Basically, my Mum's laptop had Avast! Free on it, and I un-installed it (as it said it had expired) to install AVG ... And lost all internet connectivity.

After a lot of playing about and surfing the net on my desktop, I found that there are a LOT of complaints online from people who have uninstalled Avast! Free, or even just downgraded from a paid version to the free version - to find their internet connection is blocked.

When I say blocked, I mean it - wireless, wired, and even a USB tethered connection via my mobile were all blocked (though it doesn't say it's blocked, it says "limited or no connectivity" or "no network available"). I tried the same method on my desktop, and there's no problem with the network in each method.

There are numerous "fixes" online ... none of which have worked, so I'm now busy doing a wipe and full re-install of the OS (it needs a spring clean - hasn't had one for 3 years and is getting a bit slow).

So beware of Avast - it works great while you're using it, but has a nasty trick up it's sleeve if you try and remove it!

Yeah i've come across this with quite a few mainstream AV's and full Net security packages. Especially the increasing amount of false positives to make you think your system is packed full of crap. Unfortunately this is a very good customer retention scheme and a very sickening one at that.

Video is relevant at 3 seconds in.

Erm ... don't know about anyone else - but I'm just seeing a big space and no video?!?

And as for the "Customer retentions scheme" Draze mentioned ... well these methods should be just plain illegal, with no excuses for not supporting the "free" versions when people have these problems as it could cost those that are less computer-savvy a lot of money to fix!

I guess that's their idea to try and keep people (cost of PC technician VS cost of paid version of their VC) ... but I even tried installing the latest version of Avast! free to restore internet connectivity, and even that was then blocked by the old Avast! free remnants.

To me that's just very poor coding (I should know - I'm rubbish at it!)

Here's a fun fact
Did you know that if your MacAfee subscription runs out, it automatically blocks PornHub?

Have you tryed ethinet which is your laptop wired directly in to the broadband box it's what allows me to use Internet

Timeno - I tried the Ethernet ("wired") connection and my mobile phones internet - thethered to the PC via USB ... all blocked.

After a few hours work re-install the OS and restoring all Mum's files, it's now working fine (and a LOT faster!)

...

I used to have Trend Micro on all my systems until I updated to their cloud-based engine. It ate up nearly all my internet bandwidth ... I had a 20Meg cable connection with a download speed of just below 20Meg no matter what time of day or night I checked it with Trend Micro Switched off ... With it on, I got a maximum speed of 8Meg! - no matter what computer I tested it on (Had Trend on my laptop, my desktop, and my wife's laptop).

Plus, I'm not a fan of cloud-based virus checkers. As if you get a virus from some removable media while not connected to the internet, you can't say for sure if you'll be protected or not.