Reviews, News, and How To!
Exit McAfee, Enter Avast!
The fact that I have not been able to afford the subscription renewal for my McAfee Security Suite is a good thing.
Being proactive and searching for alternatives over the last couple of months, with the McAfee expiration looming, showed me some great FREE alternatives which many here on Geeks! know about. As a matter of fact, this is one of the places where I searched for opinions on great anti-virus freeware.
While I won't say anything against other good Anti-Virus freeware like AVG or Avira, I decided on Avast! Anti-Virus Home Edition, which is the free version.
The many opinions and information I gathered talked about how effective it is for a freeware, and many people spoke about its frugal use of computer resources while being one of the most secure offerings out there.
I've had it running for about a week. This is hardly an adequate time frame to confirm the security and effectiveness (more time will tell that tale), but I can already speak for the resource usage. That is to say, I have seen a noticeable increase in how well my computer functions, even with Avast! constantly running in the background. If I had been thinking, I would have made a note of McAfee's RAM usage to compare against that of Avast! Avast! is also set up to be a bit more transparent about what it's doing when it's running (letting me know that the virus database is being updated, for example).
I recommend to anyone looking for an effective Anti-Virus software; check out Avast! Anti-Virus.
Being proactive and searching for alternatives over the last couple of months, with the McAfee expiration looming, showed me some great FREE alternatives which many here on Geeks! know about. As a matter of fact, this is one of the places where I searched for opinions on great anti-virus freeware.
While I won't say anything against other good Anti-Virus freeware like AVG or Avira, I decided on Avast! Anti-Virus Home Edition, which is the free version.
The many opinions and information I gathered talked about how effective it is for a freeware, and many people spoke about its frugal use of computer resources while being one of the most secure offerings out there.
I've had it running for about a week. This is hardly an adequate time frame to confirm the security and effectiveness (more time will tell that tale), but I can already speak for the resource usage. That is to say, I have seen a noticeable increase in how well my computer functions, even with Avast! constantly running in the background. If I had been thinking, I would have made a note of McAfee's RAM usage to compare against that of Avast! Avast! is also set up to be a bit more transparent about what it's doing when it's running (letting me know that the virus database is being updated, for example).
I recommend to anyone looking for an effective Anti-Virus software; check out Avast! Anti-Virus.
Comment
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Comment by bob3160 on August 8, 2009 at 2:18pm -
Dear Dave,
I thought the following about AVG might interest you:
"... by AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. in Brno, the Czech Republic."
Avast! and AVG come from the Same Country. (Both by the way come in many languages.)
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Comment by MtnWolfGrl on August 4, 2009 at 6:35pm -
I read this was interest, particularly, the part about frugal use of computer resources. I used to use Trend Micro Internet Security, and it was a resource HOG - an understatement. I couldn't run some games I like to play, which was irritating. I tried for three months to get someone to tell me what the problem really was, but no one cop to that. Finally, I removed it from the system. I downloaded Spy-Bot Search & Destroy (I think that is the name). I used to use it all of time, and thought it was great. I read all of the comments here so it gives me ideas to research.
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Comment by bob3160 on August 4, 2009 at 9:32am
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"Yep , I used avat on mine right now . But I hate avast because you can't delete the program from your computer on XP system ."
Hi Dave,
avast! like almost all Anti Virus programs have a removal program available to totally remove all traces of the program from the system registry.
You can find that program along with the removal tools for most other AV programs here.
Avast! does not mess with your system bios. Avast! does check your e-mail for viruses which is one of the things the free version of AVG no longer does.
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Comment by dave on August 4, 2009 at 9:15am -
Yep , I used avat on mine right now . But I hate avast because you can't delete the program from your computer on XP system . I put it on my wife's computer and it came up with a license suspension with a red error screen . Avast wanted me to pay 39.99 for their support tech help .
They did say their software program had a glitch in it and gave me a thread to delete it off your computer but the program thread would also mess with your bios.Then stated to re download their Avast . Sorry I'm not going to mess up her bios for no company . And how dare them to leave out a un-install thread with their program . I believe they broke a program regulation law. Also look at where their company program comes from its a foreign company.
So Avast I disabled and installed free avg . They don't even mess with you by having to enter a license key just have to verify you by a email verification system . Good bye avast for her system . Hello to avg for hers .
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Comment by bob3160 on August 4, 2009 at 5:48am
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As a staunch user and an avid supporter of both avast! the Anti Virus program and their excellent support forum, I fully agree with you Jon.
It's kept my systems clean for close to 6 years. I've also gotten some help from Malware Bytes Anti Malware, ThreatFire and Winpatrol.
In my opinion, a layered defense is always the best offense.
The last important item in this mix is a good firewall.
By the way, avast! 5 will be here soon.
© 2012 Created by Chris Pirillo.
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