AVG Internet Security 8.0 — Tough on design
02 May 2008
New Look
AVG Security 8 is made by Czech company AVG Technologies (formerly Grisoft) and become very popular in recent years. [Czech roots are not mentioned in the company profile, which is a shame] There are few reasons for that popularity: free version of Antivirus is available, good support for Windows Vista from the early days, decent results in tests.
My perception of any software is very subjective. It could be high rated but if it is awkward and annoying, I will sure look for for something else.
From my previous experience with version 7 (also here where I explored interfaces of different security software), AVG lacked in design, being inconsistent and amateurish in some areas. In version 8 we got new color scheme and better user interface, yet not without flaws.
AVG is not exactly careful with their advertising campaign, look at the plasticine safe door below. The message itself is also lame—what ways are you talking about? If you claim so, please prove.
You can download trial version from the official website. Here is the main screen of the program:
To me it has some issues. All these components seem to be artificially brought together. Why "Anti-Virus" is different from "Resident Shield"? Why "LinkScanner" is not inside "Web Shield". What "System Tools" are and why their icon shows Lego piece? I'm being picky here, but for Grisoft that's must be a serious question. If it is meant for navigation, it should not look like a puzzle. It is pointless to repeat "Active" 16 times, as I'm not going to check (besides, I think System Tools are only used by request, so what's "active" there?). If something is not OK with my security status, tell me clearly, full period.
Funny enough, if you look at the icons, in "Anti-Spam" there is mail behind the shield, which is fine. Yet in case of "Anti-Virus" and "Anti-Spyware" there are virus and a spy protected by the shield. Minor detail, but not for a security application.
As I said, I think the developers managed to improve the "feeling" side of the software, new colors are nice, but the information arrangement could be better.
Inside new toy
"System Tools" component comprised of few explorers and utilities like "Autostart". It has also mysterious "LSP Viewer" (let's pretend we know what it is). I've never managed to see button "terminate connection" active, maybe because I did not run it as administrator in my Windows Vista Home P. 32-bit. "Processes" tab gave me some noticeable system slow down while in use.
Firewall component screen is a good example where number of shown words is simply overwhelming. Besides, why would somebody be interested in packets statistics?
I also don't understand the firewall conformation screen (please see below). The option "Allow for safe" is not clear to me, I can only guess what it is.
And finally there is one little bug I've found. When update is finished [screenshot], the message "Updating..." in the left panel is still stuck there. It even stays when you change the section.
![[screenshot]](img/avg8/avg8_updating.png){kind=link}
Update process is still annoying, comparing to previous builds. It starts suddenly, it makes too many flashes even though there is all up-to-date.
Fin
As per AV-comparatives.org test results, AVG antivirus with engine 7.5 (On-demand comparative test, February 2008) got "Advanced +" score, that means it is one of the best antiviruses available. I don't know how effective the firewall is, but obviously (given all the exposure for AVG) you can not be very wrong with this application.
While AVG is enjoying their popularity, it seems to me they have started falling into the same trap most monster companies like McAfee already suffered. Nightmare of multifunctional dashboards, dumping on you meaningless data. Riddles instead of navigation. Tribute of decoration instead of clarity.
If you are careless about your users, you will rip the harvest sooner or later.
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