AVG is among the most popular antivirus software programs available. It offers a solid free product as well as a full range of security tools that compete with the top suites from Bitdefender and McAfee. It’s simple to install and use, and the interface is functional and not flashy.
It’s worth noting that although AVG’s suite has a wide array of features that guard against malware and other cyber threats, some are only available if you decide to upgrade to the premium version. AVG’s support center is accessible directly from the client and includes forums, how-to pages as well as community-based advice and an online form for submitting tickets. There’s also an on-line dedicated to premium customers, but it’s only available during normal business hours.
The malware scanner utilizes heuristic analysis and machine learning to identify threats that could slip through traditional signature-based detection systems. It can detect rootkits, trojans, trojans and worms as well as other types of malware that could be missed by other scanners. It comes with an auto-scan feature that runs on autopilot and a speedy scan that ignores files AVG is confident are safe, and a deeper scan designed to take longer, but give you more protection.
AVG’s anti-phishing technology is effective and it has an enhanced firewall that can be set to block specific ports or programs. It also has an optimization tool for devices that can eliminate unneeded apps and speed up the PC and an image vault that can store passwords. Its anti-theft features are more sophisticated than the ones offered by other software, allowing you to mark a stolen or lost device as such and vipre antivirus remotely track it with GPS. You can also remotely lock or wipe data and set up a siren when you suspect that someone has stolen the device.