Anti-virus support ending?

Q When I start my computer there is a warning message that says support for my version of AVG Free Anti-virus 7.5 will be ending soon. Does this mean I have to pay for anti-virus protection?
Ken Nicholl

A There is a new version of AVG Free to replace the old one. AVG does heavily promote the paid-for product, which has extra features, but there is no need to part with any money. You can download the new version from www.computeractive.co.uk/2129071.

We recommend downloading the new version and then disconnecting from the internet during the installation process, until AVG Free 8 asks to check the internet for updates.

Double-click on the file when it has downloaded to start the installation wizard. Click on the Next button and then Accept (this version is only free for non-commercial use). Click on Accept for the licence agreement – you might want to read it first.

Click on Next three times. Decide whether you want the AVG Security Toolbar. If not, click in the box to remove the tick. This is the Linkscanner Lite toolbar that you can download from www.computeractive.co.uk/2207619.

We think it’s a useful tool and worth installing. Finally, a summary is displayed and if you are happy with all the options, click on Finish.

Click on OK when the installation has finished and a wizard will launch automatically. Click on Next. Set a time for a daily scan and click on Next. Click in the box if you are happy for AVG to send information about potentially dangerous websites.

As this should help other people we think it is a good idea to select this box. Click in the box if you want to change your search engine to Yahoo and then on Next to check for updates. Click on Next. It will tell you that it cannot check because a reboot is required.

Click on OK, Next and then Finish. Close any other open programs and then click on Yes to reboot the computer and finish the installation.