AVG AntiVirus Free 2015 debuts zero-day protection, redesigned user interface

AVG Technologies has updated its entire range of PC products, launching AVG AntiVirus Free 2015, AVG AntiVirus 2015, AVG Internet Security 2015 and AVG PC TuneUp 2015.

After the relatively major changes introduced in the 2014 versions, this year’s updates are restricted to a redesigned user interface and new Outbreak Detection feature, which helps block zero-day malware exploits.

All three security products share the same changes: first, there’s the redesigned user interface offers that AVG claims is "a beautifully simple design" and follows the minimalist approach of rival anti-malware products, using a series of clearly labeled buttons to make it easy for users to navigate the program’s features.

The programs also gain Outbreak Detection, which means users can now enjoy protection from outbreaks even before they’ve been identified and countered using traditional malware signatures. This zero-day protection is new to AVG, but has been a staple of other anti-malware products for years -- it is, however, still a welcome improvement.

Also updated is AVG Remover 2015, which adds support for removing the latest AVG builds.

AVG has also quietly updated AVG PC TuneUp to version 2015 to bring it in line with their other products. Other than the new version number, there’s nothing obviously new to report, although at time of writing no release notes had been made available.

AVG AntiVirus Free 2015 is available now as a free download for PCs running Windows XP or later. A paid-for version, offering download screening and file encryption, is also available as a trial download in the form of AVG AntiVirus 2015. Also available as trials are AVG Internet Security 2015 and AVG PC TuneUp 2015.