So you’re using AVG and noticed that a new version is available (2011 Edition), but when you click on the links in the AVG program to update / upgrade, you’re taken to a website where they want you to pay. Don’t be fooled into thinking you must hand over your hard-earned cash to upgrade your free virus protection! And if you do manage to find the free “update” on their site, you’ll be missing out on several other features only those in the know can get installed … also for free. Follow my guide below to updating the right way and you’ll have better protection than you currently do and it won’t cost you a dime.

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If you’re using AVG Free version 8.5, you will likely have seen a notification that something will be expiring December 1st. You may have even clicked on the link to take you to the next step to upgrade to version 9.0, only to find that AVG is trying to sell you on their pay Antivirus or Internet Security suite. The good new is, you need neither as the free version is still available!

If you were to read everything on that page you’re linked to, at the bottom, in text (not as part of the chart), there is a link to “upgrade my current product only” which hops you to yet another page which asks if you want to pay for the full version. Deceptive! Even once you’ve confirmed that no, you don’t want their other products, you still aren’t in the clear as you may get one last page advertising their pay products on the same page as the download link.

For those of you who have braved all the advertising and finally find the free download link, you may wind up with an installer which tells you you’re not connected to the internet and it can’t download the full installer package.

Well, I’ve found the solution (it took a bit of digging), but here it is … the full download without advertising. That link will take you to the FileHippo.com website which will always have the latest version for you to grab, just click the “Download Latest Version” from the top right of the page and you’re set.

If you have any questions or need assistance in installing AVG 9.0, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I just found out that yesterday, November 23rd, was Inernational Backup Day, a day to encourage and remind people that they should have a backup of their data. No, this day wasn’t started by hard drive manufacturers to sell more units, it’s good practice and common sense as all drives will fail. Let me type that out again so it’s clear — ALL DRIVES WILL FAIL. The ‘when’ is a huge variable; I’ve seen units 3 days old crap out whereas drives over 10 years old are still spinning.
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I’ve spent so much time designing and updating sites for clients lately that I figured I should have my own site up to speed!

More coming content-wise, it was a matter of getting the framework and styling updated first.

Mac: MacHeist is giving away free apps in a NanoHeist! http://macheist.com Hurry!