Jump to content

AVG vs. Avast


Recommended Posts

Following Tarun's recommendation, I removed Grisoft's AVG Antivirus from my computer and replaced it with Avast to see which is better. I've only had it on my computer for about 15 minutes, but I can already tell that it is better than AVG in so many ways!

  • The GUI is excellent; it looks very nice, but isn't flashy or full of useless visuals (AVG, with all due respect, looks like crap)
  • It is easy to use and configure; all settings are where you would expect them to be (with AVG, some options are in one place, others are in another... not very user-friendly)
  • There is a simple and an advanced view, depending on how many features you are comfortable messing around with
  • It offers protection for dozens of P2P and chat programs (including the two I use: Shareaza and Google Talk)
  • It installs very clean (doesn't create junk registry entries like AVG)
  • It supports WinXP 64-bit (I don't have it yet, but when I buy it and dual-boot with XP32 and XP64, it will be nice to be able to use the same antivirus app for both)
  • It's FREE

Sadly, Avast still isn't perfect, but my quibbles are small:

  • Conflicts with the ZoneAlarm firewall (although they say they are working on these, so I'm pretty confident that they will be fixed eventually)
  • You can't access the "Program Settings..." from the On-Access Scanner window (the main program window); you have to right-click the tray icon to find them; not a huge deal, but it would be nice...
  • You have to register it or it will stop working after a few weeks, and then you have to re-register it every 14 months; once again, not a big deal, but it is definitely a nuisance
  • It is skinned; I just don't see the point in offering skins for a program that is basically intended to be installed and then forgotten about; skins should be saved for media players and browsers... oh well, at least you can turn the feature off :D

All in all, Avast is probably the best free antivirus program I have used. I liked AVG, but after using Avast, I had no doubts whatsoever about making the switch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

G'day Lokoike,

mind posting how much of bite it takes out of your RAM?

Reason I'm asking is that I currently use TrendMicro (free from work) but it chews up a large amount of RAM, but then again that may partly be due to that I use it as a Firewall as well.

Cheers :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

G'day Lokoike,

mind posting how much of bite it takes out of your RAM?

Reason I'm asking is that I currently use TrendMicro (free from work) but it chews up a large amount of RAM, but then again that may partly be due to that I use it as a Firewall as well.

Cheers :D

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh, good thing you mentioned that. It does use more page file than AVG, but I didn't think it was too awful. (of course I am working with 3,072 MBs of RAM...)

Anyway, here is the list of processes:

ashDisp.exe - 1,692k

ashMaiSv.exe - 1,948k

ashServ.exe - 8,260k

ashWebSv.exe - 13,476k

aswUpdSv.exe - 228k

Total - 25,604k

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've personally ran Avast for about 19 months now, and ran AVG about 5 months before that so i have experience in both, and I find Avast a lot better then AVG and ANY "pay" anti-virus.

I have it on every comp in my house and while the registration and having that "cd-player" looking skin those are my only gripes with avast. I completly agree with many of the points you mentioned above as well lokoike.

My process on installation that makes Avast pretty much completly silent except for when a virus is found.

1. Install + insert key + merge the VRDB icon in the tray.

2. Right click tray icon and hit program settings.

3. sounds -> check box for "Disable sounds"

4. Updates(Basic) -> press auto for Database and Program.. then hit details -> click silent, and uncheck all the checkboxes.

5. Updates(Connection) -> press the checkbox for always connected.

6. Alerts -> I add my Server to the WinPopup and have messenger service enabled on my server so any infection on my LAN and i know about it.

don't even have to worry about it after that. :D except the serial number every 14 months or so lol.

*EDIT*

*wow shows how much i watch these forums... just saw this is 6 days old hahaha*

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

I switched from e-Trust and it's the best decision ever. Did the same on my VPC which I had loaded as a honeypot (completely infected with viruses, trojans, and other malware). Avast found 13 infected objects that e-Trust missed.

I'm very pleased with Avast and the service they offer. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I switched from e-Trust and it's the best decision ever.  Did the same on my VPC which I had loaded as a honeypot (completely infected with viruses, trojans, and other malware).  Avast found 13 infected objects that e-Trust missed.

I'm very pleased with Avast and the service they offer.  :D

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's great Tarun :D I've used Avast! for over a 2 years and it has provided me with great protection and low Memory usage
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used avast for like 2 days.

It didnt work well with Zonealarm or outpost. They cancelled eachother out and my computer didnt even boot up properly.

Ive never really used AVG but I dont like their products at all. I now use NOD32 which is great =]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

This topic has prompted me to hurry up with what I'm calling my Technical Anti-Virus Comparison. I've currently compared 18 individual anti-virus products and I'm going to post my results on my blog (which is work-in-progress). This has nothing to do with virus definitions (which you can find all info for the very anti-virus products on www.av-comparatives.org). This has to do with memory usage, services, processes, filesize of the installer and filesize of the installed program files/application data/etc, and GUI. I look forward to sharing my results with all of you. :love:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...