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For a couple of weeks now, we’ve been getting some annoying pop-ups from AVG advertising their new “Internet Security 8” package. We had been quickly dismissing them as advertising gimmicks, but it turns out that if you have a great deal of patience (or the link at the bottom of this news item), it is actually possible to get your hands on a free version of the latest anti-virus software to be released by AVG.

AVG 8.0 Free Edition is, well, free. In many respects it’s similar to the previous free versions the AVG/Grisoft team have released. It automatically updates and scans the computer for viruses, and provides a “Resident Scanner” for real-time threat protection. Of course, it’s had a bit of a facelift and a tidy up, and also comes packaged with an optional Firefox and Internet Explorer compatible toolbar which automatically checks your search engine results.

We are advising all our customers that now is the time to upgrade from AVG 7 and 7.5 and are now providing AVG 8 as part of the software we load onto new and os re-install computers. It’s compatible with Windows 2000, XP and Vista but not 98 or M.E. .

To download it now, go to http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe and press free download to start downloading the .exe file, which is 46Mb in total (approx 2 hours on dialup, much faster with broadband). Removing previous versions before installing is unnecessary but advisable, although a prolonged period of no coverage is definitely inadvisable. All other programs should be closed before AVG8 is installed.