Entered CNET Catalog: 11/15/2006
SKU: CNETAVGANTIVIRUS75PROSINGLE
Manufacturer: AVG Technologies USA, Inc.
Manufacturer description
AVG Anti-Virus Professional Edition is a security protection against viruses, worms, Trojans and potentially unwanted programs.Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 11/17/2006
AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 Professional Single Edition sells for about the same price as Norton or McAfee, except AVG provides a two-year update subscription. It is also available as a 30-day, 31.4 MB trial download from CNET Download.com, and there's also a AVG 7.5 Free Edition, which is an adequate, if limited, product. Unlike Norton Antivirus 2007, AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 Professional Single Edition runs on Windows 98, ME, 2000, and XP, and it's also available in various language-specific editions.
We installed AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 Professional Single Edition on our Windows XP test system without incident in less than two minutes. Next, AVG's First Run Wizard launched automatically, giving us the option to download the latest virus definitions and program files; create a rescue disk, which boots a disabled Windows 98 or ME system into a DOS environment to remove viruses and restore system files, and scan our computer using either Low Priority (fast) or High Priority (slow) scanning methods. While the rescue disk wizard is easy to use, it creates a rescue floppy disk--not a CD--and that's bad news if you're using one of today's floppy-free PCs. Also, the rescue disk works only with Windows 98 and ME, not the more popular Windows XP
Should you decide to uninstall AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 Professional Single Edition, the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove Programs process did remove all the folders from our system directory, but we were disappointed to find AVG left several registry entries behind. While better than Norton or McAfee, AVG wasn't as clean an install as Kaspersky.
Within AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 Professional Single Edition, it's simple to navigate. The basic interface screen provides quick access to AVG's tool set along the left side, allowing you to scan the entire computer or select components, such as a CD or a floppy, with a couple of clicks. The terminology is a bit odd; for example, scans are conducted through the Test Center. For a quick tutorial on how to use the basic interface, see our CNET Download.com's AVG Anti-Virus 7.1 Free Edition feature.
The advanced interface is much more granular. For example, under basic, you can schedule a scan for only once a day; the advanced interface allows for more customization. But the advanced interface is less friendly; taller, narrower, it looks like a directory tree explorer than functional application. By selecting the toolbar choices across the top, however, you can configure Potentially Unwanted Program exceptions, change program settings, or access administrator options.
Performance
AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 Professional Single Edition scored near the bottom in most of our CNET labs real-world application testing. While performing an AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 Professional Single Edition scan, it took us 296 seconds to open our iTunes application, and 334 seconds to open Sorenson video compression.. On single-file scans, CA Anti-Virus 2007 came in at 290 seconds (very slow), but its boot time came in at 61 seconds (the second-fastest time). To see how AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 Professional Single Edition stacks up against the competition see our complete CNET 2007 antivirus performance test scores page.
In terms of protecting your PC, we refer readers to two leading independent antivirus testing organizations. In the latest test results from CheckVir.com, AVG Anti-Virus 7.1 Professional Single Edition--the previous version--was one of six products to earn their Standard (second-highest) rating. And our second source of independent antivirus testing, AV-Comparatives.org, gave AVG Anti-Virus 7.1 Professional Single Edition a Standard rating (third-highest) by blocking 91 percent of the malicious code used in the test.
Grisoft provides AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 Professional Single Edition customers with e-mail technical support within the program; this option is unavailable in the free edition. Online, there are searchable FAQs with dozens of useful questions and answers on most topics, and there is also a downloadable 109-page technical manual which, unfortunately, lacks much depth as well as an index. There is no telephone technical support available.
For a little bit more money, we recommend the complete antivirus and antispyware protection found in Kaspersky Anti-Virus, which also offers a free edition under the name AOL Active Virus Shield.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29out of 29 user reviews
many features, Setting up firewall is a disaster.
Pros: Lots of features. Attempts to provide a lot of security in many areas
Cons: I have used AVG for 4 years now, and I am going to switch while I still have 6 months on my subscription. I have learned to HATE this program. I cannot go into change the firewall settings without the program telling me that there is a inconsistency.
out of 29 user reviews
Simply the best anti-virus software out there!
Pros: - Doesn't slow your PC down
- Is easy to use
- Very accurate
Cons: - Its not the default anti virus on PCS :(
out of 29 user reviews
I used to love AVG, but that's all over now
Pros: AVG used to be great. Not anymore.
Cons: The updates to the program cause the firewall to block internet traffic to browsers. I don't know what AVG has against a Realtek network card, but they need to get their collective heads out of their backsides.
out of 29 user reviews
works great. very happy with this product
Pros: FREE with no strings attatched
Cons: downloaded six days ago and haven't seen any cons
out of 29 user reviews
Offers More Than Indicated in Review...
Pros: For the Free Edition you can also download anti-spyware and anti-rootkit tools for free at: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1 /us/frt/0 these come combined in the pay for version already.
Cons: The anti-spyware is weak, Spyware doctor and ad-aware 2007 are better
If you like shopping online, I recommend going with the trial-pay version of AVG. It's the full version with all the bells and whistles with a much better firewall than McAfee or windows defender. I for one bought a pair of shoes at shoebuy.com and got my free licence immediately. note***You have to uninstall the free version before installing the full version.
On the side i do give McAfee credit for the free download of it's site Advisor; I wouldn't Google without it.
For all things free at AVG, goto:
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1/us/frt/0
out of 29 user reviews
only thing that ever worked!
Pros: got my computer working again
Cons: still have some few uninvited "guests" on my desktop
out of 29 user reviews
Excellent program and works very well
Pros: FREE Edition. Simple to use interface. Easy upgrades.
Cons: Tools (add ins) no longer available with the free edition. The firewall (not free) does not block tracking cookies or popups very well.
out of 29 user reviews
Bad News !!!!!
Pros: Easy to install !! Fair protection!!
Cons: Dangerous , spiteful, gotcha !!!!!!!!!
I'm thinking about hiring a lawyer!
out of 29 user reviews
Beats any other antivirus programs available today!
Pros: WOW! I had used Norton before! Never again. AVG found stuff that Norton missed. A bad virus that was slowing my PC down to a turtles pace.
Cons: There are NO Cons with AVG
out of 29 user reviews
Low quality antivirus
Pros: High speed updates and low on ram
Cons: Missing a lot of features, no spy protection
CONS:Lacks many real-time shields such as:
*No Im shield
*No Network shield
*No Web shield
*No Script shield
Avg just provides 2 basic shields which are weak.Pro-active defense doesn't catch anything.It doesn't protect against spyware and adware.Poor tech support.
CONCLUSION:Many computer users think that Avg offers high quality protection and while being low on memory.Well this is not true.Avg is low on memory but offers low quality protection.I did the research and found out Avg is useless.Don't waste your money, instead get Avast home edition or Antivir which offers more protection for free.
out of 29 user reviews
What? You rated 8 for AVG???
Pros: Still looking...
Cons: Below average AV scanner
out of 29 user reviews
A must get.
Pros: Free, easy to use, better than most Anti-Viruses
Cons: Does not come with Spyware etc...
I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't feel like paying for a Anti-Virus, or for those even with weak Anti-Virus software, instead of spending your money on useless software.
out of 29 user reviews
Very good standalone product
Pros: Automatically updated; quick and efficient
Cons: None of note
out of 29 user reviews
Low CPU and RAM Usage
Pros: Its In fact everything!
Cons: none so far.......
out of 29 user reviews
Great!..But..
Pros: Can detect most viruses
Cons: Some viruses cannot be put in the virus vault..
out of 29 user reviews
A great product!
Pros: Low memory footprint, effective real-time protection, daily updates
Cons: I have nothing to say here :)
out of 29 user reviews
great product, terrible service
Pros: The best antivirus software I've ever used.
Cons: Service department is non-responsive.
Got tired of dealing with service (billing issue) after months of "we'll look into it and call you back" without calling me back. Can't actually talk to anyone at Grisoft. Have to deal with distributor.
out of 29 user reviews
exelent software for some one who wants to be protected
Pros: It has a really good fire wall and does not keep asking for an authorization or to verify over and over like some. The virus scan has an option to check system areas scan before doing a scan.
Cons: Some times you have to do an update your self but most of the time it will do it for you. Its a little more user advanced then some of the other names.
out of 29 user reviews
Unlike Kaspersky, AVG Works!
Pros: It works quite well and it's FREE
Cons: If any...It slows the system down a bit when scanning.
out of 29 user reviews
Never had any problems like I have had with Norton Antivirus
Pros: Takes care of itself
Cons: update window while working
out of 29 user reviews
Great home product
Pros: Very easy to use...doens't hog resources...inexpensive.
Cons: I know of none.
out of 29 user reviews
Very good antivirus software
Pros: Inexpensive, catches all
Cons: Old user interface and design, not user friendly
AVG have found all known virusses in my 4 years of use.
However, the user interface is a very old looking design and not very user friendly. There's a lot of clicking when you want to change the setup.
Anyway, a good and inexpensive software and the one time I needed support is was very quick and helpful.
I rate it 8 because of the bad design. Would like to rate it 9.
out of 29 user reviews
Best of all. Over time!
Pros: Easy to use; portable, never fails
Cons: single version must be installed on every machine.
Avg, es uno de los antivirus mas poderosos tanto en maquinas sencillas como servidores, es facil de usar y rapido, permite que la proteccion estee activa y ni te das cuenta, es formidable, su uso es super sencillo y viene con muchas funciones, es realmente un software muy bueno y que deberia ser instalado con cada maquina que se venda: como una solucion integrada.
out of 29 user reviews
Have used for 4 years, never regretted it
Pros: Reliable, Effective, Easy to use, Informative
Cons: The reviewers state room for improvement
I have used AVG for over 4 years now and see no need to change. I've used AVG firewall since it's onset and find it a vast Improvement from it's predecessor.
The scan can be obtrusive and I tend to pause (or cancel) it when using the computer at the same time; this is a simple right click > select action. However scans can be scheduled for any time ie: 5am or some other time when it is unlikely the computer will be in use.
The scheduler is simply and complete, once programed AVG will, for instance, run a quick scan daily, deep scans every three days and custom (very deep) scan once weekly, at you desired time.. or you could run a deep custom scan daily or even hourly, etc. If a scheduled scan is unable to run (machine is switched off) it will at the next opportunity.
The control center is, I think, unique in it's modular appearance, differing from the typical menu systems used commonly in most applications, but once you get over that it is very straight forward. It is sadly one of the things that reviews don't like and I can only assume is due to the relatively short time they have to become accustomed to it.
I've only needed to contact customer service a few times and they have always been quick to respond and helpful.
In my opinion for value for money AVG is heads and shoulders above the rest.
I did try Kaspersky (when my AVG subscription ran out last time) and had considerable trouble. I removed it and that experience cemented my relationship with AVG (read the user reviews of Kaspersky to confirm).
My sole concern is the reviews done by AV-Comparatives.org and checkvir.com which, although positive, state that AVG could still improve and, of cause, I would like to have the very best protection available.
I use lavasoft for my spyware protection and might add AVG spyware protection when it is fully integrated into the package.
out of 29 user reviews
Detects all known viruses!
Pros: Detected viruses which other antivurs softwares couldn't
Cons: None so far - give me all I need
I have paid to get internet security suite from McAfee but AVG just rocks!!
out of 29 user reviews
The best ever!!!!
Pros: Complete Virus protection, easy to use
Cons: Does not come with Anti-Virus.
out of 29 user reviews
AVG Excellence
Pros: Effective, Fast, Easy to use, Easy to install, Easy to update
Cons: Cons.. None
I was a faithful customer of McAfee until the 2007 release which is a disaster..
I tried AVG and haven't looked back .. great stuff.
out of 29 user reviews
Awsome. love it!
Pros: not a memory hog
Cons: no maleware scanner
With the Grisoft saying the free version is being terminated, but 7.5 is being released, its kinda confusing.
I have it on one of my computers and Avast! on my other. Will compare both and see which is better.
out of 29 user reviews
The best anti-virus I have ever used
Pros: Easy to use, very low system drag
Cons: None that I kinow of
