Avast Vs. Paid AVG

Viruses and worms
1

Hello all, I’m new here and relatively new to Avast, just had a question about it.

In search of a new, somewhat less top-heavy virus program after another expired, I went to download.com to see what was out there. I initially considered downloading AVG free, but after reading a number of reviews that said that Avast was better, I went for avast.

I got the free version of avast, and of course, can’t knock it, since even if it doesn’t work at all, I’m getting what I paid for… Anyway, my first virus encounter has been with a certain flash disk that was under suspicion. I updated Avast, and plugged in the flash disk, and about a minute after plugging it in, avast detected a file in windows/system32 called ktkbdhk3.dll, calling it a Trojan. A bit of research showed it to be a keylogger.

Yet after a couple thorough scans of the flash disk itself, avast detected nothing, even on different computers with avast installed. However, when I scanned the disk using a friend’s computer with AVG a couple minutes later, it found the hidden program on the disk that loaded the the dll into windows ( activexdebugger32.exe ). Of course, this AVG was a paid for version.

And now for the questions:

Is there a setting I’ve got wrong on Avast that isn’t making it as thorough as it could be, does avast not scan potential threats and only protects your system, or does AVG just get updates faster or scan somehow more thoroughly? Is it because I’m using avast’s free version? Is there a specific service that the free version lacks that makes it less able to detect threats?

Sorry, I’m no security tech… just a little more tech savvy than some of my friends whom I’m helping with their computers, I learn as I go basically. My primary concern is that the computers aren’t compromised because they’re running a free anti-virus, as if something happens, it would turn out to be somewhat of an expensive bargain.

Many thanks to anyone who can help… ;D

2

This topic has been gone throught, you can do a forum search to get more detils. In this forum you will find(I think) that people tend to prefer Avast ;D
As It’s detection is rapidly growing as AVG’s isn’t growing as much, and Avast is mucher lighter on resources.

Hope that Helps

Al968

3

the only notable diff bwt avast home and pro edition is script blocker … and command line scan,and some more stuff
refer page
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_professional.html
for more details…
and these extra stuff will no way effect this specfic problem ur talking about…
as a avast user and a ex-avg user here are some pros and cons
avast…+ve things

very light on resources
u can chose as to wat all features should remain active
ie…standard sheild,network sheild ,instant messenger,mail to name a few
by selectivly disabling them u can save resources
frequent updates
pen-ultimate user support forum which can solve almost any problem ur having
quick and simple response to ur cribs
FREE
its the fad now
and the standard sheild detects malware and a amazing speed when set to high sensitivity when compared to AVG
does NOT cause a system lag or a hang over when a malware is detected …unlike avg
unique features like VRDB which saves us the trouble on creating backups,and boot-time scan
updates are easily downloadable as a single file which is a very helpful on comps which are not hooked up
CONS
does not have some fancy features like avgs tools,shredder and stuff which u can compensate with other 3rd party software

so that is my personal experience with both of them…
this is strictly my personal opinion and it does not represent the views of this forum or awil software in anyway

4

Hi audioguru,

The detection of malware by avast! free and paid is identical. AVG Professional detects more than AVG Free, and AVG Anti-Malware detects more than AVG Professional.

Don’t think that a free product means inferior detection: Kaspersky and AntiVir both have free versions (via AOL in the case of Kaspersky), and their detection rates are among the best. (See av-comparatives.org.)

Obviously if your AV of choice fails to detect a real-life virus you come across, and another AV detects it, that will leave you inclined to doubt your choice- you have to make your decision based on the results of tests at av-comparatives.org and other sites, and which program gives you the most confidence by detecting the malware that you actually come across.

5

What do you mean? The free version works perfectly, does its job perfectly…

If avast detects at the first time and you did not change the sensitivity level, it should detect the others.
As Frank said, the detection rate of home and pro version is the same.

The free version update is a joke in Grisoft. They allow only one server and I can’t trust on their speed and frequency update. Last week, after a friend of mine got deeply infected I convince him to change from AVG to avast easily…

No. The differences are scheduling, automation, enhanced interface, configurability, etc. Not detection rate.

Forget this wrong assumption. The ones who take it seriously have never tested serious freewares. You can trust Alwil company.

6

Alright. I did some analyzing (however you spell it) and it turns out that freeAVG software is pretty damn bad. I downloaded the Free version. That didnt go so well. It told me I had 675 viruses, adware, worms, rogues, you name it! Puzzled as I was sitting at my computer, something just didnt seem right. So, I went to the Windows Official website and downloaded their full virus removal package, you know, the works! I ran their scanner for over 3 hours and nothing came up. It said my computer was clean and virus free. (NOTE: this windows thing is the SCANNER not the REMOVAL) So I typed all this stuff out and read it over.

In 5 Minutes, AVG Free Virus Software told me that i had 675 viruses in my computer. I didnt recognize any of the infected files.
In 3 Hours, Windows’ Official Virus Removing Software (Also Free), didn’t find even a trace of a single virus in my computer.

A little suspicious dont ya think? I can only assume they tell you that you have zillions of viruses just so that you’ll buy they’re “Full Expensive as hell version”.

Basically what im trying to say is: Don’t download AVG Virus Removal Software. It’s just a hassle. I recommend either McAfee or Norton Software.
If you have any questions, hit me up. ;D

-WtfWorm?

7

I find it very hard to believe that AVG found 675 false positives (in fact I don’t); its detection is usually pretty accurate, although the heuristic engine may generate a few.

Upload a few of the files concerned to VirusTotal and post the results here to confirm.

A little suspicious dont ya think? I can only assume they tell you that you have zillions of viruses just so that you'll buy they're "Full Expensive as hell version".

AVG don’t do that.

Basically what im trying to say is: Don't download AVG Virus Removal Software. It's just a hassle. I recommend either McAfee or Norton Software.

On the avast! forum? ???

8

Almost no one here (except ones like you) will advise the use of McAfee nor Norton. Most of us here are also ex-users of one or both of those and would never go back to using them.
As for me … no way, no how!

Edited for typo error.

9

I have nothing to add to Frank’s answers. I feel and think the same.