I just got avast free for home user. When I do a deep scan (most powerfull setting) I get many “unable to scan file” in the results. How do I get those files scanned or checked? Do I need to purchase a more powerfull version. I had AVG Free before and it was pretty good also, I do not see much difference. Thank you!
There should be a reason given after the “unabled to scan” message (such as that the archive is password protected, or something like that).
gnakou, avast does not use brute force to scan passworded files. I don’t think AVG do this anyway…
The archive files are safe because the virus cannot ‘get out’ of the passworded archives without being detected by the Standard Shield of avast.
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). Do you use any other security based programs ?
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. You may need to expand the column headings to see all the text.
Files that can’t be scanned are just that, not an indication they are suspicious/infected, just unable to be scanned.
Thank you ! you are right!