New Free AVG Version 8.0, Now with Spyware and Website Protection
AVG just released a new version of their (legitimately) free virus scan a few days ago which has an improved updated interface at version eight. Also good to see it now scans for malware and allows you to define exceptions too unlike the previous version.
I'm not too sure about the Link Scanner though which checks for unsafe websites and marks links in search engines such as Google with some meaningful icons; a green check mark if they're safe and red if they're not. It's well integrated but seems to slow down surfing a little.
Below is just an example of it in action. I already got a legitimate copy of Office 2007 when the student offer was on.
It's a good scanner considering you don't have to pay an annual license fee. Or you could always try sticking with a Mac or Linux distro like Ubuntu and you'll be pretty much free from all the Windows vulnerabilities, viruses and malware. I've chosen not to because apart from Open Office, I can't seem to find good alternatives to the likes of Paint Shop Pro and my other favourite programs that I'm used to.
Xephyr
Iron2000
Iron2000
Hope they didn't embed it in the exe or something.
Xephyr
Know a way to remove the "Attention Enhance Your Protection" notification?? =D
Xcomp Author
Probably because of all the new features.
As for the big red icon, a lot of other scanners do the same thing when you try and disable something. Norton for example, goes red if you disable its "worm protection" if I remember correctly. Makes you feel like you've done something wrong or the computer's gone faulty doesn't it?
Fortunately, it looks like Iron's found a solution to get rid of LinkScanner! I can't be bothered re-installing, though ^^;
Iron2000,
Thanks for the tips! The new info bar has been pretty obtrusive too!
Iron2000
About the Linkscanner there are 2 ways to go about doing it.
1) Disable the AVG Safe Search browser plugin.
- http://free.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1253#faq_1253
2) Reinstall AVG Free 8, this time without the Linkscanner.
- http://free.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1338#faq_1338
Another tip:
To remove the "Did you know?" notification, delete, move or rename the file 'avgmwdef_us.mht' in the AVG program files folder.
Xephyr
Seems to me that the link scanner lags somewhat and if I disable the scanner the AVG tray icon puts up a big fat "!"...it's somewhat annoying =X
Xcomp Author
Owen S