AVG Internet Security 8.0

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AVG Internet Security 8.0:

AVG is generally recognized as one of the top free virus remover applications, but they also have a paid version available with some more advanced and improved features. AVG as an Internet Security Anti-Virus application has been very much famous amongst the normal user's as well as in private offices and firms.

The best highlights in the new version they included is the very much required upliftment of the application that has received, which can be seen . There is also some back-end improvements for both performance and the scanning detecting abilities.

AVG Internet Security 8.0 has many new features including Link scanner technology, in which AVG software acquires with its recent acquisition of Exploit Prevention Labs. The product basically provides an impression as an Internet security suite.

AVG Internet Security 8.0 flags malicious Web sites, unlike the standalone version of Link scanner provides an additional information about the threat. AVG also installs the Yahoo as default search engine in up to two locations within your Internet browser, depending upon your installation choices.

Key Features:

• Redesigned interface
  
• Web shield - web content scanner (HTTP and Instant Messaging)
  
• Link scanner - Safe Search and Safe Surf
  
• Anti-Rootkit
  
• Completely new scanning engine
  
• New, much more effective, heuristic analysis
  
• Improved performance

The biggest improvement to AVG Internet Security 8.0 is Link scanner technology. Link scanner is known for two things: its very best capability to block malicious code and its faster protection implementing method. AVG considers its antispam technology as its strong antivirus protection, but e-mail phishing is just one part of the threat.

AVG Internet Security 8.0 did flag the site, for additional information about the threat produced a generic AVG virus encyclopedia page. With the standalone Link scanner Pro package, it would tell us which exploit it found and it would produce a rich log archive so you can see which sites it said had malicious software.

Apart from active Web threats, AVG Internet Security 8.0 protects against threats within downloaded images, music, and from instant messaging and peer-to-peer file transfers.

This antivirus program offers rock-solid protection. AVG Free provides the bare necessities, including a real-time shield to prevent infections, anti-virus and anti-malware wrapped up in one engine, and a link scanner for Web surfing with care.

This application is set to search for new virus definitions daily, but you always can use the scheduling tool to change this. AVG creates a rescue disk to scan your computer in MS-DOS mode. The program doesn't tax your system when scanning or when running in the background and always proved effective in our tests. The new interface is much easier to navigate than in previous version, with tabbed navigation on the left assisting users in drilling down to the tools they need.

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Installing AVG Internet Security 8.0:

We are able to download and install AVG Internet Security 8.0 on any computing machine and can run on any Operating System with no difficulty and without rebooting. For instance while upgrading from a previous version of AVG, you must uninstall the previous version first before installing version 8.0. AVG which then provides a totally functional anti-virus software.

During installation process, AVG will prompt you with various types of questions which includes Do you want to install the security toolbar? As it's hard to say whether you want that, but generally it doenot matter in performance if you say no. AVG highly recommends the security toolbar installation,which usually we found that it installs a prominent search box with Yahoo as the default search engine with little else at this time. Even without the toolbar, we will still able to use the Link scanner technology.

After installation, AVG asks you to perform a seven-step process:

First window describes about the wizard.

Second window asks you whether how often AVG should update itself.

Third window asks if you want to report any compromising Web sites to AVG.

Fourth window asks whether you want to use the Yahoo search as your Internet web browser the default one.

Fifth window and Sixth window are the procedures for downloading updates.

Seventh window tells you that the previous step process you have completed is just one of the first part of installation procedure.

AVG strongly asks you to proceed with the Firewall Wizard once as the first setup process is finished. Then AVG asks you to have a standalone computer or a network computer.

Next, it will ask you to select which directories have your common applications that need to access the Internet. The next few screens will help you for configuring your firewall settings.

As you complete it, several messages will warn you that something is trying to access the Internet.

The interface in AVG Internet Security 8.0 is an improvement over the previous design, the right windowpane contains with large icons for Antivirus, Antispyware, Rootkit, and Update. There are 12 icons in all. Below each is a statement telling you if that feature is active. Clicking an icon will either access additional information regarding that option or run that specific option.

The left windowpane includes three options, Overview, Computer Scanner, and Update Now. Computer Scanner has one option that is scan all. Update Now is equally opaque, will search and download updates onto your PC.

A toolbar above these windows contains the advanced feature options.

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Performance of AVG Internet Security 8.0:

On a general configuration, the suite will not consume many system resources. While there is a toggle option for helping to reduce the impact of full system scans on performance.

During the rootkit scan, AVG will ask you to minimize your computer usage. AVG uses 10 percent to 15 percent of system resources during the scan which is somewhat no so high as compared to other anti-virus softwares.

During a full system scan, your resource usage will show to 25 percent, at times not slowing your use of the system. The rootkit scan will not take too much duration to complete.

The scan you did as a rootkit scan will basically provide you result as mostly Internet cookies, however, it will also identify legitimate program as a potentially harmful program. The program, XeroBank xb Browser, is an anonymous version of Firefox 2 that uses The Onion Router network to disguise Internet traffic. Xb Browser is used by many people in countries that censor Internet users.

These are often installed by hackers when they invade a system. The application mentioned is one such fine example which is why we call it potentially wanted application. Such applications can be added to extra-ordinary one's for the users and if they knows what they do and why he wants to install it.

Two leading independent antivirus testing organizations give AVG high ratings for PC protection. In the latest test results from AV-Comparatives.org it gave AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 the previous version an Advanced rating (highest) for On Demand protection and Advanced Plus (highest) for heuristic protection, blocking 97 percent of the malicious code used in the test. The second source of independent antivirus testing, CheckVir.com, gave AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 a Standard rating (highest) for identifying malicious software.

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Final Verdict:

AVG 8.0 is a must have anti-virus program if you are in the market to upgrade your old AVG or switch from another program. Users of AVG 7.5 will definitely want to upgrade to the new version, even users of the free version. Paid users of 7.5 can download and upgrade to version 8.0.

AVG has always been praised for its simple and easy-to-use interface and Grisoft has redesigned the interface in version 8.0, but it is still very clean and simple, which i like very much. The cool blue color scheme and tabbed/module-like interface allows for quick interaction and no confusion at all. At the home screen when you open the program, you'll get an overview of all the programs' modules and their status, allowing you to quickly see what is running correctly and what needs attention. There is also useful information in the lower-left corner that give you details about your license information and last update/scan.

AVG 8.0 also includes a brand new real-time scanning engine, which is really improved over the previous scanning engine, which could slow down a system at times. AVG 8.0 continues to be very "lightweight", meaning that it does not take up significant amount of system resources that would slow down a system, like other larger competing anti-virus programs do.