Okay, so I'm learning and even using a number of FREE programs that others have suggested are excellent, if not BETTER, than programs you buy. So, why and how are these programs FREE? What's the catch? If AVG virus software is a better program than McAfee (which I agree it is because it found a virus on my husband's laptop that even the latest McAfee virus update was not able to find) how come the creator/company doesn't try to make a profit from it? Call me a skeptic, but it's hard to believe there's no alterior motive from these free programs... and of course, I want to blame them first for my computer problems. Adaware is kindly protecting me from nasty spyware programs- again for FREE- just for the warm-fuzzy feeling that they helped a complete stranger? Seriously? In a time when "nothing is FREE"- it's hard to believe. Any chance someone can explain how and why it's possible?
I've never know AVG to be free. You can get a free 30 day trial. Look at Shawn Fanning of Napster fame. He's a milionaire now. The guy who who created Winamp (also free), Justin Frankel, sold Winamp to AOL for $100 million.
If you want the truth on how free the software is ... DON'T SKIP READING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS when you load the software. I know .. I know ... you guys don't have the time to read that stuff. You want it now, you wanted it yesterday, just get it on my PC!!!!! click .. click .. click, yes .. yes .. yes .. click LOL All kidding aside, you don't have to read all of it. Most of it is legal jargon that would foul the minds of the best lawyers. Scan through it and catch the privacy and rights areas. Here is the AVG "not-free" part: Grisoft Privacy Statement I added my comments in bold type: GRISOFT s.r.o., the company duly organized and registered in accordance with the Czech law (hereinafter referred to as "GRISOFT") maintains an updated database of the Free AVG Software users (hereinafter the "users") containing the personal data of the users. Such data is processed by GRISOFT in accordance with the applicable legal regulations (in particular with Act No. 101/2000 Coll., on Personal Data Protection, as amended), for the purposes of providing the services which are the subject of GRISOFT's activity, and for the purposes of GRISOFT's marketing and trade purposes. They're selling your data! The user acknowledges and agrees that GRISOFT will, for the period of duration of the contractual relationship, process the user's personal data acquired to the extent in which the same is offered voluntarily by the user within the registration to copy the Free AVG Software, or by any other direct or indirect contact with the user, in particular the information concerning the user's first name, surname, e-mail address, and the country of origin. Duration of the contract is 10 YEARS !! And please read the "direct or indirect part". That means when you update they're dragging your computer for new data The user agrees that GRISOFT will process the user's personal data, acquired in connection with the contractual relationship above, for GRISOFT's marketing and trade purposes including the delivery of the commercial announcements, and, to that end, GRISOFT may disclose such data to third subjects/entities co-operating with GRISOFT in the organization of marketing actions. The agreement according to this Section may only be withdrawn, at any time, by the user's explicit statement delivered to GRISOFT. If the user withdraws its agreement with the personal data processing in accordance with this Section, GRISOFT shall continue to be authorized, on the basis of the applicable legal regulations, to process the user's personal data to the remaining extent not affected by such disagreement. More or less you have to send a written letter to the Czech home office but they still get to use what they have for the next 10 years. In processing personal data, GRISOFT agrees to held the user harmless regarding the user's rights, and to take any such measures as may be needed to avoid any unauthorized or accidental access to the users' personal data, its change, destruction or loss, unauthorized transfers, or its other unauthorized processing or other misuse. In the event that the user's personal data is handed over to third subjects, GRISOFT agrees to conclude an agreement on personal data processing with such subjects under which third subjects will give guarantees concerning the technical and organizational provision of personal data protection within the meaning of Act No. 101/2000 Coll. If they sell your data to someone ,and they misuse it, it's not their fault. The user acknowledges that the duty to provide personal data to GRISOFT does not arise from the Act; however, without the provision thereof, GRISOFT cannot provide some particular services to the user. The user shall have the right to receive information about the user's personal data processed by GRISOFT, under the conditions set forth by the applicable legal regulations, in particular by Act No. 101/2000 Coll. If, in the processing of the user's personal data, any legal regulation is breached, the user shall have the right to seek remediation in a manner set forth therein. You go to the Czech court house and file a complaint. What's a plain ticket to there cost?? The agreement with the personal data processing is given for the period of duration of the License Agreement on Use of a Free AVG Software Version, however for 10 years at least. The user's agreement with the processing of the personal data may be withdrawn at any time by a statement of the user in writing delivered to GRISOFT. Did ya catch the 10 YEARS there? The user hereby states that it is in full able to take legal actions, and the user grants freely and solemnly, definitely and comprehensibly its agreement with the personal data processing including its consent to the delivery of trade notices. GRISOFT and the user each acknowledges and agrees that their mutual legal relationships shall be governed by the rule of law of the Czech Republic, in particular by Act No. 101/2000 Coll., on Personal Data Protection, as amended and by Act No. 480/2004 Coll., on Particular Services in Information Society. Your not walking to the court house to file charges on this one!!! ___________________________________ Are you getting the drift yet on how free this is yet???? They're swiping personal data off your PC and selling it to the highest bidder. When you readily and expeditiously clicked the "YES" on that aggreement screen you said "Go ahead ... use me, abuse me and loose me". Here is a link to the Act No. 101/2000. http://www.micr.cz/files/1599/LawIS.pdf
AVG was repeatedly recommended in this forum. Are you saying that what was recommended was the purchased version? That was not specified in the recommendations.
Ken, If it looks like a duck, it walks like a duck and it sounds like a duck ... it's a duck. Don't be naive; these guys don't "trade" anything. It's a buy and sell world. If your personal data has value, they're going to sell it on its value. Open Source software is the only thing, that I've seen, that can be considered truly free.
So don't use your real name. And do what I do ...register with a junk email account. I use AVG and love it. I HATE McAfee and Nortons. You may as well pour pancake syrup in your hard drive. AVG does its job quickly and quietly and has never let me down. I think they are just trying to build a better virus program that they can market one day. Before AVG, I used Innoculate, a very good free program like AVG. It later became eTrust, and is no longer free.
Joesy, Using a false name and email wont help you. The data that they savor the most is the data on your PC that the software sends during operation and updates. I do have to agree with you that AVG does a great job and McAfee and Norton are monsters. I really like E-Trust also, and it is still FREE, somewhat. You have to pay for it and then get a rebate. The only thing your out is the taxes on the purchase. Which in this case it's only $4.70. I wait every year for E-Trust to offer this rebate and I buy it then. I bought it yesterday @ TD. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1882416&CatId=984
