I want to configure MSN Messenger so that it makes sure that files which I receive via Messenger are checked by my Anti-Virus program.

In Messenger you can set "Scan for files using" to "C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Free\avg.exe"

Is this all that I should do? Am I pointing Messenger at the right exe file?

Paul, May 2005

Try avgscan.exe instead of avg.exe

Mark Deacon, December 2006

Providing AVG's Resident Shield and E-mail scanner are switched on you shouldn't have any problems as it does everything automatically.

AVG/Control Centre/Resident Shield/Properties(right click)
Check box for Resident Shield Protection
Check box for Scan All Files
Apply

Control Centre/E-mail Scanner/Properties(right click)
Check box for Personal Test Configuration
Press Configure. (Opens new window.)
Plugins tab.
Tick the following boxes:
Check Incoming Mail, Certify Mail, Check Outgoing Mail, Certify Mail, Use Heuristic Analysis, Scan Inside Archives, Automatically Move Password Protected Archives to virus Vault, Use Heuristic E-mail Message Filter.
Press OK. (New window closes.) Apply

Make sure you set up the Update Manager to scan & update daily.
Test Centre/Scheduler

It won't hurt if you also download Spybot Search and Destroy. (The very name gives me a warm sense of security!)
And make sure you get a firewall! Don't rely on Windows Firewall as imho it's cr*p.
Download Sygate Personal Firewall instead. Once it's installed switch off Windows Firewall. Start/Settings/Control Panel/ Windows Firewall
Both Spybot and Sygate are freebies.

One more suggestion: Forget about Internet Explorer and download Firefox. It's faster, safer, and a damn sight more user-friendly once you've got it configured.
As you might guess, I'm not a great fan of Windows. In fact, if I had the balls I'd go Linux.
But I don't, so I haven't.

Big Softy, June 2006