FAQ

Please let us inform you that we have recently discovered an issue in the AVG application which prevents accessing some websites (written in ASP.NET and running JavaScript). This issue occurs only in case that a combination of AVG Security Toolbar and Mozilla Firefox is used (other web browsers are not affected). In case that you are using Mozilla Firefox browser and AVG Security Toolbar, please resolve this issue this way:

• Update your AVG to the latest version (8.5.374 or higher).
• Update the AVG Security Toolbar:
  • Open the drop-down menu by clicking on the arrow next to the AVG icon in the AVG Toolbar in your internet browser.
  • Choose the Update option.

In case the AVG Toolbar is deactivated and you wish to use it again, please activate it by performing steps from FAQ 1257 and update it as described above (steps for activation are identical to steps for deactivation).

Due to the recent change in Google search (www.google.com) format in which results are returned, you may not see the AVG Linkscanner verdict icon displayed.

Please note, that AVG Linkscanner is still working correctly and will warn you when accessing dangerous pages.

This issue will be resolved in upcoming program update for AVG.

LinkScanner is a new security component included in the AVG 8.5 Free Edition, which provides the AVG Search-Shield and AVG Active Surf-Shield functionality. Its purpose is to scan all results of the supported Internet search engines (Yahoo!, Google, MSN and Baidu), and provide 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.

While browsing the Internet, AVG Active-Surf-Shield protects you against any threats hidden within the websites upon their direct visit, even if the website itself is not yet known to be malicious, and its address is not blocked by Search-Shield.

The LinkScanner component can be connected with the AVG Security Toolbar, which is part of Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Internet browsers. You can read more about AVG Security Toolbar in FAQ 1257.

The AVG Security Toolbar is a tool which works together with the LinkScanner component and checks search results of the supported Internet search engines (Yahoo!, Google, MSN, Baidu).

If you select to install the toolbar during the installation of AVG Free, it will be added into your Internet Explorer and/or Mozilla Firefox. Please let us inform you that in case you are using some alternative Internet browser instead of Internet Explorer, (e.g Avant Browser) you can meet unexpected behavior.

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

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

Note:
When you just disable the AVG Security Toolbar it will be automatically enabled again in one week by default. If you want to disable it permanently please right-click the AVG Security Toolbar and select the "Toolbar Options" from context menu. Click the "Advanced Options" tab and untick the "Re-display the AVG Security Toolbar when hidden (weekly)" option. Save the change by pressing the "OK" button. If you want to deactivate the AVG Security Toolbar just for one week you can skip this step.

Procedure of disabling differs based on used web browser:

1. Internet Explorer

• Use the mouse right-click on the toolbar and check-off the AVG Security Toolbar option in the list.

2. Mozilla Firefox

• Tools menu -> Add-ons, find the AVG Security Toolbar here and click the Disable button.

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

While browsing web, you may receive a warning from AVG Search-Shield or AVG Active Surf-Shield. These two features are scanning the websites you are visiting or searching for, and provide protection against threats within malicious or hacked websites.

In the browser, there is Total Protection button (possibly Limited Protection or No Protection buttons based on the active features) which control whether these features of the LinkScanner component are active:

• AVG Search-Shield - disabling this option will stop scanning of the search results in Google, MSN, Yahoo! and Baidu, 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.).
• AVG Active Surf-Shield - when you disable this option, active detection of malicious code within the visited websites will be switched off.

In case you are not using the AVG Security Toolbar, you can enable/disable the AVG Search-Shield or AVG Active Surf-Shield this way:

• Run AVG User Interface.
• Double click the LinkScanner component.
• Tick/Un-tick the Enable AVG Search-Shield and Enable AVG Active Surf-Shield options.
• Confirm changes by clicking on the Save changes button.

AVG 8.5 Free Edition contains a plugin for scanning of search results in Google, Yahoo, MSN and Baidu 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.

If you wish to uninstall the LinkScanner component from AVG 8.5 Free Edition, please proceed as follows:

• Download the AVG 8.5 Free Edition installation package from our website.
• Run the installation file by double-click.
• Proceed through the installation wizard and in the Select Setup Type window please select the Add or remove components option.
• Then proceed through the steps of the wizard to reach the Component Selection window and uncheck the LinkScanner component.
• Afterwards complete the rest of the steps of the installation wizard. The LinkScanner component will be removed from AVG.

If there is no AVG on your computer yet, then please proceed this way:

• Download the AVG 8.5 Free Edition installation package from our website.
• Run the installation file by double-click.
• Proceed through the installation wizard and in the Select Installation Type window please select the Custom installation option.
• When you reach the Component Selection window, uncheck the LinkScanner component.
• Finish the installation wizard. AVG will be installed without the LinkScanner component.

Since release of AVG Free Edition 8.0.233, LinkScanner component has been enhanced with another functionality - realtime protection while surfing, the AVG Active Surf-Shield. This protection level, from the program point of view, requires additional process to be running on background, which performs realtime scanning while visiting websites.

Therefore once the version 8.0.233 is installed or updated to, you can see in the process list another process called AVGNSX.EXE. In case you are running any third-party Firewall application, it is necessary to add the AVGNSX.EXE process into the allowed application list of your Firewall, in order to be able to access the Internet via your favorite browser.

There are several possibilities how a clean and legitimate website may become infected:

• Website was exploited by some hacktoolkit which searches for vulnerable websites, and automatically infects them.
  

• Infection was inserted on the machine that is used to create/upload websites, which means that the author's/administrator's computer is infected.
  

• An attacker gained direct access to the website administration thanks to a weak or stolen access password.
  

We recommend to contact the administrator of such website.

Toclear the history in AVG Security Toolbar please proceed as follows:

• Open your Internet browser (Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox).
• Click on the button with recycle bin icon in AVG Security Toolbar.
• Select the category you wish to delete:
  • Delete Complete History
  • Delete Search History
  • Delete Browse History
  • Delete Download History
  • Delete Cookies (What are tracking cookies?)

Please download the current installation file of AVG from the Download section of our website, and run it to start the installation process.
The installation process recognizes the existence of installed AVG and the Add/Remove Components, Repair installation and Uninstall options are offered.

• Please close your Internet browser.
• Choose the "Repair installation" option.
• On the next page uncheck the "Yes, I wish to install the AVG Security Toolbar" option.
• Finish the installation wizard and update AVG.

This way the AVG Security Toolbar will be permanently uninstalled from your computer.

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

When searching Google, AVG Search-Shield does scan all search results, including the sponsored links. However, scanning of the sponsored links is designed to retrieve the target URL address without clicking on the link.

The same applies to all other supported search engines - sponsored links are never analyzed in such a way that would affect the click counter and statistics.