The Frustration of Inherited Technology: A Cautionary Tale about AVG

Recently, I found myself at my late grandfather’s home, sorting through his belongings and taking inventory of his digital life. As part of my task, I needed to check his computer to ensure that any important matters were handled appropriately. However, what I encountered left me utterly dismayed and compelled to share my experience as a warning to others.

Upon booting up his computer, I noticed it was running remarkably slow, even considering its decent specifications. A quick glance at the Task Manager revealed that AVG Software was consuming a disproportionate amount of system resources while accomplishing very little. Some processes were running persistently, unable to be disabled, and certain programs had embedded themselves into the startup routine without an escape route. It became glaringly obvious that AVG had significantly hindered the computer’s performance.

As I sifted through his emails to cancel unnecessary subscriptions, I found messages from AVG that struck me as particularly alarming. They boasted about how they’d noticed his computer was running slowly and suggested a subscription to AVG TuneUp for £45 a year, promising to enhance his computer’s performance. To me, this seemed less like a solution and more like a tactic to slightly alleviate the burden they had imposed on his system.

Digging deeper, I discovered that my grandfather had numerous AVG subscriptions: AVG Security, AVG TuneUp, AVG VPN—questionable since I doubt he ever utilized a VPN—and even AVG Driver Update. This last one left me perplexed—why should anyone have to shell out extra for driver updates? When did essential maintenance turn into an additional cost?

Compounding my frustration, I learned that he had been using the AVG Secure Browser, which, rather ironically, monopolized the system’s resources. When I attempted to access the internet through other browsers like Chrome or Edge, I was redirected to AVG’s ominous warnings, claiming that these browsers posed security risks. This was the company’s veiled attempt at funneling users back to their limited Secure Browser experience.

My heart ached for my grandfather—a kind man who simply wanted to enjoy watching sports and reading about military history. Instead, he had unwittingly become entangled in a web of unnecessary subscriptions totaling around £120 (nearly $150). If someone had knocked on his door and swindled him for that amount, we would have immediately called the authorities. Yet, because these practices are cloaked in brand legitimacy, they are often overlooked