What Features and Components Includes AVG Free Edition?
AVG Free Edition includes several antivirus and security components that help to maintain a basic level of protection while you are online. This support topic explains in brief the main security components included in your AVG Free Edition.
The Anti-Virus
AVG Free Edition includes the anti-virus feature to deliver real-time virus protection for your PC. The anti-virus makes use of the virus definition database that is synchronized on a regular basis with the central signature database at AVG. The sync process happens automatically and required files are downloaded via the Internet connection straight to your PC as they are released.
Keeping your anti-virus signatures up-to-date is crucial for online safety, because new threats are emerging every couple of minutes and the infections spread very quickly through the Internet making every single PC connected to the Web their potential target.
The Anti-Virus component of AVG is not a subject to manual configuration. All settings are automatically configured for you so there's no need of manual intervention. You can, however, change the schedule on which AVG connects to the Internet to check for virus updates.
The Anti-Spyware
The Anti-Spyware component of AVG AntiVirus ensures detection and removal of spying software from your PC when you're about to get infected or when you've already fallen victim of a successful spyware attack.
Spyware can be especially dangerous to your online safety, because they are able to eavesdrop your Internet communication, and therefore can steal e.g. you passwords, credit card numbers or other confidential data you normally wouldn't disclose to anyone you don't trust.
AVG, however, includes the anti-spyware component that utilizes a vast database of spyware signatures to efficiently detect and remove them from your system in real-time. It also enables you to run comprehensive spyware checks of your computer if you suspect an infection.
The E-Mail Scanner
AVG's E-Mail Scanner scans all incoming and outgoing e-mail messages for infected files and scam. AVG scans file attachments and links an email contains, making sure you stay safe virus attacks and phishing attempts.
Your recipients will also receive messages sent by you with the virus scan results attached to it. In AVG, you can customize this virus scan certification text according to your preference.
The Link Scanner
The LinkScanner feature checks if the link contained on a Web page is safe to visit. LinkScanner not only scans links contained on the Web page you are currently viewing, but also checks if your search results e.g. from Google or Yahoo! are safe.
LinkScanner displays a tiny icon alongside your search results in real-time giving you a quick hint as to whether the search result is safe. The green icon indicates a safe result. It's down to you to either continue browsing or refrain from visiting the infected site.
LinkScanner is an optional security component. You are given the choice not to install it upon installation, but we highly recommend to keep this option checked, because it vastly improves your overall browsing security.
Resident Real-Time Protection
AVG AntiVirus includes the real-time, resident protection component called Resident Shield. Resident Shield delivers ongoing protection for your PC, constantly monitoring all processes run, files downloaded and programs installed. On top of that, Resident Shield scans for viruses any removable media you connect to your computer including USB memory sticks, CD/DVDs and more.
Resident Shield ensures continuous protection against live threats, so make sure to have it switched on at all times.