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AVG Free 2011 Removal Video Is Up Now

Hi Guys!  I just uploaded the AVG Free 2011 Removal test video.  This particular video was made over 3 separate days and centers around a PC that’s so infected it was barely usable (constant 100% CPU usage from trojans).  My current goal with these removal videos is to see if the product being reviewed can return the PC to a functional state, meaning that

  • The PC can boot
  • CPU usage is low (between 5-10%)
  • CPU usage consists of non-malicious processes
  • Able to load Internet Explorer and browse without getting redirected

Did AVG Free 2011 accomplish these goals?  Yes.

Was it perfect?  No, it left behind some malware (I’ll add the log later today).

My conclusion is that while AVG Free 2011 will not detect every bit of malware on an infected PC it can get you back to a functional state so that you can pursue other forms of scanning and removal (like Malwarebytes for example).


Please keep in mind that the only way to make sure you’re PC is ever completely malware free after an infection is to format the hard drive and write a new MBR.

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AVG Free 2011 Video Review Release Date

Sup guys!  On Saturday Jan 29th I”ll be releasing the AVG Free 2011 Video Review.  The review will be broken into 2 parts:

  1. Prevention test against live malware (10 samples).  After the samples have been loaded I”ll do some basic tests to see if the PC has been compromised.
  2. Removal test.  I”ll try to clean an infected computer with just AVG free.  The infected PC will be loaded with 5 trojans and allowed to sit and download more infections.

Here are the core features that AVG advertises on their site for AVG Free 2011:

  • Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Smart Anti-Rootkit (ENHANCED)
  • AVG Social Networking Protection (NEW and UNIQUE to AVG)
  • AVG Linkscanner® (ENHANCED)

Here is a detailed feature list:

  • Anti-Rootkit: Improvements in anti-rootkit detection.
  • API: Updated system tray scan icon context menu.
  • AvgSys: Temporary log files are deleted after restart.
  • Core: Detection of Swizzor, modification 2009-11-18.
  • Core: Swizzor detection is now much more generic.
  • Core: Detection of the next modification of Virut has been added.
  • Core: Speed improvement in static heuristics.
  • Core: Polymorphic malware detection methods have been improved and speeded up.
  • Core: More reliable ETAP detection.
  • Core: More flexible in algoritmic detection.
  • Core: Thorough (more CPU consuming) scanning mode for elder viruses and obsolete exploits
  • Core: Virut definitions simplified.
  • Core: Added possibility to pause caching.
  • Core: More stable on incomplete and non-standard files.
  • Core: Support for IMAP protocol added in Online Shield.
  • E-mail Scanner: Added AntiSpam statistics.
  • E-mail Scanner: Adding spam information into e-mail headers in MS Outlook plug-in.
  • E-mail Scanner: Logging support was added to The Bat plugins.
  • E-mail Scanner: Added support for IMAP protocol.
  • General: Introducing a new PC Analyzer component providing information on the computer status.
  • General: Introducing new Product Improvement Programme targeted on overall Internet security level increase.
  • General: Added scanning for attempts to enter infection into system registry keys.
  • General: Greatly improved overall performance.
  • General: Scanning engine updates do not depend on program updates.
  • Language: Added localization into European Spanish language.
  • Outlook: New MS Outlook plug-in implemented.
  • Outlook: MS Outlook plug-in is now able to report misclassified spam.
  • Outlook: RTF certification works in all Outlook versions.
  • Resident Shield: Fixed problem with occasional blocked deletion of files.
  • Resident Shield: Fixed issue with specification of files to be excluded from RS scanning.
  • User Interface: Introducing a new graphic style of AVG brand logo.
  • User Interface: AVG 2011 comes with a new modern and easy to navigate visual style, and rearrangements in UI structure of several dialogs.
  • User Interface: Added option to start computer scan from main UI.
  • User Interface: Implemented new AVG Windows sidebar gadget.
  • User Interface: Added possibility of immediate repair of any component error status using Fix all button accessible from the main UI.
  • User Interface: Added possibility to scan whole computer after installation.
  • User Interface: Add sound notification for update start/stop.
  • Kernel: Scanning archive files for the Whole computer scan, Scheduled scan and Removable device scan was by default disabled.
  • Kernel: Scheduled scans run in new sensitive mode by default.
  • Kernel: Anti-Rootkit component is now available for free products.
  • Kernel: IDP is now available for all AVG clients.
  • Kernel: Created new library to replace AVG API in e-mail clients.
  • Kernel: Added IMAP protocol support.
  • Kernel: Added new /log parameter.
  • Update: MSI technology implemented to apply program updates.
  • Update: Update files are internally signed by AVG certificate.
  • Update: Added support of IPv6.
  • Safe-Search: Improved accuracy of Safe Search verdicts.
  • Safe-Search: Added support for bing.net and bing.search.daum.net.
  • Safe-Surf: Scanning performance improvements.
  • Safe-Surf: Add link checking support when sending messages in Facebook and MySpace.
  • Scheduler: By default, the Whole computer scan is now disabled.
  • Setup: New structure and visual style was implemented for the installation process.
  • Setup: MSI setup has been implemented.
  • Setup: OS restart is forced even when the workstation is locked (silent mode).
  • Setup: AVG 8/AVG 9 will be uninstalled before AVG 10 installation.
  • Toolbar: New version of Toolbar implemented.
  • Setup: Increased compatibility with Citrix systems.
  • Setup: Log file path can now be set via LoggerPath command line parameter.


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