that fits in that description.

Best wishes.
by llungster October 5, 2009 7:44 AM PDT
I've been using AVG Free for a long time and have generally been very happy with it. My only complaint is that the more recent versions come with all that toolbar bloatware. I don't want excessive toolbars nor Yahoo search and hate having to dig here and there just to remove it or opt out of it.

It seems every antivirus sw maker feels the need to create a "suite" of tools that takes forever to load and execute. Whatever happened to keeping it simple? Last year I updated one system to Kaspersky due to all the previous rave reviews. It turned out to be the most annoying program I've ever used and I have no intentions of using it after its 1 yr subscription runs out. Sadly, it seems that each year, another AV program takes the top spot. That's good and bad. It's good to see solid competition; but it shows how all that extra fancy stuff only dulls existing products. AVG Free comes closest to a plain vanilla AV program. Hope it stays that way.
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by SactoGuy018 October 5, 2009 7:58 AM PDT
It will be interesting to compare AVG 9 security suite versus Norton Internet Security 2010 (which I am a registered user). I use NIS 2010 and does very fast scans, uses less resources than before and does a very good job keeping out malware (Norton Internet Security 2008 and later have been well-liked by reviewers for its ability to find accurately find malware without dragging the system down, something that the Kaspersky suite has trouble with at times).
Reply to this comment
by Lerianis3 October 5, 2009 9:22 AM PDT
Norton Internet Security 2010 is a very good virus-scanning software. Most of the 'disses' that were put on it years ago have been fixed since version 2007, but some people STILL CANNOT TRY THE THING to let it blow away their preconceptions from earlier software.
Kaspersky is the best I have found, but it has problems. Problem 1: no way to exclude things that are not viruses from the virus scans so that they are not removed time after time after time. Problem 2: It doesn't work exactly right with Windows Vista and Windows 7 yet, even the beta version doesn't.
by InEvX October 5, 2009 12:21 PM PDT
Kaspersky can't exclude "things" that are not viruses? Really? Ever thought about going to the report section and right clicking the "thing" and left clicking "exclude".....?
Yeaah anyways, running Kaspersky IS 2010 and Norton IS 2010 and both work fine.
Kaspersky works great with Windows Vista and Windows 7.... "it doesn't work exactly right"? haha please.
by RobertFHarwood October 5, 2009 8:31 AM PDT
I use the AVG Free on personal desktop and used to have Symantec Enterprise on my servers, and McAfee on my work laptop, The AVG picked up on a virus three days before Symantec and two before McAfee. That convinced me to switch everything over to AVG. The significant cost savings was a bonus.
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by troyoverton October 5, 2009 10:13 AM PDT
I understand that may have been the case with this one particular scenario, but that doesn't mean that it will be true for every infection that comes down the road. While I can't say that I would put all my eggs in the Symantec of McAfee basket either, I think the idea of having different scanners on your systems could be beneficial depending on their use.
by rick hutchinson October 5, 2009 9:31 AM PDT
I don't know about this new update to the AVG program.I had the free version a while back and the updates would often fail.I has to try 2-3 times to get the program to update. Scan were long but deep scans are more through. It is feature rich over Avira AntiVir Personal 9 but Avast Home Edition 4.8 makes up for all that with the exception of a link scanner but there are 2 free available as separate downloads,AVG Link Scanner and the McAfee Site Adviser (also W.O.T. but that's a user rated program)but you need the Firefox and IE browsers set to either search engine Google or AOL for these to work;no problem. I will say that AVG free did warn me of an infected folder that I downloaded from Limewire;good dawg. I hope they put out a free version of 9 and they have as many happy customers as they do now;but for me,I'll stay with Avast (more aggressive). AVG....seems a little too passive.
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by GEO2003 October 5, 2009 11:48 PM PDT
I am confused about your statement that Avast 4.8 - Does not have a Link Scanner.

I was using AVG for several years. Although I am more cautios then Family and Friends Ver. 7.5 let through 12 different infecttions in one machine alone and about 7 in a second running Win XP.

These were Drive by Downloads.

It has been 2 years since I switch all my family and friends to Avast 4.8 and have had absolutely no problems in any machine XP / Vista and now Win 7.

Link Scanner - If you are refering to Website Link checking, Avast does not work that way.

WHAT IT DOES - Is Route all internet Traffic through 2 of its 7 shields - Web Shield and Network Shield.

The Web Shield is Primarily CHECKING all web traffic and does not cause much delays. My browser IE8 loads MSN and Cnet TV websites in 4 seconds or sometimes 5, inspite that the Web Shield is inspecting every incoming packet.

The Network shield is additional protection and loggin of malicious websites as well as how many times you have been hit with any kind of malware.

5 other sheilds cover - Internet Mail, Outlook Mail, Chat, P2P and Standard Shield.

I have been attach several times when I started testing, my family and friends have been attack as well and in 2 years, I have not had to clean any machine because Avast is really fast in responding to threts.

Avast is very easy to install, it does not bather you with toolbars that I can remember and has had very high marks on professional testing.

ALL THIS WITHOUT A PERFORMANCE HIT - So I would suggest anyone reading this, try both, and decide which one you feel protects you the best.

Geo
by btljooz October 6, 2009 9:24 AM PDT
GEO2003 is absolutely correct! While AVAST has a different name for the particular "process" in question here, it does in deed scan links in its own way and even tells you what they're infested with. It's kept my computer safe for several years now. I used to be an AVG user but, back then, AVG let my computer (XP) get so infested it crashed! At that time I, too, wasted $35 plus tax on Kaspersky '15 in 1'. After installing the Kaspersky and shortly thereafter getting fully disgusted with it I jerked right back off my computer and installed AVAST and haven't looked back since.

I should add that I also run Spybot Search & Destroy, Malwarebytes and Comodo Firewall, all of which come out on top of AVG in their respective "fields". I've found that while "suites" can be 'popula'r with the average home user that in actual practice using a "cocktail" such as mine and then backing it up with yet another layer of protection by using an online scanner like the one F-Secure offers which not only scans but allows the user the option of *automatic* "fixing" of any problems found ~OR~ *manual* fixing of said problems by the user them self.

That said, an individuals particular on-line habits are in deed a factor as to how "safe" their computer system is. With some, all the anti-malware programs in the world are not going to "protect" anything!
by bdcbdc1847 October 5, 2009 10:14 AM PDT
I was wondering has anyone compared ave 9 to the new microsoft security essentials
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by ComputerAce October 5, 2009 10:40 AM PDT
I would consider AVG 9 IS to be much better than MSE. AVG 9 apparently has a new FW, advanced behavioral detections, improved phishing protection etc.

I wouldn't trust MSFT with securing my computer.
by sweaty_taco October 5, 2009 1:18 PM PDT
My Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 08 license expires this month and I took if off my system completely and installed MSE. MSE seems to make my computer run better and is less memory intensive as TM.

My question is. Do I really need an Internet suite software solution or is AVG or MSE sufficient enough for my day to day needs?
by ebrossette October 5, 2009 11:06 AM PDT
Can you update AVG 8.5 to AVG 9 for free if you bought AVG 9 and are currently under contract with AVG? Thanks.
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by srosenblatt October 5, 2009 11:14 AM PDT
You should contact AVG directly about that.
by ComputerAce October 5, 2009 11:32 AM PDT
I've been told that if you have 8.5 free you'll get an upgrade shortly to 9 free...and if you have 8.5 paid then you'll also get a free upgrade to AVG 9 paid.
by DJ831 October 5, 2009 12:24 PM PDT
I am an authorized AVG reseller.... you are able to upgrade to any new versions, at no extra cost, as long as you have an active AVG license number. All you need to do is download and install the new AVG 9.
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by ebrossette October 5, 2009 3:05 PM PDT
I upgraded my paid AVG 8.5 to AVG 9.0. However, I now no longer have the AVG identity theft icon at the bottom of the screen. Did AVG 9.0 incorporate this into AVG 9.0 or did I lose a feature that I need to contact AVG about. Thanks.
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by ComputerAce October 5, 2009 5:54 PM PDT
Yes, AVG did incorporate ID into AVG 9...you can now see the IDP icon in the main UI.

They say it runs much better.
by abudhabification October 5, 2009 3:50 PM PDT
I paid for avg 8.5 hope i upgrade to 9.0
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by ComputerAce October 5, 2009 5:55 PM PDT
You'll get the upgrade for sure...b/c they have so many users, they throttle how many people get the update per day.
by davellana October 5, 2009 10:58 PM PDT
real good
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by alexspalato October 6, 2009 12:12 AM PDT
I love the new AVG internet security.,much faster and safer to browse
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by erwin syahrial October 6, 2009 1:40 AM PDT
I am not impressed with performance.I'd stick wtih my best :Avira & Avast .AVG is my PAST.
SLOW Scanning and much false positives...
Reply to this comment
by Craig_AVG October 7, 2009 3:55 PM PDT
Which AVG product are you running. If you are running one of the paid ones, scanning time should improve by up to 50%. You have to run the optimization scan.
by rdunn October 6, 2009 3:51 AM PDT
I used to use AVG Free and recommend it, until I repartitioned my hard drive (via Vista) to dualboot with Win 7 RC on my Toshiba notebook...

....... after repartitioning, whenever I would browse a folder in Vista, it would take excruciatingly long to redraw the file icons in the folder. If I UNinstalled AVG, the problem went away. As a free user, I looked online in AVG forums and found one other post about slow icon redraw... I posted as well, and eventually someone replied something about how Windows repartitioning doesn't necessarily properly create additional partitions. Well... I haven't had any problems with my partitions other than AVG slowing the folder browsing... blaming Windows doesn't go over well.

Avira doesn't have the problem on my partitions with folder browsing/file icons, Comodo and MSE don't. I reported this quirk, through AVG sales since that was the only way I could contact them as a free user. I wonder if AVG 9 is any better now.

I ran Vista primarily, then decided to also put the original factory restore for XP on also to multiboot... (I support friends with their various machines). I backed up Vista and Win7, wiped/repartitioned the drive, and factory restored XP in primary part... then restored Vista and 7 in additional parts. AVG and folder browsing fared no better afterward in XP or Vista.

In the meantime, I switched to Comodo for a while. Now with MS Security Essentials out, and since I almost never encounter viri in the decade I've been computering (esp. on my home system, I'm a pc tech)... and MSE is fairly well-rated, while the Vista/7 firewall is much better than XP's... I'm on MS only security. So far so good in Vista. And no constant alerting from Comodo anymore, no daily nag from Avira (which I run on Win7 RC).

I cannot tolerate the prolonged delay while AVG screens the file icon redraws when browsing folders for any reason... looking for a file, saving a file, etc. AVG needs to bone up on handling partitions. Maybe I'll give AVG9 a try on the XP partition, which still has Comodo, at the moment. Otherwise... I'll see how MS Security Essentials fares in industry testing... in which Avira and Avast seem to have highest reviews for free software

What I liked about AVG was how trouble-free it was for recommending to non-tech friends... it installed well, it didn't burden the system much, ran in the background mostly, no nags, no 'iffy' one-year licenses (Avast), was free... and primarily, updated well. Antivirals aren't as useful if they aren't regularly updated, trouble-free... so the less highly-rated AVG beat -no- protection at all on the machines of the cheap and lazy... now there's also MSE for that tier.
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by AppleSuxLeo October 6, 2009 4:39 AM PDT
Problem is the free Microsoft Security Essentials was just released and is light weight , unobtrusive , and testing shows it to be very good to excellent.
AVG looks like it is trying to be the new , bloated , Norton-esque security software.
Lots of "bullet-points" makes it SO impressive...NOT !
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by pinballwiz55 October 6, 2009 4:42 AM PDT
it is good to have great free software for home use
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by Straydog1st October 6, 2009 6:19 AM PDT
It is not understandable all this fuss about credit card data stealing. This alone is a matter that is possible to avoid completely. A few small countries have been using a sure method for many years now.

Basically, anyone can get a short living (about 30 days) and non rechargeable virtual credit card that can be used only for the required amount, and then finish. It is requested from the site of the banking enterprise providing the ATM services. You register once at an ATM, have a password and a security code.

If you make lots of internet shopping you can get a virtual credit card for a larger amount, but if you buy only one thing you can get a credit card for that rounded up amount. Of course, you must not request a card for a high amount that will not be spent and will remain on the card for about 30 days, because that is exactly what people are trying to avoid and will make the virtual card as dangerous as the real card. If you do it correctly, when you pay you don't even need to do it on a security page, and if the card data gets stolen, who cares?
It is not understandable why this security proved and relatively old system has not spread worldwide.
Reply to this comment
by celler dweller October 6, 2009 5:39 PM PDT
Have you looked at Pay Pals virtual debit card? It's free just by being a member & is drawn directly out of my checking account. It is encrypted & is used only once. I have been using it since it was released,about 2 years or so, & love it! Best invention since laxatives!!
Can anyone tell me what is the best link to view industry comparisons for Security pgms?
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