AVG Antivirus Review

Surely, you have heard about AVG antivirus. It was born in the early 1990s and soon became a popular antivirus all across the United States and Europe. In 2016, AVG was purchased by its counterpart, Avast. However, the two companies did not merge completely, and they both continue to work independently of each other—supplying their own antivirus software.

Is AVG Good?

AVG antivirus is used by millions of users today and with good reasons. While this antivirus lacks some features that are offered by its competitors, AVG is a good option because of its simplicity, user friendliness, basic protection, and did we mention it’s free?

If you need more advanced security options, you can purchase one of the paid plans, which we will detail later.

So, to answer our question, yes, AVG is a good option for computer and online security.

AVG Antivirus Review

No matter what type of device you use, internet security should not be optional. Having a good antivirus will save you from a plethora of problems down the road. Some people make the excuse that they don’t want to pay for internet security. The bottom line is you can pay a little for internet security now or pay a lot down the road for damage done from malware and viruses.

However, another point is that some antiviruses are free—including AVG. This antivirus provides a basic level of protection for Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Once you download the AVG free package, you will be offered to upgrade to a paid package. We set out to research and decide if the paid packages are a good value for the mone, or will the free option suffice?

Features

The following are features that AVG offers.

  • Protection from malware, viruses, ransomware, and spyware
  • Manual virus scanning
  • Auto virus scanning
  • Detecting and preventing zero-day threats
  • Detecting and preventing phishing sites
  • Blocking suspicious links and files
  • Scanning incoming e-mails
  • Personal firewall
  • VPN service
  • Ticket support
  • Free Mac and Android packages
  • Extra security tools

AVG Virus Protection

From what we found, AVG is a great entry-level antivirus, but it is not powerful enough for ultimate protection. Its effectiveness has been proven by many tests.

The AV-Test Institute gave AVG 6 out of 6 points for malware protection. In this test, AVG stopped 98.3 percent of zero-day attacks.

In November 2018, during the Real-World Protection test by AV-Comparatives, AVG was effective at blocking 100% of malicious attacks with only two false positives.

The AV-Comparatives granted AVG an Advanced+ rating of 3/3 stars—the highest rating possible.

However, in the SE Labs, AVG Antivirus Free scored 94 percent for detecting and handling more sophisticated attacks targeted towards journalists, politicians, and diplomats. While this isn’t a bad result, it could have been higher.

One of the biggest advantages of this security software is that it can detect new types of malware. If the antivirus detects an unknown file, it will immediately block it and send it to the company for analysis.

AVG has also proven effective in detecting and blocking ransomware and phishing. Every product includes a LinkScanner that checks websites in real-time before opening them. If something is suspicious, you will be alerted.

Ease of Use

This antivirus is known for its user friendliness. Anyone, even those who are brand new to virus protection, can use it and understand it. Once you download the software, you can basically just forget about it and let it run. It will let you know if there is an issue.

In addition, the interface is easy to use. You can keep it at default settings or you can customize it to suit your tastes.

Scanning Options

There are six ways to scan your device with AVG antivirus. These are as follows:

  • Basic computer check
  • Deep scan
  • Performance check
  • File/folder scan
  • Boot-Time scan
  • USB/DVD scan

All the options are on the main window of the program. If everything is clear, the word “Protected” in green will appear in the center of the main screen.

You can launch a manual scan anytime you want; all you do is click the “scan” button at the bottom of the window. You can also schedule scans when you are away from your device.

Available Packages

AVG offers several packages for its users. Its free version is pretty popular, and it will provide basic protection—protection from viruses, malware, and spyware. If you want more protection, you will need to purchase one of the paid packages.

The paid Internet Security plan offers everything the free version does, along with an enhanced firewall, webcam protection, an extra layer of ransomware protection, better phishing protection, and the ability to protect an unlimited number of PCs. You also get a paid Pro version of the Android antivirus app thrown in the deal.

The Internet Security plan, for one year, is $79.99, and for two years is $159. You can get additional tools such as Secure VPN Multi-device or Password Protection for a discount.

The most expensive package is the AVG Ultimate. This package includes all that the Internet Security Plan offers, the TuneUp package, and live chat or phone support. The cost is $99.99 for one year and $198.99 for two years. Discounts for a few extra tools are included with this package as well.

AVG offers a 30-day free trial for both packages, which is a plus.

Additional Security Features

The following security features can be purchased separately from a plan, although some of these are discounted with a plan.

The TuneUp comes as a bonus with the AVG Ultimate, which is a great deal.

TuneUp

This is your PC performance optimizer. It makes your computer work faster by removing hidden and unneeded files to give you extra space.

Driver Updater

This tool checks 127,000+ drivers from over 100 major brands and fixes any problems that prevent your device from freezing or crashing. It will speed up browsing, downloading, gaming, and streaming, while improving the quality of audio on your device.

Secure VPN

Secure VPN will keep your online activity private and secure your Wi-Fi connections.

AntiTrack

This feature keeps your browsing habits safe by not letting tracking cookies share your info with others. If you have ever been browsing something, a product or service for example, and then see advertisements for the same product or service on your computer or newsfeed, it is no coincidence. This tool erases your browsing history when you are finished browsing.

Secure Browser

This feature allows users to control how they are tracked by websites and keeps their data safe and secure.

Mac Cleaner

This feature, for Macs only, will easily help you remove clutter from your device.

Special Business Offers

AVG offers the following features for businesses:

File Server Business Edition includes a virus scanner that keeps your business information private and safe.

Antivirus Business Edition protects your business network and email from viruses, spam, malware, and other threats.

Internet Security Business Edition protects your device and network from viruses and gives you extra spam protection for your emails.

Customer Service

AVG is a large community, so you can find most, if not all, of the answers to your questions online on the forums and articles. The FAQ section is also a great resource. If you cannot find what you are looking for, you can get in touch with customer service via a work ticket. Free phone calls are for users of the business packages.

Pros and Cons

With every internet security software, there are pros and cons. We have yet to find the perfect one out there. Here is what we like and don’t like about AVG antivirus:

Pros:

  • Free versions for Windows, Mac, and Android
  • Great test scores for malware protection
  • Fast and lightweight
  • Extra security features offered in paid plans
  • Easy to use, especially for beginners

Cons:

  • Compared to competitors, it offers few extras
  • Anti-phishing performance is average
  • Free version does not have a firewall, password protector, or VPN
  • Phone consultations available to business package users

The Bottom Line

AVG has its perks for sure. It is easy to use, and one of the best options for users who have never tried an antivirus before. It will protect your device against malware, ransomware, spyware, and viruses. It does not offer some of the extra security features that users love, like parental control or 24/7 customer support, but it is worth checking into.

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