Ant Virus Software

[davidanthony]

I have been using the free AVG antivirus system for some years now and had no particular problems, however I noticed that when I upgraded it at their suggestion few days ago, everything is running very slowly. A friend said he had the same problem of things slowing down with AVG and changed to another company product, also free. Any comments / suggestions please ??

[Postdog]

I have literally had AVG for more years than I care to remember but for some reason I could not upgrade it to a newer version. Looking for free ones, I tried Avast. Not sure if you could keep it as a free one, but I ended up paying for the full version, my main reason being that I could use the same licence on three computers.

Very happy with it, more than I ever was when I tried Norton.

[MantaRay]

I've had the same issue. I think it's part of AVG's plan to get you to buy the upgrade.

[janbee]

I have free AVG and have never had any probs with them. I too, got the pop up to "upgrade". I was advised NOT to do so but to keep it at "basic". I did that, so all's still ok. Don't upgrade. They just want you to buy the product. AVG seems to be excellent just as it is, in it's basic form so no need to upgrade.

[Old_Geezer]

By "upgrade" do you mean "trial the pay for version". Might be worth uninstalling and reinstalling the free version afresh; or there may be a revert setting somewhere. I believe that the "pay for" version does more and so is likely to slow some PCs.

[HansUrbancka]

Lots of folk have found that AVG is a 'slower downer'.

What method did AVG use to advise you to up-date.? If it was a 'pop-up' message it could have been a fake and may have put a virus/malware into your equipment.

You could remove AVG and try instead Avast.

https://www.avast.com/en-gb/index

Meanwhile, I think you should give a scan with Malwarebytes. The free edition; avoiding any offer of the premium edition or anyhing else such as a trial run of Mcafee :-

https://www.malwarebytes.org/

Hans.

[SlackAlice]

I got the offer to upgrade AVG and it was an offer to trial the full package. I refused it and stuck with the basic full package.

I'm pretty sure that in the 'options' there should be a way to revert to the free basic package or alternatively just allow the 'trial' to expire.

I find that AVG is one of the best, especially for technophobes. However, Avast, Kaspersky and Comodo do offer equally good free versions.

Whichever you try, d/l from the manufacturers website or their recommended d/l site

[SlackAlice]

'basic full package' should mean 'basic free package'

My brains not in top gear yet ☺☺☺

[HansUrbancka]

I am unable to find the official site for AVG. All the downloads being offered are via Cnet. It is claimed that all sorts of unwanted items often come along with software from Cnet.

Hans.

[HansUrbancka]

@methyl......Unfortunately the link you have given is to a page that offers AVG as a free download but clicking for the download then takes you to another page that will give the download from Cnet. as follows:-

http://free.avg.com/gb-en/free-antivirus-download

Hans.

[SlackAlice]

I don't have a problem with CNET, provided you do a custom install and deselect any unnecessaries.

AVG free available from here as well

http://filehippo.com/download_avg_antivirus_64/

[HansUrbancka]

No way will you get me downloading from filehippo or Cnet which both fall into the same category and can put hidden nasties into a computer; even with a 'custom install'.

Hans.

[davidanthony]

Many thanks for the comments
I did not upgrade to a pay-for package, just stayed with the free one, which AVG told me needed to be updated to the latest software, - still free.
Will perhaps try OG's suggestion to uninstall and reinstall and see what that does. If no better then perhaps Avast is the next step.

[gingejbee]

In recent tests by Computeractive, Avast's Free Antivirus performed much better than AVG's Free Antivirus.

[gingejbee]

OK...wondered what I'd said to upset!

[Buenchico]

I used AVG for years but gave up on it when it started slowing things down.

I now use Avast. Irritatingly, that also started slowing down my old XP computer (which had fairly limited resources) but it seems to run well under my newer Windows 7 computer.

[HansUrbancka]

@Buenchico.......Hi Chris.......I am almost afraid to mention, for fear of being ridiculed, that I still have faith in Microsoft Security Essentials. It serves me well for Windows Vista and also Windows 7.

Since installing MSE some years back, I have Not had a Virus and a few Potentially Unwanted Programmes which have come through the Net have been suitably disposed of by Malwarebytes.

Hans.