Editing AVG AntiVirus (section)

== Features ==
AVG features most of the common functions available in modern antivirus and Internet security programs, including periodic scans, scans of sent and received emails (including adding footers to the emails indicating this), the ability to repair some virus-infected files, and a [[quarantine (computing)|quarantine]] area (virus vault) in which infected files are held.{{fact|date=June 2022}}

=== LinkScanner ===
The LinkScanner technology acquired from Exploit Prevention Labs and built into most AVG products, provides real-time updated protection against exploits and drive-by downloads. LinkScanner includes: Search-Shield&nbsp;– a safe search component that places safety ratings next to each link in Google, Yahoo! and MSN search results; plus Active Surf-Shield&nbsp;– a safe surf component that scans the contents of a web site in real-time to ensure it's safe being opened.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avg.com/faq.num-1094 |title=Veelgestelde vragen &#124; AVG Nederland |website=Avg.com |access-date=22 November 2012 |archive-date=3 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703152454/http://www.avg.com/faq.num-1094 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Concerns regarding [[web analytics]] have made LinkScanner a controversial component (see "LinkScanner concerns" below).

==== LinkScanner concerns ====
When AVG 8.0 was first released, its LinkScanner safe search feature was shown to cause an increase in traffic on websites that appear high in search engine results pages. Since LinkScanner disguises the scans as coming from an Internet Explorer 6 browser when it prescans each site listed in the search results, website usage logs showed incorrect and overinflated site visitor statistics. The prescanning of every link in search results also caused websites to transfer more data than usual, resulting in higher bandwidth usage for web site operators and slow performance for users.<ref>{{cite web | title = AVG Disguises Fake Traffic As IE6 | url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/26/avg_disguises_fake_traffic_as_ie6/|website=Theregister.co.uk|access-date=22 November 2012 }}</ref> AVG initially said that site administrators would be able to filter the LinkScanner traffic out of their site statistics, leaving the problem of excess bandwidth usage still to be solved.<ref>{{cite web | title= AVG update disguises LinkScanner traffic as IE6 | url= http://www.techspot.com/news/30641-avg-update-disguises-linkscanner-traffic-as-ie6.html |website=Techspot.com| date= 27 June 2008 |access-date=22 November 2012}}</ref> Pay-per-click advertising was not affected by the increase in traffic.<ref>{{cite web | title= LinkScanner could be behind surge in web traffic | url= https://www.virusbulletin.com/blog/2008/06/linkscanner-could-be-behind-surge-web-traffic|website=virusbulletin.com|access-date=30 September 2018 }}</ref>

=== AVG Online Shield ===
AVG Online Shield is a feature designed to check files and ensure that they are safe. AVG Online Shield also ensures the safety of exchanging files via [[instant messenger]]s and VoIP clients.<ref>{{cite web | title= AVG security features | url= http://www.avg.com/eu-en/internet-security|website=AVG.com|access-date=10 February 2015 }}</ref>

In response to complaints, AVG announced that as of 9 July 2008 "Search-Shield will no longer scan each search result online for new exploits, which was causing the spikes that webmasters addressed with us",<ref>{{cite web | title= AVG Responds to Fake Traffic Spikes | url= http://networkinstruments.wordpress.com/2008/07/05/avg-responds-to-fake-traffic-spikes/ |website=Networkinstruments.wordpress.com| date= 5 July 2008 |access-date=22 November 2012}}</ref> releasing a new build on that date that applies a local blacklist, then prefetches and scans only those links clicked on by the user.<ref>{{cite web | title= Grisoft modifies its free AVG product after complaints | url= http://news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-9986453-57.html | website= News.cnet.com | access-date= 22 November 2012 | archive-date= 2 November 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121102043205/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-9986453-57.html | url-status= dead }}</ref>