AVG AntiVirus is Actually Malware?

About uninstalling: The Windows control panel program remover uses an uninstall directive file which is provided by the vendor of the software you are trying to remove. So, it's up to the software manufacturer to decide what to actually remove or leave behind. All software programs leave something behind, especially in the Registry. Using the Windows program remover is only the first step. You can cleanup after a Windows uninstall, but it takes lots of searches to find the bits and pieces, some of which may not have a recognizable name associated with the software you "removed". Programs tend to hide files and markers in just about anywhere on your drive, so you’ll need a real search tool to find them (by “real” I mean NOT the bogus Windows search engine. Try something like https://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/ ).

About not having Admin rights: That's true, the administrator account that you set up your computer with is not a real, all-powerful administrator. There is a System-level administrator (similar to root in Linux) to which you don't have access and cannot get access to unless you have a Pro or higher version of Windows. Even then, you must spend a lot of time fiddling with dozens of esoteric permission settings. The problem with opening up all permissions for a typical user is that you become more vulnerable on the internet. Sometimes you can by-pass the “access denied” message by booting in Safe Mode and then deleting files. Sometimes, and curiously, you can rename a file that you can’t delete, reboot and then delete the renamed file (but, in most cases exhibiting this behavior, there is some other hidden running process which will recreate the file you renamed).

About AVG surviving a Restore: As I said above, programs tend to hide markers anywhere on your drive. Just as a Restore point cannot remove a virus, it cannot remove all markers left by a program. A Windows Restore does not replace the entire Registry or all the contents of Windows OS folders. It only selectively restores certain files and settings, so it cannot possibly eliminate all hidden files installed by a program. Bob said that after uninstalling AVG, there were ads in his browser. This could happen even if you delete all your cookies because any site with affiliation with AVG/AVAST can run a script searching for the AVG markers and then generate an ad. Or the script can install and run a process on your machine to generate an ad.

Bob said that “an AVG_Remover utility should not be necessary”. If the world was a nice and fair place that would be true, but AVG is not the only software to behave this way. McAfee, Norton, Adobe, Kaspersky all cling to your machine like leaches and there are special “remover” tools for those also. In fact, there is one for Microsoft’s Security Essentials (predecessor or Defender).

As one commenter has posted, uninstalling anything with Revo Uninstaller is an eye-opener as far as learning how programs that had been supposedly uninstalled leave behind a huge chunk of registry entries. Nowadays, using just a simple uninstall will not cut it. There are even videos on YouTube showing how to completely uninstall both AVG and AVAST--the latter's newest version had literally taken over my computer.

Today I use Windows Defender. I find it easy to use (making sure it is updated) and have no problems at all. Together with Malwarebytes and CCleaner, I feel like I am "good to go". I've had it with the Big Guys.

I went thru the same scenario as you Bob, using AVG and had to remove it by going to their website and using the removal tool but not before getting a lot headaches with the program.

Avast is also deceptive in upselling , laying claim that pc issues need attention . HENCE , make a purchase to fix and clean . WELL ,I have a new Dell XPS - paid Avast subscription & AdvancedSystem Care . ASC finds nothing that Avast claims . That's my only beef w/ Avast . Otherwise Avast has served well . I dropped AVG yrs ago .

Bob, after reading this article I looked at your recommended anti-virus programs. I chose to go with Bitfender, in fact purchased their basic offering.

After installing the program my computer was continually shutting down, you could not access any thing. Maybe AVG is not the only downloader of malware.

I removed the program and returned to AVG. Next will be trying to get my money back.

I am soooo glad I changed to Linux at the demise of windows XP. So far so good.

As a PC technician for many years, I've tried all the anti-viruses software.
When AVG was available the first time i didn't like its behavior.
I have clean many infected pc's and removed AVG in the process. You mentioned "AVG’s browser toolbar" this was the first to go.
P.S. I have used Avast since it came to the market and have never changed it.

I use Win 8.0 version (free upgraded to 8.1) on my desktop. Recently I installed Reason Core Security AV prog which came with Foxit Reader. Surprisingly, it detected some threats which my Win Defender could not so far. Is it safe and advisable to use Reason alongwith Defender?

My mother-in-law has been paying for a subscription to Avast - I just found this out when she asked me for help getting her money back: they charged her twice for her renewal, and it was a huge ordeal getting it straightened out. To be fair, they did finally get it taken care of, but it took a couple of weeks, many mixed messages, and many contacts with customer service to get it taken care of. It really looked a whole lot like they were trying to get more than they were owed, and trying to drag it out so long that she would just give up. (At one point, they gave her a partial refund and she had to persist to get the remainder - her billing receipt showed a different (lower) amount that what was actually charged to her credit card.) I didn't know that AVG was owned by Avast, and now that I do, I know that I will avoid them both - I don't trust Avast.

We used to use AVG on our corporate computers when I first started with the company. After getting a serious virus we dropped them and went to using Eset Antivirus. I just don't trust any antivirus software that is free anymore.

I dumped AVG after many years of use when they started their crap. If memory serves, I had to remove several things manually or maybe I did use the removal tool. Either way, I agree wholeheartedly with you Bob on this one.

I will never give AVG another chance.

Nezzat, shill for Geek Squad and/or Webroot: “You get what you pay for, so maybe you guys ought to fork over some money and forego the worry of the the free stuff.”

I have paid for Advanced System Care Pro for many years but iObit still tries to pull sneaky upsell crap on this “valued customer” every single day. All freemium firms that I know do the same. It has gotten out of hand and it deserves even more excoriation than Bob offers.

Agree with article.Soon after purchasing AVG, I kept getting issues. I smelled a rat, however contacted them for support anyway. They said it was because product was designed for Win 10 and I'm using 7. OK,so they worked on it remotely however kept on having issues. Finally took tower to my reliable local tech guys who affirmed that the problem was AVG, and they took it off. LOL, no more issues! Since I was 9 months into a 2 year subscription,with their discreditable reputation, I can only hope I get a refund for the remainder.

I suspect all antivirus software is malware to some extent. Anything that gets so deep into your PC and is so hard to uninstall has to be suspect. I used Norton for many years until I tired of the interference. It was extremely difficult to remove all traces.
Then I used AVG until recently. I got sick of it trying to sell me stuff I don't need such as VPN, and its PC Tools even removed itself from my QuickLaunch bar (yes, I love QuickLaunch). Since I used Norton, I've discovered Revo so I now use it as the first step in removing antivirus software. AVG was still was very difficult to remove - took me about 6 hours. I use FileSearchEx to search for leftovers and I delete manually as much as Microsoft allows me to, as the Administrator. I recently glimpsed an article about setting up the real Windows Administrator as I was closing a tab. I'll be searching for it soon.
About a week ago I switched to BitDefender because PCMag recommended it. After 3 & a half days and no end of problems, I uninstalled it. BD has no Help facility at all except for the Chat infacility and I won't get started on Chat. The only good thing I can say about BD is that it was exceptionally easy to uninstall. Gone in one operation with Revo.
Now I'm using McAfee and the jury is out. So far no issues at all. Love reading your articles, Bob. Keep it up.

I used to use AVG for years and was satisfied with it. I was not aware of any of the issues discussed in this article. I stopped using AVG when I confirmed that it was slowing my computer to the point that I almost couldn't use it. I use Windows Defender and Malwarebytes now. I discovered by accident that CrapCleaner has an uninstaller that works very well.

AVG Dad got a new suprise for its kids: it installs an "AVG secure browser" without permission, that opens new window with every computer boot.

Reading your "year in revue" and this caught my eye because I had used AVG for years with no problems but last year got disenchanted. Had not had most of the problems mentioned by you and your readers but no longer felt I could trust it so took your advice and installed PC Matic. One small problem but working on that.
No problem uninstalling AVG - I used RevoUninstaller as usual. Amazing program - just hope it doesn't get sold and users then become "sold out."

AVG leaves behind a few folders in program files>commonfiles.

Within one, lurks a nasty little AVG overseer.exe which I noticed on my firewall, going online and doing whatever.

I'd class AVG as malware, tbh. A program which, after uninstall, continues to "monitor" in the background is obnoxious stuff.

I've been running my machine for last 9 months with no AV whatsoever. I also use a VPN

Once a week I run a scan from Malwarebytes - clean as a whistle. System performing better.

Snake Oil

So. Joe Farakas' comment on the first page is on the money, you'd think all these other people claiming to "work on" or "repair" computers would be aware of these fairly common knowledge operations of anti-virus software, the fact of the matter is, avg is not malware, and to make this sort claim is completely innacurate, and only makes the author look poorly versed on the subject.

am I wild about avg? absolutely not. Was the original avg free better then the current paid for version? absolutely. Is avg malware that is trying to install harmful files on to your computer? how long has it been since you last went to sleep, I suggest you stop digging around system folders, looking for traces of files that are inoperable, claiming that it's malware.

the fact is, the correct antivirus or internet security, (or whatever name or moniker that company uses) each person claims is the best or the correct one to use, is subjective, everyone's needs, and requirements are different from person to person, what one lay out or utilities included/available is okay for this user, may not be what works for that user. because we all use our computer's differently, we all have different software, different operating systems, and as long as you're not on a mac, different hardware specifications. But this is what demo's are for, to see if this software is going to work for you, trial periods are exactly that: periods to try this stuff out.

I think that people are more focused on the UI then the actual function of this type of program, so if it can't be navigated and operated with ease by a novice then regardless of the quality, it will never be deemed as "the best" or "the most downloaded" or "most used"

And your references to a slightly dysfunctional family leads me to believe you were not part of such a family, because if you were, you'd realize how incredibly offensive, and wildly inaccurate your analogy is...

Hey guys, I just wanted to come on the forums to give a warning about a program that stays active on your computer even years after uninstalling avg.

I literally uninstalled avg YEARS ago but just now say an avg program running in the background called overseer.exe. simple google search shows it was an intentional program left behind by the avg uninstaller to mine your personal data so avg can sell it.

BEWARE

if you want antivirus protection you can scan html links before downloading them or after downloading at virustotal.com

I uninstalled avg a long time ago because i wasn't allowed to disable it, the avg program was in too much control of my computer and i didn't like that. if you're smart about what you download you wont need to worry about downloading... it's the antivirus companies like avg you need to worry about. They are worse than the viruses they are supposed to stop.