Is Updated Avast trying to login to protected area?

[hkrause]

Haven't used computer for a week or more, and this morning it tells me AV needs to update. It prompted to restart computer, which I did. Now, I'm getting a message that something/one is trying to login to the protected area of Avast. I'm not doing it myself, so I cancel. Would the update I got today be trying to access Avast configuration after the reboot?

I'm unable to run a scan to check for problems because every time I access Avast, it prompts me for the password (which I don't want to give in case some malware is trying to get in). I've tried running in Safe mode, but then Avast tells me the service isn't running. Have tried running Avast from the program directly, or from the Avast Secure Browser... same results.

Somebody, please... If the new update/version might be trying to change settings or do some configuration, I will enter the security password, but don't want to do this unless I know that's what's happening. Please advise!?  Thanks.

[bob3160]

Avast is asking you for a password to run a scan because you requested to protect Avast with a password.
Till you enter that password, the scan will not take place.

[hkrause]

Thanks, Bob. But this message comes up even when I don't request a scan... just trying to open the program. It also appeared after I updated and reboot, when I hadn't done anything at all with the program. It's the sort of behavior I'd expect if some malware were trying to open and make adjustments within Avast. But since I'd just updated and there's apparently a major change in the program, I wondered if it might be something the program is trying to do.

[bob3160]

Thanks, Bob. But this message comes up even when I don't request a scan... just trying to open the program. It also appeared after I updated and reboot, when I hadn't done anything at all with the program. It's the sort of behavior I'd expect if some malware were trying to open and make adjustments within Avast. But since I'd just updated and there's apparently a major change in the program, I wondered if it might be something the program is trying to do.

Because you are protecting access to Avast with a password. That means when you access any part of Avast, it will require that you supply that password.

[Shannon54]

I am having the same issue.  I entered the password. It says it is invalid. I went into the program and changed the password. Still Invalid.  Is this a different password than my account password?  Is this some malicious attack on the program?  To just simply say that the program cannot be accessed until you enter the correct password is without taking into consideration that there is some other issue going on.

[bob3160]

I am having the same issue.  I entered the password. It says it is invalid. I went into the program and changed the password. Still Invalid.  Is this a different password than my account password?  Is this some malicious attack on the program?  To just simply say that the program cannot be accessed until you enter the correct password is without taking into consideration that there is some other issue going on.

The password you set up to protect Avast doesn't have to be the same as the account password.
What it is, is something only you know.
For additional help look at the following:

https://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB217
https://support.avast.com/article/Remove-Antivirus-password

[hkrause]

Unless this is some new functionality added recently, I never had to enter my security password just to open the program and/or run a scan. The only time it asked for a password was when I needed to get into the SECURE areas of the program... to change configuration settings, for example. I have Avast on other computers and can open the program normally to see the regular interface showing "Status," and go into "Protection" to select a scan to perform (Smart Scan, Full Scan, Boot-time Scan, etc). I can select a scan and it runs with no request for a password.  This is how the program has always acted, and still does on my other computers. As I type this, I am running a scan on the computer I'm using, with no problem or password. Note that I have NOT done the available Security Update on the computer that's acting correctly.

On the other computer, which I allowed to update this morning, I can't get into Avast AT ALL. It prompts for a password if I just try to open the program. I don't get the normal program interface, can't run a scan (or even get to the place where I request one), or see anything of the program other than the password prompt. This is not normal. If this is a new "feature" of the program after the Security Update and somebody can confirm this has changed, I will enter the password and see what happens. However, it seems to me that something is attempting to take control of Avast and get into the Secure area where settings can be changed. If it's a malware issue, I DO NOT want to enter the password and let it in.

Unless I figure this out, I'm going to put some other anti-virus/malware program on the affected system to see if it finds any problem. Thanks for any assistance.

[mchain]

Hi hkrause,

Instead of using a password I rely on the following:  If a change is made to avast, it always asks me if I want to allow the action first (such as uninstalling the old version) and since I started the action I say yes.  No password required.  This feature is based on Avast Self-Defense which protects Avast from any unauthorised change.

If you had avast automatically update your system this morning, and it looks as if you did, sounds as if the update itself went awry.  The fact that you cannot get into Avast at all using your current password is most likely connected to the failed update, and not to any malware trying to enter. 

IMO, it's a corrupted update.

• I suggest you follow bob3160's advice above (Reply #5) and here:  https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=224483.msg1490258#msg1490258
• You should also forgo the virus scan by another installed a/v simply because doing so can cause more problems.  https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=211973.0

Above is the most direct way to fix your issue with your password block.

If you still want to run a virus scan, use an online scanner instead of installing a second antivirus program:  https://www.eset.com/us/home/online-scanner/  Select "I want a free one-time scan with ESET Online Scanner" instead.

[bob3160]

To me it seems a bit strange to blame Avast for something you caused.
You elected to password protect the product. You can also remove that password if you can't handle the
extra burdens assigning a password causes.
https://support.avast.com/article/Remove-Antivirus-password

[Asyn]

@hkrause: See info/screenshot (German) from TerraX.
-> https://forum.avast.com/index.php?msg=1489937

[mchain]

Another Screenshot of default password settings:  (Note the settings for Scan Control and Scan Settings are on by default.)