Avast or AVG?

[globiumz]

Topic.

 

[antyler]

System resources im not sure, but i use AVG and I have no complaints.

 

[Dorkenstein]

I use Nod32 but have had good success with Avast. The loud updates are annoying though.

 

[KoolDrew]

AVG probably uses less system resources. Just try both out and use whichever you prefer. I personally install avast! on any computer I work on due to its ease of use.

 

[corkyg]

Both good. Take your pick.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I've been using AVG for about 6 months and I also use the Kaspersky stand-alone scanner just as a backup.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Dorkenstein
I use Nod32 but have had good success with Avast. The loud updates are annoying though.

"THE VIRUS DATABASE HAS BEEN UPDATED!"
:laugh:

 

[nordloewelabs]

i have used both AVG and Avast for a few years and both have performed well. Antivir is also great. I have it on my Tablet-PC. AVG, however, is the lighter of all three.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2

Originally posted by: Dorkenstein
I use Nod32 but have had good success with Avast. The loud updates are annoying though.

"THE VIRUS DATABASE HAS BEEN UPDATED!"
:laugh:

Music to my ears.

 

[Excelsior]

I've been a faithful AVG user for years now. Beta tested 8.0 (still using the beta until it runs out) and have been pleased.

 

[n7]

If you're talking free ones, i'd go with Bitdefender Free myself.

 

[MrChad]

As far as free anti-virus programs go, the detection rates for Avast and AVG are not great. Text.

I use AntiVir with good results.

 

[xgsound]

Originally posted by: globiumz
Also, which eats up more system resources?

Moved from Software for Windows
-Schadenfroh (AT Mod)

AVG, Avast, and Antivir all have fans. My experience is with AVG free. I put it on many of the relatives machines, from a 466Mhz PII with 256 MB mem to newer dual cores with 3 GB mem. The only thing close to a slowdown is after the auto 8:00 AM update, it takes over for about 30 seconds, and you can change that to manual.


Jim

 

[Lemon law]

Originally posted by: MrChad
As far as free anti-virus programs go, the detection rates for Avast and AVG are not great. Text.

I use AntiVir with good results.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In terms of detection rates with a freeware AV, Mr Chad is right and its also why I decided to choose antivirus as my active AV

But I also get tired of pointing out its not as simple in the case of antivirus. Because the freeware version of antivirus lacks prescanning of incoming emails and if you want and need that prescanning of incoming emails you have to upgrade to the pay version of antivirus.

And both AVG and Avast prescan emails as part of their freeware package. In my case, I am on a network and another computer on my small lan catches the emails so that antivirus handicap is not a negative for me. Other people may have an ISP that prescans emails and thus would not be handicapped either.

But one should always be aware all of the other limiting factors of anti virus software. The selection criteria are not always unidimensional.

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: Lemon law

Originally posted by: MrChad
As far as free anti-virus programs go, the detection rates for Avast and AVG are not great. Text.

I use AntiVir with good results.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In terms of detection rates with a freeware AV, Mr Chad is right and its also why I decided to choose antivirus as my active AV

But I also get tired of pointing out its not as simple in the case of antivirus. Because the freeware version of antivirus lacks prescanning of incoming emails and if you want and need that prescanning of incoming emails you have to upgrade to the pay version of antivirus.

And both AVG and Avast prescan emails as part of their freeware package. In my case, I am on a network and another computer on my small lan catches the emails so that antivirus handicap is not a negative for me. Other people may have an ISP that prescans emails and thus would not be handicapped either.

But one should always be aware all of the other limiting factors of anti virus software. The selection criteria are not always unidimensional.

For those of us who use webmail like gmail, the email scanning is useless and eats up resources. I have found of the three, Avira uses the least resources and still has the best detection rates of the free anti-virus packages. From what I am hearing, AVG 8 has turned into a resource hog. When they release it to the free version, I will test it personally and see if this is true.

 

[Lemon law]

To a certain extent this thread is a witness to the fact that the best freeware antivirus program is and remains a hotly debated subject.

As for me, I have no brand loyalty and am always looking to jump to a better freebie.

But in terms of detection rates, year after year, both AVG and Avast remain mired in group of programs that are better than most paid AV's, but can't quite make the cut into the best group of AV programs. What happened to second place must try harder?

As I write this post, recent Matousec tests show the top two rated software firewalls, be they paid or a freebie, are occupied by freeware programs. There are some close to the best paid programs constituting what amounts to a top tier group, and then a big drop in ratings to the start of the second tier.

 

[Lemon law]

Sorry all, accidental double post

 

[Captante]

Tried all three & Antivir gets my vote.

 

[imported_Section8]

I have used AVG for years with no issues. I also have it installed on about 20 other PCs and no one ever called to tell me the PC is acting weird.

 

[Entropism]

AVG 8 is pretty bloated, and you have to disable a bunch of modules just to get it working correctly. The AVG toolbar (worthless, IMHO), Linkscanner, the webguard, slows browsing to a crawl. Avira has been working flawlessly for me, and I've heard wonderful things about Avast 4.8, going to try it out shortly.