AVG’s malware scanner employs machine learning and heuristic analysis along with an online malware database to find emerging threats. During our tests it scored high with outstanding smart scan and deep scan performance. It’s not as effective as its competitors in its ability to identify unknown and emerging “zero-day malware”.
After installation after which the program starts its “Smart Scan”, which is an overall scan of your computer to detect potential threats and malware. It takes around 35 minutes to finish, looking at 430,167 files in our test systems. This is a bit less than some competitors’ tools, but still a fair amount of files.
The program’s modern and clean interface makes starting scans or exploring its other key features relatively simple. It’s got recognizable thumbnails as well as headings and other elements that assist you in understanding the purpose of each feature. The settings menu is well-organized and has a variety of choices for customization, including the ability to adjust the degree of sensitivity a deep scan is or configure a data shredder, which adds a choice to Windows the right-click menu.
Premium subscribers can avail a couple of extra bonus features that aren’t offered in the free version. These include “Webcam Protection” which blocks access to your webcam, making video chats more secure and “Sensitive Data Shield” which protects your personal files. AVG’s paid programs also include extra features that are fancy, such as an enhancement of performance or a password manager.
The mobile app from AVG offers a variety of features, including the option for you to remotely secure an Android device or wipe it (Android only) and an image vault that allows you to safely share files. Its most popular mobile feature is its anti-theft feature. This helps you track down a lost phone or tablet and can even sound a siren in order to scare it off.