Posted by Devin de Gruyl on Mar 16th, 2008
Here’s a heads-up to our Windows-using friends. AVG, probably the most popular free (beer) antivirus program, is evidently free no longer for home users.
While AVG has always been a totally free download for home (i.e. non-business) computers, this is apparently about to change. The most recent virus-profile update included a flash that AVG 8.0 has just been released, and unlike previous versions will feature only a 30-day trial version for free download. (The free version 7.5 is still available, but is clearly about to be phased out.) Users wishing to buy the full version will have to pay $34.99 for the antivirus program itself, or $54.95 for the full “Internet Security” version (which includes a firewall).
On the positive side, the new pay-to-play AVG, even the one that isn’t the full suite, does combine the functions of the antivirus program with an anti-spyware add-on that was previously a separate download. And luckily, profile updates will continue to be available for the free 7.5 version - for a time, at least. But it’s pretty clear where AVG is going with this.
We just wanted to let you know about this. If you use AVG Free and the thought of having to pay $35 for virus protection doesn’t appeal to you, it may be time to consider jumping to an alternative product - Avira AntiVir Personal is still available, and still a fine product in its own right (with several voices touting its superiority to AVG). For some of you, this might even be a perfectly valid excuse to experiment with that “Linux” thing everyone seems so hot about these days, and thus remove yourself from the practical need for virus protection. Not that I’m stumping here, mind you…
Posted in code, geek
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