Avast continuosly scans a file while Skype is running

Avast 2015.10.0.2022 keeps continuously scanning this file as seen on the attachment always when Skype is running. Could you please help to figure out how to fix this issue? It has a massive impact on my CPU. Thanks.

It seems to be a cookie that is used by Skype and constantly is changed.

  • Close your browser
  • Close Skype
  • Remove all not needed / temporary files
  • Cleanup the registry
  • Reboot
  • Start only Skype and see what happens.

Hello,

thanks for your quick response.

Ive already used CCleaner to clean temp files and also registry, but without luck. When Skype is not running, everything is fine, just when the application starts. I also cannot access the DOMStore directory to manually delete its content. As I have show hidden system files checked, there is no DOMStore directory in the mentioned path.

What happens if you search for that file?
If it shows up in the search you should be able to get to that folder.

While searching for ls.hit.gemius[1].xml from windows search: No file results found for your search.

If you searched for ls.hit.gemius[1].xml it is logical that it is not found.
The name has spaces in it.
ls.hit.gemius(space)1.xml

You can also search for ls.hit*.*

I was able to reach the file and delete it. After closing and opening Skype the file is back at another location …\DOMStore\SF7UZ1O9\ls.hit.gemius[1].xml. Ive also tried to remove Skype cookies from the application itself. I have no idea, whats the cause of this file creation.

SF7UZ1O9 is a temporarily location, no worries if it changes.

It is clear that it is a cookie used by Skype.
For what, I don’t know.
Try to open it with a text editor.
Perhaps you can get a idea for what it is/what it does.

Hello again,

Ive just set to the file read_only attributes as a workaround. No more scans by Avast, but still I have no idea how to get rid of that cookie. While opening in Notepad there is not much content, only one row like: <item name=“gstorage” value="… />. Thanks for your help, anyways.

Since you now know how to find that DOMStore folder,
you can (if you want) add it to CCleaner so that everything in it will be removed.
Ofcourse this would make Skype create the file again and very likely avast will start scanning it again.

A other option is to exclude that folder from being scanned by avast,
but that is not something I recommend to do.
This file is harmless but others there may not be.

If you don’t want avast to scan that file,
you can add only that file to the exclusion list.

Personally I would leave things as they are.
The scanning of such a small file is not slowing things down or causing any problems.

Don’t thank me for trying to help.
Just don’t tell others that I can be nice ;D

Hi audiomachine
I’d like to suggest to modify the title : continuosly → continuously
so that we can find it with the search tool. (I try to modify it; don’t know if I can)
I got a similar issue