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Why I Removed AVG from my Computer: A tale of abusive anti-virus-ware

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Re: Why I Removed AVG from my Computer: A tale of abusive anti-virus-ware

#31

Post by troels »

shrikant wrote: post #27
troels wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. This is one of those things that really should be dealt with on an os-level. They could push updates through the same channel as the os security patches.

Yep, it's not like Microsoft has ever hijacked any other software to shoe-horn in their own useless stuff. See .NET" rel="nofollow">http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=.net+framework+as... Framework Assistant in Firefox .

Of Microsoft and Symantec, I'm not sure who I trust least. In any case a Microsoft virus checker wouldn't have to - indeed wouldn't benefit from - seeking attention. That, in it self, would probably lead to a better product. There are other technically sound arguments for letting Microsoft deal with security issue, such as the fact that they know how the system is built (At least in theory).

Re: Why I Removed AVG from my Computer: A tale of abusive anti-virus-ware

#33

Post by bartl »

seldo wrote: post #6

I too uninstalled it. I have a ridiculous multi-core system with more RAM than anybody really needs; I have been unable to even mildly slow it down since I built it -- until I installed AVG, which slapped ridiculous scan bottlenecks on every disk read, every download, every link click, every application launch, every thing I could do on my box. It's almost worse than actually having a virus. At least you can uninstal…

Oh yeah, it's a pig. But most anti-virus programs are pigs.

My experience: my XP computer got very slow over time: just booting Windows took 20 minutes.

I kicked off AVG and now it boots in about 2 minutes.

If that is not a pig, then I don't know what is.

Re: Why I Removed AVG from my Computer: A tale of abusive anti-virus-ware

#34

Post by makecheck »

This isn't unique to AVG, but it does make you wonder what goes through the heads of corporate managers who decide how to "improve" their products.

Products seem to follow this cycle:

- 1.0 - neat idea, needs more

- 2.0 - wow, nice!

- 3.0 - okay, I can only use some of those new features, but not bad

- 4.0 - um...I suppose it's nice for people who do that kind of thing

- 5.0 - okay, at least they're supporting $NEW_OS_VERSION now; wait, that's odd, someone's added a toolbar

- 6.0 [read: 5.1] - where did these ads come from, and who said I needed an auto-updater?

- 7.0 [read: 5.2] - web integration? and where's all this extra CPU usage coming from?

- 8.0 [read: 5.3 beta 3] - I can't tell what the new features are...but now I have to go for coffee while it starts up

Re: Why I Removed AVG from my Computer: A tale of abusive anti-virus-ware

#35

Post by ilitirit »

I uninstalled AVG ages ago. The resource consumption was what did it for me. As for the other complaints, they're not really such a big deal once you learn how to deactivate features that you don't need, and to set it so that AVG doesn't notify that you've deactived them.

Re: Why I Removed AVG from my Computer: A tale of abusive anti-virus-ware

#37

Post by jtneal »

I just installed AVG's latest version after reinstalling Windows 7 (to upgrade from Beta to RC.) I remembered from using AVG during Windows 7 Beta that they included that link checker, and I hated it as well, so I did a custom installation instead of the default/recommended installation, and I was able to not even install the link checker. Now I do not have the exclamation mark thank god. Also, I didn't install the AVG toolbar either, so it's not nagging me either. Usually when you have an issue with software installing things you don't want, it's simply because you didn't do a custom install.

Re: Why I Removed AVG from my Computer: A tale of abusive anti-virus-ware

#38

Post by bep »

shrikant wrote: post #27
troels wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. This is one of those things that really should be dealt with on an os-level. They could push updates through the same channel as the os security patches.

Yep, it's not like Microsoft has ever hijacked any other software to shoe-horn in their own useless stuff. See .NET" rel="nofollow">http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=.net+framework+as... Framework Assistant in Firefox .

This was corrected: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=...
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