PC Utilities review:

In this sad age of Trojans, worms and other such nastiness, the benefits of having an antivirus program go without saying. Unfortunately it usually requires living with two necessary evils. Firstly antivirus programs need to run in the background, which uses system resources, and secondly competent antivirus applications typically come at a price, which is then extended via a yearly subscription for new updates and virus definitions. There's not much anyone can do about the first problem, but something can certainly be done about the second.

AVG is an excellent and totally free antivirus suite that easily matches commercial offerings like Norton Anti-Virus and McAfee VirusScan in terms of features. Like any capable antivirus tool, AVG will scan your entire system for threats, and problem files can be deleted or quarantined. Basic scheduling is also supported, enabling you to set virus when you would like a daily scan to take place.

AVG Anti-Virus has recently undergone a significant revamp, and now benefits from an even easier-to-use interface, focused around the Control Centre screen. AVG's scanning engine has also been improved to detect more viruses, and its virus update feature now doesn't require a reboot every time new definitions are found. There's even an email scanner to help protect your PC against any suspect attachments.

If you consider that this already impressive program has a free virus update system, there's even less of a reason to go spend your hard earned money on a commercial security suite. Consider this a mandatory entry on your software install list.

Review last modified 16/04/09. Each month PC Utilities magazine reviews scores of great new programs. Have you considered taking advantage of our no-risk subscription offer?

User reviews:

icemanx says: Sorry but not worth it Avast is far better without being asked to BUY every so often (29/05/2009)

twisted monkey says: Installed AVG when I purchased my new computer. I started having slow down problems and had a hunch it might be the AVG program. Did a virus, malware, and trojan scan and remove and had a trojan attached to the program files in the AVG program. What a nightmare!! Then to uninstall the AVG was another nightmare...you have to install AVG to uninstall the program! Stay away from that freebie!! (16/03/2009)

cyberman says: Recently un-installed this program as it was hanging up my desktop icons for 20-30secs. It needs to have a few annoying bugs ironed out of it. Not impressed!! (13/03/2009)

di4charles says: Simply oustanding. Suggest you have this running and occassionally run Malwarebytes and Superantispyware. All freeware. (28/01/2009)

thunderloader says: A VERY good, reliable anti-virus program! With continuous automatic updates from AVG to the virus database, this is some of the best anti-virus software available. The free version includes support and better versions are available for purchase. One drawback: AVG is a bit of a resource hog. Not so much as to outweigh its effectiveness! (26/01/2009)

markie says: This edition runs out tomorrow! new free version now available from Grisoft. I have been using this for a week already and it's got some hot new features such as checking your google results for risky pages etc! AVG just got better and I'd reccomend upgrading to the full version too! (30/05/2008)

Dave Cusick says: This is one of those programs nobody should be without! (06/05/2008)

scottd says: I had malware, after buying; spydoctor; mcafee and the lousy norton rip off products-I used AVG once and problem solved! (06/10/2007)

willyboy2007 says: AVG is amazing I have found it a valuable resource in my utilities folder on my laptop i would be lost without it (24/09/2007)

john hammond says: i only use avg anti virus its the best. my pc has been protected right from the start and it dose all the updats (25/06/2007)

Geoff Paton says: A true market leader, great software, does what it says on the box (16/01/2007)

hotspurs says: I used a version for this that you had to pay for but the free version is still very good. I don't use it any more because I use norton internet security. I don't know what the latest version's interface is like but the one I had but it is a bit windows 2000 style, but if it does the job its a good tool. A good download recommend it. (15/10/2006)

frfady says: I have used it for years. It is the best and I it kept my computer safe from viruses. It is best used with Windows defender. Get it and you will never be disapointed. (04/09/2006)

whirlowdale says: I've using this protection for years & it has kept many virus attacks at bay , easy to use & FREE (17/05/2006)

PinkFloyd says: I use this instead of paying for norton or mcaffee or other expensive virus programs. It works for me! (25/04/2006)

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