If Mozilla Firefox was not present on the computer when you were installing AVG, certain parts connecting AVG Linkscanner and Firefox were not installed. To install them later, please follow these steps:

• Download the latest installation file of AVG (choose your edition):

http://www.avg.com/download

• When you are prompted, please do not open this file directly from the Internet, but click the "Save" button and choose a location, where the installation file should be stored (we recommend saving the file to the Desktop).
• Reboot the computer.
• Locate the downloaded AVG installation file (it has a four color square icon and its name starts with AVG_...) and launch it.
• Follow the installation wizard, when asked about the installation mode, choose the Repair installation option.
• Choose if you want to install also AVG security toolbar (this does not affect Linkscanner component).
• Finish the installation.
• Update AVG.

Firefox will now contain all parts needed to protect you against harmful webpages.

The LinkScanner component provides protection against websites, that are designed to install malware into your computer via the web browser or its plugins. The LinkScanner technology supports MS Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, and consists of two features, AVG Search-Shield and AVG Active Surf-Shield.

AVG Search-Shield contains list of websites (URL addresses) which are known to be dangerous. When searching Google, Yahoo!, Yandex, Bing, Baidu, Ask.com, AOL or Seznam.cz, all results of the search are checked according to this list and a verdict icon is shown (for Yahoo! search results only "exploited website" verdict icons are shown). AVG Search-Shield checks also links on Slashdot, Digg, Twitter and sponsored links on eBay as well as links received in MS Outlook, MS Outlook Express, Gmail, Yahoo! mail and Hotmail. Also if you type some address directly into your browser, click a link on any website or e.g. in your e-mail, it is checked automatically and blocked if necessary.

AVG Active Surf-Shield scans the contents of the websites you are visiting, regardless of the websites address. Even if some website is not detected by Search-Shield (e.g. when a new malicious website is created, or when a previously clean website now contains some malware), it will be detected and blocked by AVG Active Surf-Shield once you try to visit it. As the AVG Active Surf-Shield scans the HTTP traffic it works regardless of the browser used.

The LinkScanner component can be connected with the AVG Security Toolbar, which is part of Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Internet browsers. You can read more about AVG Security Toolbar in FAQ 2113.

The AVG Security Toolbar is a tool which works together with the LinkScanner component and checks search results of the supported Internet search engines (Yahoo!, Google, Bing, Baidu, Yandex, Ask.com, AOL, Seznam.cz).

This tool is available in all editions of AVG 9.0. If you select to install the toolbar during the installation of AVG, it will be added into your Internet Explorer and/or Mozilla Firefox.

Please let us inform you that in case you are using some alternative Internet browser instead of Internet Explorer, (e.g Avant Browser) you can meet unexpected behavior. 

The AVG Security Toolbar can be used to control the LinkScanner functions, to adjust its behavior, and to update your AVG in case new updates are available. There is also dynamic surfshield button available showing you the security status of currently viewed webpage

More about AVG Security Toolbar Features can be found in the FAQ 2867.

Primary function of the AVG Security Toolbar is to advise about security status of pages you are visiting (using the AVG Linkscanner technology). You can also control the Linkscanner through the toolbar and quickly access the AVG program.

There are also other features and functions:

• Search bar - supports AVG Secure Search, Baidu, Webhledani, Yahoo! JP and Yandex search engines
• Browsing history removal - quick way to remove complete history of browsing - searches, downloads, visited pages and cookies
• RSS feed reader - can display AVG news and also local news
• Shortcuts to applications - customizable buttons for most used Windows applications such as calculator, notepad, media player or skype. To set it:
  • Right click the toolbar and select ShowComponent -> Useful Buttons.
  • Select which buttons you want to have on the toolbar and save by clicking OK.
• E-mail notification - displays new e-mails notification for Gmail, Yahoo! mail, Hotmail and any POP3 accessible email account. To set it:
  • Right click the toolbar and select ShowComponent -> E-mail notifier button (unless it is already displayed).
  • Click on the E-mail notifier button, settings will be displayed.
  • There, please select your e-mail account - Gmail, Yahoo! mail or Hotmail (under Other) or POP3 for connection to any other account.
  • Enter your e-mail address, password and mail server/port if required.
  • Click OK. Now you will be notified about any new e-mail and the button will display number of new e-mails.
• Facebook - provides notifications for events on your Facebook account and allows status updates and link sharing. To set it:
  • Right click the toolbar and select ShowComponent -> Facebook button (unless it is already displayed).
  • Click the Facebook button and select Login and enter your e-mail address and password to log in.
  • Once logged, the button will allow quick access to main Facebook features and will also display information about number of new friend request, inbox messages and invitations.
• Weather - displays local weather forecast. To set it:
  • Right click the toolbar and select ShowComponent -> Weather button (unless it is already displayed).
  • The button will automatically display local weather (icon and temperature normally and details when clicked).
  • You can choose location for the forecast by clicking the Weather button and then Change location.

Generaly, settings can be accessed by clicking the arrow next to AVG logo and selecting Options. To set some function directly, right click on the respective button and choose Set component.

Apart from the original AVG Search Shield verdict icons, there are also VeriSign icons displayed for pages that are part of VeriSign seal program.

VeriSign icon can be displayed next to any link in search engine results page (SERP) or next to sponsored link but only for links in which the target site is part of the VeriSign seal program. In case the target site is secure and is a part of the VeriSign seal program, green Search Shield verdict icon is replaced by VeriSign seal. If the webpage is detected as potentially risky or dangerous, original Search Shield color verdict icons are displayed.

VeriSign seals are supported in the following search engines:

• Altavista
• AOL
• Ask
• Baidu
• Bing
• Earthlink
• Google
• Seznam
• Webhledani
• Yandex
• Yahoo! (only for Yahoo! webpage, not for searches performed through AVG toolbar Yahoo! search)

To learn more about VeriSign please visit VeriSign Information for Consumers.