Will not scan all files (Password Protected)

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I have just recently installed Avast free version for home, I run the complete scan and when finished it says couldn’t scan all files (archive is password protected) I have no passwords set can someone help??? ???

2

Welcome to the forums! :slight_smile:

U dont have to worry about archives that are password protected as malware doesnt hide in there…mostly the archives that password protected are created by pre-installed programs and they arent malware related!

3

Quote From DavidR:
*******************************************************************************
Files that can’t be scanned are just that, not an indication they are suspicious/infected, just unable to be scanned.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.
*******************************************************************************

4

Thank you all for your reply to this thread, it has been very helpful

5

NP :wink: