I have the free AV (version 5.0.545) on windows XP SP3.
I always scan downloaded files prior to running them. I downloaded the following file: K-Lite_Codec_Pack_640_Standard.exe (Decoder software for a DVD player) but scanning the containing folder and the program resulted in:
“Some files could not be scanned” - “Show Results” shows about 60 files all relating to “K-Lite_Codec_Pack_640_Standard.exe”. - and having the same error message “error: archive is password protected (5-digit number)”.
There was no warning on the Web site or when I downloaded the file (and the scan gave no warning either)
How can I scan these “password protected” archive files?
Files that can’t be scanned are just that, not an indication they are suspicious/infected, just unable to be scanned.
Many programs (usually security based ones) password protect their files for legitimate reasons such as AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy, there are others (and avast doesn’t know the password or have any way of using it even if it did know it). This could also include software protection as appears to be the case here.
When you run scans with the above programs and you delete harmful entries that they detect, a copy is kept (in quarantine/restore/backup) in case you need to reverse what you did. These are usually password protected, you should do some housekeeping and delete old backup/recovery/quarantine entries (older than two weeks or so), this will reduce the numbers of files that can’t be scanned.
By examining 1) the reason given by avast! for not being able to scan the files, 2) the location of the files, you can get an idea of what program they relate to.
Archive (zip, rar, etc.) files are by their nature are inert, you need to extract the files and then you have to run them to be a threat. Long before that happens avast’s Standard Shield should have scanned them and before an executable is run that is scanned.
So I certainly wouldn’t waste any processing effort or time in trying to crack any password as it is pointless.
Hi and thank you for the reply.
Please see responses inline below
All of the files that are unable to be scanned are from the same program “K-Lite Codec Pack Standard”. I have scanned 2 copies each from different Web sites – both have the following:
“Some files could not be scanned” - “Show Results” shows about 60 files all relating to “K-Lite_Codec_Pack_640_Standard.exe” - all have same error message "error: archive is password protected (5-digit number)”
2. Archive (zip, rar, etc.) files are by their nature are inert, you need to extract the files and then you have to run them to be a threat. Long before that happens avast's Standard Shield should have scanned them and before an executable is run that is scanned.
So I certainly wouldn’t waste any processing effort or time in trying to crack any password as it is pointless.
So in other words, I should just run the file and Avast will alert me if something is ominous?
Yes that is just appears to be software protection in this case.
They aren’t ‘errors’ just notification of files that can’t be scanned and why, many other security applications don’t even tell you about them.
That’s correct, the process of installing the codec, would unpack any archives as it has the embedded password to do it and avast’s resident on-access scanner would be scanning newly created files (those unpacked during the installation process) before they are able to be run.
Hello,
I want to thank everyone for the information, help, and expertise. I greatly appreciate it! The file was fine.
Many thanks
Sincerely
Tanya
P.S. - I hope I can find the FAQ to apply “resolved” to this post - but if not, maybe someone can point it out
