A file disappears

[REDACTED]

Hi!

I scanned about a month ago and it came up with a virus. I then selected move to quarantine but it said the file cannot be found on this computer. I assume that is because as the file could not be moved to quarantine it was automatically deleted by avast? Does avast normally delete files it cannot do anything else with?
I have scanned over 50 times since I found this virus with avast and malware bytes and they have all come up clean.
Also I have searched the whole pc for the file and it is not there.
Since I found it my pc has failed because I cold reset it while installing something and I had it fixed (this may be useful, I'm not sure).

Thanks very much! Your all so kind and helpful

[Pondus]

What was the file name and location?
Full file path to file location

[DavidR]

This is something that you really should have raised when it happened.

Unfortunately there isn't much information to go on and since it was a month ago only makes it a little harder.

What type of scan was it that you ran ?
Can you recall the file name and its location ?
What was the malware name that it was given ?

Your individual scan settings would determine what actions were taken upon detection and that would also depend on the file type, hence all of the above questions.
The information requested above may well be in the scan logs, but we would need to know what scan

[REDACTED]

Hi, sorry I can't quite remember. The malware name either. I think it was just an automatic delete. Can you tell if that ever happens? Sorry, the guy who repaired my pc said it looks fine, there have been no strange doings and I scan everyday. Can you please tell me if avast ever automatically deletes an infected file if that is the only option?

[REDACTED]

I ran a full virus scan with pup and rootkit on

[DavidR]

Hi, sorry I can't quite remember. The malware name either. I think it was just an automatic delete. Can you tell if that ever happens? Sorry, the guy who repaired my pc said it looks fine, there have been no strange doings and I scan everyday. Can you please tell me if avast ever automatically deletes an infected file if that is the only option?

Unfortunately not, any answer would be a guess as it is entirely dependant on the information.

One thing I can say with some certainty is that deletion isn't a first option or a default. It would follow some general rules and delete is normally the last in line unless the user changed the settings.

It depends on the scan, the options set for that scan, the file type and malware name.

[REDACTED]

Hi,
So would you say that it is something to worry about?
I mean antivirus and anti malware scanners can't find it.
A pc repair guy hasn't found anything wrong, I can't find the file and I have reinstalled windows and reset pc etc recently(after the incident).
Nothing weird has happened since.
Cheers

[DavidR]

Given that you have made multiple scans with avast and MBAM plus having the system checked without finding anything and you aren't seeing any adverse, unusual activity I would say you should be clear.

The only problem I had was the inability to give you a specific answer as to why the file disappeared or wasn't in the virus chest.

[REDACTED]

Ok thanks so much you have put me at ease!
It's a bit weird but it could have been a glitch or malfunction or something?!

[REDACTED]

I did try to delete it multiple times by spamming the mouse, it may be that that I accidentally deleted it😂

[DavidR]

Ok thanks so much you have put me at ease!
It's a bit weird but it could have been a glitch or malfunction or something?!

You're welcome.

I did try to delete it multiple times by spamming the mouse, it may be that that I accidentally deleted it😂

No one likes Mysteries.

[REDACTED]

What do you think the most likely thing to have happened is? Do you think it is auto delete as it couldn't do anything else

[DavidR]

Again without more detailed information is isn't going to be possible to say with any degree of accuracy.

You would have more chance guessing a toss of a coin than what is most likely to have happened.

[REDACTED]

Ok, so you don't think there is any more point worrying about it?

[REDACTED]

As there is nothing I can do