Need AVG alternatives

[Valkysas]

I had been relying on AVG for my antivirus needs for about 5 years now, and since upgrading to version 8.5 the day before yesterday, I just can't do it anymore.

when I turn my computer on, it will honestly take about 20 minutes for it to start responding to user input. it's easy to keep track of how long it freezes for because the clock freezes too, and there's a clock on my desk. today was 22.

then it'll go black for about a minute. when it comes back, it tells me my bluetooth has been disabled, and that the logon process has failed to create security options.

so **** AVG. these problems started the moment I restarted to install 8.5 (as it demanded I did)

I'm uninstalling it today whether I find a replacement or not. not going on like this.

please tell me there's a better option.

[Tintenfisch]

Re: Need AVG alternatives

I've had some good luck with Avast.

[Red Dragon]

Re: Need AVG alternatives

Yeah I agree, Avast seems to do the trick. It's free as long as you register for a free key. I haven't had any problems with it as of yet.

[Valkysas]

Re: Need AVG alternatives

does it cause any lag in startup or programs at all?

the new version of AVG adds a 30 second lag to just about every program.

[altoecko]

Re: Need AVG alternatives

Doesn't add that to my knowledge. I use the combo of AVG and avast, but I'd choose avast out of the two.

[Valkysas]

Re: Need AVG alternatives

Thanks guys. uninstalled AVG, installed avast, and having no trouble at all. startup time after login is down to about 8 seconds compared to the 20 minutes it was the last two days with AVG.

[SolstICE]

Re: Need AVG alternatives

Thanks guys. uninstalled AVG, installed avast, and having no trouble at all. startup time after login is down to about 8 seconds compared to the 20 minutes it was the last two days with AVG.

one thing that might really annoy you about avast is some guy always saying "your antivirus has been updated". is there a way to shut that off? I can barely stand it anymore

[Perversion]

Re: Need AVG alternatives

Little late for input, but I also concur with the consensus re: Avast. Nice thing about it is that it always stays open, and will continually scan everything you do, so you do not have to tell it manually to scan questionable downloads. I'm sure this can be turned off in the options, and the, "Virus data has been updated" voice can probably be turned off doing the same thing.

[Denmo]

Re: Need AVG alternatives

AVG is slow as hell. When I opened up the task manager, I noticed AVG has about 8 tasks running at the same time that I can't get rid of. I'm uninstalling it too and getting Avast.

[JLaCroix]

Re: Need AVG alternatives

I've heard good things about Avast, but I've never tried it before.

Valk, you're not a beginner by any means, so have you thought about imaging and backing up individual files? You may not need an antivirus if you do that. (I only recommend this for advanced users whom are careful about what they do online as I'm sure you are).

Basically, here is what I do and recommend to advanced users. There is a free program I use called Unison. I have an external hard drive, and I set up Unison to sync all of my files to it. (It completely clones your files, and even backs up changes to the files when you run it. You even choose which directories are backed up).

In addition, I also image my hard drive regularly with Acronis. I save my hard drive images on my external hard drive. I do all of this about once a week. (The first backup with Acronis and Unison takes a long time, but after you sync a few times, it only syncs the changes so it isn't slow anymore after that).

So with all of that, I don't use an antivirus on my Windows machine. It slows things down too much. If I make a mistake and get affected (which hasn't happened in a LONG time) I just restore my hard drive image and restore any files that weren't backed up yet on my external drive.

By doing that, you can easily recover if you have a problem (it takes around 20 minutes to restore a hard drive image, at least for me) and you don't have the added slowdown of an antivirus program.

If you are short on cash, there is a free drive imaging program called Clonezilla. It's a Linux live CD that you can boot from and image your drive. We use it at work.

Even better, by imaging my hard drive, I install Windows, then all of the programs I use, then all of the drivers, and finally I image it. That way if I want to start over again, I can reinstall Windows with all of my programs and drivers and I don't have to deal with that crap anymore.

Hit me up on AIM if you want to know more. I can't really recommend any antivirus program if you don't want the slowdown, all of them slow you down, but some more than others. I've heard that NOD32 is the fastest one, but I haven't used it, and it costs money.

[Riotsword]

Re: Need AVG alternatives

one thing that might really annoy you about avast is some guy always saying "your antivirus has been updated". is there a way to shut that off? I can barely stand it anymore

Right click on the Avast tray icon, then go to Program Settings, then Sounds, then check the box that says "Disable avast! sounds", and there you go.

[DarkwingChuck]

Re: Need AVG alternatives

Hmm, just the other day I was looking up which is considered the best between the 3 major free antiviruses, AVG, Avast, and Avira. I ended up downloading Avira but I forget what made me pick that one. I think I read something about it having better coverage or something. It's a little annoying that the updates require a restart though. It always asks for it right after I've started something interesting online.

[SolstICE]

Re: Need AVG alternatives

Right click on the Avast tray icon, then go to Program Settings, then Sounds, then check the box that says "Disable avast! sounds", and there you go.

awesome! thank you very much