Free Anti-Virus Software for Windows: AVG

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avg-free-logoIf you own a computer, I am sure you know that anti-virus protection is vital to keep things running smoothly. I used to shell out 40 bucks or so every year for paid anti-virus protection software such as Norton or McAfee.

That all changed several months ago when my trusted blogging pal Tara opened my eyes to the wonderful world of AVG.  AVG offers basic anti-virus and anti-spyware protection for Windows- for free. Yes, FREE!

You can download the free version within minutes and be protected from viruses, worms and Trojan horses. It also includes LinkScanner, which ensures every link you visit is safe.

I must admit I was a bit skeptical at first of the free service, but I have been using AVG for a while now with no issues on my Acer laptop. Here is how the status box looks on my screen while open:

AVG-FreeThere is a paid upgrade you can opt for with more features, but I am perfectly pleased with the free basic version so far. AVG has over 110 million users, so they must be doing something right!

My laptop is very important to me, so I don’t take this decision lightly. AVG is protecting my computer and saving me money! I wholeheartedly recommend it to my frugal friends (and no one paid me to say that). 😉

Have you tried AVG Free?

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

Comments

  1. says

    We use this on both desktops and laptops – and LOVE it. It blocks viruses like no one business – ones that SHOULD have made our computers crash, only needed cleaning up!

    We also use Open Office instead of Microsoft for the same reason – it’s FREE!!
    .-= Jessica´s last blog ..Dishwasher secrets =-.

  2. Sheena @ Sophistishe says

    We’ve been using it for years, nothing else compares!
    .-= Sheena @ Sophistishe´s last blog ..Popinjay: The Flame is Very Much Alive =-.

  3. says

    My husband and I own a computer business. We do jsut about anythign computer/technology related. We install AVG on all clients that need virus software and we always use the FREE version. It is a great program! Just make sure you allow for the daily updates to keep your software current!

    Blessings- linda

  4. Christan says

    I love AVG too and have used it for years!! Just recently it didn’t stop a virus called Antivirus Live that looked like a software program and copied Microsoft stuff. It totally locked up my computer, so I am now using it along with another program.
    It’s awesome, but I’ve learned it doesn’t stop everything.

  5. Aprel says

    LOVE IT! We have been avid users for years. Make sure to check your licensing. The free version is available for personal use only. For businesses, you can get a 2 year subscription for the cost of a one year subscription of Norton or McAfee. It is definately a much better deal! They also have a nice resellers program for all the IT consultants out there.

  6. Amber says

    My husband is a software developer for a major insurance company and works on computers on the side. We have used AVG as long as I can remember. He also recommends it to customers and usually ends up installing it for them.

    Like Jessica we also use Open Office.

    My hubby is always looking for free technical alternatives.
    .-= Amber´s last blog ..Sam’s Club: Get a Free Freezer Bag =-.

  7. Iona says

    My Norton subscription just ran out and I reallyyy didn’t feel like paying through the nose for it.

    THANK YOU SO MUCH!

    God bless!

    • Alyssa Francis says

      Wahoo! Iona, that makes me so happy! So glad you just saved some money. Thanks for commenting, it made me smile! 🙂

  8. says

    I”ve been an information security officer for 20+ years and used to recommend AVG. While it’s a good product, it is not as effective at catching some of the newer virusesspyware as some of the others that are available. Microsoft has released a FREE version of their corporate antivirus (called Forefront) that is getting great reviews. You can download it directly from Microsoft’s website. Aside from catching more malware, it’s also faster because it uses what are called “hashes” of operating system files – it can quickly identify them and tell if they’ve changed or not, so it doesn’t have to scan them. Slowness is the big issue I’ve seen with Norton, McAfee, etc.
    .-= ThriftyPuppy´s last blog ..Ready, Set, Print! =-.

  9. Pam says

    The bad thing about AVG is after you do the free one, they send you a pop-up message making you believe that you have to purchase an upgrade. So, we did that. It was too hard for us to install so we asked for a refund. All they did was keep sending emails to confirm we wanted a refund. They never gave us back our money. So, now we have wasted $40 and no service from them.

    • Alyssa Francis says

      Pam, I am sorry to hear about your negative experience. 🙁 I have been using AVG for a while and have not seen any pop-ups like that. I hope you are able to get a refund soon!

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