free and enjoys a very reliable current virus scanner from AVG is very popular. The program (for download) that is present now in his 2012er version offers comprehensive protection for home users and comes with some interesting and useful features. These include the monitoring tool AVG Advice, a “link scanner” and the resource-smart-scan. Other functions, such as the download-accelerator Accelerator remain, however, users of AVG paid version Internet Security 2012 without notice.
The standard statement of the provider of security packages is usually “faster scans, easier to use, better performance”. Also, AVG is no exception. The new version of Anti-Virus 2012, manufacturer’s specifications to meet all three claims. Two changes to the key security features also increase the security of the users.
Installation
The program requires the completed download to the operational readiness of about five minutes. The installation process is, as was the case last year, shortly, although not as fast as the one-minute installation of some competitors.
AVG has already reduced the number in the last version of the installation screens from 13 to 5. However, experienced users should keep their eyes on some things. Thus, the program warns them not, for example, warned that it stopped during the installation open browser without prompting.
Note also that its AVG Security Toolbar installed automatically when installed with default settings, and as the preferred search engine configures its secure search engine. Users who decline the installation at a toolbar option, but later want to use but have to run the installer again.
Positive is that users do not automatically the full version AVG Internet Security have to try 2012, but decided at the beginning of the installation, if they want to install AVG Anti-Virus 2012 or a 30-day trial version of Internet Security Suite. Overall, the installation has been improved, but some shortcomings remain.
interface
The user interface of the 2011 version has been modified only slightly. Apart from the revised, icons are easier to be viewed in the main window, at first glance not much difference. The usability will be improved significantly, however.
A button for automatic repair of security vulnerabilities on a button appears at the top with a yellow “X” if the system security is compromised. It disappears as soon as security is restored.
The user interface of AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2012 has hardly changed compared to last year (Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt / CNET).
Next to the Refresh button on a button on the side navigation bar, there is now an additional button for instant touch scanning. The navigation bar looks with their major writings and times for the last scan and the last update also wiring.
In a central area in the main window, symbols for the security component of AVG. By double clicking on an icon to learn more about each tool, and get access to the basic configuration settings. Advanced settings are under Tools in the menu bar above the window.
functions and support
AVG 2012 contains some changes that increase the safety. These include a patent-pending method to detect one of the greatest dangers to which users are exposed: fake anti-virus programs and online virus scanner. These pretend to help the user, can be removed after installation but again only when it receives a license “buys”. This type of infection is very similar to that of Ransomware, with the difference that Ransomware not only operates the effort to pose as anti-virus program. 2012 AVG blocked both variants.
LinkScanner has been improved. He now pays more on dynamic code, which is extremely important in the security business, as pests mutate very quickly.
The full version of Internet Security 2012 was also equipped with a new feature called AVG Accelerator, which has the task to optimize Internet connections to download content faster. Technically, this can be, and videos that are larger than 10 MB, split into several smaller segments and sent in parallel over multiple network connections. In the Protocol Accelerator is an internal development of AVG. This currently works only with two websites: YouTube, where blockages and delays are minimized by watching videos, and Download.com, where it download faster binaries.
AVG now includes a monitoring tool which automatically alerts users when Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer consume too much memory. The AVG Advice called tool in achieving this opens a small window of critical values and asks if the browser is restarted. However, it is not possible to activate the tool itself targeted to start in this way a new browser.
The software features a smart-scan function that accesses the network behavior detection by AVG to files that are known to be safe, only to re-scan when changes are fsrgestellt them. As with the competition includes the network data from the computers of the AVG User submitted anonymously to the cloud. The provision of data can be disabled during installation or later in the Options menu. According to AVG because computer security is not compromised.
The smart-scan technology also provides a built-in system resource manager that prioritizes the scan. Starts a scheduled scan at a time when the computer is used is limited to the scan automatically, so that it runs slower and not other tasks on the computer disabled. However, the manager recognizes that the computer is idle, he divides the scan to more power. The sensitivity of the function can be adjusted via a slider.
For Vista and Windows 7 users there is a gadget that can be triggered with the scan by pressing a button, without having to open the entire user interface. In the gadget are also links to the Twitter and Facebook pages of AVG, which contain information about the threats.
The PC Analyzer scans your computer for errors in the registry, unnecessary files, broken links and can analyze the hard disk fragmentation. To make repairs, but you have to download a separate tool called AVG PC TuneUp. This can only be executed once for free, further use of the tool requires the purchase of a license.
Other functions will remain users of the premium product AVG Internet Security reserved 2012th They will get among other things, a firewall, identity protection, a spam blocker, accelerator already described, the full version of PC TuneUp, technical support around the clock and an on-line Shield function. The latter checks when sending files via instant messaging all ports, not just the standard port 80
Performance
According to manufacturer’s instructions AVG was improved in 2012 compared to the previous version much. The program will now demonstrate, on average 45 percent less disk space and require 20 percent less memory and processes. The influence on the start time of the computer should have been reduced in the new version.
The CNET Lab’s benchmarks show that the program compared to the previous version has become more rapid. However, the calculated results can not directly be compared with the previous year, as the computer on which the test is performed by Windows 7 (64-bit) on Windows 7 SP1 (64-bit) were converted.
The boot time is worse than the overall average of all previously tested Suites. AVG Free is 2 seconds slower than the 2012 average, AVG Internet Security 2012 5.6 seconds and AVG Anti-Virus 2012 even a full 18 seconds. The results are not unusual for AVG, which struck in the past by a highly elongated boot. The influence on the time required for the shutdown of a computer time, however, is still minimal, and even a little shorter on average than all other suites.
The scan times are the third-fastest that ZDNet has been measured in this year, but not quite as good as last year, where the suite was one of the fastest. The impact on system performance is almost equal to that of the previous year: usually better than average but not brilliant.
CNET Labs benchmark results of BitDefender 2012 products * Security solution
boot time shut-down
life-time scan MS-Office Perfor-
iTunes mance
decorative media consolidation
multi-tasking system Unprotected Cinebench 40.0 6.0 to 395,120,342 17 711 Average of all tested anti-virus programs 64.3 16, 6 1185 418 125 348 17 111 AVG Anti-Virus Free 2012 66.3 12.0 753 411 125 347 17,131 AVG Anti-Virus 2012 82.3 13.3 842 410 124 346 17,026 2012 69.9 11.3 AVG Internet Security 792 416 124 344 17.259 * All measurements except in seconds Cinebench test. Cinebench test, the higher the Puntkzahl, the better .
In the other tests, the program is slightly faster than average. Although there compared to last year are no major shifts, but these are sufficient to determine that the program is on the right track. In summary we can say that the system runs much slower start, scans are fast, the shutdown takes only a little longer and that the impairment of the overall system performance by AVG Free is mediocre.
There is as yet no independent performance tests for AVG Anti-Virus Free 2012th The results of the 2011 version are fee-based solid but not spectacular. In tests carried out in the first quarter of 2011 by AV-Test.org, got AVG Internet Security 2010 (version 2011) on Windows 7 computers 5 of 6 points for its protection, 4 of 6 points for his repair work, as well as 4, 5 of 6 points for ease of use. In the overall standings of the product reaches a maximum of 18 points 13.5 and thus occupies a good position in midfield.
AV-Test.org defines his categories as follows: protection is protection against malware infections, such as viruses, worms or Trojan horses. Repair work describes the effectiveness of cleaning and repairing a computer infected with malware. Quantified the impact the usability of security software on the usability of the entire computer. This category, for example, the slowdown of the computer includes the software, false alarms, false alarms and erroneous blocking of user activity.
In another test from AV-Test.org, which was conducted in the second quarter of 2011 on a Windows XP machine, the overall result however deteriorated slightly by 0.5 points to 13 of 18 points. While both the repair service as well as the protective effect of 6 to 5.5 points improved the usability fell from 4.5 to 3.5 points, which is most likely due to an increased false alarm rate.
At the recent “Whole Product Dynamic Test” by AV-Comparatives.org, in which a total of 17 security products have been tested, AVG Internet Security 2011 lands on the lower ranks. In this practical test is a very realistic-malware protection is to simulate how it would be an average PC user to see in real life. In defense of the malicious program, here are all integrated security technologies are used.
In a longitudinal study in the laboratory, all the results accumulated from January to June 2011 AVG covered with a success rate of 95.1 percent of the thirteenth place. Responsible for this are mainly the poor results in March and April. In May, the suite was again in the range of 96 percent.
From the laboratory tests of the independent testing organizations can be concluded that the effectiveness of AVG is average, although there are signs that the program has improved in recent months. Because AVG Internet Security 2012 and AVG Anti-Virus 2012 are based on the same engine, users get the free version, a strong safety performance effectively made available for free.
Conclusion
The renewed focus on the performance of AVG Anti-Virus Free 2012 ensure that the scans will continue to stay afloat. However, the program is struggling with slow startup times and too many false alarms.
Users are concerned about the same speed and there are more alternative operating systems than ever before. If the protective performance of more or less the same, check the user influence on system performance more accurately. When the start time of a computer is slowing down because of the software used for another thirty seconds or even longer, this might lead not only to the user changes the suite, but for the whole OS is shared.
Overall offers AVG Anti-Virus continues to be a fairy excellent level of security. It is worthwhile in any case, try out the suite.
downloads AVG Anti-Virus 2012AVG Internet Security 2012
