Ask About Computers

AVG Anti-Virus

May 22, 2006

Hi,

I was wondering if you could give me some advice?

I have a new PC and have installed a new AVG Antivirus that I bought with serial number and everything. Do I still need to install AntiSpyware program(s) to protect this machine for my college-bound daughter?

If your answer is yes, anything you recommend? I have looked at Spy[S]weeper but have not purchased it yet.

Thank you in advance.

Best regards,

Abed Zantout
Sycamore, IL

Hi Abed,

According to AVG's website, "With the release of AVG Anti-Virus 7.1, detection of Adware/Spyware (or Potentially Unwanted Programs) has been added to AVG" (204: Potentially Unwanted Programs). So, as long as you have AVG anti-virus (AV) version 7.1 or above, you should be covered. To find out what version of AVG you are running, try calling up the program via the start menu, then click on Help, then About. This is the way that you would normally find out version information for most programs. However, there are always exceptions to the way that program developers do things.

If you do not have version 7.1 or above, try downloading and installing to the latest and greatest version for free. AVG may let you do so.

Make sure that your AV engine and virus signatures are up to date. You ought to be able to at least partially automate this by automating the downloading of AV signatures so that updates are automatically downloaded every day.

I have used SpySweeper, and it is a fine product. However, I cannot recommend it, because many if not most AV programs now include anti-spyware as part of their offerings. I'm from a corporate background where it doesn't make sense to use two vendors when you can use one. Otherwise, vendors tend to point the finger at the other vendor when something goes wrong. But if you are just using one vendor, it is more difficult for the vendors to use this tactic.

One other thing. Alot of AV and anti-spyware vendors offer to scan your computer for spyware for free. You have to be careful, because alot of times all the scan turns up is the presence of cookies on your computer, which the AV programs sometimes classify as "spyware", which is ridiculous. You practically have to have cookies on your computer in order to use your computer usefully on the Internet. And the presence of cookies does not necessarily indicate the presence of spyware.

All the best,

Ask About Computers