Comparisons
Which is the best free antivirus, AVG or Avira?
Free antivirus software is not hard to come by, but until you test them all out and have a basic understanding of how they work and what are the advantages of a paid antivirus, it might be hard to choose from the hundreds of good offerings. The most popular free antivirus programs out there are Panda, Avira, AVG, Kaspersky and Bitdefender, but each have their own “premium” versions which offer an extra set of tools and functions which you can use. As the average PC or laptop user, most of these extra functions might not be necessary, especially if you don’t navigate Dark Net websites or use suspicious software.
I’ve gone without any kind of antivirus protection, just relying on the Windows Firewall for a year, just to test out a theory about how you make yourself vulnerable to online threats rather than being exposed randomly. Needless to say, I had no issues after a year. One small malware had infiltrated my laptop, but it was entirely my fault for trying to download from an un-trustworthy source. Otherwise, I have never had any problems with viruses, spyware, malware or anything that might harm my computer. Truth be told, a year has passed since I have performed this experiment and a lot has changed since.
Nowadays, you need at least a free antivirus software because websites can pull your personal information easily and you are more prone to click on dubious links because you just can’t tell which is legit and which is a faux. A small thing like an extension variation or a domain variation can rapidly send your laptop or PC spiraling down the river of viruses, destroying your data. That’s why I whole-heartedly recommend that everyone use at least a free antivirus software on their laptop, because most provide basic protection against millions of known threats. They do come with false positives, but you can detect those easily.
This time around, I will be telling you about AVG and Avira, two of the best free antivirus programs you can find online. There are many alternatives to these two, and you should test each out on your own laptop or PC to see which caters to your needs better. Some are optimized for web-browsing, some for gaming, others for remote connections and portable memory units, so the choice really depends on what you need. Both Avira and AVG cater to the average computer-user, providing protection when web-browsing, installing applications, downloading and connecting to various devices. The basic protection these offer should be enough if you don’t stray from Google and Facebook, too much, and most people don’t in my experience.
Trust is a hard thing to earn, and free antivirus software providers know that. Once you have a product that has a history and is known by various generations of people, the level of trust people have in the protection you offer automatically comes easier. Both Avira and AVG have been on the free antivirus market for quite a few years and have come to accumulate a user-base that is content with what they are offering and their premium programs as well. Let’s see how the two free antivirus options size up next to each other and try to determine which would be the best choice for the average consumer.
First off, let’s take Avira and detail what it has to offer. Avira has taken advantage of a few Material Design elements we’ve seen in Android 5.0 Lollipop and the UI of the software as well as the user Dashboard benefit from a flat, colorful look that it easy to navigate, even though it takes some time to understand the features the software has to offer. The free antivirus doesn’t have a lot of tools on hand, but what it has performs as it should and provides for enough protection for the average internet user. Avira comes with a file scanner and a database that is periodically updated with new virus footprints and detection systems. Avira has one of the largest virus databases out of all the free antivirus offerings out there, which is a huge benefit.
Avira has a major drawback, though, which is the lack of tech support. For the average user, having tech support for a free antivirus software might not be necessary, but it may come in handy if you encounter trouble with the software and how it detects (or doesn’t) viruses, spyware and malware on your computer. When installing, you might even find that Avira actually disables network connectivity, in which case you are in need of tech support. On the other hand, Avira has one of the best malware blocking algorithms among free antivirus programs, which is definitely a pro and a good reason to choose it over other free options available.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZdHZFDem5Y
One annoying thing about Avira is that even though you have the free version installed on your system, it still shows the options you need to pay for. You get to try trial versions of features like Speedup, which is a system cleaning tool that can analyze and clean your registry, cache, junk files, logs and hard drives. You can only use the feature if you get the Avira Antivirus Internet Security or Ultimate Protection suites. The Pro version of the software only unlocks all features of the antivirus, while the Internet Security Suite includes System Speedup, and the Ultimate Protection Suite adds the Driver Updater tool. The Pro version costs $24 for a year for one user, the Internet Security Suite costs $36 for one year for one user while the Ultimate Protection Suite will set you back $48 for one user for one year. It’s not the priciest offer out there, but it isn’t the cheapest either.
In the free version, you get all the must-have tools and features like real-time protection, system scanning and timely updates. The software’s malware removing program works just fine and will remove and alert accurately most of the time. It does encounter problems in detection, but it will reach an average of 80 % malware detected and removed on most occasions. While 100 % would be ideal, there are few free antivirus software (or none, actually) that can do that. But you would have to be severely malware infested with new types of malware in order for Avira to not make a difference. On the other hand, Avira does a great job on a malware-free system, being able to block nearly all incoming malware, up to 97 % of the time. Avira is also good at detecting new malware that doesn’t have a signature yet, blocking them instantly, which is a very good feature in a free antivirus.
Once you install Avira, it comes with an extension or toolbar which you can use in your browser. I find that it can identify safe websites easily, as well as identify all the trackers that might be active on one site or another. You can easily block or unblock trackers based on what kind of user experience you want on the web. You can block services which track your activity so that they can target ads better, but you can unblock Google+, Facebook and Twitter trackers if you want to have accurate suggestions and recommended articles on social media. It is interesting how Avira offers these options up and I really enjoy having the option to disallow tracking if I don’t want ads to be targeted at me. I prefer seeing random ads and then blocking them if I mind them. Anyhow, the browser safety is pretty good with Avira, but not the best. It doesn’t always detect a harmful site, but it always detects harmful direct downloads, which is neat. Overall, Avira is good for real-time protection, but if anythings slips past it, you’re pretty much a goner.
Now on to AVG. This program is a bit more popular than Avira and has been called the best free antivirus software of the year, repeatedly. No wonder, since it offers quite a lot of tools you can use and the level of real-time as well as scanning protection it offers is top-notch. One annoying thing about AVG (and this is the same for Avira, too) is that it constantly pesters you to try a free trial of the full security suite and prompts you to upgrade to use certain features that are still present in the antivirus, only unusable until you decide to upgrade. You also get a lot of suggestions within the interface, advertising other AVG security products and mobile solutions, most for a fee. This is the case with most free antivirus programs, so you won’t be finding a good one that doesn’t ask you to upgrade to benefit from additional tools. Alas, we are glad that we have free software at our disposition and we are grateful for it, too, since not all of us can spare $50 a year for antivirus protection only.
The user interface on AVG is more packed than on Avira, but it does offer more tools than the latter, which acts in its favor at the moment. Naturally, you get real-time protection and web browsing protection, but AVG is best when it comes to malware prevention and detection. Malware blocking and detection is the best feature on AVG which beats Avira’s scores by a mile in various tests. It can also detect new malware which doesn’t have a recognized signature, but Avira can do that well enough, too. Still, AVG is better at malware detection and removal than most free antivirus out there, so I would definitely recommend it if you already have a malware infested system or are prone to having one in the end.
AVG also adds a toolbar to your browser and offers the opportunity to perform secure searches directly from the toolbar. Much like Avira, AVG reports the safety of each website you visit, but it adds additional information that details why the site is considered to be safe and you have the option of checking out a detailed report about each site. It also lets you block or unblock trackers, like Avira does, depending on your own preferences and views about tracking.
Overall, Avira and AVG tie up nicely next to each other, but each has its own drawbacks. With Avira, you get limited information about websites and fewer tools to use, while AVG is annoying with all the promotions and prompts to upgrade, but offers better information on websites and better malware protection. It is up to you and your preferences. If you are not bothered by consistent prompts to buy something, AVG might be the best choice when it comes to free antivirus, since it does antivirus-stuff better than Avira and has a better track record with malware. But if you want a minimalist design and an easy to use interface, as well as basic protection against known threats, Avira might just do the trick. If you want more information as well as statistics about various free antivirus software, ou can visit AVTest and review most major antivirus programs and their performance, as well as track record.
Gaming crossovers are a great way to bring in new people and drive up interest in a title. With that being said, crossovers aren’t as rare as they once were. More and more gaming companies are now embracing crossovers, to the point that some may say that it has lost its appeal. And while this is true to some degree, there are still crossovers that are really effective when it comes to adding a whole new dimension to a game. To prove our point, we’ve put together a list of five of the most interesting crossovers.
Forza Horizon 4: Halo
Forza Horizon 4 is the eleventh installment in the Forza series. The Forza series is known for its ability to emulate realistic racing conditions and offer accurate representations of real-world cars. And while they’ve partnered with car manufacturers before, Forza Horizon 4 features one of the most interesting collaborations in the entire series.
For a series that prides itself on realistic racing, Forza also knows when to cut loose and have a little fun. Nothing exemplifies this more than the Halo crossover that features Master Chief and the iconic Warthog.
Fortnite: Travis Scott
Fortnite is no stranger to crossovers. But if we had to pick one as the most interesting it would have to be the Travis Scott concert. Not only did this crossover include custom skins and emotes but it also paved the way for one of the most unique digital experiences of 2020.
The Verge’s article on the Travis Scott crossover details that the crossover included an interactive digital concert that turned the Fortnite island into a music stage. What’s great about this crossover is that it hints towards a future wherein music and video games will be working hand in hand to deliver immersive musical experiences to millions of people from all over the world.
Merge Dragons: Rick and Morty
When you think of the popular TV show Rick and Morty, a fantasy puzzle game isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. This is what makes this Rick and Morty crossover so interesting. The sheer absurdity of this crossover shows what gaming collaborations can achieve when one thinks outside the box. The game features original dialogue spoken by the characters that matches their characteristics from the show. It is a fun addition to the puzzle game.
However, this crossover shouldn’t be too surprising as Rick and Morty have appeared in other games, demonstrating how they have become pop culture icons. The comic nature of the duo makes them perfect for every type of genre, including slot games. Foxy Bingo’s pop cultured-themed slots include an official Rick and Morty game that features the iconic imagery and characters from the show. The show has also produced its own game in the form of the Pokémon-clone Pocket Mortys. One thing that all of these games have in common is that they maintain the show’s penchant for fun and wacky adventures. This is seen in Merge Dragons with the exclusive cow-dragon hybrid featured in the crossover event.
Mortal Kombat 11: Rambo
While crossovers in fighting games aren’t exactly new, Mortal Kombat has always had a knack for creating interesting crossovers for their iconic fighting game. One way that they’ve done this is with the inclusion of popular film characters. The franchise has had everyone from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Jason of the Friday the 13th franchise appear in their games.
However, the latest iteration of the game may have topped all of the previous crossovers. This is because Mortal Kombat 11 features John Rambo of the legendary Rambo franchise as one of its available fighters. To add to this, CNet’s article on Mortal Kombat 11 details that Sylvester Stallone voiced the digital John Rambo. This is certainly a treat for fans of the popular action film franchise, as they can finally play as one of the most influential action heroes of all time.
With all the loot box shenanigans we’ve witnessed this year, you might have, while searching for more information, accidentally stumbled across something by the name of Loot Crate. Unlike the reviled loot boxes, Loot Crate isn’t a digital gambling scam. Instead, Loot Crate is a physical, subscription-based mystery box you receive in the mail that contains a bevy of geek-related material. Moreover, Loot Crate isn’t the only available service. Alongside the vanilla Loot Crate Classic, the Loot Crate company supplies geeks with anime-themed items with Loot Anime, gaming swag with Loot Gaming (Loot Crate also sells Halo, Minecraft, Fallout, Call of Duty, and Destiny 2 themed boxes), and film/TV merchandise with Harry Potter, Firefly, Marvel, and Star Trek themed boxes. Loot Crate also has a rival in the form of Geek Fuel, which is more expensive than Loot Crate Classic but contains more (and more expensive) merchandise. While I don’t have a Geek Fuel box to compare to a Loot Crate, I received a different subscription box for Christmas, The Curiosity Box. This mystery box is a joint venture between the company behind Geek Fuel and the YouTube Channel VSauce, which is admittedly cool. So, without further ado, let’s get into what sets apart a Loot Crate from a Curiosity Box and determine which is right for you.
WHAT’S THE SAME
On the surface, Loot Crate and The Curiosity Box seem similar. They arrive in big cardboard boxes and contain random items. Well, not precisely random; each box focuses on a different theme, and the items provided center around that theme. While a lot of geeks subscribe to these boxes for various bits of swag, perhaps the biggest draw is the exclusives. The companies behind these subscription services make deals with other firms to create unique pieces of merchandise that are literally impossible to find anywhere else, aftermarket/marked up eBay sales notwithstanding. Some of these exclusives are just color variants of readily available products, such as a glow in the dark Funko POP Groot figure and orange Quantum Mechanix Tribble.
Most exclusives, however, aren’t available elsewhere in any other form and include items like the The Walking Dead art print, the Yeti temporary tattoo, the tower of magnetic rings, and “collectible” pins.
Furthermore, while most exclusives are decorative, some are practical items, such as a pen shaped like the Sledge Saw from Dead Rising 3 and light-up beverage coasters with periodic symbols.
Finally, these subscription boxes have some of the most awesome, exclusive, geeky shirts this side of ThinkGeek or Hot Topic.
The exclusive items tend to be the best pieces of merchandise in each box and are usually worth the price of the subscription alone. Usually.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT
Let’s get this out of the way: the most obvious differences are the prices and subscription models. Loot Crate Classic is about $20 per box and comes once a month, while The Curiosity Box is well over $50 and arrives once every three months. More importantly, these boxes are designed for two completely different audiences. The Loot Crate (and likely by extension Geek Fuel) is aimed primarily at adults or older teenagers and provides geek-related decorations and practical items, such as the Dead Rising 3 pen, Star Wars and Deadpool fridge magnets, and a Mega Man car air freshener.
Also, Loot Crate tends to include non-exclusive products that are part of a series. Case in point, during my brief stint with Loot Crate, I received (among other things) a Kidrobot Glow in the Dark Ooze Action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle vinyl figure and a Funko ReAction Alien figure. I got Donatello and the titular Alien, respectively, but I easily could have found Leonardo or Ripley in my Loot Crate subscriptions instead. However, since The Curiosity Box is almost exclusively made up of exclusive items, there is no element of randomness and everyone receives the same merchandise.
While Loot Crate caters to the video game, movies, comics, television, and everything pop-culture side of geekdom, The Curiosity Box is more science oriented and is designed for the family. For example, parents who bought the Summer 2017 Curiosity Box got to enjoy a t-shirt, a set of periodic table beverage coasters, a magnetic ring tower, a t-shirt, and a Nikola Tesla (as a sloth) enamel pin, while children will have fun with a temporary tattoo, a unique embroidered sticker patch, a solar system wall decal and poster set, a mobile microscope, and a castle cross-sections book. Finally, the Summer 2017 Curiosity Box came with the Universe Sandbox 2 Steam game, which is fun for all ages.
Since each Loot Crate and Curiosity Box contains new themes and items, you might find the contents of one particular box more to your liking than another. For example, one Curiosity Box contained a “grow your own glow in the dark crystals” kit, while another included a plush of The Curiosity Box’s mascot, the orange octopus Inq. Meanwhile, past Loot Crates have contained a Batman mug, a Doom Marine Funko POP figure, and the One-Punch Man manga.
While I only have personal experience with Loot Crate and The Curiosity Box, they are not your only options for subscription boxes. Geek Fuel is another decent mystery box, and it has come with its fair share of good products, including a South Park: The Fractured But Whole shirt, a Loony Toons Kidrobot blind box vinyl figure, and an exclusive Legend of Zelda pixel sword power bank. While I cannot recommend the Loot Crate, Curiosity Box, or Geek Fuel (or other) subscription boxes enough, you should research each to know what you should expect from these services. Sure, you technically can’t know what to expect since each box is supposed to be a mystery, but look into each specific subscription and figure out which one is right for you. Which do you think tends to have the best exclusives? Which box caters to your interests? These questions are important and will severely impact your enjoyment. Of course, luck also plays a big role, but that’s also part of the fun.
It seems like yesterday when Google introduced Google Drive 5 years ago. Back then, people didn’t have a good grasp about what Cloud Storage did. Nowadays, there are many Cloud Storage services that it’s only a matter of preference to choose one for your file keeping needs. However, what struck me as an oddity was how Google Drive will pull their Google Drive service come 2018.
That’s right, Google Drive will completely shut down on March 12, 2018. With the software no longer being supported on December 11, 2017. People will have several warnings about this, for now, so they will have plenty of chance to switch to the new version of Drive, Backup and Sync.
This new program is basically a combination of the features between Google Drive and Photos. It’s readily available now for Windows and OSX systems and will be the new host for the Cloud storage. Alternatively, users can get a hold of Drive File Stream, which will become available on September 26, 2017.
The core differences between DFS and BaS come when you compare how they help customers. As shown in the image below:
A day without Google Drive.
It seems like users will have their first experience without Drive today though. Because as of this morning, the service was down for many users who constantly used the GSuit app. According to the independent site Downdetector, more than 7,000 users are experiencing issues with the service. This has been going on since 10:04 AM EDT, but the number of reports has been lowering afterward. You can check the stats here.
It’s a shame to see Google Drive go. To be frank, it was my preferred Cloud Storage option besides MEGA. However, it’s not a huge inconvenience considering they are not shutting down a Cloud Storage service altogether. So we at least have that.
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