AVG 'Summer Update' brings LiveKive and Family Safety tools
AVG has released a "Summer Update" for its security portfolio. AVG Internet Security 2011, AVG Anti-Virus 2011 and AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011 all benefit from higher malware detection rates, faster scan times, a lighter user interface and user experience improvements.
At the same time, AVG has also rolled out two new standalone services, both of which will also be accessible through the main AVG interface. AVG LiveKive is an online backup service offering free (5GB) and paid (25GB and "unlimited", or 500GB in reality) subscriptions, while AVG Family Safety offers online protection for children from unsuitable social networking sites as well as the wider web.
The update, which is delivered automatically to all AVG users, won't immediately be obvious, although the presence of two new icons representing LiveKive and Family Safety should be apparent. AVG LiveKive, which uses the same backup client as SpiderOak, has one major advantage over its rival: a free 5GB account (SpiderOak offers just 2GB), which sits alongside a 25GB offering ($49.99 per year) and a top-tier "unlimited" solution ($79,99/year), which comes with a fair usage policy that effectively caps it at 500GB.
LiveKive can be used to keep folders synchronized across different computers, including both Windows PCs and Macs running the latest version of OS X. In addition it comes with a free iPhone/iPod touch/iPad app that gives the user access to their files on the move. The client software is free to download.
AVG Family Safety isn't currently available as a free trial -- it costs $19.99 for a year's protection, and can be installed on up to three computers running Windows XP or later, promising to work with all web browsers.
Once installed, the program can be configured for individual family members based on their age, or by fine-tuning the controls. Family Safety provides protection against both cyberbullying and online predators on over 80 social networking websites, while it will also block general websites containing inappropriate content too. It's also capable of rationing time spent on the internet, and can be used to effectively block against inappropriate software installations. There is also an iPhone/iPad app available, extending protection to your iOS devices.
Download the AVG AntiVirus Free 2011 "Summer Update" (build 1321), which is configured with new UI icons for LiveKive and Family Safety.
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