Why AVG Internet Security Might Be Worth the Upgrade from Free Antivirus Software
AVG is widely recognized for its robust free antivirus software, providing essential protection against online threats at no cost. However, the company also offers a paid version, AVG Internet Security, which brings additional features and enhanced security measures. But with so many free alternatives available, why should you consider paying for AVG Internet Security? The answer boils down to convenience and comprehensive protection.
What You Get with AVG Internet Security
AVG Internet Security is designed for users who want more than basic antivirus protection. While the free version offers fundamental safeguards, such as virus protection, a firewall, and some web and email security features, the paid version builds on these by adding several advanced tools. These include protections against ransomware, web cam hijacking, data theft, and certain types of malware that might evade the free version’s capabilities.
By upgrading to AVG Internet Security, users receive additional layers of protection, which help ensure that their devices are secured even when they’re not actively monitoring them. This becomes especially valuable for those who may find it difficult to keep up with new and evolving online threats. While no antivirus software is completely foolproof, AVG Internet Security goes a long way toward covering the most significant risks without overwhelming users with unnecessary extras.
Cost and Subscription Options
AVG offers flexible pricing for its Internet Security suite. If you purchase directly from AVG, you will find that the cost for the first year is relatively affordable. However, after the first year, the subscription renews at the full price. There are multiple plans available, including a single-device plan for just one PC and a multi-device plan that covers up to 10 devices, making it ideal for households or small businesses with multiple devices across various platforms like Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Although AVG does not offer specific family plans, multi-device subscriptions allow users to share the coverage among family members, which can still save money. Compared to its competitors, AVG focuses on providing coverage for more devices rather than offering an array of extra features. For instance, Norton’s equivalent plan includes VPN access but limits the service to just five devices. Similarly, Avast, the company that owns AVG, offers a higher-priced plan that covers fewer devices.
To save even more, you can buy AVG Internet Security through third-party retailers like Newegg or PCWorld, where multi-year plans and smaller device packages are available.
Features of AVG Internet Security
The primary benefit of AVG Internet Security over the free version is the additional features that help protect users more comprehensively. These include:
- Ransomware Protection: AVG Internet Security scans your files for signs of ransomware, offering protection against these potentially devastating attacks.
- Webcam and Microphone Hijacking Prevention: The software restricts unauthorized access to your webcam and microphone, keeping your privacy intact.
- DNS Hijacking Defense: AVG prevents malicious redirects, ensuring that when you try to visit a website, you are not sent to a malicious clone.
- Email Security: It checks your downloaded email attachments for dangerous files and malicious links, adding an extra layer of protection against phishing attempts.
One feature that is not included in this plan is VPN protection, which requires an upgrade to AVG’s Ultimate subscription or a separate subscription to AVG Secure VPN.
AVG Internet Security also provides protections for saved passwords in your browser, scanning for any malicious behavior that might compromise your personal information. Although AVG lacks a password manager or parental controls (features available with other security suites), it does cover a wide range of essential areas that most users will find beneficial.
User Interface and Setup
AVG Internet Security offers a straightforward, user-friendly dashboard. Upon installation, the program provides an easy-to-navigate interface that displays your PC’s security status and allows you to initiate scans with just a few clicks. There are multiple types of scans to choose from, including quick scans, deep scans, boot-time scans, and more. You can even schedule scans to run automatically, ensuring that your system remains clean without requiring manual intervention.
The dashboard’s tiles provide access to key features like computer security, web and email protection, hacker attack prevention, and personal data safeguards. Users can tweak the settings for each feature or turn them off entirely, although leaving everything on is recommended for maximum protection.
Additionally, AVG offers granular control through a settings menu where you can adjust privacy settings, manage subscriptions, and even set a password to prevent others from changing your preferences. This level of customization is particularly useful for more advanced users who prefer fine-tuning their software.
Real-Time Protection and Additional Features
AVG Internet Security offers real-time protection against both local and online threats. This includes real-time scanning of files you open or download, behavior analysis of running applications, and access control to folders that are frequently targeted by ransomware. On the web, it scans incoming data for malware and blocks any attempts to redirect you to fraudulent websites.
The software also monitors and protects your email, checking for malicious attachments or harmful links. If your email address is involved in a data breach, AVG will notify you within the app, allowing you to take action quickly.
AVG Internet Security includes several types of scans, such as the standard smart scan, deep scan, file/folder scan, boot-time scan, and USB/DVD scan. These scans are customizable, allowing you to adjust the depth of the scan and select which areas of your system are checked.
For an additional layer of protection while browsing, AVG offers an online security browser extension. This extension flags risky websites and adds status badges to search results, helping you avoid clicking on malicious links.
Performance and Support
In terms of performance, AVG Internet Security had minimal impact on system speed during routine tasks like web browsing, video calls, and gaming. However, during intensive activities like encoding with Handbrake or working with large Excel files, the software did cause a noticeable dip in performance. This was especially true when running deep scans in the background.
AVG provides solid technical support through its online chat and phone services. It also offers detailed support pages and user forums for troubleshooting common issues. Automatic updates are enabled by default, ensuring that your antivirus definitions and software are always up to date.
Effectiveness in Malware Detection
AVG has consistently scored highly in independent security tests. In AV-Test’s most recent evaluation for zero-day and malware protection, AVG Internet Security detected 100% of threats in both categories. Similarly, in AV-Comparatives’ real-world protection test, AVG blocked 99.6% of the 237 test cases.
While AVG performs well against most types of malware, it has shown some weaknesses when dealing with more sophisticated attacks, such as fileless or script-based threats. Nonetheless, it still identified some threats that other security solutions missed.
Conclusion
AVG Internet Security offers a solid package for users seeking more comprehensive protection without paying for an all-inclusive suite of features. It provides robust security, a user-friendly interface, and a variety of tools to keep you safe from online threats. However, the continued upselling of other AVG products within the app may be a turnoff for some users. Despite this, AVG Internet Security remains a strong contender in the antivirus market and is highly recommended for those looking for an affordable yet effective solution for protecting their devices.
Editor’s Note: As online security software evolves, this review will be updated to reflect new features and improvements to AVG Internet Security.
