pctoolbox.co.uk

A couple of months back AVG 8.0 Free was released and here at pctoolbox we have decided that its time to give it the quick once over and create a quick tutorial to help you use some of its basic features.

New Features:

The most noticeable thing about AVG 8 Free is the new user friendly interface. Not only is it far more stylish and a long awaited/needed face lift it is designed in such a way that everything just seems so much simpler! You can also modify the settings a lot more to suit your style and needs.

Another great new feature is Safe Search, Safe Search scans all the results from your searches in search engines, e.g. google. This is a great way to help prevent any viruses getting into your system. There is also Safe Surf which works very similarly to Safe Search, the difference being it scans in real time the website you are on/visiting instead of the search results. You can be told by ticks or crosses if the site is safe.

Three other new features which are very similar but equally as important are Safe LinKScan, Safe URL Scan and Safe Download Scan. Safe LinKScan Scans any links in emails, web pages, documents etc to check the are safe. Safe URL Scan inspects your favourite websites to check they are safe. Safe Download Scan Scans any downloads you may make to check that they are safe to download.

We recommend that if you download AVG 8.0 Free you download it from Download.com.

Click ‘read the rest of this entry’ to read:

• Installation Tips
• How to initially Configure Your AVG
• How to Change Scheduled time for Scans/Updates
• How to Run a Manual Scan
• How to Run a Manual Update

Installation Tips:

Follow through the simple installation process. Here are some tips:

1. To start the installation process either click Run or double click on the new AVG Icon on your desktop.
2. Twice in the installation process there are various license agreements, if you do not click ‘I Accept’ you won’t be able to continue with the process. We recommend that you read through what you are agreeing to before you click anything
3. Next in the installation process you are asked which type of installation process you would like to use. We suggest that you select Standard Installation unless you are extremely experienced with computers and the software. Then click next.
   
4. Now you must decide whether you want to install the AVG Security Toolbar or not. The toolbar helps detect other threats that the internet may throw at you, for example; it checks your downloads are safe, makes sure that websites you visit are safe and not poisoned and helps detect phishing/fraud scams. The toolbar is completely free and in our opinion a worthwhile download. To download the toolbar ensure that the box is ticked and then click next. If you would rather not download the toolbar make sure that there isn’t a tick in the box.
   
5. Then click Finish.
6. The wizard will now tell you to close any other programs that you have open. Once you’ve closed them click next.
7. Once the installation is complete click OK.

Initially Configuring Your AVG

As soon as your installation wizard has closed a window title ‘Configuring your AVG Protection’ will open. It is important to follow through the Configuring Process so that you can do the following:

• Schedule regular scans and updates,
• Find out how you can help AVG with threat research,
• Configure the AVG Toolbar,
• Complete your first update.

1. Click Next.
   
2. At Step two you must select a time which you are usually on the computer so that your AVG can update the virus protection and given your computer a scan. The updates will last generally only a few minutes and scan will take up to an hour.
   
3. Step three gives you the option to help AVG to improve their service by keeping them aware of any malicious sites etc that you may come across. If you are willing to help out AVG leave the tick in the box, if you would rather not help them un-tick the box.
   
4. If you have downloaded the AVG Toolbar and would like to set Yahoo! as your main search engine place a tick in the box. If you’d rather not have it as your default search engine un-tick the box.
5. At step 5 we recommend that you quickly update. It wont take very long and is very important to ensure that your virus protection is up to date. Click next to check for updates or click skip to proceed without checking for updates.
   
6. There are two parts to step 6. The first is the AVG Updating your software and the second is confirming the updates. Once the updates are complete click Next.
   
7. Like Step 6 there are two stages to step 7. The first is registering your AVG. This is completely up to you if you decide to register your copy but it is by no means necessary for you to do this. Then click next. The second stage is just to say that you have completed the configuration.

How to Change Schueled time for Scans/Updates:

1. If you wish to change the time of the scheduled Scans/Updates you must firstly double click on the AVG icon on you desktop.
2. Then click on ‘Computer Scanner’ from the left-hand side of the AVG Window that appears.
3. Click on ‘Scheduled Scan’ so it becomes highlighted. Then select ‘Edit Scan Schedule’.
   
4. You can change how often the Scans/Updates are and the time they happen by using the drop down list and arrows.
   
5. Once you have made your changes click ‘Save’.

How to Run a Manual Scan:

You can schedule a daily scan but there might be an occasion where you want to run a scan but there isn’t one scheduled and you don’t wish to change the schedule. Below are the instructions of how to run a manual scan.

1. First of all, double click on the AVG Icon on the Desktop, or in the bottom right-hand cornet of the screen.
2. Click Tools and Scan Computer. Your computer will now run a scan. (You can do the same for particular files and folders on your computer, just choose the applicable choice option).

How to Run a Manual Update:

Like above you can run a manual update. The manual update will simply update your computer’s virus protection and check for any updates available. Follow the instructions below to run a manual update:

1. Firstly, double click on the AVG icon from your desktop or the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.
2. Next Click Tools from the top of the screen and then select Update. Your software will now search for updates and install them.

Are there any other features you’d like us to go over?