AVG believes the new LinkScanner tool will provide a first-line of defense against web threats by testing links prior to download, in addition to scanning queries on popular search engines for possible malicious links.

This is the first security product that AVG has offered to Mac users and it’s designed for the Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard systems. LinkScanner supports all Safari browser versions 3.x and higher, in addition to Mozilla Firefox 3.x and higher.

“Mac users have traditionally been less vulnerable to virus threats and attacks because of their lower market share, but that is quickly changing and no operating system is immune, as these attacks are leveraging the web to deliver malware that target web browsers and application vulnerabilities,” said J.R. Smith, CEO of AVG Technologies.

LinkScanner, which is free to download from the AVG website, has two primary protection features to help safeguard web surfers who use Macs. The Surf-Shield feature pre-scans links that are clicked on or manually entered into browser address bars to determine if the page is infected. AVG claims that this is done in real-time, and users will be prevented from opening pages that it deems infected.

The second feature, Search-Shield, scans search engine results and assigns a safety rating for each. A safety rating icon is then provided adjacent to each link, allowing users to make an informed decision before clicking through.