Cate in NZ Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Just looking for a bit of advice from all you clever people who actually know about these things. I'm currently using MIL's computer and she has AVG 7.5 loaded for virus protection. I have no idea at all if she has any other security measures . Anyway I keep getting announcements to say that AVG 7.5 will be ineffective from May 31st and that I need to upgrade to 8>0. That appears to cost £39.99. I#m not griping about the cost, happy to buy it and install it for her if it's worth the money (and especially if it doesn't keep doing uploads just as I'm half way through typing a very important posting on here and making me wait when I want to get on with more Omlet surfing ), but if I'm likely to be paying out that kind of money is AVG the best or is there something else I should consider. I had better add I am a techno numpty, hubby is the computer literate one in this family and he's not around to help right now, so it has to be idiot proof. MIL is in fact an ever bigger techno numpty than me, so she will allow me to upload anything I like, but she#s got to be able to do whatever's necessary to it when I've gone. Any suggestions anyone please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 (edited) Change to Avast! Antivirus, its totally free. Link here But makes sure you totally remove AVG before installing Avast! (from add or remove programs in the control panel) or they will conflict. Also, you get no annoying ads that say you must buy this etc etc. Edited May 29, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 You should be able to get a free version of AVG 8.0, Kate. We've just upgraded to it for free. Look carefully for the free version in the first column here with the download button underneath - http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition "continue to AVG free download" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 We've just upgraded to AVG 8 - it is still free. As with all the AVG products, you have the option of a free version and a more sophisticated pay-for version. A friend of mine who is very knowledgeable in all things IT advised that the best spyware to use was spybot and AVG - and the best thing is both are free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 We are also free avg fans here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel19 Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Yep also got version 8 free too - they like to tell you that you have to pay but if you actually search for it you find there is a free version also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Yup - I'm another free AVG fan! Didn't know about spybot though - is there a link for that, redfrock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slats Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 you can also go to www.microsoft.com and get Windows Defender as I have found this good too. "Windows Defender is a free program that helps you stay productive by protecting your computer against pop-ups, slow performance and security threats caused by spyware and other potentially unwanted software. " I like free!! http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=435bfce7-da2b-4a6a-afa4-f7f14e605a0d&DisplayLang=en And I like AVG too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Yup - I'm another free AVG fan! Didn't know about spybot though - is there a link for that, redfrock? here you go Olly http://safer-networking.org/en/ This is the official download site, so you know you aren't getting any nasties! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 If you want to download stuff and don't know the official site, use download.com No viruses etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 We have just upgraded our pc and 2 laptops to AVG free version 8.0. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 I don't suppose any lovely kind person would bung AVG 8 onto a disc for me would they? My dial-up is taking 6 hours & keeps cutting out Happy to pay for the disc & postage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 I use Norton suite (not free) on my home PC because it has parental control features and that's the machine that Rosie uses. I ahve an ex-works laptop at home and that has AVG on it. I always use Spybot and Adaware on all my computers at home and work, and run them regularly. My techie mate really rates AVG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FORENSICA Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Great about the AVG. I was also worried about not getting the new version for free but as I see, they did not hide it from some spy Omleters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 I don't suppose any lovely kind person would bung AVG 8 onto a disc for me would they?My dial-up is taking 6 hours & keeps cutting out Happy to pay for the disc & postage I am happy to do so Sarah - don't worry about postage costs, it's pennies. The only thing is that it has to update really often - my does a daily update. Will that still work ok for you? I'm going to the PO tomorrow so can post it then. Just PM me your details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Beat me to it Claire! I was just scratting around in my drawer at work for a blank CD. My copy also updates daily and it takes a few minutes to download the updates, but at least you know that you're secure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_b Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 A friend of mine who works in computer security recommends anti-vir - it's free , and will detect about 95% of viruses, making it the current industry leader. He says that AVG are rather slow in adding new viruses to their database, so in real-world tests it only detects about 60-70% of current threats. Apparently Windows Defender only scores somewhere in the low 30's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted May 29, 2008 Author Share Posted May 29, 2008 Thanks for all the advice all of you, I'll look at it all and get some cover sorted for MIL tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 OK, I'm having a complete nightmare . I simply can't find any reference to free AVG 8.0 on it's site, I have found pages that very possibly might lead to it but I have to enter a license number to go any further with those .... and I haven't got a license number Can anyone tell me where to look? Fred, I'd try the Avast thing, it looks good, or the link that matt b provided but I don't know where to start uninstalling avg. Is it an easy process? I'm really worried about my lack of technical ability and it wouldn't matter so much if it was my computer, but it's not, I really can't afford to upset MILs settings as she knows even less about computers than me. I have no one around with any computer ability and I'm trying (but failing miserably) to get constructive advice from hubby. So I'm falling back on you guys for help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 http://free.grisoft.com/ There is a download free update link on the very first page. Hope this helps. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 OK, I'm having a complete nightmare . I simply can't find any reference to free AVG 8.0 on it's site, I have found pages that very possibly might lead to it but I have to enter a license number to go any further with those .... and I haven't got a license number Can anyone tell me where to look? Fred, I'd try the Avast thing, it looks good, or the link that matt b provided but I don't know where to start uninstalling avg. Is it an easy process? I'm really worried about my lack of technical ability and it wouldn't matter so much if it was my computer, but it's not, I really can't afford to upset MILs settings as she knows even less about computers than me. I have no one around with any computer ability and I'm trying (but failing miserably) to get constructive advice from hubby. So I'm falling back on you guys for help Kate, if you want to uninstall AVG, go to Start then All Programs. Find AVG in the list and there will be an uninstall option there. BTW they do recommend uninstalling the old version of AVG before getting version 8. HTH I've used AVG free versions for years and never had a problem. I also run Spybot, SpywareBlaster, Cr@p Cleaner, AdAware and Windows Defender. All free as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 I've just upgraded to AVG 8 for the PC and laptop too (totally free ) I've used AVG free versions for years and never had a problem. I also run Spybot, SpywareBlaster, Cr@p Cleaner, AdAware and Windows Defender. All free as well. Snap . Plus "Cleanup!" too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 I have added spybot, thanks to the advice and link above. Just ran it this morning, and it's come up with about ten 'red' items, all of which seem to be cookies. I don't know whether I should delete these or not? I have read the tutorial but I'm still none the wiser! There's no information about them. I always understood cookies were there so that it was quicker to load websites that you've used before - will it slow things down in future? (As you can tell, I'm not really very computer-savvy!) I'm slighty worried to realise that I didn't even know there were so many on my computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Cookies aren't really anything to worry about but there's no harm in deleting them. Read * this * which explains it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Ah! Thanks - that sort of confirms what I'd understood about them. I may try deleting and see if it causes problems. better make sure it doesn't close off my Omlet forum access ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
