[b]So-long AVG. ….well, for now, anyway.[/b]
After years and years using AVG and promoting it to other users, I am now switching gears.
I recently installed the latest version 8.0.
At first, I liked the new look and built-in features.
Then I experienced several ‘false positives’ (where files are tagged as viruses when they are really not).
When AVG determines a file is a threat, it disables the file making it useless. Even if you added the file to the ‘exclusion list’ within AVG, the file was still blocked.
I got past that annoyance and then the real issue with AVG 8.0 became apparent…
It is an [b]extreme[/b] resource hog!
I first noticed a pronounced decrease in system performance and a much longer boot time.
I then checked Task Manager to see what running processes were causing the slow-down.
The file was ‘avgrsx.exe’ and it was quite often using up 85 to 98% of the CPU cycles (processor power).
This is the AVG Resident Shield executable and it runs for an extended period at every boot up.
It did this for such long periods that it actually caused a severe over-heating issue with my 3.4ghz Pentium 4 processor!
If you are still using AVG 7.0 or 7.5, I suggest you stick with that for now. Do not update to 8.0
If, on the other hand, if you did like I did and updated, I suggest you uninstall AVG through Add/Remove Programs, reboot and then download and install an alternative anti-virus program.
The one I have chosen is Avast.
Avast is a free anti-virus product that many of my peers swear by and have been using for several years. I have been using it for a while and I now agree. It does every bit as good a job as AVG. Plus it does it without eating up system resources!
The CPU is back to running at 130? F rather than the over 160? temp it had with AVG.
Here is where you can download the installer for Avast Free Edition:
http://tinyurl.com/8z9h5
I recommend using the ‘Custom’ option during the installation so you can remove any features that you don’t want installed.
I am disappointed to see AVG now falling in line with McAfee, Norton and Sophos and no longer being the efficient product it once was.
Please let me know of any other free or low-cost alternatives you would recommend.