AVG anti-virus remains free after update concerns

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Following concern from users, anti-virus vendor AVG has confirmed to IT PRO that users of its free version of its anti-virus package are not being forced to pay to obtain the latest version of its software.

Users of the AVG 7.5 have recently been receiving nag messages informing them that updates for the program would cease on 31 May and that they should upgrade to version 8, which has been available since 24 April. The lack of updates effectively renders the program obsolete as without current definitions an anti-virus program offers no protection from new viruses and Trojans.

After following the update link, users are meant to be taken to a web page that offers a comparison page between the paid for and the free versions of the software, but it seems that many users have not noticed the link to the free version located at the bottom of the same page.

Larry Bridgewell, global security strategist, AVG Technologies, told IT PRO that the comparison web page was only there to enable users to get more information about the different levels of protection offered by each version. He confirmed that AVG would be continuing to offer a basic version of its software for free.

"We have no plans to ever do away with the free version," said Bridgewell. "We appreciate that the internet is now such as major part of our lives and people need to be online but might not be able to afford the cost of the paid for version, We believe that everybody needs protection."

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