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AVG Security Toolbar…No Thanks…

FYI – AVG is OK is you’re a casual internet user. If you use the internet a lot or have kids that do then you NEED Spyware Doctor with Antivirus.

I recently installed the free version AVG 8.0 and its security toolbar. While I like the protection AVG 8 offers (it’s malware detection and removal is pretty good) I’m not endorsing or installing their security toolbar for 2 reasons:

  1. It adds a yahoo search box to your browser (annoying)
  2. It labels sites distributing malware / rogue software as safe (see screenshot below)

Instead of using the AVG security toolbar I would install McAfee SiteAdvisor since its results are almost instant and more importantly…reliable.


In this screen shot we see that AVG security toolbar states that the site is safe, however McAfee SiteAdvisor says there are up to 28 “red” (bad) downloads (which there are).

Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus



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  • DarkPain

    McAfee SiteAdvisor is not to be trusted as it is based on a database and not on real time scanning. Meaning you can make a search on google and Advisor say you shouldnt access that site, although at the moment containing no real threat. The same for “green” sites. According to the database a site could be OK to enter, but at the moment of the search be a real threat.

    Linkscanner, which is part of AVG 8.0, performs a real time scanning. What today can be a threat, tomorrow might not be that way. The same happens on the other way around.

    As you can see Linkscanner is more accurate than SiteAdvisor.

  • http://deleted Emperor

    well avg Sucks if your computer is to slow and infected with hundreds of virus

  • rony

    cancel avg toolbar

  • John2

    Today I got a popup from AVG: “The AVG toolbar was hidden within your browser, so we restored it, incase you hid it by mistake.”

    Umm, I purposely unchecked the toolbar because it was an annoying waste of space. The worst part is, when I went in the options, it was set to keep bugging me aobut this every week unless I unchecked it.

    As for the effectiveness of AVG internet security… It’s fairly useless. Every site on a Google search is labeled as “safe.” Even notoriously unsafe sites…

    It’s a fairly useless product.

  • http://AVGvsmcafee(freeones/orpaid) Eve

    I recently downloaded avg 8 free version. Seems okay but I know what you mean about the toolbar. Once in the past I downloaded mcafee, free version. Some people said it made your computer very slow. It did so I removed it. Didn’t keep it long enough to see how effective it is. Concerned about what DarkPain said about avg site advisor not scanning in real time.
    Linkscanner seems good but if you don’t set it to save your info can it still work. Wonder if all the comments are regarding the free versions of each co. or if I would have the same problems and differences with those I have to pay for. AVG is by NORTON, right? If I just paid for norton antivirus would I be dealing with the same problems?????

  • Ev

    Eve, you are confused. DarkPain said just the opposite to what you are saying. McAfee SiteAdvisor is not to be trusted as it is based on a database and not on real time scanning. Linkscanner, which is part of AVG 8.0, performs a real time scanning.


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