Hi fidmas
Don’t feel bad about the misinformation. You weren’t the only one. The “support ending 31 May” message seems to have been an “own goal” judging by the number of friends, colleagues, etc who’ve asked me about alternatives.
AVG Antispyware 7.5 did have a trial period for real-time scanning.
“As AVG Anti-Spyware and AVG Anti-Rootkit are now only included in commercial versions of AVG 8.0. Updates will soon be discontinued”
So, what will we have? Just an antivirus with the antispyware just for 30 day trial?
Not that we recommend AVG that much, but we will have another argument to go away from it? (besides the poor support, the ‘boxes’ interface, etc.).
God only knows! When I asked that question at the AVG forum http://freeforum.avg.com/read.php?12,125276,125288#msg-125288 I lied “a little” to not sound like an Ex-AVG-User. I asked “Just one Q before installing. Is the Anti-Spyware part of AVG AV Free 8 time-limited, as the 7.5 Anti-Spyware program is?” As you can see, my answer was kinda short. 
No answer on the follow-up yet. 
I’m starting not to care any more. AVG was getting to be a pain anyway.
/fidmas
Tech
None of AVG 8.0 Free features are timelimited in any way despite numerous rumours to contrary.
AVG 8.0 Free seems to be getting a hard time on the support forum, most complaining about:
High impact on PC speed, higher RAM footprint (which we know is partly an illusion because AVG 7.5 real-time scanner was “hidden” inside the Windows kernel),
Lack of choice of components to install and subsequent configurability,
Overall change of approach from light, fast, straightforward AVG 7.5, to cumbersome, slow, complicated & “dumbed-down” AVG 8.0,
Inclusion of “Security (Yahoo) Toolbar”,
High bandwidth consumption and lag of Link Scanner.
Now it’s hard to know how generally representative these responses are. It could be that the “silent majority” of AVG 7.5 users are satisfied with the impact that new AVG 8.0 is having on their PC use. Part of the panic seems to be caused by AVG “publicity”. Many users have reported warning message that AVG Free 7.5 support will cease on 31/05/2008 when in fact the correct date is 31/12/2008.
Funny thing is, the few people I know who have the retail version, AVG 8.0 Pro (or Internet Security) are happy with it. Mind you, all but one are commercial users whose employees have no say in the choice of AV, and all have relatively current PC hardware. They like the idea that it checks so many areas that “nothing” will get through because if something did it means downtime and expense because they can’t deal with it themselves. This is what started me thinking a little philosophically about why people might be complaining so strongly about a free product! :o
It seems to me that the components and configurability of AVG 8.0 Free have been decided based on the assumption that users of a free AV are not as discerning or are less-demanding in regard to security software than paid users, when I would argue than in many cases the opposite is true.
The key feature of AVG 7.5 that attracted discening users was its low system impact. That’s gone in 8.0 and with it, the attraction for the PC enthusiast.
It did seem to slow my computer down when I tried it out briefly.
I haven’t touched AVG applications at all since, for speed and lightness, I took AntiVir, instead. I chose Avast for its high customizability. I’d like Avast to keep this tradition of high customizability since it would enable Alwil team to keep good communication with more knowledgeable users while the result of the communication can benefit less knowledgeable users with more automated and user-friendly functions and, of course, legitimate cost. The recent AVG update seems to have broken the community chain by paying their attention only to paid users. I hope Alwil team wouldn’t make such a blander with upcoming Avast 5. Reading their responses, I think they understand the importance of the communication, though.
As for AVG 8 or other security apps getting bloatware, many functions almost inevitably leads to bloatware but, even this could be managed at least to some extent by giving the users to choose functions of their liking.
I wonder if AVG 8 can become commercially successful but I wouldn’t like to see other security companies go after the same marketing strategy.
Exactly. Most of the complaints I’m getting are from Norton users. Most are complaining that the new Norton has added 2 or more minutes to Boot-up time that was already excessively slow with the old Norton. They all thought the only thing they could do though, was to pay the money and live with it. A 2-3GHz machine just isn’t enough anymore. I was reccomending AVG. At least one took my advice and now seems agitated.
From now on, I’m recomending avast! without the “Web Shield”. Spybot S&D Immunise seems to be more flexable and affective. Any thoughts are welcome, since I have my wife and a friend configured that way, but don’t use either myself.
Is there a link for the differences between Pro and free versions?
We warned about this after Vlk had pointed it out… so, no news… for AVG users, a deception.
It was always worse than avast.
Bad movement imho.
Eh, eh… becoming a bloatware ;D
We think the same.
A see a movement toward avast ;D
Why?
Sure: http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition 2nd and 3rd columns what you mean?
I have the same question. I let my family use Avast! and set Web Shield to silent mode, with which it automatically aborts connection when it finds suspicious files. On the computer SpywareBlaster is installed, which works similarly to Spybot immunize function, without any conflict with Web Shield. I don’t see any reason for turning off Web Shield.
Just that SpyBot Immunize seems quite nice on my wife’s box, and SpyBot scans catch almost as much as AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5 does. I honestly haven’t tried the avast! Web Shield yet. Any arguments for or against either are welcome.
/fidmas
I guess I am for Web Shield since I can only think of resource problem or possible conflicts to turn off Web Shield. What the reason for being against it, exactly?
I can’t see why you recommend avast but advocate not using the web shield yet you haven’t tried it ???
The web shield scan http traffic using a localhost proxy so can intercept malware at source before it gets on to your system, prevention is much better than cure.
AVG Free limitations
But also, scanning of downloads and IM providers.
Another reasons to keep avast 
I think immunization is a very limited security feature nowadays. I use it, but do not put all my confidence on it.
WebShield scans HTTP traffic. It’s not immunization. It’s direct and very effective protection.
Maybe none. I haven’t tried it yet since “I myself” use neither. I know if my my wife doesn’t want to be yelled at for visiting Amazon with Tracking Cookies, she can Undo Immunize, and I can “Scan” for problems later. Avast! Have a scan for spyware feature?
/fIdmas
Ok. Ok. Most already have SpyBot Immunize and I figured making them un-learn Norton in favor of avast! was enough. I promice, I’ll play with Web Shield. I’m not bad mouthing it to anyone. Just applying the K.I.S.S. principle.
/fidmas
For me K.I.S.S. would be to leave avast at the default installation settings. The providers/shields are set to Normal and provide a good balance between protection and performance.
Only Terminate providers that the user doesn’t use any software that that provider/shield is designed to protect, e.g. the P2P and Instant Messaging providers if they don’t use any of that software then it could be Terminated, answer Yes to the question Persist the changes or it will restart on the next boot.
I’m terribly sorry to hear that. 
;D
Yes, it has from 4.8, even on Home edition different form some other cough free anti-virus application, and Web Shield prevent malicious files coming through browsers. We already have resident scanner but these files better off from our computers in the first place. However, don’t rely on too much on the anti-spyware feature since multi-layered protections would be nicer.
PS Er…I see you have been already convinced and that DavidR has covered tips for resource management, too.
I"ll try it soon. I’ve got a hospital procedure in an hour, so I’ll probably not be in the mood for a while. Thanks for the info and advice.
P.S. “I’d” probably never use Web Shield “for myself”, since I still have a copy of Netscape 4.7, with EVERYTHING turned off, for potentially sleazy sites. I doubt that Web Shield would like that. Am I wrong?
/fidmas