Has something happened to AVG and/or Windows Defender?

Soldato
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Both of my machines seem to:-
a) Think AVG is now no longer protecting them.
b) Trying to enable Window Defender.

EDIT: One of the PCs is also applying a Windows Update too so no sure that's part of it too?
 
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Soldato
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one dont use AVG its terrible protection compared to even bitdefender free
two dont use windows defender

finish WU then reboot then it will be fine
 
Soldato
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I've been using AVG free for years... and it's always been fine :)

As I said, I don't use Windows Defender, but I think because AVG stopped working it came back into life...
 
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just let WU finsh and reboot some updates turn off A/V and as its a Windows build update it will
Well, I've completely uninstalled AVG on both (using the dedicated AVG uninstaller), and re-installed again.

What was odd was AVG was opening, but contained not anti-virus option as such... On both machines... Hmm...
 
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Same thing happened to Avast when doing the AV1 update at work, had to reinstall to fix it. Was getting fed up how Avast was going anyway with all the bloat so stuck with Windows Defender.
 
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As orc said I remember reading about a couple of free AV breaking after windows applied updates. To be fair not that I have anything against free AV, as they are probably abusing your data and bombard you with adverts (that's why they are free) I would either stick with Defender or get a reputable one for your budget.

Its not their fault that windows causes them but they need to be sharp in support. At least with paid products you can hound them or trust there is some mechanism to engage with if such a problem arises.

Anyway, in before x product is garbage use z or anyone who uses AV instead of restricted accounts etc :p
 
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As orc said I remember reading about a couple of free AV breaking after windows applied updates. To be fair not that I have anything against free AV, as they are probably abusing your data and bombard you with adverts (that's why they are free) I would either stick with Defender or get a reputable one for your budget.

Its not their fault that windows causes them but they need to be sharp in support. At least with paid products you can hound them or trust there is some mechanism to engage with if such a problem arises.

Anyway, in before x product is garbage use z or anyone who uses AV instead of restricted accounts etc :p

Sorry, but if you make unfounded comments like, "as they are probably abusing your data and bombard you with adverts," it's hard to give the rest of your comments a lot of credence? Sorry...
 
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Sorry, but if you make unfounded comments like, "as they are probably abusing your data and bombard you with adverts," it's hard to give the rest of your comments a lot of credence? Sorry...

Well if you are keeping blinkers on then I dont really care. It only takes a short Google to find thousands of pages with references with "credence" over a guy posting on a forum but each to their own.
 
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Well if you are keeping blinkers on then I dont really care. It only takes a short Google to find thousands of pages with references with "credence" over a guy posting on a forum but each to their own.
Fair enough...

But let me guess, you don't use AVG but somehow can tell me about how much it's, "abusing my data and bombard me with adverts," when I have it on five machines, where it's been in use for many years, with no data issues, and the only adverts are periodic suggestions (eg: months apart to turn on feature X or time to upgrade).

Blinkers or not - Given I've had positive first hand experience, on multiple machine, over multiple years, why would I possibly, a) change that belief by the views of someone who most likely is not even using it, and/or, b) Base it on a bunch of random posts on google?

But, as you say, each to their own - You much be switching and changing your views by the minute :)
 
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Soldato
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You can say your data remains unabused, how you know this I don't know?

Personally I have a lifetime of mostly not running any anti virus without issue. If I have to recommend an av product for personal use, in modern times I'd advocate using Microsoft's own, they are collecting usage data anyway, why allow 2 organisations to do so. I'm unaware of data to suggest avg et all are better.
 
Soldato
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Microsoft Defender + decent router + application whitelisting is all you need at home.

By all means run Malwarebytes occasionally but no need for AVG.
 
Soldato
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As orc said I remember reading about a couple of free AV breaking after windows applied updates. To be fair not that I have anything against free AV, as they are probably abusing your data and bombard you with adverts (that's why they are free) I would either stick with Defender or get a reputable one for your budget.

Its not their fault that windows causes them but they need to be sharp in support. At least with paid products you can hound them or trust there is some mechanism to engage with if such a problem arises.

Anyway, in before x product is garbage use z or anyone who uses AV instead of restricted accounts etc :p

Does that really matter? I don't get Ads with AVG that often maybe once a week and with the way nVidia collect data along with plenty of other software they can see all the porn I fap to any day of the week.
 
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There was this with AVG back in late 2015, https://www.google.co.uk/#q=avg+sell+data&* where their privacy policy said they can sell your data (browsing/search history) to third parties but I can't seem to find anything more recent about it.
Saying that, AVG's privacy policy does still say:

We collect non-personal data to make money from our free offerings so we can keep them free, including:
  • Advertising ID associated with your device;
  • Browsing and search history, including meta data;
  • Internet service provider or mobile network you use to connect to our products; and
  • Information regarding other applications you may have on your device and how they are used.
http://www.avg.com/gb-en/privacy

It does say non-personal but, hmm.

I think Avast also has something similar in their policy but I also believe that has an opt out, not used it in a while though.
 
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Soldato
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Fair enough...

But let me guess, you don't use AVG but somehow can tell me about how much it's, "abusing my data and bombard me with adverts," when I have it on five machines, where it's been in use for many years, with no data issues, and the only adverts are periodic suggestions (eg: months apart to turn on feature X or time to upgrade).

Blinkers or not - Given I've had positive first hand experience, on multiple machine, over multiple years, why would I possibly, a) change that belief by the views of someone who most likely is not even using it, and/or, b) Base it on a bunch of random posts on google?

But, as you say, each to their own - You much be switching and changing your views by the minute :)

Neil I have used it within the past year in between Panda and Avast when I was testing a few out. In fact my students have exposed me to a few laptops of their own with all the free AV for the past two years so I would like to think I have a valid opinion.

Does that really matter? I don't get Ads with AVG that often maybe once a week and with the way nVidia collect data along with plenty of other software they can see all the porn I fap to any day of the week.

Well if you only admit to using AVG (as per OP) 'for years' then how would you know any better? These forums are great, you get people asking for advice, then you post and get arsey replies.
 
Soldato
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Neil I have used it within the past year in between Panda and Avast when I was testing a few out. In fact my students have exposed me to a few laptops of their own with all the free AV for the past two years so I would like to think I have a valid opinion.



Well if you only admit to using AVG (as per OP) 'for years' then how would you know any better? These forums are great, you get people asking for advice, then you post and get arsey replies.

I've been using AVG "for years" and I know so the OP more than likely knows also. It's not like he is new to this scene considering he's been a member for 14 years with over 12.5k posts. Anyway I wasn't being arsey I just asked wherever it really mattered and gave you a comparison of other common software which mines data from it's users, sorry if that is offensive to you in any way, I didn't intend it.
 
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Oh... And the Windows update also screwed my Plex server too (on one of my machines). That required an install too!

I have had windows updates knock out a few things since using 10, I think I read recently they are scaling back the aggressive updates but too little too late.

I had recently changed to Avast free & snooping is prevalent as zhokel said

I mentioned it earlier, it didnt get received as well. I recall it being flagged by many security bloggers and at the time, with VPN's on the rise would find it strange people going to lengths to cover their information yet still use a 'free' product which had to be doing something to pay for the overheads. Then avast aquired AVG. I stopped recommending the free AV as Defender didnt seem to do so poorly as it did in the past.
 
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