AVG Unveils AVG 8.0

Protects computer users against Web Exploits as well as Spam, Viruses, Spyware, Rootkits and other System Intrusions.


Newark, UK – February 28, 2008 - AVG Technologies, a leading provider of Anti-Virus, Internet Security and safe web surfing software, today unveiled AVG 8.0, a new single-user version of its flagship Internet security suite for consumers, small business and enterprises. AVG 8.0 contains over a dozen new and enhanced features to deliver exceptional threat detection, usability and scanning efficiency.

“AVG 8.0 is the security solution to reliably protect against various types of threats that may be unintentionally or unbeknownst to you be downloaded onto your computer while you are surfing the internet – one of the most significant threats facing Internet users today,” said Karel Obluk, CTO of AVG Technologies and the chief architect behind AVG 8.0. “The nature of the Internet threat landscape has changed, yet most conventional security solutions are still fighting yesterday’s battle with their narrow focus on viruses and spyware. AVG 8.0 expands upon its traditional strengths in anti-virus and anti-spyware by integrating the new LinkScanner safe search and safe surf capability obtained through our acquisition of Exploit Prevention Labs in December 2007.”

"The new safe search and safe surf technology embedded in AVG 8.0 allows AVG to offer real-time protection against web threats out there today; the type of threats traditional firewalls, anti-virus and internet security products will not stop. Other products on the market offer web protection based on databases of sites that may or may not have contained some kind of malicious content at one time or another. AVG's Linkscanner technology is able to scan each web link and web site in real-time as you surf the internet. This is very important, unlike in the past, the individuals creating and delivering threats today do not want to be discovered so they often post their malicious content for an hour or two and them remove it; there one minute and gone the next so to speak. The only way to protect against this type of attack is to scan sites in real-time each and every time,” said J.R. Smith, CEO of AVG Technologies.

In addition to web exploit protection from LinkScanner, other significant new features include a new multi-threaded scanning engine that provides faster scanning performance by leveraging new multi-core computer hardware; new integrated modules to protect against rootkits and system intrusion; security for MSN and ICQ instant messaging; detection of infected file downloads; and a completely redesigned user interface. The new user interface makes it easy for novice users to receive comprehensive out-of-the-box protection while enabling sophisticated users to perform extensive customisation of the product.

"The rapid rise of Web exploits threatens to undermine the very fabric of Internet commerce,” said Roger Thompson, chief research officer at AVG and the former CTO of Exploit Prevention Labs. “Five years ago, if you visited web sites for pornography or illegal file sharing, you expected to run across adware and spyware, but you seldom had reason to fear trusted web sites. Today, the situation has changed. Google, Facebook and MySpace – some the Internet’s most popular and trusted destinations – are increasingly the unwitting purveyors of drive-by download exploits.”

AVG 8.0: Tough on Threats, Easy on you

Over the last several years, AVG has earned a reputation as a provider of security solutions that are tough on threats but easy on the user. Key to this is AVG’s relentless dedication to producing software that operates unobtrusively while minimising the use of critical system resources. This equates to a security solution that does not slow your computer down; in fact, you don’t need to pay attention at all.

Thanks to AVG’s state of the art technology and dedication to customer services, the company now boasts over 70 million protected computers worldwide.

With AVG 8.0, AVG raises the bar further by providing improved protection against traditional threats such as viruses, spam, spyware and trojans as well as new protection against emerging threats including web exploits, drive-by downloads, phishing, and rootkits.

The following is a summary of new and improved features in AVG 8.0:

  • New User Interface - Enables more intuitive and efficient operation for novice and advanced users alike.
  • New High Performance Scanning Engine - AVG reengineered the scanning engine from the ground up for improved performance and speed with multi-core computers, reduced system resource requirements and easier maintenance.
  • New Anti-Exploit technology - AVG 8.0’s patent-pending LinkScanner Safe Surf technology is designed to protect users against drive-by download exploits from poisoned web pages, and its Safe Search capability integrates with Internet Explorer and Firefox web browsers to flag dangerous search results in Google, Yahoo and MSN search engines.
  • New Online Shield - Complementing AVG 8.0’s Safe Surf and Safe Search protection against web exploits, the new Online Shield module scans files, data and documents when downloaded to ensure they are safe and free of malicious content.
  • New Anti-Rootkit - This new module removes and protects against rootkits, an especially pernicious form of malware that silently infects users without their knowledge. Rootkits give cyber criminals administrative control over the infected computers.
  • New Firewall - The new AVG firewall, vastly improved from the previous version, is designed to protect computers against unauthorised access from internal and external networks as well as hackers.
  • Improved Anti-Virus - AVG 8.0 provides improved detection of hidden viruses, faster scan speeds and more intuitive scheduling of scans.
  • Improved Resident Shield - Provides improved on-access scanning with ability to scan multiple file-open requests simultaneously.
  • Anti-Spam - AVG 8.0’s anti-spam module has been improved with faster performance, thereby enabling faster mail delivery.

Internet Security: Background

The security threats faced by Internet users today have changed significantly over the past decade. Ten years ago, the primary threats facing computer users were viruses and email-propagated worms. These threats were often created by thrill-seeking hackers out to prove their programming prowess or make a statement.

Starting in the late ‘90s, the rise of adware and spyware marked the rise of a new kind of threat, where the creators were motivated by profit rather than notoriety and bragging rights.

AVG security researchers, led by Karel Obluk, Roger Thompson and Petr Odehnal, were among the first [in the computer security industry] to note the rise of more aggressive and dangerous threats that computer users may unintentionally encounter while surfing the net (drive-by-download). Threats that are designed to steal personal information, track user movements and actions, steal bank account or credit card data, etc., all in an effort to make money.

These techniques initially targeted security vulnerabilities in the Windows operating system and the Internet Explorer browser, then began targeting common, less frequently patched utilities such as WinZip and QuickTime, and then in more recent months began targeting hosted Internet applications such as search engines, social networks and advertising networks and even common websites such as the Better Business Bureau in the United States or the Major League Baseball.

Pricing, Availability and Specifications

The single user version of AVG 8.0 is scheduled to ship on February 28, 2008 and is priced at £39.99 for a single licence including one year of unlimited signature updates and program updates. AVG 8.0 supports Windows computers running 32-bit and native 64-bit Windows operating systems.

The price also includes business hours access to a UK-based technical helpdesk, via a standard rate line, 5-days a week as well 24x7 email support. The product can be purchased and downloaded from www.avg.co.uk, and is also available through a network of independent software resellers.

A network version of AVG 8.0 will also be available, which enables centralised deployment, configuration, reporting and remote management of thousands of single-user systems, is scheduled for release at the same time as AVG 8.0.

About AVG Technologies

www.avg.com
Founded in 1991 and headquartered in the Czech Republic, AVG is a leading international developer of Internet threat protection solutions for consumers, SMBs and small enterprises. AVG protects more than 70 million computers around the world. The company has regional offices in North America and the United Kingdom, and employs some of the world’s leading experts in Internet security, specifically in the areas of threat research, analysis and detection. AVG’s award-winning products are distributed globally through resellers and over the Internet as well as via third parties through Software Developer’s Kits (SDK).

AVG investors include:

For more detailed information please contact:

Paul Shlackman, BondPR
paul@bondpr.com
Tel : 01628 673 007