AVG AntiVirus Free

By AVG Technologies

FREE

By Windows

Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release

Latest update

23.12.8700

Version

23.12.8700

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform

Windows

Operating System

Windows

POPULARITY

Additional Requirements

Total Downloads

566,857,135

Downloads Last Week

566,857,135

Key Details of AVG AntiVirus Free

Detects and removes malware, spyware, and viruses. Scans email attachments and downloads
User-friendly interface, easy navigation, and simple setup process
Compatible with Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11
Highly recommended for basic antivirus protection for personal use

Editors’ Reviews

AVG Antivirus free is one of the most popular antivirus programs on the market. The company is moving from annual releases to rolling releases: as long as you have a subscription, you’ll have the latest version of their software.

The software enhances your security by incorporating six layers of protection, effectively guarding against various online threats. This system works proactively to block dangers before they can cause damage. AVG also alerts you about potentially harmful emails and their attachments, helping you avoid risky clicks. It provides additional security by shielding your PC from unauthorized network access attempts and helping you steer clear of scam websites and malware-infected links.Besides these protections, AVG includes tools like Smart Scan and CyberCapture, which scan for and analyze suspicious files. Behavior Shield monitors your apps for unusual activity, helping to neutralize threats early. File Shield actively blocks potential malware in newly added or opened files. If tough-to-detect viruses bypass regular antivirus measures, Rescue Disk allows you to boot your PC from an external device to tackle these hidden threats. The Quarantine feature safely isolates risky files, keeping your system secure while these files are examined.AVG AntiVirus Free is completely free. It offers comprehensive protection across various cybersecurity fronts, all through an interface that is straightforward and easy to use.

Pros

Rolling releases: In the past, buying a copy of AVG would get you regular antivirus updates, but features would not change until you bought the following year’s version. Now you can always have the newest version of AVG.

It’s free: Although it’s release method has changed, you can still get a version that costs no money — though there are a few strings attached (more on that in the Cons section below).

Modular installation: AVG has separate components that can monitor your desktop email client and your Web browser for threats, and you can choose to not install both of these, if you have other software that covers these bases already.

Cons

Installer gotchas: If you don’t intervene by using a “custom” installation, the installer will put you on a 30-day trial of one of the company’s paid products instead of installing AVG Antivirus Free. And it will change your Web browser’s homepage and default search engine to Bing.com.

PC Analyzer has issues: AVG Antivirus features a PC Analyzer, which checks for registry errors, junk files and broken shortcuts that can be deleted, and disk defragmentation. The problem is, you’re not supposed to defrag a solid-state drive, but PC Analyzer did not appear to notice what type of drive it was. The analyzer is also all-or-nothing; you can’t skip the defrag or the registry cleaner and just delete junk files and shortcuts, for example.

Bottom Line

According to independent testing labs such as AV-Test and AV-Comparatives, AVG uses a solid antivirus engine. But the hoops you have to jump through in the installer and the technical error in the PC Analyzer have an impact on trust and confidence in the product.

What’s new in version 23.12.8700

New File Shredder: Normal deletion isn’t always secure enough. In some cases, your data may still be recoverable. File Shredder deletes data securely to help ensure your most sensitive information remains private. Files are deleted permanently and can’t be accessed or recovered by someone else.
Easy access to AVG mobile apps: User-friendly interface offers easy access to our free mobile apps. They range from mobile protection (AVG AntiVirus Free for Android) to privacy protection (AVG Safe Browser for iPhone & iPad) to mobile performance apps (AVG Cleaner for Android).
Better Detection: AVG detection rates are always being improved to ensure we are keeping up with Internet criminals.
File Reputation: The new AVG client will check with our cloud service and report the prevalence of certain files on users’ computers. We’ll then use this information to improve our product’s detection capabilities (heuristics, behavioural detection). No personal information is ever collected, and customers must opt into our product improvement program in order for us to access their data.