AVG Technologies Releases AVG Anti-Virus Free 8.0

AVG Technologies, a leading provider of Internet security software, will tomorrow release AVG Anti-Virus Free 8.0, the latest version of the company’s popular and widely-used free security software, which now incorporates protection against spyware through a new combined anti-virus and anti-spyware engine.

AVG Free provides basic protection against viruses and spyware, together with the safe-searching component of the company’s patent-pending LinkScanner® technology, incorporated into the new AVG Security Toolbar. The Free product does not include the proactive safe-surfing (“drive-by download” protection) of the full LinkScanner module that is included in the commercial AVG products, nor the protection against hackers, keyloggers, spam, phishing attacks, and malicious file downloads that can come through instant messaging and attachments from seemingly friendly sources. The free product also does not include the round-the-clock email support provided with the commercial products.

“With the release of AVG Free 8.0, we are underscoring our belief that all computer users, regardless of their computer usage needs, have the right to a safe and worry-free computing experience,” says Karel Obluk, chief technology officer at AVG Technologies. “However, it is important for users to remember that AVG Free does not protect against the full range of today’s web-borne threats. For complete protection, users should consider AVG’s commercial products, which scan for and block threats before they can infect the computer or disrupt the user experience.”

AVG Technologies released the 8.0 versions of its commercial products in February 2008. Home users can choose AVG’s full Internet Security suite, AVG Anti-Virus or AVG Anti-Virus plus Firewall, while business users can select networked versions of the Anti-Virus and Internet Security products as well as file- and email-server based Anti-Virus. Further information about AVG’s commercial products can be found on the company’s website at http://www.avg.com.

AVG Free 8.0 is intended for personal and non-commercial use on single computers running Windows 2000, XP or Vista. The product will be released initially in English, with Japanese following next week; other language versions are planned for release over the next several months. While AVG Technologies does not provide support for AVG Free 8.0, the company hosts a website and forum for user-driven support at http://free.avg.com. Interested users can download the software at this site or at third-party download sites such as CNet Download.com.