Hi
Thanks for this response.
I am not sure what is meant by 'console'. I see no page with a 'console' title.
I open Avast by clicking on the screen icon, and a screen opens telling my the status - always showing that I am protected . This screen also allows me the option to run a 'smart scan', and click on the 'protection' and 'privacy' buttons down the left side with the 'settings' button bottom left side.
I click on 'settings' and this opens the 'General' page. Problems start here as I want the 'hardened' and 'scan for pups' box ticked and they keep becoming unticked. When this happens, a number of changes are made to settings under the 'General' and 'Components' settings. I always click 'OK' after each individual change that I make. This worked fine for the changes that I made for my PC scans that I run every few days but not for the 'real time' settings.