Official: AVG 7.5 Free - Support ends 31/08/2008

[Wiz Feinberg]

According to AVG employee, MichaelHD, AVG intends to terminate all updates to AVG Free 7.5 on August 31, 2008.

AVG 7.5 Free - Support ends 31/08/2008
Posted by: michaelhd - AVG Team (IP Logged)
Date: July 9, 2008 04:07PM

Support for AVG 7.5 Free Edition is planned to end on 31st August 2008.

No more virus updates are planned for after that date.

Note that no more 'program' updates are due! Only virus updates will continue until the end date.

AVG 7.5 Paid version will be supported until 31/12/08.

Changes have been made to the LinkScanner component of AVG 8.0, as noted below.

AVG Free SP1 is due for release in the next few weeks (mid july or earlier).

It will be a standard update to existing AVG Free 8.0 installation - no need to install new build.

It will have option in custom install screen to de-select the linkscanner component.

We hope that this new option gives our valued customers the "choice" that they have requested. Those who have experienced genuine problems with web surfing speed can de-select the linkscanner.
However the default "standard installation" will continue to install this valuable security tool to protect users while they surf.

Obviously, if you wish to stay protected from "viruses" and to use an AVG product, you must update to their sometimes problematic version 8.0.

[Mitch Drumm]

Wiz:

I have downloaded the latest build of AVG Free Version 8.0, but have not installed it.

I took a look at the AVG forums and see some people are having issues, which I guess is normal.

Most likely, I will disable the link scanning capability in the custom installation.

Have you come up with any sane free alternatives to 8.0 or do you have any over-riding reason to avoid it? I want to come to some conclusion within 10 days or so when 7.5 support is discontinued. Any particular pitfalls with 8.0?

Thanks.

[Wiz Feinberg]

Wiz:

Have you come up with any sane free alternatives to 8.0 or do you have any over-riding reason to avoid it?

Thanks.

At this time I am using Avira AntiVir, free edition. It pops up a giant ad every time it checks for definition updates. It regularly pops up generic virus warnings when I open my security tools downloads folder, even though I have added that directory to the Exceptions List (many security tools perform the same type of functions a virus might perform).

It regularly pops up a warning about exploit codes in emails I receive from security vendors, like Trend Micros's Malware Blog and others. It's offered solution is to delete the entire email folder in which that message is located. Each time I have to tell it to ignore the perceived threat, or even turn off the resident guard portion.

AVG 7.5 Free also gave false positives, but with no means of whitelisting them, and totally dragged down my system while running scheduled scans, so I will probably not go back to any of their products. I am fairly certain that my next anti-virus program will be a commercial one, not a free one. The threat landscape is changing too fast for freeware security apps to keep up, which is why there are so few to choose from. When a security software vendor gets nothing from its user-base, they can't afford to pay programmers to constantly keep it updated, as can commercial vendors.

I have been beta testing Trend Micro's Web Threat Protection Add-on for a couple of months and I am very happy with it. It has absolutely zero onboard definitions, getting all threat analysis details "in-the-cloud," from a constantly updated World-wide database of reporting computers and malware honeypots. It has blocked numerous dangerous web pages from loading in my browser, even though I am safe from infections. Because it doesn't have any simple override mechanism I am often unable to even view the face of the enemy when I want to, unless I switch identities to my admin account, turn off the Web Threat Protection Add-on, then log back into my limited account. The response time is instantaneous. It also has a means of detecting if you are botted and so notifies you. If you do try to visit an unsafe web page and TM blocks it, you are directed to visit their free Housecall online threat scanner.

With this level of security, and barely any load on the system, my next security application will probably carry the Trend Micro label and use in-the-cloud protection technology. Contact me if you want more details about Trend Micro security products.

[Mitch Drumm]

Wiz:

Have you seen this link re gettng rid of popups in Alvira free edition:

http://www.tipsfor.us/2007/08/15/make-a ... re-usable/


Have you looked into Comodo, NOD 32, and PC Tools Threatfire 3?

I think Comodo is free and the latter two have fees.

I have never paid for protection and am wondering if I may have to. Contemplating AVG 8.0 free, but am not yet committed.

[Richard Bass]

downloaded avg8 4 days ago. works great, no problems at all. i have vista premium and sp1 on my machine.

[Wiz Feinberg]

Wiz:

Have you seen this link re gettng rid of popups in Alvira free edition:

http://www.tipsfor.us/2007/08/15/make-a ... re-usable/


Have you looked into Comodo, NOD 32, and PC Tools Threatfire 3?

Thanks for the link Mitch. I just used the secpol rule to disallow the Avira AntiVir advertising pop-up.

I have ZA Personal Firewall, plus a good NAT router, so I don't need the Comodo Firewall. Eset (NOD32) is an excellent product and I have ads for it on my website, but I think the Trend Micro is on-track to take the lead with their in-the-cloud security model. If I'm wrong I recant in dust and ashes.

I already use Trend Micro's Web Threat Protection Add-on, so Threatfire would be redundant. You can have conflicts when you stack multiple security applications that maintain a resident component or Service, as TM does.

[Chip Fossa]

Wiz,

What does the Trend-Micro program of which you speak, cost?

What is the exact name of the program?

"IN-THE-CLOUD" - huh? What's that term mean? Can hardly understand some of this lingo (again).

I thought we AVG 7.5 users had until Dec.31, 2008 to make a move? They keep changing their minds, over there. Annoying, for sure.

Thanks - cf

[Jeff Agnew]

Good question, Chip. "Cloud" computing is the latest buzzword for a concept that has been around for many years but is just now becoming practicable. With it, applications and services reside on the network, not your PC. For example, for word processing you might use Google Docs through your web browser rather than installing MS Word on your PC.

Trend Micro's "cloud" product offers security/AV/Trojan protection as a network-based service, rather than as something you install on a local router or on your PC.

Useless trivia: Oracle's Larry Ellison was majorly pushing this concept several years ago via something he called a "network computer", which was essentially a dumb terminal with a graphical interface. It had no local storage capacity. All the apps would reside on servers running, natch, Oracle software. He never got anywhere with it because the industry rightly saw it as an attempt to establish his products as a monopoly.

[Chip Fossa]

Thanks Jeff,

It seems to me, in light of what Wiz said about "free" AV software not being able to keep up with the exponentially growing bugs in the world, it would seem a wise investment to purchase more thorough protection.

I looked up Trend-Micro, and the listing they had cost about $40 a year, and I think $67 for 2 years; but I don't know if this is the program Wiz is referring to.

I never get any hits using AVG 7.5. This seems unusal.
Maybe it's because AVG is not up-to-date and therefore missing some bugs. Even though they have daily updates.

Chipper

[Wiz Feinberg]

Jeff;
Thanks for explaining "the cloud" to Chip. I was going to do that last night but was too sleepy to type anything sensible.

Chip;
Trend Micro has three consumer grade offerings at this time, in the 2008 line. They are:

• Trend Micro Anti Virus Plus Anti Spyware ($39.95)
• Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 - a.k.a. PC-cillin ($49.95)
• Trend Micro Internet Security Pro ($69.95)

If you are interested in any of these contact me directly for links and discount coupon codes.

[Wiz Feinberg]

Chip;
If you would like to see how a cloud security product works, download and install the Trend Micro Web Protection Add-on. It protects PCs against online threats hidden in web pages and can detect the presence of a Bot infection, should that happen to you, at which time you are urged to scan with the free HouseCall online scanner, if any threats are blocked or actually detected.

It is totally "cloud" based for malware definitions and patterns, and has a huge, ever changing list of compromised websites and scripts that exploit visitors. It works instantly when an online threat is detected, gets along with most other security programs and is incorporated into Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 and all business grade apps from the company. Best of all, it is currently free!

Vista users will have to go through the usual routine of granting Administrator permission to install TM's Web Protection Add-on. XP users must install it from an Administrator level account, as it affects all user accounts on the computer. "Run As" won't install it properly.

[Chip Fossa]

Thanks Wiz,

I know you get exhausted what with all your internet affiliations; your response is always most welcome. I'll be in touch to you directly.

But, just in the meantime, would PC-cillin be good enuff for me? Or should I really consider the big PRO version?

After years of running into problems, even with 'free' "protection", I do agree with you that it's time to get real serious about protecting the PC.

PS - Don't worry, I didn't forget about our last Wiz-O-Rama discussion, matey. Still haven't done anything with backing up with Acronis, yet. Your instructions seem straight forward, I guess, but I'm still confused how it actually works. But I'm going to just give it a shot, pretty soon.

Chipper

[Earnest Bovine]

"Cloud" computing is the latest buzzword for a concept that has been around for many years but is just now becoming practicable. With it, applications and services reside on the network, not your PC.

IMO it won't be practical until I have a reliable connection to the network.

[Ron Victoria]

Thanks Wiz, followed your instructions and am up to date with 8.0. I didn't include link scanner. My son did. If he wanted to eliminate it, would he have to uninstall and then reinstall?

ron

[Wiz Feinberg]

Thanks Wiz, followed your instructions and am up to date with 8.0. I didn't include link scanner. My son did. If he wanted to eliminate it, would he have to uninstall and then reinstall?

ron

Basically, yes. Once the Link Scanner is installed, you may turn it off, but it is still loaded into memory and still interferes with your web pages and our web sites. Uninstalling and reinstalling it allows one to choose to NOT install the Link Scanner ... thank you.

I see tons of hits in my access logs from people using AVG 8, where every link on a page is scanned, even tho the visitor doesn't go to those pages. If I have a page with 20 links the Link Scanner will load each page, and each script, fully, to analyze them for threats. This is worse than most search engines, which ignore pages listed in my robots.txt, as off limits. The Link Scanner ignores robots.txt, scanning and indexing everything. It uses a fake User Agent, forcing me to undo one very successful bot trap, just to facilitate AVG users, leaving me at risk from miscreants faking the same user agent.

[Beard Guitars]

I've continued to receive daily 7.5 (free) updates. 7.5 downloads for the paid version are still available at grisoft.com.

False alarm I suppose.

I'll continue to use 7.5 (free)...until I can't.

h

[Chip Fossa]

Same here. I just downloaded the latest 7.5 AVG update. Who knows?

[Ron !]

Guys guys....go to the 8.0 version.It will do a better job then the 7.5 does.I have absolutely no Issues.

Ron

[Beard Guitars]

OK..

How does it do a "better job" than no issues?

[Chip Fossa]

I'm still leery. Ron what is your OS; I have Vista Premium.

[Wiz Feinberg]

AVG is going to force you to upgrade to version 8.x, or leave you unprotected, on some day, soon. It was supposed to be August 31, but maybe they forgot about the free users' cutoff date. Somebody will remind them on a forum and it will end abruptly.

The main issues I read about on the AVG forums involve the Safe Search and Safe Surf modules. The Link Scanner - Safe Search module can be disabled in the free and paid versions, while Safe Surf is only available in the paid version, and can be disabled also.

I got rid of AVG not because of the Safe Search function, which I disabled, but because of too many false positives, with no way to exempt them from future re-detection and quarantining. Perhaps that has been changed since AVG 8 SP1. I don't know.

I can tell you that AVG 8 now combines Ewido anti spyware with the anti virus engine, making it more powerful than version 7.5. Of course, this leaves more room for false positives than before, with spyware definitions added to each update.

Folks, your options for a free anti virus program are dwindling. Nobody wants to invest countless hours reverse engineering malware and pushing out constant updates for no pay. Those who do should be applauded for their contribution to the security of the Internet. You get what you pay for in a free anti virus, or anti spyware program.

One of the best ways I have found to mitigate online security threats is by operating as a Power User. I did this when I ran Windows 2000 and do it now under XP Pro. Malware simply does not install into the operating system from a Power User account, unless one is deceived into elevating it to Administrator privileges (Trojan Horse).

[Jonathan Cullifer]

I had several computers running AVG 8 and switched them all to Avast. It runs a lot better. I have been using AVG for a long time and didn't want to switch but the bloat in version 8 forced me to.

[Chip Fossa]

I changed over this afternoon to 8.0 and so far everything seems OK.

But I know I'll be buying one of Trend-Micro programs come October, or so, when their 2009 versions come out. They will have the "In-The-Cloud" feature.

I will be buying it through the "WIZ", as he has been a tremendous help to me and others here, over the years. He gets a pittance sales compensation for being a distributor for Micro-Trend, and as small as that may be, I'd rather he get it, than the giants.

Thanks again, Wizardo.

Chipper

[Wiz Feinberg]