Options
Google Earth
Gill P
Posts: 21,593 Forum Member
✭✭✭
My sister has a Dell Inspiron (given to her by a friend!) and has tried to download Google Earth on to it but her anti-virus (AVG) prevents her doing this. I spoke to my grandson who works with computers and he says it would be best to remove AVG and use Microsoft Security Essentials as her anti-virus and not bother with AVG.
Anyone any thoughts on this?
Anyone any thoughts on this?
0
Comments
This sums it up: http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/software/1303828/microsoft-security-essentials
"Although earlier versions of Security Essentials have performed strongly, this test shows it clearly lagging behind even the worst competition. It's still better than nothing, but if you want free anti-virus software we'd recommend http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/software/1303810/avast-2014-free-antivirus
Better still, consider paying for Kaspersky Internet Security 2014."
However, I fail to see why AVG is preventing the installation of Google Earth
AVG is pretty awful. MSE is not intrusive, but doesn't offer good protection.
Go for an alternative free antivirus such as Bitdefender, Avast or Avira.
Very bad advice. Microsoft Security Essentials is like some who's not reliable at all.
Be careful when installing though cos if you dont read the steps fully it will install Chrome and put you on a trial of the full product. The basic AV is totally free for personal use - you just need to give them your name and email address each year.
Or,for those who tend not to read the screens, download/install Avast from here https://ninite.com (I've always found it safe and reliable) and all it will install is the program - no Chrome or 'free trial'
I found that my installed version of Google Earth doesn't allow zooming, whereas the web version of Google Maps does.
It is not necessary to change the AV program. It is probably just indicating an unwanted bundled Toolbar (PUP), probably Google Toolbar as you would expect.
You can switch off the PUP scanner in AVG temporarily and try the download again.
Another way is to put the Downloads folder into the exceptions/ignore list temporarily to do the download.
Do the download for Google Earth and then move it to another location then put that Folder on the exceptions/ignore list. Then of course remove the Downloads Folder from the exceptions/ignore list.
You need to know how to do these things with AV software as so much free stuff comes with these bundled trashy items. Also to deal with false positives.
You will have to look at specifics in the AVG Manual. If you don't have it then download it.
Always go to custom install for Google Earth and carefully make sure not to install any of this as per usual with 'free' stuff.
Google Earth zooms, there is no problem with that. It is a lot faster than the Web Browser version. This is in part as I use a much larger cache for the Desktop Application, than with a Web Browser.
With Google Maps, you can zoom in & out easily using the centre mouse wheel, or by double-clicking on a greyed-out square, or by using the +/- buttons on the keyboard. With Google Earth you have to use the on-screen slider bar.
I notice that Google Earth doesn't zoom in as far as Google Maps does.
Not true! I use Google Earth almost daily, using the mouse wheel to zoom with.
What doesn't zoom, using the mouse centre wheel, is Street View in Google Earth. I use Google Maps usually for more detailed map detail, but not on a regular basis.