I do custom web design and hosting and often have to use AOL to validate my work or to figure out why a client using AOL might be having a problem. I recently installed AVG Interent Security 7.5 on my system. It has worked great but I am having a problem getting it to play nice with AOL.

I can start AOL but it won't allow me to open any web pages or read any email. I am pretty sure it is the firewall because one I deactivate it AOL works fine. I've verified that I haven't blocked AOL and I've made sure the connection is defined inthe firewall profile but I still can't get it to work.

Has anyone run into this?

Jeff Hoffman
The Gilman Group

Have you looked into the firewall log (AVG Control Center - Firewall - Properties - Log tab) if there are any specific applications blocked? If so then it should be sufficient to simply add the application as an allowed one. If it's some 'SYSTEM' rule that gets blocked, you will need to investigate further. Also, with AVG IS, you are entitled to get free technical support, so try to contact it - they are really responsive

Thanks for the reply. I dd contact AVG and you're correct -t hey were very responsive and provided me with a solution. Here is what they sent:

According to our findings, the following communication has to be allowed for the AOL connection to work correctly:

Necessary communication:
* TCP out/in 5190-5193

Recommended communication:
* UDP out/in 5190-5193
* TCP out 443
* ICMP out 3-4

Please following step-by-step guide below to configure AVG Firewall to allow this communication:
1. Open AVG Control Center
2. Right click on the "AVG Firewall" component and choose "Configure" option
3. Select "System" tab
4. Click on the "Add Rule"
5. Type a name for this rule (e.g. "AOL")
6. Click on the "Create Rule" button
7. Click on the "New Service" button under "Available Services" list
8. Type a brief label to this service (e.g. "AOL-necessary")
9. Click on the "Add Item" button
10. Choose "TCP" protocol from the drop-down list
11. Select "Out" under Direction options
12. Type "5190-5193" into Remote Ports editbox (leave "*" under Local Ports editbox) and click on "OK" button
13. Click on the "Add Item" button again
14. Choose "TCP" protocol from the drop-down list
15. Select "In" under Direction options
16. Type "5190-5193" into Remote Ports editbox (leave "*" under Local Ports editbox) and click on "OK" button
17. Click on "OK" button to save the service definition
18. Double click on the "AOL-necessary" service definition to move it to the right-hand "Applied Services" listbox

Now you can also add the recommended ports:
19. Click on the "New Service" button again
20. Type a brief label to this service (e.g. "AOL-recommended")
21. Click on the "Add Item" button
22. Choose "UDP" protocol from the drop-down list
23. Select "Out" under Direction options
24. Type "5190-5193" into Remote Ports editbox (leave "*" under Local Ports editbox) and click on "OK" button
25. Click on the "Add Item" button again
26. Choose "UDP" protocol from the drop-down list
27. Select "In" under Direction options
28. Type "5190-5193" into Remote Ports editbox (leave "*" under Local Ports editbox) and click on "OK" button
29. Click on the "Add Item" button again
30. Choose "TCP" protocol from the drop-down list
31. Select "Out" under Direction options
32. Type "443" into Remote Ports editbox (leave "*" under Local Ports editbox) and click on "OK" button
33. Click on the "Add Item" button again
34. Choose "ICMP" protocol from the drop-down list
35. Select "Out" under Direction options
36. Type "3" into protocol type and click on "OK" button
37. Click on the "Add Item" button again
38. Choose "ICMP" protocol from the drop-down list
39. Select "Out" under Direction options
40. Type "4" into protocol type and click on "OK" button
41. Click on "OK" button to save the service definition
42. Double click on the "AOL-recommended" service definition to move it to the right-hand "Applied Services" listbox
43. Click on "OK" button
44. Click on "OK" button to save new system rule definition

The new system rule appears at the end of the system rules list and it is allowed on the firewall by default

45. Click on "OK" button to close firewall configuration