There's a one-click Fix button for automatically repairing security
breaches that appears at the top along with a yellow X when your system
safety has been compromised. It disappears when your system gets a clean
bill of health.
Joining the one-click Update button on the side nav is a one-click Scan
Now button. There's a clean look to the nav, as well, with bigger fonts
and timestamps for the most recent scan and most recent update.
AVG has placed icons for its security components in a central pane.
Double-click on one to access more information and basic configuration
settings for each specific tool. Advanced settings are available under
Tools on the menu bar at the top of the window.
The new interface changes are small, no doubt, but they do make AVG easier to use.
Features and support
AVG 2012 includes a couple of solid changes to make you safer. The first is a patent-pending technique for identifying one of the most obnoxious threats to ever reach your computer: the fake antivirus. If you're unfamiliar, these programs purport to be an antivirus, or a Web-based antivirus scan. Once they install on your computer, the only way to get rid of the infection is to "buy" their license. They're also related to the ransomware infections, which don't even bother with the effort to pretend to be an antivirus. AVG 2012 will block both of them.
AVG 2012 includes a couple of solid changes to make you safer. The first is a patent-pending technique for identifying one of the most obnoxious threats to ever reach your computer: the fake antivirus. If you're unfamiliar, these programs purport to be an antivirus, or a Web-based antivirus scan. Once they install on your computer, the only way to get rid of the infection is to "buy" their license. They're also related to the ransomware infections, which don't even bother with the effort to pretend to be an antivirus. AVG 2012 will block both of them.
The LinkScanner tool has been improved to watch out for more dynamic
code, which is essential in the security game because threats are
mutating at such a rapid rate. Meanwhile, premium users get the new AVG
Accelerator option, which optimizes your Internet connection to speed up
downloads and rendering. It currently works on two sites: YouTube, and
you can see its impact when pausing and unpausing videos; and
Download.com binary downloads. The accelerator protocol was developed
internally at AVG.
AVG now includes a monitoring tool that automatically warns you when
Firefox, Chrome, or Internet Explorer consumes too much memory. Called
AVG Advisor and in all of the AVG suites, it opens a small pop-up and
asks you if you'd like to restart your browser. There's no way to
"force" it to activate, although if you open up a couple dozen tabs,
wait a few minutes, and then open another dozen or so, it ought to kick
in.
Changes made last year are still relevant. The software offers what it
calls "smart scanning," which leverages AVG's behavioral detection
network to scan known safe files once, and only rescan them if it
detects changes. As with its competitors, AVG's network is made up of
its user base anonymously contributing data up to the cloud. You can
choose to opt out of contributing your data when you install, or from
the options menu. AVG says opting out won't negatively affect your
security.
The smart scanning tech also gives you a built-in system resource
manager that prioritizes scans. If a scan is scheduled to begin while
the computer is in use, it will automatically restrict the scan so that
it runs slower but doesn't interfere with the computer's other tasks.
When it detects the computer idling, it will then allocate more power to
the scan. The feature comes with a slider so you can customize how
sensitive it is.
The desktop gadget for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users that lets them
initiate scans and updates with one click, without having to open the
full interface. It also contains links to AVG's Twitter and Facebook pages, which the company uses to bolster its support for the free version.
The PC Analyzer scans your system for Registry and disk errors. It
includes a disk defragmenter and a broken-shortcut cleaner, as well.
Although the feature is restricted in full to paid users, if you have
the free version, the PC Analyzer comes with a one-time offer to clean
all errors it finds. It provides a link to download the separate PC
Analyzer tool, once the scan is completed. This is an interesting twist
on the idea of letting users detect but not repair errors, and it
provides more functionality while not affecting the basic security of
your computer. However, it's likely that some users will shy away from
the extra download.
Other features are restricted to users of AVG's paid upgrades. The paid upgrade version of AVG Anti-Virus 2012
distinguishes itself by offering chat link shield, a download scan for
files sent via instant message that looks at all ports, not just port
80, and telephone support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The PC
Analyzer option mentioned earlier is also included, and comes without
restrictions. New in 2012 to premium users is the new AVG Accelerator
option, which optimizes your Internet connection to speed up downloads
and rendering. It currently works on two sites: YouTube, and you can see
its impact when pausing and unpausing videos; and Download.com binary
downloads. The accelerator protocol was developed internally at AVG.
AVG Internet Security 2012 includes all that AVG Anti-Virus 2012 offers, and adds in a firewall and antispam protections.
Performance
AVG claims some major performance enhancements in the 2012 versions. Specifically, the company says that it has reduced by 40 percent the size on your hard drive of the virus signature database. That database is a major component of how the program recognizes threats. AVG also stated that the number of running processes that run suite has been reduced from 16 to 11, that it uses 20 percent less memory overall than previous versions, and that it ought to impact your computer's boot time less.
AVG claims some major performance enhancements in the 2012 versions. Specifically, the company says that it has reduced by 40 percent the size on your hard drive of the virus signature database. That database is a major component of how the program recognizes threats. AVG also stated that the number of running processes that run suite has been reduced from 16 to 11, that it uses 20 percent less memory overall than previous versions, and that it ought to impact your computer's boot time less.
