AVG Free. What do they get out of it?

[Panter]

Is it the advertising and brand exposure, or do they just hope that you'll upgrade to the paid version?

 

[Downward]

I know a fair few people with no pc knowledge who have it and have upgraded to pay for the full version.

 

[accountantpete]

I use the free Avast software and every day I get a little security update which both reassures you and makes you feel guilty for being such a cheapskate!

 

[SavageHoutkop]

I think they did it for both reasons originally, but lately they seem to be punting upgrading a lot more. Finding the free version on their site was always quite complicated (for a computer novice) as well.

 

[fossyant]

Many folk do upgrade. I use the free one on the laptop. My brother has the paid AVG suite - i.e. mail filtering etc. I use Zone Alarm Internet suite - managed to get it at a bargain price two years ago, then got this year's cover free....

Might move on from ZA when it expires - it's 'bulky' and really slows boot up.

 

[nigelnorris]

There's a lot of companies that run like this in the hope that one day someone like Microsoft will decide their software would make a cool feature and buy them out instead of spending money on development costs. There's lots of itty bitty software company directors that have become rich that way

 

[thomas]

It probably also helps give them lots of information on viruses, etc, which they can use to improve their paid editions.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

It gets them a lot of exposure!

Lots and lots of people have heard of AVG and know the software to be good. Anyone who's tried the product for free will be happy to recommend it - after all no-one's going to lose out. And then plenty of folk will be happy to buy to higher end suites from a company with a good reputation.

 

[thomas]

And then plenty of folk will be happy to buy to higher end suites from a company with a good reputation.

Also, as people get used to it it is more likely that big companies will install it as staff will already be used to it.

 

[Yellow Fang]

They get to pester you every time you login until you buy the full version.

 

[yenrod]

I bought the Full Malware'Bytes, before...haven't noticed any diference......

 

[snakehips]

I use the free Avast software and every day I get a little security update which both reassures you and makes you feel guilty for being such a cheapskate!

I have that but it tells me that my free 60 days are almost up! Have I made a mistake and selected the wrong version ?

Snake

 

[2Loose]

I have that but it tells me that my free 60 days are almost up! Have I made a mistake and selected the wrong version ?

Snake

You need to register it! Go to their website and give them your email address, you will get a code that cancels the 60 day warning.

 

[snakehips]

You need to register it! Go to their website and give them your email address, you will get a code that cancels the 60 day warning.

Right , done that , thanks

Snake