Tag Archives: avg

AVG 8 firewall won’t switch off

Computer Aid Posted on by

I recently installed AVG 8 onto 2 PCs on behalf of a customer.

This was the paid-for version… not the free one.

After it was fully installed, I couldn’t see the other networked PC, and I couldn’t print over the network. From either PC.

From experience, I know this is a firewall issue. I spend 5 minutes trying to figure out the AVG firewall, but It’s just too complicated.

So I decide to just disable it from the AVG control panel… but I still can’t see the remote PC.

Ok, I’ll restart both PCs, but still not go… Hold on: are my eyes playing tricks on me ? ! The AVG firewall switched itself on again!

I try a few different options, but the firewall disables the windows firewall and enables itself.

Even uninstalling and re-installing AVG doesn’t fix the problem!

Ok time to get heavy-handed: I go to control panel -> Administrative Tools -> services

I find the entry for AVG firewall, double click, change the startup option to “disabled”, hit OK, restart, and luckily, AVG doesn’t try to restart the service.

Just re-enable the windows firewall, and everything works great!

stay away from AVG

Computer Aid Posted on by

Stay away from AVG if you can.

I’ve just found out that AVG antivirus has a new “feature” that is causing problems all over the net.

You can read more about the specifics at:

The Register

SlashDot

I probably wouldn’t mention it if it was an accident, and AVG are busy trying to fix it… but when AVGs Roger Thompson says: And if that causes problems for webmasters, so be it. “I don’t want to sound flip about this, but if you want to make omelets, you have to break some eggs.”

Well I think that attitude is wrong.

Although Avira Antivir is my most recommended antivirus, AVG was my second choice, simply because it didn’t have the “please register” popup that avira has… and it has a good antispyware program (although it pains me to say that windows defender is pretty darn good as well)

Now what? I don’t know. I’ll evaluate avast and see how it goes.

Unfortunately, most users will be unaware that their AVG is causing problems.

If you are currently using AVG, you can try to disable link scanning (but not everyone would know how to do it)… or you can uninstall it, and install avira antivir. I cant say if avast is good, as I haven’t evaluated it yet.