Avast WEBforum

Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Beta - Avast => Topic started by: REDACTED on October 24, 2015, 10:46:28 AM

Title: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: REDACTED on October 24, 2015, 10:46:28 AM
As, I've already posted, I am hugely impressed by the new beta versions of Avast.  No only do I really like the new interface, but more importantly, Avast never slows down my computer.  However, it is missing what I consider to be an essential feature in any antivirus, being the ability to add any detected files to the ignore list.  Considering, that there is the option to restore and add to exclusions in the virus chest, it seem strange that there is not an option to ignore files upon detection, rather than having to manually add an exclusion, or quarantine and then restore and exclude the files.

I do realise that probably the vast majority of users, don't need such an option.  But, in my opinion it is a glaring omission, and a feature that could be easily added.  If there is a concern that it would make it too easy for less technically minded users, to mistakenly whitelist harmful files, then quite possibly the ignore feature could be something that needs to be manually turned on in the settings.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: Be Secure on October 24, 2015, 11:19:56 AM
Not need this type of options.It is more importent to improve what they already have.Like HIPS and Ransomware,cryptowall and zero-day threats detection capabilities,lesser amount of FP and the cloud in 2016 Version :)And for less technically minded users avast has Reputation services On and Deepscreen.So Avast! do it(Will take care)for all Expert/Advance/medium/basic/novice users.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: REDACTED on October 24, 2015, 12:03:56 PM
Personally, I need this feature, and it's something that could be added very easily.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: bob3160 on October 24, 2015, 02:05:26 PM
Personally, I need this feature, and it's something that could be added very easily.
If Avast deems a file as an infection, you can't bypass that detection.
It needs to be submitted to the virus lab. Avast makes the final decision.
Avast takes the stance that if a file can infect your system, it get blocked NOT bypassed.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: REDACTED on October 25, 2015, 04:31:17 AM
If Avast deems a file as an infection, you can't bypass that detection.
I know, and that the big issue I have with Avast, and why most likely I will be uninstalling it soon, and leaving my Windows 10 laptop free of antivirus software (I uninstalled Windows Defender).
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: bob3160 on October 25, 2015, 12:04:23 PM
If Avast deems a file as an infection, you can't bypass that detection.
I know, and that the big issue I have with Avast, and why most likely I will be uninstalling it soon, and leaving my Windows 10 laptop free of antivirus software (I uninstalled Windows Defender).
Your computer, your choice. Certainly not mine. :)
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: DavidR on October 25, 2015, 03:34:52 PM
If Avast deems a file as an infection, you can't bypass that detection.
I know, and that the big issue I have with Avast, and why most likely I will be uninstalling it soon, and leaving my Windows 10 laptop free of antivirus software (I uninstalled Windows Defender).

The problem being not everyone is the same and avast have to be looking at safety of all users experienced/inexperienced.

This question/suggestion has been asked (and answered) many times in over eleven years of using avast. Making a mistake, would result in the file being able to run, that is why avast have gone for a deliberate act to exclude a file than a single click option.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: RejZoR on October 25, 2015, 04:24:38 PM
You can do this more conveniently through Virus Chest since it has been added to the avast! tray icon menu... Adding it directly to the detection menu is not a wise thing to do.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: REDACTED on October 25, 2015, 11:03:19 PM
The problem being not everyone is the same and avast have to be looking at safety of all users experienced/inexperienced.

This question/suggestion has been asked (and answered) many times in over eleven years of using avast. Making a mistake, would result in the file being able to run, that is why avast have gone for a deliberate act to exclude a file than a single click option.
That's why I suggested that I could be an optional feature, that would need to be manually enabled.  So, only advanced users who enabled it would be given the option to exclude.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: REDACTED on October 25, 2015, 11:10:03 PM
You can do this more conveniently through Virus Chest since it has been added to the avast! tray icon menu...
Thanks for tip, I had not noticed that.

As for adding it directly to the detection menu, it is a logical option to have for power users in my opinion.  I absolutely hate how antivirus companies "dump down" their products for inexperienced users, and in doing so exclude features that can would be useful to advanced users.

As I suggested, such a feature could be an option one that would have to be manually enabled, so the average user would not be shown the ignore option.  At least there are some antivirus such at Qihoo's products that have the ignore option.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: bob3160 on October 26, 2015, 12:32:20 AM
You can do this more conveniently through Virus Chest since it has been added to the avast! tray icon menu...
Thanks for tip, I had not noticed that.

As for adding it directly to the detection menu, it is a logical option to have for power users in my opinion.  I absolutely hate how antivirus companies "dump down" their products for inexperienced users, and in doing so exclude features that can would be useful to advanced users.

As I suggested, such a feature could be an option one that would have to be manually enabled, so the average user would not be shown the ignore option.  At least there are some antivirus such at Qihoo's products that have the ignore option.
Unfortunately the program can't decide if the user making the decision is a computer wiz or a computer nerd.
I've never had such a rush that I couldn't wait till the next vps update to clear a false positive.
Avast has always been fairly quick at doing that.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: REDACTED on October 26, 2015, 01:31:28 AM
Unfortunately the program can't decide if the user making the decision is a computer wiz or a computer nerd.
That's why I suggested that by default the option to ignore files would not be available, and advanced users would need to manually enable it.
Quote
I've never had such a rush that I couldn't wait till the next vps update to clear a false positive.
This is not so much about false positives, but more about files that Avast legitimately detects, but I want to keep.  For example PUPs or adware installers.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: bob3160 on October 26, 2015, 01:47:22 AM
As David has already explained, that's not been Avast's policy in the past.
You've made your suggestion.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: REDACTED on October 26, 2015, 01:55:38 AM
As David has already explained, that's not been Avast's policy in the past.
I'm well aware of that, and that is why I've made the suggestion.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: DavidR on October 26, 2015, 04:29:21 PM
<snip quotes>
This is not so much about false positives, but more about files that Avast legitimately detects, but I want to keep.  For example PUPs or adware installers.

If it is a case of PUPs or samples - why not keep them in one location and exclude the contents of that location.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: REDACTED on October 26, 2015, 10:29:38 PM
If it is a case of PUPs or samples - why not keep them in one location and exclude the contents of that location.
It's not that simple.  I often install PUAs, and even if I exclude the folder where the installer is located then I may still get files blocked when I go to install the PUA.  Currently, I just disable Avast's shields when downloading and installing PUAs so that nothing gets blocked.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: REDACTED on October 28, 2015, 12:36:29 AM
I've just uninstalled Avast, and since it seems that the ignore feature won't ever be added, I will never use Avast again, as it a huge annoyance, not having the ignore feature.

It's s shame Avast won't add that feature, and that in general developers of security software want to dumb down their software these days to cater for the average user, while ignoring features for power users.

For the moment, I'll stay antivirus free, as I'd rather have my computer unprotected than have antivirus software slowing it down.  I install many different antiviruses every year, and just about all of them cause unacceptable slowdowns for me - even the so called really light antiviruses.  Even Windows Defender has serious issues with slowdowns on my computers.  I was very impressed by how light Avast was, and if it was not for the lack of the ignore feature, I would have kept using it for the foreseeable future.

I should add that Avast uninstalled cleanly, and IObit Uninstaller found no traces.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: bob3160 on October 28, 2015, 01:05:57 PM
I've just uninstalled Avast, and since it seems that the ignore feature won't ever be added, I will never use Avast again, as it a huge annoyance, not having the ignore feature.

It's s shame Avast won't add that feature, and that in general developers of security software want to dumb down their software these days to cater for the average user, while ignoring features for power users.

For the moment, I'll stay antivirus free, as I'd rather have my computer unprotected than have antivirus software slowing it down.  I install many different antiviruses every year, and just about all of them cause unacceptable slowdowns for me - even the so called really light antiviruses.  Even Windows Defender has serious issues with slowdowns on my computers.  I was very impressed by how light Avast was, and if it was not for the lack of the ignore feature, I would have kept using it for the foreseeable future.

I should add that Avast uninstalled cleanly, and IObit Uninstaller found no traces.
Just as a rebuttal, I'd like to mention that it is because Avast does not have such a bypass feature, many of Avast's users are kept safe. (Probably from themselves.)
Most users depend on their Antivirus program to keep them safe. They aren't "experts". Even experts have been fooled more times then they will
ever admit. Putting the decision of what's safe and what's not directly in the hands of the experts at Avast is the right thing to do.
I will admit that in the case of the false positive this decision at times can be a bit frustrating. It is still the right decision to keep the customer safe.
As an Avast user since 2003, I've seen both false positives and brand new viruses blocked by Avast. The false positives have always been rectified
in a reasonable time frame. The blockages of brand new infections of all types have kept my system well protected.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: Be Secure on October 28, 2015, 01:29:54 PM
I've just uninstalled Avast, and since it seems that the ignore feature won't ever be added, I will never use Avast again, as it a huge annoyance, not having the ignore feature.

It's s shame Avast won't add that feature, and that in general developers of security software want to dumb down their software these days to cater for the average user, while ignoring features for power users.

For the moment, I'll stay antivirus free, as I'd rather have my computer unprotected than have antivirus software slowing it down.  I install many different antiviruses every year, and just about all of them cause unacceptable slowdowns for me - even the so called really light antiviruses.  Even Windows Defender has serious issues with slowdowns on my computers.  I was very impressed by how light Avast was, and if it was not for the lack of the ignore feature, I would have kept using it for the foreseeable future.

I should add that Avast uninstalled cleanly, and IObit Uninstaller found no traces.
Just as a rebuttal, I'd like to mention that it is because Avast does not have such a bypass feature, many of Avast's users are kept safe. (Probably from themselves.)
Most users depend on their Antivirus program to keep them safe. They aren't "experts". Even experts have been fooled more times then they will
ever admit. Putting the decision of what's safe and what's not directly in the hands of the experts at Avast is the right thing to do.
I will admit that in the case of the false positive this decision at times can be a bit frustrating. It is still the right decision to keep the customer safe.
As an Avast user since 2003, I've seen both false positives and brand new viruses blocked by Avast. The false positives have always been rectified
in a reasonable time frame. The blockages of brand new infections of all types have kept my system well protected.
+1 I agree with@bob3160
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: REDACTED on October 28, 2015, 01:52:56 PM
Just as a rebuttal, I'd like to mention that it is because Avast does not have such a bypass feature, many of Avast's users are kept safe. (Probably from themselves.)
I feel the need to point out, that I suggest that such a feature be an optional that was disabled by default.  You would need to manually enable it via the settings if you wanted the ignore option.  I'm sure that average user, for which this option could lead to their system becoming infected, would not enable this option.  Most likely, they just run Avast with the default settings, and never even look at configuration options.

Quote
Putting the decision of what's safe and what's not directly in the hands of the experts at Avast is the right thing to do.
Perhaps for the majority of users, but most definitely not for people such as myself.  If Avast detects something I want to use, then I'll let Avast quarantine it, and then restore it and add it to the list of exclusions, or disable Avast's shields while I install it.

Quote
It is still the right decision to keep the customer safe.
It's not the right decision for all users.  Maybe it is for the majority of users, maybe even for 99% of users, but not everyone.  With my idea, the average user would be protected just as before, only a minority of power users would manually enable the ignore function, and it would keep everyone happy.

Quote
As an Avast user since 2003, I've seen both false positives and brand new viruses blocked by Avast. The false positives have always been rectified
in a reasonable time frame. The blockages of brand new infections of all types have kept my system well protected.
I first used Avast in the mid nineties, when there was both a DOS and Windows 3 app.  But, I have used plenty of other antiviruses as well as Avast since then.  Not only do I have 25 years of experience in PC virus removal, I know how to avoid getting infected.  The only time I ever get infected is when I run an infected file I've downloaded, which I do from time to time.  If I was a little bit more careful about what I let run on my computers, I would never get infected.  I don't need antivirus software to tell me if a file is safe or not, I'm quite capable of doing that myself.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: bob3160 on October 28, 2015, 02:23:00 PM
If you don't need an AV then why complain about the lack of a feature designed for those that expect their AV to have their backs.
If the feature is made available, it will be used and in most instances abused.
It makes no sense to put 99% of the users at a possible risk to satisfy less than 1% of those that use the product. (IMHO)
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: REDACTED on October 29, 2015, 04:42:43 AM
If you don't need an AV then why complain about the lack of a feature designed for those that expect their AV to have their backs.
If the feature is made available, it will be used and in most instances abused.
It makes no sense to put 99% of the users at a possible risk to satisfy less than 1% of those that use the product. (IMHO)
You are missing the point entirely.  I don't know why, as I've made myself clear.  The ignore feature would need to be manually enabled.  I don't know where on earth you get that idea that 99% of users would actually bother to go into the settings and manually enable it.  I would assume that the majority of users just run Avast with the default settings.

Sure, I don't "need" an antivirus, but, I prefer to use one than not.  However, the majority of antiviruses make my computer run slowly, or don't have the ignore option.  Avast doesn't make my computer run slowly.

Also you statement "If the feature is made available, it will be used and in most instances abused" is simply ridiculous.  You don't know that, it's nothing more than speculation.  I get that you don't need the ignore function and think it's a bad idea.  But, just because that is your opinion, does not make it true for everyone.  If the feature was added, then unless you manually enabled it, Avast would work exactly the same as it does now, so I really don't know why it is such a big deal to you that you think it shouldn't be added.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: RejZoR on October 29, 2015, 08:16:57 AM
You can do this more conveniently through Virus Chest since it has been added to the avast! tray icon menu...
Thanks for tip, I had not noticed that.

As for adding it directly to the detection menu, it is a logical option to have for power users in my opinion.  I absolutely hate how antivirus companies "dump down" their products for inexperienced users, and in doing so exclude features that can would be useful to advanced users.

As I suggested, such a feature could be an option one that would have to be manually enabled, so the average user would not be shown the ignore option.  At least there are some antivirus such at Qihoo's products that have the ignore option.

Lets face it, advanced users aren't the majority and vendors have to assume person in front of a computer is a Regular Joe who has no clue about computers. It's how it is. Quick access to Virus Chest through tray icon is a goo trade off if you ask me. It's two clicks now which take 2 seconds at most and you can control what is excluded and what isn't.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: REDACTED on October 29, 2015, 09:07:56 AM
Lets face it, advanced users aren't the majority and vendors have to assume person in front of a computer is a Regular Joe who has no clue about computers.
Yes I agree with you there.  However, while it certainly is good business sense to make a product for the masses, that should not have to mean that they don't add functionality for advanced users too, too keep everyone happy
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: RejZoR on October 29, 2015, 09:27:13 AM
Well, it's exactly hwere I've explained it to you. That's where you have to use it. And the regular users don't. That's how it is. There used to be simple and advanced interface but frankly, having them split up just doesn't work.
Title: Re: Feature request - option to add detected files to the ignore list
Post by: Just_a_User on October 29, 2015, 04:10:00 PM
If Avast deems a file as an infection, you can't bypass that detection.
I know, and that the big issue I have with Avast, and why most likely I will be uninstalling it soon, and leaving my Windows 10 laptop free of antivirus software (I uninstalled Windows Defender).
Your computer, your choice. Certainly not mine. :)
Exactly our computer our choice....more experience user will know if its need or can be in the exception list or not....not experience user will not even look for that section or think about to put a file in that list.
So if it asked my let the users decidited whether or not using that option....and im one of them that using it many times av will drop a file that is not need to be removed. And also avast is not having the all time nolitce or wisdom to make decisions let the user in control lot of them know what to do and it doesnt mean if you hear them they are not excist in low numbers just my 2 cents.
Any way thank for the free stuff on a side note of above im as well grateful to have something like avast on my pc though.