TSGL: AVG Free AV--Does It Scan Incoming HTTP Traffic??

[Lee Bunyard]

There's been some discussion on this forum recently of the AVG Free and 
Avast Free AV products and whether they scan incoming http traffic as 
your browser loads.  I raised the question originally on this after I 
had downloaded Avast Free AV to my new desktop pc running Vista (I 
installed Avast after I could  not get the AVG Free AV product to 
properly scan my incoming email as it had been doing on my old pc 
running XP Home) and noticed a fairly significant slowdown in webpages 
loading in my Firefox browser when the Avast Web Shield module that does 
scan incoming http traffic was turned on.  I had not noticed the same 
slowdown when using AVG Free AV on my prior desktop and laptop systems 
and I wondered whether AVG scanned http traffic.  I couldn't find 
anything on the AVG website about that so sent an email to AVG tech 
support asking for clarification.  Someone on this forum asked me to 
post the AVG reply if I received one.  The AVG reply is attached below.

So it turns out as I suspected that AVG Free AV does NOT scan incoming 
http traffic as Avast Free does.  Which explains why webpages load so 
much quicker with AVG.  Left unanswered of course is the core question 
we had been discussing---how important is it to scan incoming http 
traffic/i.e., what is the risk of not doing so??  According to the Avast 
website, it is important, but I have been unable to find any real world 
corroboration of this.

Since I've used AVG Free AV for years on my desktop and laptop pc's, as 
have my son and daughter on their desktops, and none of us have ever 
experienced a virus infection, I'm inclined to think it's not a terribly 
high risk to not scan incoming http traffic.  Since the Avast Free AV 
module which scans incoming http traffic does noticeably slowdown the 
loading of webpages,  I'm inclined to turnoff the Web Shield module.  
McAfee offers a free Website Advisor service download that displays a 
rating of the safety of websites as they are accessed.  I think I will 
install that product as a precaution, turnoff the Avast scanning module 
and leave it at that.
Lee in the Mountains of Northern California



Dear Lee,

Thank you for your email.

Please note that AVG does not scan HTTP traffic. The AVG Resident
Shield scans downloaded files when there is an attempt to execute such
files.

If the “OnClose scanning” function is enabled in the AVG Resident
Shield configuration, the file will be scanned when downloading has
finished
and the operating system closes the file. 

The Firewall component (not included in AVG Free) checks if the
application/system process is allowed to connect itself to the
network.

Unfortunately there is no support included with the AVG Free Edition.
Free Edition users are requested to use the self help support
available at http://free.grisoft.com/doc/3/us/frt/0

Here you can find an FAQ section and also access the AVG Free Forum.

If you have any problems or comments to AVG Free Edition please visit
http://forum.grisoft.cz/freeforum/
I am sure you will be able to find the solution of your problem there.

Please note that the AVG Free Edition has the following limitations:
- AVG Free Edition has no technical support!
- AVG Free Edition cannot be installed on server operating systems
(such as Windows Server 2003),
- According to our license policy, it is prohibited to install and use
AVG Free Edition in a network environment.
- AVG Free Edition does not include a firewall
- Scheduling options in the AVG Free Edition are very limited (only
one scheduled update per day, one scheduled scan per day etc.).
- AVG Free Edition does not have guaranteed access to high-speed
servers for downloading updates and program upgrades.
- AVG Free Edition does not offer advanced testing options, such as
password-protected archives reporting, adjustment of scan process
priority and many others.

All AVG commercial editions have many user benefits in comparison to
AVG Free Edition:
- 1 or 2-YEAR license includes virus database and program updates
within the license period
- FREE, 24/7 e-mail access to Grisoft's TECHNICAL SUPPORT with expert
consultation and rapid response
- Access to a reliable worldwide HIGH-SPEED "Akamai" SERVER networks
for downloading update files
- AVG UPDATE BULLETIN - e-mail information concerning the availability
of new updates, current virus outbreaks, and other important news
- More options for configuring multiple program and test settings
(many more configuration options can be adjusted according to user
needs and preferences)
- Multiple language. Note that all languages are included in one
multi-lingual product (no need to buy a specific language version).
- Compatibility with Windows 64-bit edition

If you are looking for a complete solution, we suggest you to select
AVG Internet Security. This edition includes anti-virus, firewall,
anti-spyware as well as anti-spam component and is available in
license packages for 1, 2, 3 or 5 computers.

Two years license for one computer costs only 69.95 USD.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.Grisoft.com/doc/products-avg-internet-security

To purchase any AVG product, visit our online shop at:
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/Purchase
or contact our partners, distributors and resellers. Contact
information is available at: http://www.grisoft.com/doc/14

Please, feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Best regards,

Nicole Savvides

AVG Customer Service
Grisoft

http://www.grisoft.com

=============================================================
Did you know that AVG Anti-Virus software and its virus detection
technology have won numerous industry awards and certifications?
If you want to find out more, please visit:
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/76
On Mon Nov 12 17:49:19 CET 2007, leebunyard at comcast.net wrote:


> Sales Support Form
> ------------------
> 
> Name: Lee Bunyard
> E-mail: leebunyard at comcast.net
> Operating system: Windows Vista (winvista)
> Product: Not Sure (NOT_SURE)
> License number: 
> Country: UNITED STATES
> 
> Current version: Nothing (_104)
> Topic: General Product Information (_201)
> More specific information: Not sure (_999)
> 
> ------------------
> 
> Question:
> ---------
> There is discussion going on in several IT forums whether the AVG Free AV product scans incoming  HTTP traffic (i.e., scans graphic images and other files as they load in the browser).  The Avast Free AV product does scan http traffic as it loads, which significantly slows down loading of images, but I don't believe AVG does scan incoming http traffic.
> Can you please clarify what AVG AV does and doesn't do??  Thank you.
> Lee Bunyard
> 
> 
> 
> 
>