Free PROGRAMS
Review:
AVG's
updates for 2013 look to the future while struggling to overcome the
problems of the past. There's a new interface optimized for Windows 8
that really does make the suite easier to use, and the suite once again
tackles its lengthy installation procedure. However, one of the best new
features in AVG was actually introduced as a midyear update during
2012.
Installation
We found that the program can go from completed download to ready to use in about 5 minutes.
AVG's
touted its five-screen installation for several years now. While it's
true that the process continues to be short, it's important to call out a
few improvements and one glaring snag.
The
installer itself now weighs in at 33MB, down from more than 100MB two
years ago. The installer also does not require a reboot. This isn't
surprising for Windows 8,
but even on computers running Windows 7 and older, installing AVG will
be reboot-free. Unfortunately, not only do you still have to opt out of
AVG's toolbar and SafeSearch if you don't want them, but even when you
choose only the toolbar, it commandeers your default location bar search
in Firefox. This is, of course, problematic because the toolbar
provides some important security options, such as AVG Do Not Track.
AVG
loses points as well for force-shutting your browser without warning
during installation, and for not adapting the installation options to
Windows 8. AVG has retained the small check boxes from previous years,
which are difficult to use by touch.
A
more customer-friendly approach would be to go for an opt-in process
that doesn't move forward until the user makes a decision. After all,
this is what AVG does when asking you to choose between AVG Free or a
30-day trial of AVG Internet Security.
Shouldn't we be done with search engine commandeering by now?
Interface
Windows
8 has forced every Windows software maker around to reconsider how its
programs look, and that's a good thing. Whether kicking and screaming,
or gleefully leaping, software designers are changing how they make
their Windows apps, and AVG is no different.
Although
the security suite had been using a variation of the same interface for
years, the 2013 suite has been overhauled with a new one that embraces
large, boldly colored, tile-like buttons that ought to feel at home in
Windows 8.
The
new main interface lays out AVG's features in a clean, legible manner.
The upper right corner has links to Reports, Support, and Options. At
first blush, the Options list is overwhelmingly long, but navigating is
impressively accurate on a touch screen. It contains direct links to
features that are also available behind the tiles that take up most of
the interface.
Next
on your way down the main screen is a protection status notification in
green for safe or red for unsafe, and then there are three rows of
tiles. The first row of bright green tiles are links to core security
options: Computer, Web Browsing, Identity, E-mails, and Firewall. The
second row are blue, and link to AVG's performance optimizer, parental
controls, and the backup service LiveKive. Next to LiveKive there's a
button for AVG apps, new services that haven't been revealed at the time
of writing.
The
third row contains two teal buttons, one to commence a scan and one to
update virus definition files. If you're running AVG Free, the bottom
quarter of the interface is an ad to upgrade to AVG Internet Security
2013. Behind each of the buttons is a deeper dive into its associated
functions. Under Computer, for example, you have access to antivirus and
antirootkit scans, statistics, and configurations.
The
interface is basically highly navigable, except that people with
Windows 8 touch screens could find the third level down tricky without a
mouse. If you go into Configurations or another deeper settings level,
the advanced settings options could still be too small for some people
to easily adjust.
Do
note that AVG is essentially running a Windows 7 program with Windows 8
dressing. It opens to Desktop mode, and runs in a single window that
doesn't take up the full screen. It's possible that there have been
under-the-hood improvements that will allow AVG to adapt to a Metro
interface easily, but that's not available yet.
Features and support
While
the interface is new, and as you'll see below, the performance
improvements are stunning, AVG's focus for 2013 has not been to push
aggressive new security tech. That's okay. Instead, the focus this year
was to bring some tech that exists at competitors to AVG's enormous,
128-million-strong active user base.
When
you start AVG for the first time, a window appears over the main
interface that promotes links to its new, free 24-7 telephone support;
the AVG Android app; and a tutorial on getting started. As one of the
best-known names in Windows security, we like that AVG is making it easy
for newcomers to get acclimated.
There's
a new file reputation system, which AVG also uses in conjunction with
its scans to scan dramatically faster than before. Basically, it looks
at a file in the order that its bits were saved to disk, not in order of
the directory file tree. It may sound hokey, but as the benchmarks
below show, it's an effective technique. By cross-referencing that data
with what other AVG users are running, AVG is able to create a more
effective net for blocking malicious files.
The
file reputation is an extension of AVG's "smart scanning," which takes
advantage of AVG's behavioral detection network to scan known safe files
once, and rescan them only if it detects changes. As with its
competitors, AVG's network is made up of its user base anonymously
contributing data up to the cloud. You can choose to opt out of
contributing your data when you install, or from the options menu. AVG
says opting out won't negatively affect your security.
The
smart scanning tech also gives you a built-in system resource manager
that prioritizes scans. If a scan is scheduled to begin while the
computer is in use, it will automatically restrict the scan so that it
runs more slowly but doesn't interfere with the computer's other tasks.
When it detects the computer idling, it will then allocate more power to
the scan. The feature comes with a slider so you can customize how
sensitive it is.
Another major change was introduced earlier in the year. AVG's Do Not Track add-on has
been folded into the AVG toolbar. AVG's version lacks the nuance of
Abine's Do Not Track Plus, making it more of a logger's chainsaw than a
surgeon's scalpel, but it's still good to get privacy-protecting tools
out to as many people as possible.
AVG
offers a wide range of effective tools for keeping your computer safe.
Along with the expected antivirus and anti-malware engines, it has
rootkit detection and removal; fake antivirus and ransomware blocking;
and basic e-mail and identity protection.
The
LinkScanner tool has been improved to watch out for more dynamic code,
which is essential in the security game because threats are mutating at
such a rapid rate.
The
PC Analyzer scans your system for Registry and disk errors. It includes
a disk defragmenter and a broken-shortcut cleaner, as well. Although
the feature is restricted in full to paid users, if you have the free
version, the PC Analyzer comes with a one-time offer to clean all errors
it finds. It provides a link to a download of the separate PC Analyzer
tool, once the scan is completed. This is an interesting twist on the
idea of letting users detect but not repair errors, and it provides more
functionality while not affecting the basic security of your computer.
However, it's likely that some users will shy away from the extra
download.
Other features are restricted to users of AVG's paid upgrades. The paid upgrade version of AVG Anti-Virus 2013 distinguishes
itself by offering a chat link shield, a Wi-Fi guard for open Internet
connections, and a download scan for files sent via instant message that
looks at all ports, not just port 80. The PC Analyzer option mentioned
earlier is also included, and comes without restrictions.
AVG Internet Security 2013 includes all that AVG Anti-Virus 2013 offers, and adds in a firewall and antispam protections.
Performance
After publishing this review, CNET Labs discovered
a hardware error on our test computer that affected our published
system benchmarks. AVG claims major performance improvements in the 2013
versions, and both CNET's own revised tests and independent labs appear
to bear this out.
This year's version leaves a lighter touch on your system than last year's, a big change for the better for AVG.
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