Getting Started

By default, AVG Antivirus actively scans your PC for malware and other threats and automatically updates virus definitions.

If you have changed the default settings, ensure your PC is secure by keeping active protection components turned on, and the virus definitions and program up to date.

To check if all main components are turned on, go to Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Components.

To manually update AVG, go to Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Update, and click Update in the Virus Definitions and Program sections. Click Settings in each section to ensure the Automatic update option is enabled. Read more...

After running a scan, you can access the Quarantine from the results page. The Quarantine is an isolated space where potentially dangerous files are stored safely. You can also perform specific actions such as sending suspicious files to the AVG Threat Labs for analysis.

To specify the actions you want to apply to threats that are detected by Resident Shield, Email protection, and Online Shield follow these steps:

1. Go to Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Components, then click Customize next to the component which you want to adjust actions for.
2. Click the Actions tab and specify details.

After installing AVG Internet Security, activate your product license by connecting your subscription to your AVG MyAccount:

1. Double-click the AVG icon on your desktop to open AVG management console (formerly known as AVG Zen).
2. Click Connect in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. Click Log in to an existing account, then type your email address and the password you created for your AVG MyAccount during the purchase.
4. Click OK.

Your product is now activated. You can view and manage all of your AVG products in the AVG management console or in your AVG MyAccount.

Note: If you forget your password, go to AVG MyAccount, click Forgot password?, and enter the email address used to create the account during the purchase process. The email address is the same address where you received the confirmation email after purchase.

AVG Antivirus Free and AVG Internet Security are only available with AVG management console (formerly known as AVG Zen), even for single device use. AVG Zen is an application that allows you to manage all of your AVG products in one place and activate licenses for your AVG paid products. Read more...

To perform a comprehensive scan of your PC, click Scan Computer on the main screen of AVG Antivirus. This scan merges scan methods to detect malware, poorly rated browser add-ons, and performance issues. The results page enables you to resolve detected issues or threats. Read more...

If you suspect suspicious activity on your PC or network, apply a predefined scan. Click the gear icon next to Scan Computer and, on the Other Scans screen, choose from the following predefined scans:

• Computer Scan: performs a comprehensive scan to detect malware, poorly rated browser add-ons, and performance issues. This scan is the same as the Scan Computer option on the main screen of AVG Antivirus.
• Deep Scan: performs an in-depth scan of your system that checks your storage drives and memory for malware.
• USB / DVD Scan: scans all removable media that is currently attached to the PC, such as USB flash drives and external hard drives.
• File or Folder Scan: asks you to select an individual file or folder for scanning.
• Performance Scan: scans your system for useless data and other issues which may affect the speed and security of your PC. If issues are detected, you are offered to install the AVG PC TuneUp application.
• Boot-Time Scan: performs a scan at bootup to detect and remove malware which is hard to reach after startup.

Read more...

To exclude certain files or URLs from scanning, go to Menu ▸ Settings and ensure the General tab is selected from the left panel. Click the down arrow next to Exceptions to expand the section. Select the relevant tab and type the file path or URL that you want to exclude from scanning. Read more...

Deep Scan performs an in-depth scan of your system that checks your storage drives and memory for malware. This scan can take several minutes. Computer Scan is a quicker, more comprehensive scan which combines certain Deep Scan methods with Performance Scan methods. Computer Scan also analyzes your browser add-ons and allows you to remove those with poor ratings. Read more...

In the latest version of AVG Antivirus, the scan results history is not created by default. After running any scan, you can view the scan results. To generate a report of the scan, you need to configure the scan to do so before you run it. Follow these steps:

1. Click the gear icon next to Scan Computer.
2. Click the gear icon on any of the predefined scan tiles, or select Schedule Scan.
3. Select the Report file tab.
4. Tick Generate report file and specify report details. Read more...

Report files are saved as .txt files in one of the following locations:

• Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista: C:\ProgramData\AVG\Antivirus\report
• Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AVG\Antivirus\report

In the latest version of AVG Antivirus, the option to pause a scan is not available. You can completely terminate a scan by clicking Stop Scan, however, the next time you run the scan, it will start over.

Webcam Protection, available in the latest version of AVG Internet Security, prevents applications and malware from accessing your PC's webcam without your consent. With Webcam Protection enabled, untrusted applications can not capture images or videos and send the content outside of your PC to compromise your privacy. Read more...

Ransomware Protection, available in the latest version of AVG Internet Security, protects your personal photos, documents, and files from being modified, deleted, or encrypted by ransomware attacks. This feature scans for and automatically secures folders which may contain personal data and allows you to specify which other folders you want to protect from untrusted applications. Additionally, you can specify which applications are allowed to modify the files in your folders and which applications are always blocked. Read more...

The Microsoft Outlook add-on is not supported in the latest version of AVG Antivirus. However, Email Protection ensures that your inbox is protected from threats.

The Anti-rootkit Scan is now called Boot-Time Scan. To access Boot-Time Scan, click the gear icon on the Scan Computer button. Read more....

To manage Firewall, go to Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Components. Use the slider next to Firewall to enable/disable the component, or click Customize to adjust its settings. Read more...

Firewall monitors all network traffic between your PC and the outside world to protect you from unauthorized communication and intrusions. Firewall is represented by the Hacker Attacks icon on the main screen of AVG Antivirus. If the icon is grayed out, click Install now below the icon to install Firewall. If the icon is red, you are not fully protected and the feature requires your attention. Read more...

Note: Firewall is available only in AVG Internet Security.

To manage Software Analyzer, go to Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Components. Use the slider next to Software Analyzer to enable/disable the component, or click Customize to adjust its settings. Read more...

Software Analyzer monitors programs installed on your PC for suspicious behavior that may indicate the presence of malicious code. Software Analyzer is represented by the Computer icon (together with Resident Shield) on the main screen of AVG Antivirus. If the icon is grayed out, click Install now below the icon to install Software Analyzer. If the icon is red, you are not fully protected and the feature requires your attention. Read more...

Regular virus definitions and program updates allow AVG Antivirus to protect your PC from the latest malware and other threats. By default, AVG is configured to update the Virus definitions and Program automatically whenever a new version is available.

If necessary, Virus definitions can be updated from the main screen of AVG Antivirus. Click the curved arrow icon next to Virus definitions on the left side of the screen to perform an update.

Note: You can also go to Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Update to manually update both the Virus definitions and the Program. Read more...

The Update from directory option is no longer available in the latest version of AVG Antivirus. By default, AVG is set to update the Virus definitions and Program automatically whenever a new version is available.

The Payments icon represents the state of the Secure DNS and Anti-Spam components. If the icon is grayed out, click Install now below the icon to install both components. If the icon is red, you are not fully protected and the feature(s) requires your attention. Read more...

Go to Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Components. Use the slider next to Secure DNS and/or Anti-Spam to enable/disable the components, or click Customize to adjust their settings.

Note: Secure DNS and Anti-Spam are available only in AVG Internet Security.

Virus Vault was renamed to Quarantine and you can access it from Menu ▸ Quarantine. The list of available actions for detected threats remains the same as for Virus Vault. Read more...

AVG Internet Security comes with several tools and features that help to further protect your PC:

• Ransomware Protection: protects your personal photos, documents, and files from being modified, deleted, or encrypted by ransomware attacks. Read more...
• Firewall: monitors all communication between your PC and outside networks and blocks unauthorized communication. Read more...
• Data Safe: enables you to create secure virtual vaults where you can store your valuable or sensitive data. Read more...
• Secure DNS: protects against DNS (Domain Name System) hijacking to ensure you get to the actual website you want to visit. Read more...
• Anti-Spam: ensures the inbox in your mail management software is free from unwanted spam and junk emails. Read more...

The Anti-Spam component keeps your inbox clean from unwanted spam and junk emails when you use an email management software program, such as Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird. To install this feature, go to Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Components, then click Install component in the Anti-Spam row. If you access your web based email account only via an internet browser, you can keep Anti-spam disabled. To check your anti-spam options, consult your web mail service provider.

Note: Anti-Spam is available as an additional installable component in AVG Internet Security.

Passive Mode disables all active protection, such as Shields and Firewall, so that you can use more than one antivirus program at a time without interfering with the performance of your PC or the reliability of antivirus detections. In Passive Mode, AVG receives all virus definition and program updates which allows you to manually run scans to check for issues on your PC, however, AVG does not actively protect you. Read more...

You can view the status of your AVG protection on the main screen of the AVG interface. The green status You are fully protected indicates that all shields and protection components are enabled, and AVG is actively securing your PC. When an issue needs your attention, one of the following statuses appears:

• AVG is out of date: your program version needs to be updated. Click Update Now, then restart your PC. If the issue persists, check your internet connection.
• AVG is now in Passive Mode: AVG is not actively protecting you. Click Fix Now to turn off Passive Mode. Read more...
• Protection is disabled: one or more active protection components is turned off. Click Fix Now to enable components. Read more...
• You are not protected: all of the AVG protection components are turned off, or an issue is preventing AVG Antivirus services from running. Click Fix Now to enable all components.

If you cannot resolve the above issues by clicking Fix Now, reinstall AVG Antivirus.

To manage AVG Antivirus components, such as Shields or Firewall, go to Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Components.

To turn on a component, click the red (OFF) slider in the relevant row so that it changes to green (ON). To turn off a component, click the green (ON) slider in the relevant row and select a time duration, then click Yes to confirm the action. You may be required to restart your PC. We do not recommend disabling any component indefinitely by selecting Stop permanently. Read more...

Note: Some components are not installed by default. Click Install component next to any component you want to install. You may be required to restart your PC.

To turn off Passive Mode and allow AVG Antivirus to actively protect your PC from malware and other threats, uninstall all third party antivirus software and go to Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Troubleshooting. Click the Passive Mode panel to expand it, then click the green slider (ON) so that is changes to red (OFF). You may be required to restart your PC.

Passive Mode disables all active protection so that you can use more than one antivirus program at a time without interfering with the performance of your PC. In Passive Mode, you can manually run scans to check for issues on your PC, however, AVG Antivirus does not actively protect you.

To resolve certain issues with AVG Antivirus, you may need to uninstall and reinstall your product.

To uninstall AVG Antivirus:

1. Go to https://www.avg.com/utilities and download and run the AVG Remover setup file.
2. Select the AVG product you want to uninstall and click Remove, then click Restart to complete the uninstallation.
3. After your PC restarts, delete the AVG_Remover.

To reinstall AVG Antivirus:

1. Select your preferred product to download the relevant installation file:
   • AVG Internet Security
   • AVG Free Antivirus
2. Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Restart your PC to complete the installation.
4. Activate your AVG Antivirus product.

The latest version of AVG Internet Security includes a new feature called Ransomware Protection. When Ransomware Protection is enabled, unknown applications are blocked from modifying files in folders where your personal data might be stored. Read more...

If you receive a notification that you cannot save a file while using an editing application, ensure the application is not in your Blocked Apps list in Ransomware Protection. Go to Settings ▸ Ransomware Protection and click the Blocked/Allowed Apps tab. If the application is not in the Blocked Apps list, try adding it to the Allowed Apps list. Click Allow an App, select the application, then click Open.