Ransomware Shield, Blocked & Allowed apps

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I followed the instructions provided in these articles - “Ransomware Shield - FAQs”, “Ransomware Shield - Getting Started”, and “Using the Blocked & Allowed apps settings screen in Avast Antivirus” to block certain apps and protect files and folders. I designated specific protected folders and files that ransomare shield is supposed to be protecting, blocked the specific program and all of it’s executables to prevent it from opening, modifying, and deliting files in the protected folder. I also enabled the Hardened mode for both Antivirus and Pottentially Unwanted apps, and set thedefault actions to “Ask” to get notifications. The only problem is that the whole mechanism is not working, I can still start the blocked program and open the protected folder and modify and delete the protected file in that folder? What is the purpose of the “Block & Allow apps” and “Ransomware shield” features in Avast, why is it not blocking programs and protecting folders? Thank you

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  • Which Avast…? (Free/Premium)
  • Which version/build of Avast…?
  • OS…? (32/64 Bit…? - which SP/Build…?)
  • Other security related software installed…?
  • Which AV(s) did you use before Avast…?
3

Avast Free Antivirus 20.10.5824,
Windows 10 X64,
no other security software running alongside avast,
previously used Microsoft Defender

I should have started by explaining what I’m trying to accomplish. For starters, I’d like to block certain programs from being able to open, modify and delete files, and access folders. I don’t mind manually adding every program’s executable file to the block list, if that’s how it works. Ideally, creating a global rule to allow only the whitelisted programs to start and run would be a better option. This is something I was able to do with Eset antivirus HIPS, and Kaspersky’s internet security program control. I was hoping that Avast “blocked & allowed apps” would allow me to do the same thing, or maybe you can recommend an alternative. Thank you in advance.

4

:slight_smile:

5

Repair Avast:

  1. Avast GUI → Settings → Troubleshooting
  2. Click on ‘REPAIR APP’.
  3. Follow instructions.
  4. Reboot.
6

Thank you Asyn,
I treid your method, but I can still access the folder that I secured with ransomware shield with the applications that I added to a block list. Maybe I misunderstand the concept of the "Allowed & Blocked apps"feature, maybe someone else can explain it to me. Thank you

7

Well, it should work, try a clean reinstall…

First, be sure to get rid of all remnants of any prior installed AV(s)…!!
→ https://support.avast.com/article/11/

Then:

  1. Download Avast Free Antivirus: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
  2. Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions…!!)
  3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
  4. Reboot.
8

Basics of Avast Ransmware Shield covered in this page.
https://support.avast.com/en-us/article/Use-Antivirus-Ransomware-Shield

As Asyn said, it should work. Also is fairly intuitive when working properly.