Update: We’ve found a great tool for removing remnants of AVG if you get stuck, or if you accidentally install version 9 over version 8.  Read the updated info at the end of this article.

The good folks at AVG have released the latest version of their excellent antivirus software, AVG Free Version 9.  As many of our readers know, Computer Courage is a big fan of AVG.  They provide high quality antivirus to the masses for free, without bogging down your computer.

The latest version of AVG Free doesn’t have much in the way of new features, it’s supposed to be faster and lighter.  This is probably a response to the release of Microsoft Security Essentials - a new free antivirus option from Microsoft itself.  MSE has some real promise to it, but we’re not ready to recommend it over the proven AVG yet.

When it comes to AVG, the most common question we hear is “why is it free?”  The answer is simple.  They provide a free product to millions of home users, with an option to upgrade to the paid version (which contains extra protection that we think isn’t necessary for a typical user).  Even if they get only a tiny percentage of users to convert to the paid version, they will make big bucks.  The other big guys (Norton, McAfee) use other methods such as advertising, and getting their software pre-installed on new PCs.  Any way you cut it, everyone is making money.

Now, if you are running AVG Free 8 or 8.5, it’s time to upgrade.  The upgrade is easy, with one caviat: You must uninstall AVG Free 8.x before installing AVG 9. This is critical – it will not warn you if you try to install AVG Free 9 on top of 8, and it can result in a loss of protection.

1. Uninstall AVG Free 8.x : Start Menu -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> AVG Free
2. Restart the PC
3. Download and install AVG Free 9 from here.
4. When installing, a few things to consider:
   1. Make sure to select the Free version in the installer – don’t get fooled into upgrading!
   2. Don’t install the Toolbar, it’s overkill
   3. Set up a weekly scan to run at night

If you have any thoughts about the new version of AVG, or free antivirus in general, please share in the comments.

UPDATE

This month’s article is all about wireless. We’ll answer some common questions about wireless, and then tell you about an amazing new solution. We came up with the name “Wireless Heaven” because it’s the first solution that really covers all the bases – it’s reliable, fast, affordable, and can cover a very large area.

Wireless Security – Do I Need It?
People ask us all the time about wireless security and whether or not they need it. The answer is absolutely. Your home network needs to be secured to keep unwanted snoops out and to keep your data in. Without security, neighbors could use your internet connection to do anything, and their activity would be traceable back to you. Beyond this, a savvy person with a laptop could break into an unsecured network and potentially access or damage your files.

The good news is that security is easy – we only needs to log into your router and set up WPA (or WPA2) security with a password. After that, any device that wants to connect to the network will have to enter a password and you are secure. If you need help setting up security, contact us or call your router’s manufacturer.

Wireless Reliability – I Keep Losing My Connection!
If you are suffering from a loss of connection on your wireless, it’s time to troubleshoot. Computer Courage is happy to come to your door and do the work for you, but we’ve also got some tips on how you can troubleshoot it yourself.

First, try plugging your computer directly into the router via a wired connection. If you still get drops, then the problem is not actually with wireless. If that’s the case, you can try troubleshooting your modem with your ISP or replacing the router.

If the problem is a wireless one, you may be suffering from interference from a phone, especially 2.4Ghz cordless phones. Try unplugging cordless phones and see if the connection improves. It may be a distance issue – try connecting when you are right next to the router. Finally, it may be a software or computer specific issue so try multiple computers – try a Mac if you have one available. If none of these steps help you to find the problem give us a call

Wireless Heaven – The Ultimate Solution
Computer Courage is proud to announce a wonderful new wireless solution. We call it Wireless Heaven. In a nutshell, it is affordable, secure, reliable, and can cover a very large area. If you have areas of your house that are not covered by wireless, if you have dropped connections, or if your network is unsecured, Wireless Heaven is the solution for you.

Features of Wireless Heaven:

• Very reliable
• Super fast – you can stream movies over it
• Scalable – Cover a small apartment or a huge house!
• No more “dead spots”
• No wiring necessary

Big House? Wireless Heaven Can Cover It
No matter how big your house is, we can cover it with seamless wireless internet. We do this by simply adding more units to the network and placing them strategically through the building. No wiring needs to be done, the units communicate wirelessly to each other. This is a great way to get wireless to your basement, upstairs, cottage, etc. It also works with any internet connection.

Call To Set Up Wireless Heaven
If you think this wireless solution is right for you, contact us online or call us at 510-525-2226 and we can have a technician at your house to get you connected right away.

Written by Adam Schwartz

Computer Courage is proud to announce the launch of the West Coast Coating Consultants website. It is a professional construction themed website you can view at http://www.westcoastcoatingconsultants.com.

Also built on the WordPress platform, this site features a content slider, portfolio organized by region, a contact form and drop down navigation.

Computer Courage is proud to announce the launch of the Chemical Data Management Systems (CDMS) website. It is a clean and professional website you can view at http://www.cdms.com/.

Also built on the WordPress platform, this site features a content slider, a contact form and expandable navigation.