The following pages show how to install and configure version 9.0 of the AVG Internet Security suite, including the Antivirus and Firewall components, for use on computers used in the AARP Tax-Aide program. The 9.0 version is the most recent release by AVG. Thus if one needs to install AVG on a new computer then this is the version that will need to be used. For users currently running the 8.5 version, upgrading to the 9.0 version is optional. However this document covers only a new install of AVG. If you decide to upgrade you may find that some of the screen shots shown in the document are somewhat different than those in this instruction. Note that the existing instructions for AVG 8.5 are still on the Extranet. The AVG Security Suite has many components and it provides a wide spectrum of protection from malware. The two that we want to focus on are those that provide 1) Antivirus protection from threats introduced by removable media or downloaded files, and 2) Firewall protection against threats arriving over an attached network. Complete AVG 9.0 installation and configuration instructions are provided in this document for use on computers that are not involved with local private networking. For computers that participate in TaxWise client/server networking or networking for printer sharing only, this document covers AVG 9.0 program installation and configuration of the Antivirus component. Configuration of the Firewall component for private networking is covered in Appendix C1 of the Networking TaxWise for Tax-Aide document, soon to be updated on the AARP Tax-Aide ExtraNet Technology web page. IRS Computer Loan Program computers come loaded with antivirus software other than AVG and depend on the Windows firewall for protection from network-originated threats. Do not install AVG on an IRS Computer Loan Program computer. The two antivirus programs will conflict with each other and the computer will probably not work well. AVG Internet Security 9.0 Installation The information you will need to install and activate AVG 9.0 is contained in the file captioned AVG Information (10/09) on the AARP Tax-Aide Extranet Technology web page, The password to view this file is the Windows Administrator login password that is used on AARP-purchased laptops. Note: The License number on this site is correct. A wrong one was recently published in an early release of the Technology Management Guide as well as the Policy Manual. This procedure may be used on computers that are not connected to the internet as well as those that are connected, although the installer must be first downloaded through an Internet connection. First go to the Extranet web page, and click on the Technology tab. Find the AVG Information (10/09) entry. Then click on the link to the AVG download site and follow the instructions in this document to download the Internet Security package. From the resulting screen look in the Home Security section and find the AVG Internet Security 9.0, entry. Click on the Paid version. The screen that follows is shown below. You will then choose the AVG for Windows entry as indicated. National Technology Committee Revised 10/19/2009 Page 1 of 8
You will be given a choice to run or save the installer file. It is recommended that you save this file onto your desktop or preferably a flash drive so it can be used later for other computers. Install AVG 9.0 by double-clicking on the installer file which you just downloaded. Next you will get the license agreement box, which you will need to accept. After accepting this agreement the operation will continue first by checking the system status and then unpacking the install files. Check the Standard Installation box when presented. Installation will take several minutes. If AVG 8.5 is already installed, the AVG 9.0 installation process will first uninstall the older version; however the license information will be retained and automatically copied onto the AVG 9.0 activation screen. For new installations paste or copy our AVG 8 license number from the AVG Information file, accessed previously. (Our subscription still applies.) Click next. Next you will see a notification screen advising you as to how the Windows firewall is handled, since it is automatically deactivated when the AVG firewall is operating. Click next to continue. National Technology Committee Revised 10/19/2009 Page 2 of 8
You can accept or reject the offer to install the optional AVG Security Toolbar; your networking security will not be affected by your choice. We recommend rejecting this offer since it consumes more space at the top of the screen. Open applications will then to be closed per the next screen. Some supplemental files may then be installed: Finally a Firewall Configuration Wizard screen will appear, as shown on the next page. The following Firewall configuration procedure is only for computers that will NOT participate in local private networking. If this computer will participate in local networking for printer sharing only or for TaxWise desktop client/server networking, do not follow this Firewall configuration procedure. Instead, use the Firewall configuration procedure in Appendix C1 of the Networking TaxWise for Tax-Aide document on the AARP Tax-Aide ExtraNet Technology web page. After following that procedure, return to these instructions at Continue here if you are returning from configuring the Firewall for network use, on page 6. National Technology Committee Revised 10/19/2009 Page 3 of 8
Click on the A portable computer box even though you may be using a desktop computer. This will set the default firewall profile to Directly connected to the Internet, which is the safest configuration to start with. You will have an opportunity to reconfigure this setting subsequently. When installation is completed, a screen is presented indicating that the First Run Wizard has completed setting up AVG to your requirements and setting the firewall according to your choices on the previous screens. National Technology Committee Revised 10/19/2009 Page 4 of 8
If you stayed connected to the internet then AVG will likely already be updated and the top entry will show a green check mark. Otherwise AVG will be updated later when you are connected to the internet. Restart Windows. At this point AVG installation is completed, requiring one to restart the computer to complete the configuration and activate all of the security features. Whenever you connect to the Internet in a new way, AVG will detect a new network, as shown on the Network detected screen below the following definitions. You will need to name this new network and select a firewall profile for use with this network. Firewall Profile Definitions. AVG 9.0 has three built-in Firewall profiles. Additional profiles can be added, but this is not needed, and is beyond the scope of this document. 1. Directly Connected to the Internet. This would be a computer that is connected to the Internet via dial-up or direct connection to a Cable or DSL modem without a router being in place. File and Printer sharing is NOT permitted with this profile. 2. Computer In Domain. This is generally a computer on a controlled and managed network, as in a school or larger business. Such a network is completely protected from the outside world. File and Printer sharing is permitted with this profile. 3. Small Home or Office Network. This is generally a computer on a network that is not actively managed. In this Firewall profile, networks can potentially be defined as safe, and individual network adapters can be defined as safe or unsafe. File and Printer sharing is permitted on safe networks or adapters, but is blocked on unsafe ones. Select Directly connected to the Internet or Computer in Domain, whichever is appropriate. Small home or office network is an advanced feature that is beyond the scope of this document. Leave the bottom two boxes unchecked, and click on Assign Profile. National Technology Committee Revised 10/19/2009 Page 5 of 8
Continue here if you are returning from configuring the Firewall for network use. You will then be presented with the AVG Optimization Scan screen. AVG 9.0 has the capability to do a much faster computer scan for malware but needs first to run through a one-time process of optimizing the files for this purpose. It is best to wait until later to perform this operation since it takes quite a while to complete and we have some additional settings to make at this time. Next we will set up a special class of scans. Removable Device Scans. Recent data indicate that removable devices have become the source of a large number of malware infections. The settings may have already been set for these scans, however you should check this setting and change it if necessary. Right-click on the AVG icon in the bottom tray, and then Open AVG User Interface. From this screen click on Tools; then Advanced Settings, as before.. From the Advanced Settings screen shown below, select Scans, Removable device scan, and then click on Enable Removable device scan unless already checked. Leave the other boxes as defaulted, and then click on Apply. These scans typically take but a few seconds and are very important. National Technology Committee Revised 10/19/2009 Page 6 of 8
Now you need to set the scan schedule for regular scans. It is recommended that scans be scheduled at least daily. Nothing bad will happen if the computer is not connected to the Internet for a scheduled download or scan. Daily scanning is probably not necessary if all that the computer is doing is TaxWise. If you enable daily scanning and set it for 3am, and then you leave the computer on overnight, the scan will happen. If it does not get to happen, you probably do not want a scan to run when you are actually tying to boot up and use the computer. The default may be set to avoid this; however you should check this as follows: Open the AVG user interface by double-clicking on the AVG icon on your task bar at the bottom of the screen. Then locate and click on Tools (at the top of the interface display), Advanced settings, and then Schedules, followed by Scheduled scan. The screen below will appear. You may make settings here as desired. Just assure that the Run on computer startup box (near the bottom of the display) is not checked. Note that you can check or change other scheduled events as well while in the Schedules screens. If you have already installed AVG but want to reconfigure the Firewall, launch the AVG User Interface as before. From the Overview page, double click on the Firewall component; then click Configuration wizard, as shown on the screen below: National Technology Committee Revised 10/19/2009 Page 7 of 8
The screens that you will see are similar to those on page 5, and aren t repeated here. Select the desired new firewall configuration and then Save Changes. You will get a screen confirming that you want a new configuration. Note that you can also temporarily disable the firewall from the above screen. This isn t recommended in normal operation. You can always update the AVG databases by right-clicking on the AVG icon on the task bar at the bottom of the screen and selecting Update now, or from the AVG User Interface screen, whenever the computer is connected to the Internet. This concludes the installation of AVG 9.0. Should you have questions on this topic, send an e-mail to TaxAideTech@aarp.org. Include your name, your address, your state, your position (e.g. LC, TC, TCS, etc.), and your telephone number. National Technology Committee Revised 10/19/2009 Page 8 of 8