Mcafee user switched to AVG free

[Mark42]

I have used Mcafee products for years. It keeps getting more expensive, their offerings keep getting more complex, they no longer offer a simple virus scan for home users, and their simplest offering is now Internet Security, which monitors everthing from email to the PC's on your home network.

The problem I have with Mcafee the last few years is that their packages really slow down my PC's. The fastest machine I have is 2.4 gig, the others are less than 2.0 gigs. And boot up times get longer and longer.

One of the biggest problem I had was that Mcafee would decide that one or more PC's on the home network were no longer authorized to be on the network and were locked out from communicating with the authorized machine. The problem was the PC that was locked out of the network was the one with admin rights for the network. This happed multiple times. Had to uninstall and re-install mcafee on all machines, go through the authorization process all over again.

And if I turn off any of the features of mcafee, it would put an icon on the tray saying I'm not protected.

I got so fed up I tried the AVG free version. What a breath of fresh air. Simple virus protection without having to control all aspects of the PC. In fact, after installing AVG, it found trojans that Mcafee had let past. Plus a host of tracking cookies too.

Between the windows firewall, the firewall in the router, all I really want is virus protection. AVG gives me that and a little bit more. But not so much more that it slows down the PC.

Thats it for Mcafee in this house. I'll be using the AVG product for the foreseeable future. And the $60 savings is a nice perk too!!!

 

[Wotknot]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

Uninstalled Mcafee and downloaded the free AVG.........haven't looked back since.

 

[Phantom_II]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

I switched from Norton to AVG several years ago.

Better protection, better resource utilization, and a MUCH better price.

No regrets.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

Problem is, Norton and McAffee are the ones writing many of the viruses, so when they release a new one, they'll be the first ones to have protection for it. With the "off brand" virus protection, you'll have to wait a few weeks for their programmers to discover the virus, figure out the solution to getting rid of it, then writing that into the program.

 

[rayodunne]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

I use AVG and have done for 2 years. I do have to say that in the last 6 months it too is becoming a resource hog. I don't why yet I'm looking into it but AVG causes my desjktop to freeze just after windows XP loads to the desktop!

 

[mthieme]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

Problem is, Norton and McAffee are the ones writing many of the viruses, so when they release a new one, they'll be the first ones to have protection for it. With the "off brand" virus protection, you'll have to wait a few weeks for their programmers to discover the virus, figure out the solution to getting rid of it, then writing that into the program.

Yeah, right.
Although I've often thought that.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

The corporate monkeys decided that we will use Mcafee. Our computers have slowed down greatelly... What a piece of junk. Furthermore, my avg free catches more viruses hands down.

 

[achris]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

Moved to AVG about 4 years ago... The version 8.0 is even better... I also don't use Windows firewall, have been using ZoneAlarms for about 7 years... I can set it up to allow or ban just about anything I need, and don't have Microsoft sitting on my shoulder! I even use a non Microsoft browser, Netscape.

Chris........

 

[captlee]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

Moved to AVG about 4 years ago... The version 8.0 is even better... I also don't use Windows firewall, have been using ZoneAlarms for about 7 years... I can set it up to allow or ban just about anything I need, and don't have Microsoft sitting on my shoulder! I even use a non Microsoft browser, Netscape.

Chris........

Im set up the same way, Ive had friends accidently send me a virus that AVG picked up on that he had scanned with nortons. When I told him, he scanned it again with mcaffee and it stil came up clean. Ive been with AVG and ZA for atleast 7-8 yrs. No regrets.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

I have been so impressed with the AVG over the years I actually purchased the full version.

Smart move.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

Comcast offers Mcaffes free to subscribers and that is the only reason I have used it for the last 3 years. Free is not good enough anymore. They constantly update and when that happens you cant get a status indicator on how long it is going to take, Email and computer start up is like dial up. I turned of outgoing scan of email and that made a big difference however then I get the logo that my computer is not being protected. I turned off auto updating and get reminders to check for update about 10 times a day. I started with nortons and left them for these reasons. Went to trend PC and what an awesome program that was till comcast offered Mcaffes for free. I dumped mcaffes and downloeaded AVG. I am using my router for a firewall. I already see a difference on start up.

 

[captquest]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

I'm a gamer and have built a few computers for my friends and relatives. I believe the average home user can get every thing they need for their PC absolutely free (soft ware that is). I know of many free soft wares that accomplish what many people think they must pay for. Not to mention the fact that Norton and Mcafee are resource hogs and more complicated than need be. The new AVG is great, with anti spy ware and spam filters all in one. It updates every night and monitors my system without sucking up power I need for games. Sygate is also good free firewall software, and the list goes on. Windows firewall in XP is useless, although the Vista firewall is a bit better the best firewall is hard ware (running through a router for example). When one of my friends told me they spent over 100 dollars on Microsoft Office, I showed her my free "Open Office" that does every thing she needs for free. So when you think you found some thing you want or need, do some research and chances are you will find a similar one free, and in most cases it's actually better.

 

[captquest]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

Problem is, Norton and McAffee are the ones writing many of the viruses, so when they release a new one, they'll be the first ones to have protection for it. With the "off brand" virus protection, you'll have to wait a few weeks for their programmers to discover the virus, figure out the solution to getting rid of it, then writing that into the program.

SgtMaj, with all due respect I beg to differ. AVG updates daily and I have found it to be even more thorough than Norton. Trust me it doesn't take weeks to rectify new viruses, with hundreds being created daily that would be a disaster.
And rayodunne, I would suggest you look at other start-up applications causing your problem. If you open Task Manager and then the processes tab you can see how much ( CPU) your AVG is using. If you are certain that AVG is the culprit, try uninstalling it and reinstalling it again. I have seen it corrupt before and this usually fixes it. I have also seen viruses that defeat AVG. If in doubt, try an on line virus scanner like Panda Active Scan (FREE).

 

[turborich]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

I have used norton for the last 3 years, I recently downloaded the AVG free & it works just fine. My computer is twice as fast now too! Norton really made it drag.

I think the AVG works good.

 

[arboldt]

Re: Mcafee user switched to AVG free

A recent issue of PC World indicated there had been a problem with the latest release of AVG having to do with link scanner. Here's something about the fix:
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscent...rus_software_skewing_web_site_statistics.html

The latest issue of PC World had a feature article on building your own *free* security "suite" from many offerings on the web. AVG and Avast were both mentioned.

One PC at home is still running Norton antivirus, the others AVG. When the current license expires, all will switch to AVG.