AVG is still FREE!!!

This just in…  AVG has not discontinued its free version of AVG. The new AVG 8.0 can be downloaded from their website or from download.com. Beginning today, we have posted a free video that demonstrates how to get the free version of AVG. So, before you buy the version that they are trying to sell you, give this version a shot. It is the version they don’t want you to know about. WATCH FREE VIDEO and...

“If it is free, it must not be any good.R...

This statement was uttered by an imbecile. A customer of mine told me last week that he heard this quote from a tech person from some company after a discussion of AVG Free. The week before this customer’s computer was almost crippling slow primarily because it had one of the newer versions of Norton Internet Security installed. After taking Norton off the system (approximately 20-25 minutes to do so) and adding AVG,...

AVG Free Antivirus 8.0 Upgrade – Video Tip

AVG released a new version of their popular AVG Anti-virus on Wednesday. An alert web site visitor alerted us to this yesterday, and I immediately downloaded and have been testing it since then. Here are some important facts you need to know about the upgrade. Do NOT use the Upgrade feature in your current version of AVG Free, as it will take you down the road to their pay version. The pay version is good, but if you plan to...

Think twice before your blame your computer’...

“What brand of computer do you recommend?” is one of the most common questions I get asked. My answer is usually, “It really doesn’t matter as long as it is a name brand and has the specs that you need.” I often hear comments like, “Our first computer was a Dell and we constantly had problems with viruses and spam,” or “I’m never going to get another HP, this one just...

Take control of the AVG Scans – Video Tips

As you know, we whole heartedly recommend and use AVG Antivirus. It is unobtrusive, fast, and most importantly effective. However, one irritating function it has is the default full system scan at 8:00am. Many people are working on their computers at 8:00am and full system scan slows down the system enough to be highly annoying if not unusable in some cases. You don’t have to wait for the scan to finish. Just RIGHT...

Worst excuse for keeping Norton: I have already pa...

If you search for the word “Norton” using the search engine in the upper right corner of our website, you will discover that our advice to dump Norton branded software is echoed by dozens of other visitors to the site. This week I saw a computer that took 27 minutes to completely boot up. It was an older system with 256MB of RAM and a 1.6ghz processor. Even at that, 27 minutes was a long time. I noticed that they...

AVG Antivirus 8.0 Upgrade Advice

The past few days calls and emails started filtering in about the new AVG 8.0 version folks have seen appear on their free versions of AVG Antivirus. The common query is, “Should I upgrade?” No, home users of AVG Antvirus do not need to upgrade at all. The current free version of AVG will continue to be updated and as it has been for years. The new 8.0 version is the newest commercial product from AVG...

How to download AVG Free edition

True, you can just go to HelpMeRick.com/links and download AVG free edition, here is how to find it on Grisoft’s site.

Slow computer? Viruses? Malware? I can help!

After almost 13 years of battling security problems on Windows machines, I’m finally seeing the light of day and recommending Mac’s and Linux for many computer users. It will be a long journey convincing people that there is life beyond Microsoft. For those who bang away with Microsoft Windows computers,and have problems with Slow Computer Disease (SCD), pop-ups, viruses and other problems, I present the following...

Incredible deal on a fast computer

I installed a new computer for a customer yesterday that turned out to be the easiest setup I’ve done in quite a few years (with the exception of Apple setups). He bought the computer, ZT Affinity, from OfficeMax’s web site for $399. It comes with 1 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard drive, fast processor (albeit the previous generation Pentium D), Windows XP Professional, built-in memory card reader, keyboard, optical mouse, a...

What we teach actually works!!

Today I saw a client I have not seen in a long time. They are a great family with four teenagers at home. One year I had to reformat their computer three times because of their knack for picking up spyware. While I enjoyed the money, I did not enjoy doing all those reformats. Reformatting a computer is my least favorite project. Gradually I would break them of their habits and have them using Firefox, AVG and a variety of...

Another parental reminder

We mention this tip as often as possible on our show, but I felt it was necessary to bring it to the attention of our web visitors again: Parents, please install and use only Mozilla Firefox for your web browser. Kids, especially teens, plus Internet browsing with Internet Explorer spells disaster. Too many Internet degenerates target their spyware and virus spreading programs at teens and teen related web sites. Also, teens...

Don’t run more than one antivirus program

I ran across too many computers this week that had multiple anti-virus programs installed. My advice has always been and still is that you should only be running one anti-virus product at a time. Multiple anti-spyware products are ok, and sometimes necessary, but running multiple anti-virus products will drastically slow down your computer and cause many more problems than they solve. My top 3 anti-virus products as of today...

Department store fix it people

I encountered another department store computer fix-it horror story today. The client called me because they had the proverbial slow computer. I show up and the owner proceeds to tell me that they just got it returned from a big box electronic store with the initials CC whose computer experts work under the initials of FD. Incidentally, I could tell similar stories of woe with another store whose initials are BB and their...

Bresnan Security Suite

Our local cable Internet provider, Bresnan, starting sending out notices about their new security suite from Computer Associates. Computer Associates is one of the older technology companies and produces great software, and I haven’t seen the product yet, but based on the description in the email, I wouldn’t jump on board. As with most suites, they are usually too big, too slow, and don’t protect you well...