AVG 2011 Update Causes Widespread Problems For 64-Bit Windows 318
phx_zs writes "Last night's mandatory update of AVG 2011 Free edition has caused most 64-bit Windows 7 PCs to fail while loading Windows. On their website they have an FAQ with instructions on how to repair the problem using a boot CD or USB device."
AVG? Feh. (Score:5, Informative)
Does anyone actually use AVG anymore? There was a time when it was awesome, but it just got crazy bloated and slow...
AVG is Garbage (Score:3, Informative)
AVG is trash and has been since at least vserion 8. We're using the enterprise version 9.0, with the 2011 management console at my organization, and today it started pushing out its AVG toolbar to everyone.
Security Essentials (Score:5, Informative)
Re:AVG? Feh. (Score:4, Informative)
I run AVG but not the default versions. Well, it's the same except I disable the link scanning, tool bars, and id protection crap and it seems to be smooth and light.
Re:Microsoft Security Essentuals (Score:5, Informative)
Agreed on that one - I've migrated away from recommending AVG or AVAST to Microsoft Security Essentials to any Windows user who doesn't want to shell out for an AV.
(The turning point was the AVG link scanner. That was a terrible idea and a sure sign it was headed for the toilet quickly.)
To any who do prefer higher-quality, paid antivirus software, I've found ESET NOD32 to be consistently excellent, or Kaspersky AV if you want to trade speed for thoroughness on deeply-nested archives (not always a good idea). (I have to begrudgingly admit that the newest Norton is not completely awful like we've come to expect but still isn't something that would ever appear on my recommendation list. McAfee would never appear there under any circumstances.)
Re:Got burned with this ... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Antivirus? (Score:5, Informative)
You don't get them by opening email or surfing the web these days. Tracking cookies are not viruses.
You absolutely CAN get an infection from simply surfing the web. I was one of the people affected by the AVG Update Of Death, but I recovered and I will continue to use them in part because it integrates with Firefox and has stopped numerous attacks by intercepting seemingly innocuous sites. If you're not aware of the danger involved in simply surfing the web, you should do a little honest research.
Re:Ask a friend (Score:5, Informative)
What's a decent free one to use?
If you have to run Windows, the Microsoft Security Essentials package is excellent. I haven't had the urge to uninstall it yet (unlike Avast and AVG), and it doesn't noticeably slow your system. It's free if you have a valid Windows license...
Re:Antivirus? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Antivirus? (Score:4, Informative)
"you are just using the eyes of other programmers as your antivirus."
Yeah? So? And how is that bad? I also use MD5 sums to compare what I downloaded with what I was supposed to download.
"i am not saying this happens every day, but it has indeed happened before and ProFTPD isn't the first time."
It happens once every few years. I literally can't remember specifically when the last one happened, but I have a vague recollection of it.
Googling, I can find 3 instances, including this ProFTPD one in the last 10 years. Gentoo and Debian were at fault in the previous two.
That's how rare it is.
Compare and contrast this situation with the Windows situation, where there are literally millions of malware signatures, and the number keeps growing every day.
"but ultimately how is that so different than a binary?"
Because *someone* can look at the code. If not me, then someone else. With a binary, you get *zero* chance.
You're really fighting tooth and nail to hold on to that false equivalence fallacy. Sorry, but that's a load of bullshit.
"eyes of the developers and hoping they find the issue in a timely manner."
It's worked pretty well so far. Obviously trying to catch it all at the client side (Windows) hasn't worked at all over the past decade and a half.
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BMO