AVG Free 2016 - "Your online security is incomplete" - Annoying Pop Up

UPDATES - SEE BOTTOM OF THIS POST
For some people, this pop up is coming up daily. It is a pop up to install AVG Web Tune-Up, the trial of the Pro (paid) version, disguised as a scare about your Internet Security.

Here is the wording of the pop-up:
AVG Free Pop Up "Your online security is incomplete. Install online security features for maximum protection. Options: Remind Me Later.  Install Now. Or, click the X in the top right of the pop up.

This particular pop up in AVG Free has become quite annoying as it is coming up every day or two. These types of pop ups from AVG used to come up every month or so, but they have escalated their campaign to get you to use their other products. AVG Free has been a great all around product to use, but this new pop up frequency is making it very annoying.This particular pop up is actually to try to get you to upgrade to the trial of the pro (paid) version of the program, not to install some extra program. It is misleading in that it may make people think that it is for an additional part, and not the full program. (If you do end up installing the trial version of the full program, go into Control Panel, Programs and Features and remove AVG. You will end up being given the choice to switch to the free version, so you can do that.)

I am in the process of researching other free antivirus products that would be as versatile and effective, yet not so annoying (So far Avira and Avast are in the running, but they come with other problems). In the meantime, here is a workaround solution that I am testing out. Feel free to test this out yourself. Use this workaround at your own risk. So far it seems to be working for me

SOLUTION ONE
[UPDATE: This one does not work]
If you are getting this AVG pop up every day or every couple of days, here is a temporary solution for now:

1- Click on the X in the pop up to close it, if it is open.
2- Right-click on the AVG icon in the bottom right of your screen in the Notification area
3- Click on Temporarily disable AVG protection.
4- Navigate to this folder C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG\Av\
5- Delete the following three folders: Awacs, Banners, Tuneup. [Do not delete anything else. If you accidentally delete anything else go to the recycle bin and restore it.]
6- Re-enable AVG protection (right-click on the AVG icon you clicked on in step 2 and choose Enable AVG protection  (it may take a minute for it to come back on, so ignore any Windows pop ups that say your security is disabled))
7- Done (until the next major AVG program update)

I found this tip in this AVG forum:
https://support.avg.com/answers?id=906b0000000bn1CAAQ
by AVG user Mike C.

I'll let you know how this goes after a few days.


SOLUTION TWO
Another possible solution
(Again, try this at your own risk.)
- Fully Remove AVG Free and related AVG products if they are installed too.
- Use CCleaner's Registry cleaner to clean out leftover AVG entries
- Go to this link and download the appropriate AVG Free version for your computer (32bit or 64bit), and install this version.

Again, this will probably only work until the next major AVG Free update.

Note: This will either fix the problem, or fix it for a temporary period (of maybe a few weeks). At this point, the only way to tell is to try it.

This tip is from John Smith in the same forum.


**** I will post updates here in this post as I discover what works, what doesn't, and if nothing works, what alternatives are out there.

UPDATES
Solution One did not work - the pop-up notification came right back up the next day.

Your AVG AntiVirus FREE is outdated

If you are using AVG Free 2014 already, you may get this notice popping up in the bottom right of your screen. If you do, and you want to continue with the FREE version, here is what to do.

The notice: 
AVG
Your AVG AntiVirus FREE is outdated.
Update now to our 2014 version for improved
protection against the latest viruses & spyware.
Update Now

Click Update Now

Initializing Installation

Wait

Accept the agreement

Now, THIS STEP IS CRUCIAL:
Check BASIC PROTECTION
then click on Next.

UPDATE: SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT CHECKED BASIC HAVE ENDED UP NOT BEING ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET AFTER THE UPDATE (until they downgrade to the Basic version).


Now it will install the update.

When it is done installing, the AVG main window will come up with a band across it:
Congratulations!
You've successfully updated to AVG AntiVirus FREE 2014

Click on Continue
Close AVG (your previous settings should still be the same)

There will also be a window that comes up:
Computer Restart Required

Now, save anything you might be working on and then click Restart now in the AVG pop up window.
Done

AVG Free Antivirus Needs To Be Updated

If you get this pop-up on your screen, here are steps to updating AVG Free (to AVG Free).

Click the Update Now button.

Accept the End User Software License Agreement

Check Basic Protection
Next

Now it will install the update.

When it is done, AVG Free will open up and across it will be a green banner with this on it:
"Congratulations!
You've successfully updated to AVG Antivirus Free 2014"
Click on Continue.
Close AVG Free.
Done.
restart computer.

If you missed the pop up and you want to update it manually, or, if you updated AVG Free and now you have the trial version, go here, for instructions and download links.

AVG Free 2014 - Summer Update

The Summer Update is out now. And you will see an AVG pop-up to Update Now on your screen sooner than later. To update:

Update Now - click this button when it shows up.
Check off Basic Protection
Next
When finished installing, click on Restart Now.
After restarting, open AVG
Click Continue
Click Scan Now to run an initial scan with the updated version of the program.
Done.

Note:
IF you made a mistake and did NOT check off Basic Protection, and you ended up with a trial of the paid version, you can easily convert back to the basic free version:
Open Control Panel, Programs and Features and remove AVG 2014. You will be given an option to Downgrade to the free basic version. Select this to convert.

Note:
If you clicked on Later, instead of Update Now, and you want to update, don't worry, it will come up again soon enough.

AVG Free - Safeguard Toolbar and other notifications

For those of you who like just the basics and not the extra annoyances, here are some tips in dealing with the various AVG pop-ups.

If you get a notice to install/update/upgrade AVG Safeguard Toolbar (or AVG Nation Toolbar or AVG Security Toolbar, or something along those lines), you don't need to. Click on the greyed-out decline.
If you accidentally install it, you can easily remove it via Control Panel, Programs and Features.

The same thing goes for other pop ups for computer performance utilities, driver updaters, PC Tune-up/PC Analyzer, ...
Just X these out or decline. If you end up installing an AVG utility you don't want/need, uninstall it via Programs and Features in the Control Panel.

AVG Free 2014 Installation and Configuration Guide

AVG Free 2014 just came out. Here is my guide for a clean basic installation and configuration.


If you already have AVG Free 2013, you should download and install the 2014 version sooner than later. If you don't, you will have pop-ups come up eventually asking you to update (and they will steer you toward the full paid version instead of the free basic version).

Print these instructions out, or bring them up on another computer in order to follow them through the process.

Download it from here and choose either the 32bit version or the 64bit version. If you still have Windows XP, you most likely need the 32bit version. Most people running Vista or Windows 7, or Windows 8 will need the 64bit version. When in doubt, try installing the 64bit version. If it's not the right one, the installation won't get all the way through.

The interface and settings are pretty much the same as in AVG Free 2013

Note: these instructions are for if you are installing AVG Free 2014 on top of AVG Free 2013. If you are installing AVG Free for the first time, the steps will be very similar. Also, for first time installers, if you have any other real-time security programs running on your computer, you will need to remove them before installing AVG Free.

Having problems installing AVG Free? See my post here for a resolution.

INSTALL

• Close any open programs, including your browser.
• Run the file you downloaded.
• Accept the license agreement
• Check Custom Install and click Next.
• Un-check Additional installed languages. Make sure AVG Add-Ons is UN-checked (if it shows in the list). Next
• UN-check Use the AVG Toolbar to improve my Internet protection. By default, nothing else should be checked off in this Window. Make sure all the boxes in this window are NOT checked off. Next. 
• Now it will install. This can take a few minutes or longer, depending on your computer.
• When that is done, UN-check I want to help AVG improve its products ... (or leave it checked if you don't mind the program sending AVG anonymous information about threats it bumps into and security issues related to AVG in order for AVG to use this info to improve their program). I leave this checked. Note: for some of you, your browser might open with a notice from AVG that they are sad to see that you uninstalled the Security Toolbar. Ignore this and close the browser.
• Click on Restart Now
• If your operating system asks if you want to restart now, yes, restart.
• Wait for your computer to restart and wait for AVG window to open. If it doesn't, double-click on the AVG tray icon. If your tray icon ends up hidden, un-hide it (click the little up arrow and choose Customize and beside AVG, change to Show icon and notifications, and then click OK)
• Click on Update Now (if it shows Program Up To Date, then skip this). Let it update. Continue doing this until it says You are currently up-to-date. From the Update screen, to get back to the main screen, click on the back arrow on the left side (white arrow in green). 

CONFIGURE

• Now, time to configure
• Go to the main AVG Free screen
• Click Options (top right), Advanced Settings
• UN-check the bottom 3 items: AVG Advisor Notifications, Boot time improvement notifications, and Statistical notifications (all mainly just annoying messages). Then click Apply
• Click on the + sign beside Scans and then on Removable device scan.
• Check Enable Removable device scan, and Heal/Remove virus infections without asking me
• Scroll to the bottom of this window and change Adjust how quickly ... to High Priority. Apply
• Back on the left, click on the + sign beside Schedules, and select Scheduled Scan
• Check off Enable this task
• Leave the default setting or adjust to a day and time of the week when the computer is normally on.
• Apply
• Okay, and back to the main screen. And close (X in the top right corner).
• Eventually, usually within an hour from installation, AVG will pop up and ask you to do an initial scan. Do it.

TIPS AND NOTES

• Everything that you will ever see in the Notification area (bottom of the main AVG screen) regards upgrading to the paid version of the program. For most people you can ignore this. 
• Fix Performance - Don't use this. There are better free tools out there and most things like this that profess to tune up your computer only make it worse. 
•  Driver Update - Don't use this. It's not necessary and can end up installing an incorrect driver (which can really foul up your computer).
• If you accidentally upgrade to the paid version or a free trial of the paid version, you may find, among other things, that you get a lot of annoying messages popping up while you are on-line, and that you can't access some web pages that you regularly access. To revert back to the free basic version, remove the program via the Windows Control Panel and Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP), or Programs and Features (Windows Vista, 7, 8). Once you select to remove/uninstall it, you will be presented with various choices. Choose the one that converts or reverts you to the free, or basic protection/version.
• UPDATE: If you accidentally install the AVG Nation Toolbar, you may notice that it hijacks your browser (adds a toolbar, changes your search engine and home page). The simple solution is to just un-install it. To do so, go to the Control Panel, Programs and Features and remove it. Once removed, your browser settings will revert back to what they were.

AVG 2013 Summer Update

Here are my instructions for those using AVG Free 2013 who wish to continue using the free version with the least amount of annoyances.

Starting March 21, 2013 and soon after, you may get a pop-up in the lower right corner of your screen (If you haven't got the pop-up yet, don't worry, you will eventually. If you can't wait to get it, visit my post on Installing AVG Free 2013 to get the latest version, and when installing over the previous version, choose Repair install):

AVG needs to be updated.

Here are the steps you need to take to install the update:
- Click on Update Now
- Accept

- IMPORTANT STEP: Check off Basic Protection (If you miss this, you will end up installing the trial version of the paid version. To revert back to the free version, see the last point in the Tips and Notes section of this post).

- Next

- IMPORTANT STEP: Un-check the 3 check boxes in the lower section of the window (if they are not already un-checked), and, un-check Use The AVG Toolbar... NOTE: if you don't make sure these are all un-checked, you will end up with an unnecessary AVG security toolbar in your browser and AVG will replace your homepage too!

- Next.
Now it will download files and install the update.
- When finished, you will see the Congratulations! window. I normally leave the top check box checked off. However, some may wish to un-check this box. Either way is fine.
- If you need to wait to restart (due to working on things at the moment/files open), click on Restart Later. Otherwise, click on Restart now (recommended) to finish the installation process. (Note: you do need to restart the computer in order for the installation to complete).
Done.

Once finished, if you open up the AVG window, in the bottom left of the Notification area at the bottom, it should be "2013 build 3267" or greater.

If you are not using AVG Free and you wish to install it for the first time, please see my main post on installing AVG Free 2013.

AVG Web Protection Pop-Up

For those of you using AVG Free 2013, who have opted out of using the AVG Security Toolbar and Safe Search, you may occasionally get a pop-up in the bottom right of your screen asking you to use these features again. The top of it will begin with:

AVG
Enable Web Protection for a better and safer Internet experience (free).

These features are more annoying than anything else. If you don't want them/don't use them, un-check the 3 check boxes and then click on Decline, to get rid of this pop-up.

My Top 20 Free Windows Programs - Sept. 2012

Backup
Cobain Backup - a free backup program that you can fully customize - scheduling, backing up to various drives including network drives, differential or full backup, etc. Uses Shadow Volume Copy so you can back up while you work on your computer. In the task pane it now also shows the total size (GB, MB...) of your backup task.

Browser
Firefox - Still the best browser. Faster than ever. Better memory management. More secure and stable. Tons of extensions to meet your needs. Check out Personas - an easy way to dress up Firefox. Now also available for mobile Android devices.

Clean-Up
CCleaner - great for cleaning up temp files, temp files leftover from crashes, and cleaning up the Registry, disabling unnecessary start-up items, cleaning up IE add-ons, scheduled events and more.

Revo Uninstaller - an advanced un-installer program that enables you to remove the usual leftover registry items and folders. Scroll to the bottom of the page at the link to get to the free version download link.

Defraggler - from the makers of CCleaner, this program is a great replacement for the Windows defragment program. Works in all recent versions of Windows. This program lets you see what is going on (like the old program in XP). It is fast and can work even if you have less than 10% of the hard drive free. Not as necessary in Windows 7, but very handy for older XP and Vista system hard drives.

Email
Thunderbird - an excellent email program from Mozilla (same group that brings you Firefox). I find this much easier to customize and to backup and move files around when need be, and much more stable than Outlook, Outlook Express, or Windows Mail/Windows Live Mail programs. Tabs, excellent search function, File-Link (large file management) and more.

Entertainment
Winamp - best free media player overall - yes it has playlists and you can use it with your ipod or any other MP3 player. Works better than iTunes and doesn't install other programs behind your back, and you can customize its many settings (file formats to deal with, whether it launches on its own or by your command...). Great for doing live mixes as you can queue songs up.

Freemake Video Converter - With video collections moving to hard drives away from disc collections, here is a great free program that you can use to convert your DVD movie or TV show into an AVI file (or other digital format).  Here is the short how-to video for this process. To go with this, here is a decryption program - DVD43 - that operates in the background. It should work with most DVDs.

VLC Media Player - for playing a wide variety of video and music files, DVDs, and streaming. When Windows Media Player won't play it (WMP in Windows 7 works much better but there are still files it won't play), this will. The user interface isn't that pretty, but it works.

File Sharing
uTorrent - the best little torrent program around. Pronounced MOO-torrent (as the initial u is actually the micro symbol). Although there was a threat to stick ads in the free version, they backed down and made them optional.

Peerblock - lets you control who your computer "talks to" on the Internet. By selecting appropriate lists of "known bad" computers, you can block communication with advertising or spyware oriented servers, computers monitoring your p2p activities, computers which have been "hacked", even entire countries! They can't get in to your computer, and your computer won't try to send them anything either.

Productivity 

Libre Office - the best free alternative to MS Office. Libre Office picked up where Open Office left off - same program but newer/more developed. And it can open .docx  and .xlsx files. You can create a PDF directly from any of the programs in the suite with a click of an icon. Word processor, spreadsheet, drawing program, database, and a math program. You can make it save things in MS Office format by default if you need to share documents with others who have MS Office. The link takes to you the page where you can download the main installation file and the help file. Download both, install the main one first and then the help file. If you currently have Open Office installed, make sure to remove it before installing Libre Office. The first time you open the program it will take a while to load to configure itself. You may need to open it again if it doesn't fully open. After that it opens normally.

EssentialPIM - A personal information manager. Similar features to Outlook (outside of the email part). If you want a PIM that is not bogged down by the email part of Outlook (and it's other issues) - just a basic appointment calendar, contact list, To Do list and notes - this is a great program.

Security
AVG Free - anti-virus and anti-spyware and more, and continues to improve. Easy to use and works better than the big commercial programs. Go here for installation instructions for AVG Free 2013.

Malwarebytes - A good anti-spyware removal program to use along with your regular security program to occasionally check for bugs. Has a quickscan mode that takes about 10 minutes, and a full scan mode. Also adds as a context menu so you can right-click on a file/folder/drive and choose to scan it with Malwarebytes.

Mailwasher Free - filter out Spam before it gets to your email program. Works with a wide variety of email programs. Free version only works for one email address. Paid version will work with multiple addresses.

Utilities
7zip - 32bit or 64bit - decompression and compression of many many compression formats. After installing, run 7-Zip File Manager program as administrator, go to Tools, Options,click on the two + buttons, Apply and close the program.

Adobe Reader - Although it's big and sometimes annoying, this is still the best all round PDF reader. Works well in browsers. (I used to recommend Foxit Reader, but it is kind of buggy when dealing with opening PDFs inside a browser)

Crossloop - enables you to remotely connect to another computer to give or get help. Very simple to use. No need to create an account.

Dropbox - Actually a service, not a program, but very useful. Need to share or sync files with yourself or others in your group/business remotely, or, want to backup your work on-line? Free account starts at 2GB. There are other on-line free storage services, but Dropbox is probably the easiest to use and most versatile (and the least buggy).
From Wikipedia: Dropbox is a file hosting service operated by Dropbox, Inc. that offers cloud storage, file synchronization, and client software. In brief, Dropbox allows users to create a special folder on each of their computers, which Dropbox then synchronises so that it appears to be the same folder (with the same contents) regardless of the computer it is viewed on. Files placed in this folder are also accessible through a web site and mobile phone applications.
You can also share a file with someone who does not have a Dropbox account. To do this: Open your Dropbox folder. Open the Public folder. Right-click on the file you've put in there, select Dropbox, Copy Public Link. Then, send this link to the other person. This is a great way to send a file that is too large for email servers, or share a safe file that your email service keeps blocking (installation files, even when zipped, are often blocked by email services).

Honourable Mentions:
CDex - A simple program for converting CDs to digital audio files.

Freemake Audio Converter - a great program for converting digital audio files. Converts from and to many file formats.

EMDb - a free DVD/Video catalogue database program. Automatically downloads info from IMDB. I haven't used this but it looks like the best free one.

PDF Creator - Easy to create PDF files from any file - just print and select PDF Creator and it creates a PDF version of the file. You can also merge multiple files of any format into a multi-page PDF file. If you have Libre Office and only need to create PDFs of files you create with it, there is no need for this creator program.

More Programs
AlternativeTo - This is a great site for finding alternative programs (free or commercial) if you can't afford the usual expensive version, or for finding programs for very specific purposes.

Got any favourite free Windows programs for computer I left out? Add them in comments below.

AVG Free 2013 Installation and Configuration Guide

AVG Free 2013 just came out. Here is my guide for a clean basic installation and configuration.

Print these instructions out, or bring them up on another computer in order to follow them through the process.

Download it from here and choose either the 32bit version or the 64bit version. If you still have Windows XP, you most likely need the 32bit version. Most people running Vista or Windows 7 (or 8) will need the 64bit version. When in doubt, try installing the 64bit version. If it's not the right one, the installation won't get all the way through.

AVG Free has a new interface to fit with the new Metro theme in Windows 8. Love it or hate it, there it is.

INSTALL

• Close any open programs, including your browser.
• Run the file you downloaded.
• Accept the license agreement
• Check Custom Install and un-check the 2 boxes below that. Next. Note: some of you may have those 2 options show only below Express Install. If so, then these will be dealt with further in the Custom Install.
• Un-check Additional installed languages. Make sure AVG Add-Ons is UN-checked. Next
• Some of you may get a separate window for the AVG Security Toolbar option. If so, un-check I would like to set AVG Secure Search as my default... and un-check Improve my Internet protection .... Next.
• If you have a slow machine (or something more than a few years old) now is the time to go to the bathroom, have a beer, read a book, do the laundry or something that will take a while. If you have a modern or fast machine, don't go anywhere, it will only take a few minutes.
• When that is done, un-check I want to improve my security by participating ... (or leave it checked if you don't mind the program sending AVG anonymous information about threats it bumps into and security issues related to AVG in order for AVG to use this info to improve their program). I leave this checked. Note: for some of you, your browser might open with a notice from AVG that they are sad to see that you uninstalled the Security Toolbar. Ignore this and close the browser.
• Click on Restart Now
• If your operating system asks if you want to restart now, yes, restart.
• Wait for your computer to restart and wait for AVG window to open. If it doesn't, double-click on the AVG tray icon. If your tray icon ends up hidden, un-hide it (click the little up arrow and choose Customize and beside AVG, change to Show icon and notifications, and then click OK)
• Click on Update Now. Let it update. Continue doing this until it says You are currently up-to-date. From the Update screen, to get back to the main screen, click on the back arrow on the left side (white arrow in green). 

CONFIGURE

• Now, time to configure
• Go to the main AVG Free screen
• Click Options (top right), Advanced Settings
• UN-check AVG Advisor Notifications (mainly just annoying messages)
• Click on the + sign beside Scans and then on Removable device scan.
• Check Enable Removable device scan, and Heal/Remove virus infections without asking me
• Scroll to the bottom of this window and change Adjust how quickly ... to High Priority. Apply
• Back on the left, click on the + sign beside Schedules, and select Scheduled Scan
• Check off Enable this task
• Leave the default setting or adjust to a day and time of the week when the computer is normally on.
• Apply
• Okay and back to the main screen. And close (X in the top right corner).
• Eventually, usually within an hour from installation, AVG will pop up and ask you to do an initial scan. Do it.

TIPS AND NOTES

• Everything that you will ever see in the Notification area (bottom of the main AVG screen) regards upgrading to the paid version of the program. For most people you can ignore this. 
• Fix Performance - Don't use this. There are better free tools out there and most things like this that profess to tune up your computer only make it worse. 
• If you accidentally upgrade to the paid version or a free trial of the paid version, you may find, among other things, that you get a lot of annoying messages popping up while you are on-line, and that you can't access some web pages that you regularly access. To revert back to the free basic version, remove the program via the Windows Control Panel and Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP), or Programs and Features (Windows Vista, 7). Once you select to remove/uninstall it, you will be presented with various choices. Choose the one that converts or reverts you to the free, or basic protection/version.