Ever since the launch of AVG8 some people on low end computers have suffered from sluggish internet browsing, this slow browsing is caused from the Web Shield that AVG8 installs.

The way I see it the Web Shield scans the websites you visit, checking the websites source code to see if there is any code that could be harmful.  Great idea! but when using Google it checks every website in the Google results! Meaning SLOW browsing and sometimes even the Web browser such as Internet explorer fails to respond.

Here is what Grisoft says about their Web Shield component.

“AVG 8.0’s patent-pending safe surfing and safe searching technology is designed to protect users of Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers against drive-by downloads from poisoned web pages and to flag dangerous search results in Google, Yahoo and MSN search engines.

Complementing the safe surfing and searching technology, the new Web Shield module scans files during download or exchange over ICQ or MSN instant messaging to ensure they are safe and free of malicious content.”

Taken from – http://www.grisoft.com/us.90627

Interestingly enough it is under the title “AVG 8.0: Tough on threats. Easy on you”.

I think we should rephrase that to  “AVG 8.0: Tough on computers. Extremely slow browsing for you”.

I would like to point out that if you have a high end computer you may not suffer as much from this problem. I would still recommend removing it as its very resource hungry.

Installing AVG Free 8 without the Web Shield

Yes, we could just disable the Web Shield in the AVG8 control panel but then AVG8 is always in Error state by showing this icon “” in the system tray.

1. THIS IS IMPORTANT. If you have AVG8 installed then go to (This is for Windows XP users) Add/Remove programs in Control panel. (This is for Windows Vista users) Programs and Features in Control Panel. Select AVG Free 8.0 and click Uninstall/Change and follow the wizard to uninstall AVG8 – This may require restarting the computer.
2. Download the latest installation from http://www.grisoft.cz/filedir/inst/avg_free_stf_en_8_100a1323.exe – (Latest installation as of 23/06/2008) or from http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe#tba2 – (Always has the latest download listed)
3. Save the installation file as avg.exe in the root of the C:\. See Below
4. Now we go to (Windows XP users) Start Menu and click Run. (Windows Vista users) Go to Start Menu -> in the “Start Search” box type Run. At the very top of the results under Programs you should see Run click it.
5. A box should appear, copy and paste this “C:\avg.exe  /NOAVGTOOLBAR /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSurf /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSearch /ADD_FEATURE fea_AVG_EmailPlugins /ADD_FEATURE fea_AVG_EMC /ADD_FEATURE fea_AVG_Office_2000_plugin” excluding the speech marks into the box labelled up Open then click OK
6. Follow the installation through, you will notice that it will be on “Custom Installation”. Click next continuously.
7. Eventually AVG8 will be installed and will require configuring, you will be shown a wizard to set-up scheduled scans and to update your virus definitions. Follow this through and make sure everything is up to date.
8. If you still have the icon “” in the system tray, double click it and see which components need updating.
9. Once everything is up to date and functional you should see this
10. The system tray icon should look like this

Finished!