# Free AVG anti-virus expiring; moving to paid version. Worth it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 18, 2008, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333 "2008-06-18T13:26:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sangfroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@sangfroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangfroid)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/1 "2008-06-18T13:26:46Z")
I’ve been using AVG anti-virus software for a couple years (it was recommended by the fine folks here at the SD - Thanks!) and have been quite happy with the results. Recently, I got a message during a routine update that AVG is moving to a paid (and improved) version at the end of the month. I tried to find an updated free version buried on the site somewhere, but no luck. That said, I like AVG. More than a few Dopers seem to agree. I don’t have a problem paying for the new version - it’s like 50 bucks or so - but since I’ve never outright bought A/V software before, I’m not sure if I should search out other freebies first, or what. Your comments and/or current experiences with AVG would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/2 "2008-06-18T13:30:07Z")
There is still a free version, they just keep making it harder to find, so that more users come to the same (no offence)mistaken conclusion you have, and fork out some cash for the paid version. go to [free.grisoft.com](http://free.grisoft.com) and keep clicking the buttons that say (in so many words) “no, I really want the free one” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/3 "2008-06-18T13:32:41Z")
If you were determined to spend some money though, I would recommend NOD32 - very lightweight in terms of system requirements, but highly effective protection. Norton/Symantec is pretty much the opposite of that - incredibly resource-intensive and effective mostly in the sense that it hinders _everything_ ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/4 "2008-06-18T14:18:44Z")
I recently received a notice that there was a recommended upgrade available for my free AVG anti-virus. When I clicked on the link to download it they tried very hard to steer me to the pay version, but I persisted and eventually got it downloaded and installed. It’s much less intrusive than the previous free version; it uses pop-ups instead of windows that have to be clicked on to let me know when it’s running and what the results of the test were. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/5 "2008-06-18T15:03:27Z")
[AVG Antivirus FREE Edition Ver 8.01](http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html?tag=pop.software&cdlPid=10834624). Download and have a nice day. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mongo\_Ponton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Mongo\_Ponton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mongo_Ponton)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/6 "2008-06-18T18:30:29Z")
I haven’t had time to read this so take it for what it’s worth but here is an article on getting AVG 8.0 set up properly (or something). [Article](http://grandstreamdreams.blogspot.com/2008/04/taming-avg-free-version-8.html) ---
**Author:** ![sangfroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@sangfroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangfroid)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/7 "2008-06-18T19:03:58Z")
Thanks, gang! (& extra thanks to **Flander** for the link…) 🙂 Y’know, I really did poke around a bit looking for the freebie version - just not enough, I guess. I was operating under the assumption (I know, I know…) that nothing free lasts long, and figured they were simply moving to a paid version. Thanks again for the directions. s/f ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/8 "2008-06-18T19:07:57Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Norton/Symantec is pretty much the opposite of that - incredibly resource-intensive and effective mostly in the sense that it hinders _everything_ [/QUOTE] I don’t understand how they stay in business. Their products gobble resources like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s astounding. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/9 "2008-06-18T19:37:52Z")
[QUOTE=sangfroid] Thanks, gang! (& extra thanks to **Flander** for the link…) 🙂 [/QUOTE] You’re extra welcome. 🙂 That site has a lot of useful stuff to download for free. ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/10 "2008-06-18T21:01:33Z")
Arg. I just keep getting messages from the install program that my OS (XP) is not supported. Joy. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/11 "2008-06-18T21:06:43Z")
[QUOTE=Gulo gulo] Arg. I just keep getting messages from the install program that my OS (XP) is not supported. Joy. [/QUOTE] My XP box didn’t have that problem. What service pack are you using? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/12 "2008-06-18T21:30:03Z")
[QUOTE=astro] I don’t understand how they stay in business. Their products gobble resources like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s astounding. [/QUOTE] Partly inertia - their product is one of the most frequently-bundled AV packages on new Windows boxes, partly corporate sales - their software might be shit in terms of user experience, but it’s possible to deploy and administer it on a large scale quite easily, so I understand. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/13 "2008-06-18T23:27:39Z")
[QUOTE=astro] I don’t understand how they stay in business. Their products gobble resources like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s astounding. [/QUOTE] Absolutely right! And they must be at the top of the worst customer service in the universe. (or is that the bottom?) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/14 "2008-06-19T14:36:32Z")
[QUOTE=KlondikeGeoff] Absolutely right! And they must be at the top of the worst customer service in the universe. [/QUOTE] No, that’s Sirius Cybernetics Corporation. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/15 "2008-06-19T14:55:53Z")
Go with AVAST. They are ashamed to admit they have a free version and they revamped the entire thing a couple of years ago. It is better than AVG ever was now. ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/16 "2008-06-19T17:31:19Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] My XP box didn’t have that problem. What service pack are you using? [/QUOTE] Well, I found out the problem. I purchased this computer used from a friend and he neglected to tell me that this XP isn’t _ahem_ legitimate. I’ll be correcting that shortly. :o ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/17 "2008-06-19T20:03:18Z")
[QUOTE=Gulo gulo] Well, I found out the problem. I purchased this computer used from a friend and he neglected to tell me that this XP isn’t _ahem_ legitimate. I’ll be correcting that shortly. :o [/QUOTE] That’s a strange thing for AVG to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/18 "2008-06-19T20:51:27Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] Go with AVAST. They are ashamed to admit they have a free version and they revamped the entire thing a couple of years ago. It is better than AVG ever was now. [/QUOTE] I gotta admit, I have been a very big AVG supporter in the past, but I am really digging Avast! lately. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/19 "2008-06-20T13:16:49Z")
When AVG did their latest version upgrade, I was unable to find the free version, and it was nagging the hell out of me, so I said ‘Screw it’ and switched to Avast. It’s good to know there IS a still free AVG out there, though. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333/20 "2008-06-20T13:40:56Z")
[QUOTE=astro] I don’t understand how they stay in business. Their products gobble resources like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s astounding. [/QUOTE] You could say the same thing about MS Windows. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-avg-anti-virus-expiring-moving-to-paid-version-worth-it/453333.md?page=2)