Internet Security 8.0

Doesn't time fly? Can it really be three years since AVG 7.0 was released? That's an eternity in PC time and so the release of its successor was well in to injury time. But now AVG 8.0 is out and is now available in a variety of bundle permutations, ranging from $70 to $100, the most expensive being the AVG Internet Security 8.0 version. Apart from anti-virus, this bundle also includes anti-spyware, anti-spam, firewall and rootkit protection.

The most obvious change in AVG Internet Security 8.0 is the new, pastel blue UI, which is a vast improvement over its dated, clunky predecessor. As is the norm these days, the UI comprises an array of module icons, a dozen in this case, each marked by a green status tick when all is well. At the side are just three tabs, Overview, which brings up the module status screen, Computer Scanner, and Update now, which are self-explanatory. In use, AVG IS 8.0 has a light system footprint.

You'll come across one irritation when you install the program. It seems that AVG has got into bed with Yahoo and wants to install the Yahoo toolbar - and change your default search engine too. While you can disable this 'feature', we don't like seeing this sort of thing in retail software. It may be fine in the free version but not here.

Aside from that, installation is smooth and once the updates have been applied (this version updates four times a day) AVG Internet Security 8.0 does a quick scan of your system, scanning for malware and spyware simultaneously. As before it offers on-access, on-demand and scheduled scanning. AVG Internet Security 8.0 continues to garner top scores from the likes of Virus Bulletin, West Coast Labs and ICSA so we have no doubts as to its continued efficacy.

The firewall uses an automatic multi-profile system which should minimise user intervention and offers a good level of protection. But we got pestered to approve Internet connections for a couple of days after installation, which niggled.

The new LinkScanner web protection works much like McAfee's SiteAdvisor, issuing alerts when you visit a dodgy site and flagging search results with ticks or crosses depending on their cleanliness.

Each site is scanned 'live' and so the status mark can take a few seconds to appear. Spam email is automatically tagged as such and moved to a junk folder. Interestingly it supports Real-time Blackhole Lists (RBLs), such as Spamhaus or Spamcop, which helps eliminate a lot of spoofed spam