infected files

[gesalz]

Hi!
When, scanning my hard disk, avast finds out infected files, I never know what to do with them: either deleting them, or throwing them in quarantine, or, or,  etc.
What is the best to do?
I use to delete them, systematically.
Am I wrong?
Thank you!
Regards,
gesalz

[Lisandro]

The better and safer will be:
1. Try to repair.
2. Send file to Chest.
3. Wait two or three weeks.
4. Rescan the file into Chest.
5. Delete (if realy infected). Restore (if it was a false positive).

You'fe avoid to delete necessary system files if they get infected.

[DavidR]

The adage  'first do no harm' is very apt, don't delete, send virus to the chest.

Deletion isn't really a good first option (you have none left), you are better of sending the file to the avast Chest and then investigate. There is no rush to delete anything from the chest, they can't do any harm there. Anything that you send to the chest you should leave there for a few weeks as Tech mentions. If after that time you have suffered no adverse effects from moving these to the chest, scan them again (inside the chest) and if they are still detected as viruses, delete them.

[gesalz]

Hi and thanks to you both!
Just a precision.
What you call "Chest", is it the "Quarantine Zone"?
My avast is in french, guys! As far as I understand, a "chest" is a rather big box with a lid.
Regards

[DavidR]

Glad we could help.

Yes the avast Chest is a form of Quarantine zone where the file can do no harm and can't be accessed except by avast.

Yes chest is a big box with a lid if you check the ":\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashChest.exe" in windows explorer you will see an image of one.

[Henrique - RJ]

It can and it must also test file in the VirusTotal.

VirusTotal site: http://www.virustotal.com/en/indexf.html

[gesalz]

Hi DavidR:
thanks for confirmation;

Hi Henrique - RJ:
thanks for the tip.

Regards