Cybersecurity is paramount in today’s digital landscape. Protecting your personal and financial data from online threats is crucial, and choosing the right antivirus software can make all the difference. AVG offers both free and paid antivirus solutions, promising robust protection against various threats. This review explores AVG’s antivirus plans, focusing on the top-tier AVG Ultimate, to assess its effectiveness and determine which version best suits your needs.
Pricing and Tiers
AVG offers three basic categories of antivirus software Free, Internet Security, and Ultimate.AVG’s pricing structure is straightforward, offering three distinct antivirus plans. The free version provides essential virus and ransomware protection, making it one of the best free antivirus options available. However, it’s limited to a single device and lacks some advanced security and privacy features.
For enhanced protection, including Wi-Fi security alerts, defense against fake websites, and email phishing protection, AVG Internet Security is available. The first-year cost for a single computer is $47, with a renewal price of $78. Covering up to 10 devices increases the initial cost to $60 and the renewal price to $100.
AVG Ultimate, their premium security package, starts at $60 for 10 devices, matching the initial price of Internet Security. However, the renewal cost jumps significantly to $140. Ultimate bundles the TuneUp system cleaner with Secure VPN and AntiTrack for enhanced privacy. Given the identical starting price, opting for AVG Ultimate initially seems logical. However, carefully consider whether the added features justify the substantial renewal price increase before committing.
Design and User Experience
AVG AnitVirus Free installs quickly and looks good.AVG AntiVirus Free boasts a remarkably simple installation process, complemented by an intuitive interface and vibrant color scheme. The app clearly displays the protection status for your computer, web, and email, and prominently features a system scan button. During testing, the app efficiently identified potential issues, offering a one-click resolution.
Upon upgrading to AVG Ultimate, additional apps become available, including AntiTrack, TuneUp, Secure VPN, and the enhanced Internet Security antivirus. While this adds functionality, it also introduces complexity. Configuring each app and enabling recommended protections is straightforward. However, an issue arose during setup: enabling AntiTrack disrupted internet connectivity. Disabling this feature resolved the problem, but raised concerns about its functionality.
AVG Ultimate comes with a system cleaner called TuneUp.Accessing the browser extension requires navigating through the top-right menu. Interestingly, the initial setup did not include the browser extension, requiring manual installation.
I had to switch off the AVG UltimateThis internet connectivity issue with AntiTrack prompted further investigation and interaction with customer support.
Features and Performance
AVG has an impressive AV Test protection record.AVG AntiVirus consistently receives high marks from independent security labs like AV-Test, demonstrating its effectiveness against prevalent malware. While not achieving the perfect scores of competitors like Norton or Bitdefender, AVG’s performance provides reasonable confidence in its protective capabilities.
WicarSpot tests using simulated viruses from Wicar.org confirmed AVG’s ability to block malware effectively, even with the browser extension disabled. The integrated VPN functioned as expected, successfully masking location during testing.
AVG UltimateThe AntiTrack and TuneUp features facilitated automatic browser and computer cleanup, contributing to a positive overall performance experience.
Customer Support
AVGAVG offers 24/7 support via live chat and phone. However, attempts to access live chat proved unsuccessful. Phone support, on the other hand, was responsive and helpful, connecting within a minute. While the support agent provided troubleshooting steps for the AntiTrack issue, the problem persisted despite attempts to repair and reinstall the application.
Privacy and Security
AVG’s end-user license agreement states that user data is utilized and shared solely for service provision, with the exception of content uploaded to the Mobile Threat Intelligence Platform (MTIP), a tool primarily used by security researchers. This suggests minimal risk of third-party advertising spam. However, AVG’s past history includes a 2019 incident where Google removed their browser extension for spying on Chrome users. While the extension is now reinstated in the Chrome Web Store, this incident raises concerns about AVG’s privacy practices.
Conclusion: Free Version Shines, Paid Tiers Raise Questions
AVG AntiVirus Free remains a compelling choice for free malware protection. However, the paid versions, while affordable initially, come with a steep renewal price increase and some performance quirks. The AntiTrack connectivity issue, coupled with the unavailability of live chat and past privacy concerns, casts a shadow on the paid tiers. Consider exploring alternative antivirus solutions like Norton 360 Deluxe or Malwarebytes, which offer competitive pricing and stronger privacy track records, before committing to a paid AVG subscription. Ultimately, the free version stands out as a solid option, while the paid tiers warrant careful consideration.
