AVG Internet Security provides a solid package of malware and web defence features, such as a firewall, password protection and phishing protection. While we’ll only be reviewing the standard Internet Security plan, AVG also offers business-focused plans and add-ons such as patch management, SharePoint protection and a cloud management console.
Pros
- Offers a nice selection of business-focused plans and features, such as patch management
- Solid customisation
- Scored well in independent testing
Cons
- Some costly add-ons
- Collected and monetised user data in the past
- Slow system scans
Table of Contents
- What is AVG internet security?
- How AVG internet security works
- AVG internet security core features
- What sets AVG internet security apart
- AVG pricing and plans
- AVG setup
- AVG customer service and support
- Should you trust AVG?
- AVG alternatives and how they compare
- Who is AVG best for?
- Our expert opinion
What is AVG internet security?
First launching in 1992, AVG (short for ‘Anti-Virus Guard’ AVG) is one of the oldest names in the antivirus industry. It’s most famous for its free antivirus software, which is used to help protect computers from malware.
AVG Internet Security is a paid-for expansion of its free antivirus programme, offering expanded protections when browsing the internet, such as Web Guard, which checks downloadable files for hidden malware before you download them. It can protect up to 10 devices with the right subscription plan. AVG routinely ranks highly in Forbes Advisor’s Best Antivirus rankings.
Pros
AVG Internet Security boasts excellent scores in independent malware protection testing from websites such as AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives. In fact, it, along with Avast, earned top marks in AV-Comparatives’ March 2024 testing, with an online protection rate of 99.95%.
On top of its malware protection capabilities, AVG Internet Security offers good customisation options for users looking to better tailor their antivirus to their specific needs. It offers different types of scans ranging from the usual file system scan to more advanced options such as removable device scanning and a performance scan that can help find junk files and other things impacting your device’s performance.
Finally, while AVG Internet Security is a consumer antivirus, AVG offers a solid lineup of business-focused cybersecurity solutions for interested clients, including SharePoint protection that can analyse anything downloaded or uploaded from users’ servers and a cloud management console that lets companies manage device health for multiple devices in their organization at once.
Cons
AVG Internet Security is not without its flaws, however. Its initial price is already high compared to most competitors we have reviewed, but if you want a more feature-complete package, add-ons such as BreachGuard for identity protection and the performance-enhancing PC Cleanup Tool just pile onto this already-steep cost. BreachGuard by itself costs nearly as much as AVG Internet Security’s base price.
On top of that, the antivirus scans have a noticeable impact on system performance, even more than other antiviruses. During our own test, PC performance slowed to a crawl.
AV-TEST’s own analyses of the software’s system impact support this. In its tests, AVG Internet Security was shown to slow PC performance by up to 34% when opening a popular website on a standard PC and 31% on a high-end PC. This is nearly double the industry average of 18%.
Finally, AVG, via its parent company Avast, has been caught collecting and monetizing user browsing data in the past. For more information, see ‘Should you trust AVG?’
How AVG internet security works
AVG Internet Security is fairly easy to use. After setup and login, you’re taken to the main dashboard, where what the software is protecting is listed (such as Payments or Web Browsing), and you can immediately begin a basic scan.
From there, you can toggle settings, run more advanced scans, schedule regularly occurring scans and take action based on what your scans found, such as removing junk files with the PC Clean Up add-on after a performance scan.
Otherwise, the software more or less runs itself. It will perform its scans, comb through downloadable files to make sure they are safe to download and, aside from the aforementioned PC performance issues during a scan, otherwise stay out of your way. This is more or less how a consumer-grade antivirus should function.
AVG internet security core features
Web and email protection
With ‘Internet Security’ in its name, web and email protection are primary functions of the software. In particular, it scans hyperlinks, email attachments and downloadable files for any potential malware and alerts you if it finds anything.
Wi-Fi Guard alerts you when you connect to an unsecure Wi-Fi network. Its web protection can also help protect you from phishing sites looking to harvest your data by blocking these sites whenever you would click on them.
Firewall
AVG boasts a solid two-way firewall that can protect you from both external malware threats and attacks from within via compromised apps. Its Network Inspector feature allows you to investigate your network and any devices connected to it for potential security issues, as well as notify you whenever a new device connects to your network. Many of these features are also available in the free Antivirus version as well, despite sometimes being labeled as ‘Premium’.
Password protection
AVG Internet Security’s password protection feature is one of its primary selling points over its free counterpart. Unlike a password manager, AVG Internet Security adds additional protection to passwords already stored in your browser by stopping blocked apps from accessing them.
Browser-based password storage is, in general, not a great idea, given how easy it is to find and view those passwords on most browsers. AVG’s solution, while novel, is less effective than simply using a third-party password manager, and you shouldn’t be saving passwords on your browser to begin with.
What sets AVG internet security apart
Overall, AVG Internet Security is a fairly standard, straightforward antivirus program. While it offers solid malware and web browsing protections, none of its features are unique enough to set it apart from competitors, such as Bitdefender or Malwarebytes. That’s not the only reason AVG struggles to separate itself from the pack, however.
Avast
It should be noted that AVG and fellow top antivirus provider Avast are owned by the same company. In fact, the two antiviruses even use the same engine to power their malware protection capabilities, per independent tests run by AV-Comparatives.
AV-Comparatives goes as far as to call AVG “a rebranded version of Avast.” When looking at their pricing and list of features, there is little difference in the two providers’ offerings. This isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker for either software, but it is important to point out when discussing such prominent parts of the antivirus market.
AVG pricing and plans
AVG setup
AVG’s setup is roughly the same as any other major antivirus software on the market today.
Step 1: Download the installation file from the AVG website.
Step 2: Run the installation file.
Step 3: Input the activation code found on your AVG account page.
AVG customer service and support
AVG offers a number of customer support services to users based on their needs. In addition to email-based support, it also has 24/7 call centres in the UK, US and Australia. The company also offers premium technical support for users’ non-AVG products.
Should you trust AVG?
When it comes to any cybersecurity product, trust is key. Whether it’s a VPN taking in your internet traffic or the system-level permissions an antivirus needs to protect your device, you place a lot of trust in the hands of the providers managing these software and services.
In this regard, AVG has some issues that give us pause. In 2019, a joint investigation between Vice Motherboard and PCMag revealed that AVG parent company Avast had been harvesting data from users of both AVG and Avast antivirus software. In particular, it had been collecting browsing data from customers who used the two antiviruses’ browser extensions, as well as their free antivirus plans. Through its subsidiary, Jumpshot, Avast would then offer this data to interested clients.
While Avast terminated Jumpshot in 2020 and has made its user data collection policies more clear, this breach of user privacy makes it difficult for us to say that you should trust Avast or AVG antivirus.
AVG alternatives and how they compare
AVG vs. Bitdefender
Bitdefender and AVG are both viable options for an antivirus, and while Bitdefender does edge out AVG in our star ratings, which one is better will come down to your specific needs. In general, Bitdefender provides more value for money, thanks to its higher number of connected devices and lower cost. The inclusion of a PC Cleaner in the base plan is also a nice bonus.
However, AVG’s phone and email-based customer support options might be more useful for less tech-savvy users who need in-depth technical help.
AVG vs. Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes is a solid antivirus solution, and with a similar starting price point to AVG, the two software programs can be equally good for the right users. The main differences that put AVG ahead in our rankings are its customer support options and its firewall.
We found Malwarebytes to be lacking in both areas, not having a firewall and using chatbots for customer support instead of a real person. Its lower number of connected devices at higher pricing tiers is also a mark against it for small business users who might need more than five devices connected at once.
AVG vs. McAfee
AVG and McAfee are two of the most popular antivirus software providers on the market, and both can be useful in the right situations. While McAfee has a number of solid features, including ones AVG is missing such as a password manager at higher pricing tiers, AVG’s superior customer support options and access to more-valuable base features such as phishing protection put it over the top for us.
Who is AVG best for?
Based on its simple UI, customer support options and excellent independent test results, we recommend AVG for solo entrepreneurs looking for an easy-to-understand, feature-rich and effective antivirus solution.
Our expert opinion
Overall, AVG is not a bad antivirus solution for small business and home users. It’s popular, has a lot of features and, along with its twin Avast, scores well in independent malware protection testing. That being said, it isn’t perfect, having a noticeable impact on performance during scans while lacking certain features such as a password manager.
While the user data monetisation controversy is some years old at this point, it does leave a bad taste in our mouths if that’s seen by the company as an ethical way to do business.
Cybersecurity providers, more so than providers in other industries, live and die off of trust. With a VPN, you’re essentially trusting that provider with your web traffic over your ISP, and with antiviruses, you have to hand over a lot of device permissions and data in order for them to function properly.
No matter how many features a product has or how well it scores in testing, if you don’t trust that product’s provider with your data and those permissions, then that product might not be right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is AVG Antivirus safe?
AVG is as safe as almost any other antivirus on the market. While it has had security flaws and exploits hackers could use over the years, that’s a normal part of software development, and the company is typically quick to patch them out.
How much is AVG Antivirus?
AVG Antivirus is AVG’s free antivirus software. AVG Internet Security is AVG’s premium antivirus and internet security solution and costs £49.99 per year for one device for the first year and £84.99 in subsequent years.
Which is better: Avast or AVG?
AVG and Avast are virtually identical cybersecurity solutions. Neither one is better than the other.
Is AVG Antivirus reliable?
AVG scored extremely well in independent malware protection testing, with an online protection rate of 99.97% according to AV-Comparatives’ testing.
