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AVG Backs Down From Flooding the Internet

Posted by timothy on from the time-off-for-good-behavior dept.

Simon Wright writes "As a website that is featured heavily in many Google Australia search results, Whirlpool (Australia's largest technology forum) has been particularly affected by AVG's LinkScanner. We've seen a traffic increase as much as 12 hits per second from these bots. So we've actively and loudly campaigned against this move by AVG, encouraging all users of AVG 8.0 to uninstall the product. The discussion starts here. And AVG's backing down is posted here." From that URL:"'As promised, I am letting you know that the latest update for AVG Free edition has addressed and rectified the issue that [Whirlpool] have brought to our attention. This update has now been released to users and has also been built into the latest installation package for AVG Free.' — Peter Cameron, Managing Director, AVG Australia."

6 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. Re:LinkScanner was unnecessary in the first place by martin-boundary · · Score: 5, Funny

    I fail to see what Grisoft ever thought LinkScanner would acheive

    It turns out that LinkScanner was implemented in secret by two employees during odd hours, when all the other people had gone home(*). One of these employees, who likes to use the handle "pinky", was in charge of unit testing, while the second employee, who sometimes goes under the nickname "brain", actually designed the module.

    Investigations are ongoing, but preliminary questioning of the employees does suggest that LinkScanner's purpose was either to "take over the world", or possibly to "zort" a "narf-poit".

    (*) except for Norm, who didn't notice anything because he was busy looking for a misplaced stapler in another part of the building.

  2. Re:LinkScanner was unnecessary in the first place by Rogerborg · · Score: 5, Funny

    There's no need to be hypothetical. Anyone here have an unmodified AVG 8? Congratulations: you have just downloaded a page on how to home-brew all the most illegal drugs in the USA. Enjoy!

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  3. Re:So is AVG still a good AV prog? by StormyWeather · · Score: 4, Funny

    Damnit! That's why I keep having kids.

  4. ..news just in by catwh0re · · Score: 2, Funny

    news just in, whirlpool hit with a new torrent of traffic due to posting on slashdot... mmm irony.

  5. Re:Are you sure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I will not be uninstalling it from any of our computers - because it helps protect my computers and I don't give a damn about the web servers

  6. Re:So is AVG still a good AV prog? by smallfries · · Score: 2, Funny

    Posting AC because I've moderated,
    number11

    Sure, sure ... we believe you.

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