Need to retrieve password in Avast

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hi all,
I just installed the recent version of Avast free version 6, and I added a password so if anything is attempting to change the settings of the program I get noticed.
I have searched Google and found that there have previously been similar question as I make, but couldn’t find an answer, so I decided to post this and see maybe there is a solution in retrieving the password.

I tried to uninstall Avast and reinstalled but the program is locked by the password. I can’t get into Avast at all without giving the password.

PS: My laptop is infected with some viruses and I am sure it has changed or blocked the password I entered. I have been dealing with cleaning up my pc whole this weekend.

Any helps are highly appreciated.

2

Did you use all lowercase or upercase or maybe both?

3

if you loose the password to avast, reinstall is the only way and using this tool http://www.avast.com/en-no/uninstall-utility

but i would try this first

Check for malware with this

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.51. http://filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/
always make sure the program is updated before you scan
click on the remove selected button to quarantine anything found

post the scan log here

4

if you have no success removing this malware, then open a topic in the virus and worms section and follow this guide

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0
( post the logs in the topic you start and not in the guide )

To avoid using multiple post with copy and paste you have to attach the log`s
Lower left corner: Additional Options > Attach ( OTS log ) save OTS log as ANSI

Essexboy will look at the logs when posted

5

Hi machman, welcome to the forum :slight_smile:

I am very curious what malware you think has blocked/changed Avast’s password. I don’t say it is not possible, but I have never heard of it.

Greetz, Red.

Edit : I changed " Ha " ( Dutch ) in " Hi " ( English ).

6

I ran Malwarebyte antimalware, Superantispyware, and Spybot. They did find some malwares and trojans,and my laptop has become normal again. I use MSE and one of my problem with my laptop was it was not functioning, so I decided to install a different antivirus to keep protection. As I was looking around with the functionalities of Avast I came across the password option, and I thought its a good option in order to keep the malwares and viruses off my antivirus software.

At some point I had to restart my pc, and when I wanted to look into antivirus it kept asking for a password and denied the one I had given.

The reason I believe that a malware is responsible for this is, I am %110 sure of the password I used so I can’t be mistaken of what it is.

I used lower case letter for that password.

7
so I decided to install a different antivirus to keep protection
installing multiple AV can / will create all kind of windows errors and false positive detections

Never install two antivirus (see reply from quietman7)
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?s=7c8217673a726b92cfc91ecfd4294a29&showtopic=260844&view=findpost&p=1441638

8

[quote author=Pondus link=topic=83134.msg677908#msg677908 date=1313393483

Never install two antivirus (see reply from quietman7)
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?s=7c8217673a726b92cfc91ecfd4294a29&showtopic=260844&view=findpost&p=1441638
[/quote]
Yes I knew that already, I don’t have 2 antivirus programs.

9

I am still struggling with removing the password. Its absolutely not possible to remove the password even by uninstalling the program. I have even tried by installing MSE and then reinstall Avast but it still asks for the password.

I hope the Avast developers take this issue under serious consideration for the next version.

10

Did you run the avast uninstall utility in safe mode ? http://files.avast.com/files/eng/aswclear.exe

11

No I ran it in normal mode. Does it make a difference if its uninstalled in safe mode?

12

Uninstall avast via remove programs if you can then reboot into safemode and run the tool, i would also do a search in your c drive for avast and a registry search to if you know how, if your not comfortable in the registry then dont go there.

13

If I understand you right, you mean to uninstall the program twice, once from control panel-> remove program, and then from the safe mode run the uninstall program, right?

I did search for Avast registry leftovers but didn’t found any. I even used ccleaner to clean the registry after I uninstalled Avast.

14

Yes uninstall twice, ccleaner is good to run after deleting everything but it doesn’t go very deep in its registry cleaning, just a right click in the registry panel should bring up some options, click find and type in Avast then click on ok, that should hopefully bring up a few extra avast files.

15

Thanks for the tips I do it right away and post the result.

16

I just tried the tips you gave but it didn’t solve the problem, the program somwhow can remember that I have given a password.
Through the safe mode I could enter Avast but I couldn’t disable nor change the password, its all locked.

17

You have to uninstall avast! in safe mode. :wink:
Follow instructions here: http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility
Reinstall avast! afterwards.

18

Well it finally happened. Uninstalling in the safe mode, and reinstalling it removed the password protection.
Thank you for the help Asyn.

19

You’re welcome…!