AVG Is A Steaming Pile Of Dung

Technology
1

Neighbour was tearing his hair out trying to get a new HP printer (yes, I know…) connected and the HP Smart app systematically crashed during install. No indications from AVG that it was doing anything, but watching Task Manager, I saw AVG CPU use spike just as HP Smart crashed.

Uninstalled the various AVG elements and restarted.

HP Smart app installed normally and new printed set up correctly.

Neighbour already had the hump with the recently installed AVG as it “kept trying to sell him add-ons”, so he wasn’t fussed about it being removed.

2

There’s always Linux :slight_smile:

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One of my machines has AVG and it’s appalling. Wouldn’t let me pay for something on a UK government website saying it was dodgy. I told them it was fine and they said to try again in 24 hours. Still wouldn’t let me use it. Other virus checkers let me proceed to apparently dodgy sites, at my own risk, after warning me. AVG doesn’t. I don’t have a lot of confidence in the UK government at the moment but I think I can risk paying £1.50 to them…

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4

Linux is only the solution to a lack of Linux.

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Lack of Linux being a serious problem though.

I’m a bit disappointed to hear AVG is so terrible as it is supposed to be one of the best.

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6

It used to be fine, but it decided to be more Norton a couple of years ago.

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7

AVG was just trying to stop malware from installing. :wink:

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8

On a genuine UK government site??? (That I’ve used many many times before along with a great many others…)

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9

No, the HP drivers. :wink:

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10

Been using HP pc’s for many years now, though the top end pc’s never had any problems. Our antivirus software’s not free.

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11

We’ve had a couple of HP printers, and the drivers were a frustrating mess of unreliability. The computers seem fine, and we have a box from HP running a complex piece of kit in the lab.

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HP stuff is known to be compatible with linux. I have an ancient laptop that works fine, my even more ancient printer worked fine until it went a bit wrong, and I now have a new one that was no problem setting up, without HP Smart. If you activate the firmware updates you can forget using any cartridges except HP originals.

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Linux is wonderfully compatible: 10 year old computer and 15 year old printer? No trouble. OTOH trying to get windows to operate an expensive Creative sound card that was just 5 or 6 years old, no chance.

The only thing that I can’t get a version of Linux to operate is my 10 year old Linx tablet. It has been done previously, but the drivers that were specifically written are no longer available online.

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My issue with Linux is twofold:

  1. I play a lot of modded games on my PC and keeping them updated is a pain on Windows.
  2. Herself would notice my PC screen looked nicer and would want Linux as well, meaning I’d have to stand next to her every time she used the PC as everything would be my fault.
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(cough) Apple Macintosh (cough) :smiley:

Just because nobody’s mentioned them yet.

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Best I have found over the years (tried most of the others - free and paid) is BitDefender. Also so far always have managed to get really good subscription rates using 3rd party sources

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There seem to be several variants of BitDefender, including the free one. You obviously pay for yours @ykm71 - which one do you use?

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Same here. I used AVG for many years but it just got slower and slower so I switched to Bitdefender. I’m actually looking to change before the end of the month when my sub expires, not because I have any issues with Bitdefender but because I fancy trying something new.

I just used the basic AntiVirus Plus. Don’t need any of the bells and whistles.

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19

Thanks @hairbear

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You can currently get it for €25 for a year as an offer. If you buy it, about a month before renewal, turn off the auto renewal and it will ask you why. Answer that it’s too expensive and you will be offered around 30% off the renewal price. Ignore that and within a week or two you’ll get a 50% off offer. If you do want to renew then accept that. It’s worked for me for several years.

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