FAQ

LinkScanner is a new security component included in the AVG 8.0 Free Edition, which provides the Search-Shield functionality. Its purpose is to scan all results of the supported Internet search engines (Yahoo!, Google, MSN), and provides you with an evaluation of a safety level of each found website. At the same time, the LinkScanner also checks all Internet addresses typed into the address bar of your browser, or linked on other websites.

There are four different levels of information you can get for each website, from Safe to Dangerous, allowing you to completely avoid dangerous or malicious websites.

Two settings are available in the AVG 8.0 Free Edition for the LinkScanner component:

• Enable AVG Search-Shield
  Controls the checking of visited links.
  
• Enable reporting of exploited websites to AVG
  This service sends a report about found insecure web page to our lab for analysis.

The AVG Toolbar is a new tool which works together with the AVG LinkScanner and checks search results of the supported Internet search engines (Yahoo!, Google, MSN). If you select to install the toolbar during the installation of AVG 8.0 Free Edition, it will be added into your Internet Explorer and/or Mozilla Firefox.

The AVG Toolbar can be used to control the AVG LinkScanner and to adjust its behavior, and to update your AVG in case new updates are available.

If you decide that you do not wish to use the toolbar, you can either skip its installation during the AVG installation process, or disable it manually in your Internet browser:

• Internet Explorer - use the mouse right-click on the toolbar and check-off the AVGTOOLBAR option in the list.
• Mozilla Firefox - Tools menu -> Add-ons. Find the AVG Toolbar here and click on the Disable button.

Disabling or uninstalling the AVG Toolbar has no negative effect on the level of security provided by AVG Free Edition. The only consequence of missing toolbar is an absence of some of the options, and less verbose information about the threats found by the AVG LinkScanner. The main settings of the LinkScanner component can be still configured in AVG Free User Interface.

Note

AVG Toolbar contains also a Yahoo! search box, which is an integral part of the toolbar and can not be removed separately.

It is possible that the AVG Search-Shield will fail to scan some link(s) when using the one supported Internet search engines (Yahoo!, Google or MSN). Such link is then marked by question mark instead of the actual scan result. The reason is usually a time-out when trying to scan the website. This does not pose any major problem, since if you decide to visit such website, its address will be scanned again by the Search-Shield.

The steps to clear the AVG search history are dependant on the Internet browser you are using:

1) In Internet Explorer, in order to clear the history please close the browser delete the following file:

• Windows Vista:
  c:\Users\<current_user>\AppData\Local\AVGTOOLBAR\COMBOSEARCH.acs
  or
  c:\Users\<current_user>\AppData\LocalLow\AVGTOOLBAR\COMBOSEARCH.acs

• Windows XP:
  C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application data\AVGTOOLBAR\COMBOSEARCH.acs

Some files or folders can be hidden by default Windows settings. To change this, please go to:
Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Folder Options -> tab View -> Show hidden files and folders

2) If you use Mozilla Firefox, the history can be cleared the following way:

• open the Firefox
• in the address bar type:
  about:config
• double-click the line "avg.toolbar.searchHistory"
• delete the contents of the opened box and click OK

While browsing web, you may receive a warning from AVG Search-Shield. This component is scanning the websites you are searching for, and provide protection against threats within malicious or hacked websites.

If you have installed AVG Toolbar, you can control this component directly from your Internet browser using the button Search-Shield. Disabling this button will stop scanning of the search results in Google, MSN and Yahoo!, and also the scanning of Internet addresses (URL's) you enter into the web browser (either manually, or by clicking on a link on any website, in an e-mail, etc.).

In case you are not using the AVG Toolbar, you can disable the AVG Search-Shield in AVG User Interface - double-click on the LinkScanner component - un-tick the option "Enable AVG Search-Shield".

AVG 8.0 Free Edition contains a plugin for scanning of search results in Google, Yahoo and MSN search engines. This plugin (AVG SafeSearch) is designed for MS Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox Internet browsers. If you would like to disable it kindly proceed as follows:

1. Internet Explorer:

• Run Internet Explorer.
• Choose the Internet Options from the Tools menu.
• Switch on the Programs tab.
• Click on the Manage add-ons button.
• Select the AVG Safe Search add-on.
• Tick in the Disable option at the bottom of this window.
• Confirm changes by clicking on the OK button.
• Close Internet Explorer and run it again.

2. Mozilla Firefox:

• Run Mozilla Firefox.
• Choose the Add-ons option from the Tools menu.
• Select the AVG Safe Search add-on and click on the Disable button.
• Close Mozilla Firefox and run it again.

Note: AVG add-ons cannot be used with Mozilla Firefox 3 (beta) at the moment.

If you wish to install AVG 8.0 Free Edition without the LinkScanner component, or uninstall this component from your program, please proceed as follows:

• Download the AVG 8.0 Free Edition installation package from our website.
• Run the installation with the parameters /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSurf /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSearch. One way to achieve this is to:
• save the AVG Free installation file directly to disk C:\
• open menu Start -> Run
• type
  c:\avg_free_stf_*.exe /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSurf /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSearch
• The installation will be started, and AVG will be installed without the LinkScanner component.