AVG Security Software Features

Identity Protection

The Identity Protection component helps to prevent identity theft and protects your personal information against threats from new and unknown malware.

Traditional security products rely on "signatures" to protect your information against viruses and spyware, and that's just fine for dealing with existing threats. AVG's identity theft protection goes a step further by adding an extra layer of defence that uses advanced behavioural technology to detect and block new and unknown threats.

Anti-Virus

The AVG Anti-Virus component protects your computer from viruses, worms and Trojans.

Anti-Virus detects viruses, worms and Trojans as well as executable files or Windows DLL libraries that could be potentially unwanted within your Windows Vista or Windows XP system. Antivirus also holds the internal virus database, and therefore it provides the maximum level of protection when regularly updated.

Anti-Spyware

The AVG Anti-Spyware component protects your computer from spyware, adware and other malicious programs.

Anti-Spyware protects your computer from all kinds of malware (malicious software), e.g. spyware that secretly gathers information and privacy data from your computer, or adware that generates unwanted advertisements on your computer.

Anti-Rootkit

The AVG Anti-Rootkit component allows searching for rootkits hidden in your operating system.

Antirootkit scans for dangerous rootkits hidden inside applications, drivers and Windows DLL libraries. A rootkit is usually a collection of malicious software that allows the attacker to gain administrator-level rights and access to a computer, or possibly the whole network in your home or office. Rootkits are generally very well hidden in an operating system which makes them hard to detect or remove by regular security tools.

LinkScanner®

AVG LinkScaner blocks dangerous web sites and provides safety verdicts for link results from the popular search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN and Live for active threats.

LinkScaner works with Internet Explorer and Firefox, and consists of two features. AVG Active Surf-Shield which delivers safe surf protection, and AVG Search-Shield which delivers safe search protection.

AVG Active Surf-Shield — safe surf

Prevents you from accidently becoming infected by drive-by downloads and other exploits, ensuring the web pages you visit are safe at the only time that really matters — when you click on the link.

AVG Search-Shield — safe search

Works with Google, Yahoo, MSN and Live search engines to deliver a safety verdict on all search results, including search ads. An icon is displayed to show the safety rating for each web site.

Safe	Caution	Warning	Blocked

Enhanced Firewall

The AVG Enhanced Firewall keeps intruders out and sensitive information in.

The Firewall enforces an access control policy between your Windows based computer and the network by blocking or permitting traffic. Firewall defines rules that protect your computer from outside attacks, typically from the Internet, and control (allow/forbid) all communication on every network port. If Firewall recognises an intrusion attempt, it blocks it immediately and does not let the intruder access to your Windows PC.

Similarly, Firewall gives you full control over programs trying to send out information. It monitors every outgoing Internet connection, checking to see which program is trying to send out information and if you've authorised that program to connect to the Internet. If you haven't authorised it, the information won't be allowed to leave your computer. Thus it stops malicious programs from being able to send information from your computer.

If your AVG Enhanced Firewall is active, you are protected against hacker attacks and threats from external networks and your sensitive information is safe.

Anti-Spam

AVG Anti-Spam automatically tosses out junk e-mails and fraudulent e-mails (anti-phishing), plus quarantines infected e-mail.

Anti-Spam works in the background, identifying and flagging spam by its content, as well as interacting with a spammer database to identify spam by the sender. It offers heuristic filtering to catch new spam outbreaks and automatically updates its database in the background. You can choose between several grades of spam control, depending upon your interest and system resources. You can also activate an online check that provides maximum accuracy by consulting central anti-spam servers online.

System Tools

Advanced settings for Advanced Users. The AVG System Tools permit advanced users to access advanced settings.

System Tools shows information about Windows processes, network connections, automatically starting applications, Internet Explorer extensions and Layered Service Providers on your computer.

Online Shield

AVG Online Shield checks network traffic for possible threats and disallows dangerous connections.

This component protects you against accidentally downloading infected files or exchanging infected files over instant messaging.

Resident Shield

AVG Resident Shield works in the background scanning all files that you work with for malware threats.

Resident Shield scans files as they are copied, opened, saved or executed and if a threat is found, it blocks activation of the infection. It also provides vital protection for the Windows system areas of your computer.

E-mail Scanner

AVG E-mail Scanner scans incoming and outgoing e-mail for malware.

E-mail Scanner checks incoming e-mail using plug-ins designed for the most frequently used e-mail programs. When detected, viruses are moved to the Virus Vault. Some e-mail clients may support messages with text certifying that sent and received e-mail has been scanned for viruses.

Security Toolbar

AVG Security Toolbar provides easy access to security settings and information.

Security Toolbar provides you with easy access to manage your AVG Search-Shield and AVG Active Surf-Shield protections without having to open the AVG control center. The AVG Security Toolbar also allows a direct search through Yahoo! where the LinkScanner® technology will flag any dangerous or questionable sites, safe sites will show on Yahoo! as usual.