CNET Editors' note: The Download Now link will download a small installer file to your desktop. Remain online and double-click the installer to proceed with the actual download. To learn more about AVG products and to ask questions and receive answers from AVG company representatives, please visit CNET's dedicated AVG Forum.
CNET Editors' review
AVG Free provides the bare necessities when it comes to security, but that should be enough for savvy Windows users. You'll get a combined antivirus and antimalware engine, LinkScanner, and e-mail scanning. AVG Free 9 introduces a few new features, with improvements focused on performance, including claims of faster scan and boot times. One new feature is the Identity Theft Recovery Unit. 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 AVG toolbar in Firefox and Internet Explorer.
The interface is nearly unchanged from the last version, and generally it's easy to use. From the main window, though, you must double-click to get further information on any feature, whether virus scanning, LinkScanner settings, or updating. Streamlining this to one click would be helpful. A scheduling utility automates both scans and updates, while the upgrade ad at the screen's bottom can be easily hidden using the Hide Notification button. When starting a scan, a slider makes it easy to jump between Slow, Automatic, and Fast scans: the faster the scan, the less comprehensive it is, so users should take advantage of the scan optimization that is recommended during installation to speed up that first scan. A progress meter for regular scans would've been useful, though. Should a virus create serious problems, AVG creates a rescue disk to scan your computer in MS-DOS mode.
The LinkScanner feature protects you from third-party code exploits before they load in your browser and for ranking search results. Annoyingly, when you install its optional toolbar, it commandeers your new-tab page, decidedly inappropriate behavior. The program doesn't obviously tax your system when scanning or when running in the background, although CNET Labs determined that it will significantly slow down your system's boot time, and slightly delay shutting down. AVG also detected some image files as threats, when two other scans decided they weren't--we decided these were false positives. AVG might not be the fastest or the most effective free security option, but it still gets the job done and you're better off with it.
AVG Antivirus Free-Protect your PC from viruses and malware.-Download Video Previews:Publisher's Description
From AVG Technologies USA:
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is an anti-virus protection tool available free of charge to home users. Rapid virus database updates are available for the lifetime of the product, thereby providing the high level of detection capability.
The new 9.0 edition is faster, safer and easier to use. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition gives you free rock solid protection for your basic security needs. The combined anti-virus/anti-spyware scanner in AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition runs up to 50% faster than earlier versions and doesn't get in your way. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition also delivers new anti-phishing detection techniques, which can quickly and accurately determine whether or not a web page is hosting a phishing attack. Additionally, version 9.0 comes with basic anti-rootkit protection to ensure protection against sophisticated hidden threats.
What's new in this version: Version 9.0 runs and installs faster, delivers new anti-phishing detection techniques and introduces the AVG LinkScanner to proactively screen the Web pages you haven't even visited yet. For added peace of mind, you also get safety ratings for your Google, Yahoo! and Bing/MSN search results.
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Installed
Smart Install - Hide your IP address and prevent Internet activity tracking.
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- Stop viruses and spyware automatically before they reach your c...
- Protect your PC from all kinds of Internet threats.
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 24,198 votes
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Current version:
3.7 starsout of 274 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Great free security ware!"
Version: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0.686
Pros
Very fast, easy to make automatic, accurate and reliable
Cons
None, other than some of my old standby security programs seem redundant and the combinations seem to be creating some problems for me. But I'm sure yet secure in knowing which I could delete
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"Fast, not interfeering, very adequate and performant."
Version: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0.686
Pros
Easy to use, install and maintain.
Cons
No problems encountered so far. Would say very good. So, NO CONS I can think of till now.
Summary
See above.
It is one of the few FREE programms encountered till now, performing according to its promisses! Congratulations AVG! -
"Reads my online game as a threat!"
Version: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0.686
Pros
No problem at all with previous versions ... but the most recent sux as gaming, my #1 pasttime, is now all but stopped completely since the latest update reads my games as a security threat and removed them from my pc.
Cons
The most recent version sux as gaming, my #1 pasttime, is now all but stopped completely since the latest update reads my games as a security threat and removed them from my pc, many which I've played for years now without any trouble.
Summary
Whatever was included in the latest update of AVG that is misreading my online games like Maple Story as a security threat needs to be removed immediately. Actually, I'm just going to uninstall AVG and use another antivirus program. So, it really doesn't matter what they do. Absolutely loved AVG up to this point, but have no tolerance for not only getting a false positive on a perceived threat but also removing the non-threatening program from my computer.
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"I have NEVER had a problem with AVAST. It works great."
Version: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0.686
Pros
It catches all viruses and trojans etc. I am online a lot and I have NEVER had a virus or trojan.
Cons
NONE that I have found.
Summary
AVAST works better that Norton and is not as invasive. And it's FREE!
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"outstanding"
Version: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0.686
Pros
well i feel protected of any kind virus or others,i have no more worry its absolutely an outstanding product.it does work,any scanning to check results no problems,tested online by many experts,online services.
Cons
sorry i have nothing to say
Summary
i have no knowledge,how this thinks works,i have very little know how on pc,or viruses but what i can tell you i did have problems on other system i had,with viruses,spywares and such like,and many anti-viruses i had installed,they did not working,twice i had no possibility to connect in internet,because the anti-virus blocked my pc.i can't say the name,friends of mine have the same anti-virus without problems and i even though upset with them i dont feel i should makes that names.butwith this AVG anti-virus even though its the free edition i feel really free to surf in internet,play about,read my mails,ah i rember sometimes i stay on internet many hours,as i receive many e-mails,and also chatting,knowing i am protected not my pc,or rather shall i say not even thinking about what it may tryes to endanger my pc.as i sayd i know tend to test frequently online,not because i don't trust my anti-virus AVG Anti-virus Free Edition but the knowledge that there will be a positive results,then i don't really know what to say further but thank you,that you have allowed me to not only download this outstanding product but tell me of this product.then i guess i should leave now,thank you cnet and thank you AVG sincerely marisa ketty derrico
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"Works well and inexpensive"
Version: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0.686
Pros
I recommend this to my clients.
Cons
Might not be as good as some out there - but it is free,
Summary
My clients seem to have lless trouble once I install avg free.
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"easy to dwnloads but the setup don´t run"
Version: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0.686
Pros
could not try it
Cons
the setup for the installation don,t run
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"works well so far"
Version: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0.686
Pros
works well without much user involement
Cons
may not be the best out there
Summary
works well and allows me to nowt worry aboumore t problems
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"I have used AVG free for years and this version is good"
Version: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0.686
Pros
I have used AVG free for years and this version is a good and easy to easy to use.
Cons
I don't have anything to complain about
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"Väl fungerande litet program"
Version: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0.686
Pros
Det är gratis
Cons
Hittar kanske inte så mkt som vissa andra
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