I just uninstalled AVG and Ad-Aware on my Windows 7 laptop after realizing that they were responsible for my out of memory errors. This box has 4 GB or RAM and I was regularly using 86% of it with only a few things open. After removed, I'm back down to 36% RAM used. I know that Windows will typically consume whatever is available to it vs. linux but this was ridiculous. Little red flag in my task bar now.
Just wipe out the hard drive, get a usb flash drive for storage and boot from a knoppix cdrom. once you shut the system down. all the evidence goes away (mostly) No more virus nor malware to drag your pc into the abyss again.
I'm primarily a Linux guy already. This box started out as a Windows 7 test but I've kept it for iTunes. I run Dreamlinux from virtual box most of the time. Also have arch, chakra, mint and ubuntu Vboxes. I was just surprised by the resources that both of these used. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
avg use to be a great product. Now it is as you say. a freaking memory hog and very intrusive. I'm using avast now. not too bad on the resources but I still am not enthusiastic with it. Also have ESET on a couple of windows boxes. I've done Linux distros Mandrake , Unbuntu, RedHat. I loved Mandrakes installer and used it for proxy/firewall at office. freaking great, it runs on older hardware that Windowz won't even boot on, and it's fast. Love Linux. But writing code for MS OS pays the bills. So i guess i'm in their camp until the big old solar flares wipe them all out so i can go back to farming
Full blown ubuntu with Gnome dashboard loaded with little widgets and lot's of eye candy sips about 450 MB while watching video, solving the Bible Code and creating Cyrillic recursives in the background
Ditched both AdAware and AVG last spring. Memory, I have, but they were processor resource hogs. I have Avira on the laptop (Vista), it takes a LONG time to scan, but it is unobtrusive while operating; lets you set the pace. The desktop has Spybot S&D, Malwarebytes, ARO and Spyware Terminator. Collectively, they catch stuff, most of which is benign. I've had no problems with hackers lately, other than a trojan that ST found a month or so back. All this on Windows XP.
I think I was letting them run in the background as much as they wanted. I NEVER let them install the 'ask' toolbar or whatever spyware they want to install along with themselves. Still, Windows is devouring about 2199MB of memory as I type (only 53%) and with both of the above running, It was happily telling me to close programs and then not letting me close them gracefully. I ran windows for years without any AV as a test and had no problems, well no more than you've had ghrit while running all your arsenal. I've pretty careful in my clickage.
Careful clickage is good. What I like is these things that warn me that I'm about to do something stupid. I ignored them once. Not gonna happen again.
Scareware is suckering a lot of people into clicking on the "Yes!, save my system!" popup that looks official.
Spyware flagged that one, and has picked up a couple others that may have been legit, but wanted money for the privilege of entering your memory. So soon old, so late smart, but I didn't bite.
Guy at work was surfing for unmentionables on his work laptop at home and bit on a scareware and then got to enjoy popup hell for a few minutes. He got so paranoid that IT was going to see where he'd been that he paid the $49.95 advertised by the scareware to 'fix' the computer. It didn't help and I had to help him scrub his hard drive before he sent it back to IT for a replacement laptop. Some odd interests in internet video that guy has...
I run malwarebytes as a secondary spyware removal tool, but I run Microsoft Security Essentials as it has a built in real time spyware detection and anti-virus application all-in-one. It is free and it works very well.
I have been running for AVG for over 2 years with no problems, and last month renewed and now cannot get rid of their "toolbar" Also have noticed that my main desktop locks up a lot. Do you think AVG could be the problem ? I run an old Dell pro260 with XP pro ?
As a first guess, AVG could be the problem, especially if the lockup happened right after an update. One thing you can do for diagnosis is hit "CTRL-ALT- DELETE" which will bring up the Windows task manager and see what is running in the CPU usage column. To make that work, light the TM off and minimize BEFORE the lockup so all you need to do is maximize it to try catching it in the act. Dunno how to get rid of the toolbar, I've never allowed it to load. Conagher will have that scoop, maybe others as well.
Thanks Ghrit. I have done the above, but have had no luck. I took out the avg toolbar, only to find it right back again after re-igniting my system. I also think avg is now the problem rather then the cure. Once again my old grandpa is always right when he told me over and over again " if it ain't broke, don't fix it " Avg for the last couple of years was great , at least until they fixed it. I may take the whole system out and replace it . What would you suggest I go to. ? I am also a very careful clicker. Lets be honest, I'm older then dirt anyway !
I learn by experimenting, that's how careful clicking came about. Not by any means a guru with 'puters, nor overly expert in anything except screwing up and digging out. (Plenty practice at that.) I'd follow Conagher's experience, he's the go to guy on 'puters. All that said, experience taught me to avoid Norton. Norman is OK but takes forever, tho' unobtrusive. Avira takes forever, but even less obtrusive. Spyware Search and Destroy is pretty good, but can get in the way at times when you add software or do updates; it wants reassurance that you mean to add things. Malware Bytes is quick and effective, but like all the others won't necessarily detect everything. Spyware Terminator seems to work, it's found a couple things for me.
Thanks Ghrit. I too avoid Norton, as I have been there and done that already. I would need to replace my Avg anti virus system. For real trouble I already use a paid version of spybot as my hunter - killer, and it seems to work well. My wifes computer is loaded with F-Secure, which is also a space hog, but keeps the problems really down to a bare min. I will be haveing my puter guru over for turkey day as he is a confirmed batchlor and knows nothing besides puters. 1 or 2 dinners a year, and free computer help. How can you go wrong with that ? Again, Thanks Nadja
Just remove AVG from your system and then reboot it. Then go to http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/ and download the version for your computer. As long as you have a valid OS installed, it will install in a few minutes and then update. You can have it run a scan of your system right after it updates as well. It is free from Microsoft and it has "real-time" spyware/malware protection and it is a great anti-virus application too.
Thank-you for that info. I am not a puter person by any means, and would have never thought of that. But will put it to the test immed. and see what happens. Nadja
