Free AVG LinkScanner Review

Review of AVG LinkScanner
by Mark Muller (8,408 pts ) , published Oct 19, 2009
4

AVG LinkScanner is a free must have for computer only running a traditional anti-virus program to prevent you from visiting bogus or infected web sites. Here’s all you want to know about Active Surf-Shield and AVG LinkScanner Search-Shield technology including valuable tips.

Setup and Installation
Rating Good

The AVG LinkScanner installation is straightforward and requires an Internet connection. It is recommended not changing standard installation which provides the best protection for most users as it includes the AVG toolbar so that your computer will have both, LinkScanner® Active Surf-Shield as well as (passive) LinkScanner® Search-Shield installed. When the install wizard completes setup starts. To benefit the AVG community you should leave the option on page 2 ticked (image 1), but on setup screen number three do not activate the tick box to make Yahoo your default Search Engine unless you really want that (image 2 below).

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Features and Performance
Rating Excellent

If your anti-virus program raises an alert when surfing or downloading a file from the Internet then your computer has already been infected or was about to be infected when your anti-virus software intercepted the online threat. As you may know you should always run a full system scan after any reported infection attempts as best practice; Webroot anti-virus for example reminds advises its user automatically to so.

To reduce the risks of so called drive-by downloads when browsing the Web Webroot Antivirus with Antispyware, Norton 360, Norton Internet Security 2010 as well as AVG Anti-Virus 9.0 Free Edition for example have an integrated URL or Link Scanner which prevents users from visiting sites containing malware and phishing sites. Computers having only traditional anti-virus capabilities which lack a real-time link scan feature such as AVG LinkScanner Active Surf-Shield can have their security beefed up by downloading and installing AVG LinkScanner at absolutely no cost or obligation.

Yet, the AVG LinkScanner has more to protect you: AVG LinkScanner Search-Shield technology adds a security rating to the result of your favourite Search Engine (Yahoo, Google, Bing) results so that you probably won’t even click dangerous links, and which point Active Surf-Shield would kick in anyway. Conversely, it possible running AVG LinkScanner only with passive protection by selecting custom selection as install option and deactivating LinkScanner® Active Surf-Shield.

Please find System Requirements & Interface, Help & Support, Price to Value as well as concluding remarks on page two of our AVG LinkScanner review.

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