After working on hundreds of computers with our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care service we’ve discovered that a lot of people are using programs we once recommended but which we don’t recommend anymore. And while it may seem like we’re being capricious, we’re not. Things change and as they do we have to keep an eye on things — because sometimes change is not always for the better. Nothing is as certain as change — it’s too bad that when things change they don’t always get better.
We have been remiss in not keeping you updated about the programs we once recommended which, because of changes developers made to the programs, we’re no longer recommending.
So today we’re going to start a list of programs we don’t recommend any longer. With a brief explanation as to why.
1. Avast
We can no longer recommend Avast. This once great free anti-virus has grown into an unmanageable suite that affects your computer from Web browsing to its useless email scanning. Avast has turned into Norton Jr. We don’t like Norton and never have – so we cannot recommend the new incarnation of Avast. Our recommendation — uninstall it and install Microsoft Security Essentials.
2. AVG
It’s been years since we’ve recommended AVG — but at one time we did. AVG became Norton Jr. long before AVAST. But AVG is even worse than AVAST because at least once in the past year it was listed as “Not recommended” by an independent anti-virus testing lab. AVG’s basic anti-virus protection is questionable and its suite has too many tentacles. It needs to go. Replace it with MSE.
3. Advanced System Care (free or paid versions)
We once thought this suite of system maintenance and system repair tools was a good bet, but not anymore. After seeing it in action on dozens of computers we can’t see where it does any good. It uses resources and isn’t useful for much of anything except running in the background and trying to up-sell you to the paid version. Verdict: Dump it
4. Digital Lifeboat
Digital Lifeboat was our freeware pick of the week last year. It was in beta then and they were offering users who helped them test the software unlimited cloud storage space. A year later, Digital Lifeboat seems to cause many users problems, it users a lot of network bandwidth, and consumes huge amounts of resources. We’re really sorry that Digital Lifeboat didn’t make all the improvements that were planned. While it was in beta testing we were willing to give it a break, but no more. There are better cloud storage / syncing programs available like DropBox and SugarSync. If you want to store your files in the cloud for safekeeping that’s fine — but we can’t recommend Digital Lifeboat anymore, if for no other reason than it consumes far too much of your computer’s resources.
As we think of more programs we used to recommend that we don’t anymore — we’ll add them to this list.
One more thing we want to mention here is that we have never recommended any “PC Speedup” software. None of them work, all of them start with Windows, some of them can cause big problems, and not a single one of them does anything to speed up your computer. You don’t need a PC-speeder-upper program. Well, you might need to speed up your PC but those programs aren’t going to do it.
I’d love to be able to know when this page is updated without having to come to this page to check.
I notice you do not have Incredimail listed but your last stationary for Seasons doesn’t have an option to download for Incredimail. Do you no longer recommend it? I do use it.
Wow! Avast is like Norton? Where did that come from?
Every other website rating free Antivirus programs lists Avast and AVG way ahead of Microsoft Essentials. Microsoft Essentials USED to be highly rated, but no longer. Even my tech doesn’t recommend Microsoft Essentials any longer. I’ve used Avast, free and paid versions, for years and never had a problem with it. So I can’t see where you feel Avast is like (shudder) Norton.
Fortunately — or unfortunately — as you may see it — we are not like any other Web site. We actually work on hundreds of computers — other than our own. And Avast has added so many “features” (read — “unnecessary garbage”) that it is a full blown suite.
And your information about AVAST and AVG being “Way ahead MSE” you’re wrong. Anyone can call themselves a “computer tech” since they’re not licensed in most places.
According to Virus Bulletin MSE has consistently received its VB100 score — the highest. For time last year another independent lab (AV comparatives) had AVG was listed as “Not Recommended”. MSE consistently rates as high as AVAST, higher than McAfee, and higher than AVG in detection tests — and much better in not reporting false positives. AVG and AVAST both report many false positives which frighten users unnecessarily and also can cause problems for users who get a lot of false positives who may come to assume a real treat is a false positive.
Anyone can spin statistics any way they like — but AVAST includes such foolishness as “Web site ratings” (based not on actual testing but on user opinions — like WOT) and email scanning — which is nothing but a marketing ploy since email is a file like any other file and any good AV scans all files — regardless of type. Email is downloaded like any other file. So it’s just marketing hype and playing on the fact that most computer users don’t know very much about computers or files or the Internet. A firewall — which users don’t need if they have Windows Firewall turned on (and yes we’re aware that its “outbound firewall” is not turned on by default — as it shouldn’t be) and other garbage that just makes AVAST a clunky AV suite like its big brother and obviously its heroes Norton and McAfee– and Trend Micro Titanium and all the other monstrous “security suites”.)
Actually we’re not like any other site because we tell the truth and we’ve been threatened with lawsuits before too — but those never got far because the truth is the truth.
But you can believe anyone you want…it’s your computer.
Thank you Cloudeight, for helping me make better decisions regarding my security safeguard program. Today I uninstalled Avast and installed Microsoft Security Essentials because of your recommendation. You have always given excellent information after checking it out yourselves and I appreciate that about you. Thank you!
I wish you would of said what you recommended instead…
Good morning folks: I’ve been following you folks for over 5 years and used items that I thought might help to improve my system.
I’m one of those computer users that does’t know much about computers,files or the internet, so I’m an easy target for some systems.
I was just advised by RegClean Pro that I have 103 items that are causing me trouble (I didn’t know I had any problems),and they will fix it for a fee.
Reimge Repair version 1.6.20 also claims I have problems that they have detected that can be fixed for a fee.
Malewarebytes Anti-Maleware claims that NO malicious items were detected. No fee requested.
I’m at a loss where I got these DO GOODERS. I may have subscribed in my desire to get my computer running faster and If I did then it’s my fault.
I have to put my trust in someone. Yes it’s my computer, and I’m prepared to TRUST YOU FOLKS.
Your thoughts or suggestions PLEASE.
Arnie Brown
And I did discover that Avast is all OVER, the place, just like Norton, when I started having problems. so it took 2 uninstalls to get it all, both with Revo. whew! am so very happy with MSE, thanks for all the helpful info. love you guys, been with you since the beginning. so pleased to know you, and use your start page on both browsers.
rena
I use MSE, as suggested by Cloud Eight, and others.
But what I think also needs to be pointed out and stressed.
UPDATES!
I tend to run a manual update check at least twice a day. Wake up, first thing I do after booting my Windows7 tablet is check for updates and do a quick scan. If I do a lot of surfing or hit a few web forums I might run a quick update check again after 4 or more hours. The last thing I do before shutting down my tablet for the day is another quick update check and quick scan.
Paranoid? Yep! Safe? I sure hope so.
Always remember, no matter which anti malware software you use, it’s only as good as your latest definitions update!
Dave