Author Topic: How do I tell Avast I want a file it keeps blocking?  (Read 1199 times)

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Offline lcfraser

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How do I tell Avast I want a file it keeps blocking?
« on: May 29, 2019, 03:43:57 AM »
I know the site -- it's a game modding site.  The file I want to download is in general use among gamers.  The file itself is not a virus, and it doesn't scan as a virus -- it just gets blocked because "it's a file that's not normally downloaded"and I have no option to override.   Very frustrating.

Generally Avast leaves me alone, but this is driving me nuts.  Surely there's a way to tell the program to allow a file through?

Offline Asyn

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Re: How do I tell Avast I want a file it keeps blocking?
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2019, 06:51:09 AM »
You can report a suspected FP (File/Website) here: https://www.avast.com/false-positive-file-form.php
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Offline Cluster-Lizard2014

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Re: How do I tell Avast I want a file it keeps blocking?
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2019, 01:37:28 PM »
If every user sent all the files that AVAST has reported on our PCs at some point as a "Threat" the service would likely be deluged. How long do we have to wait for a response anyway?

If you're trying to do some work and have to wait even just a few minutes to confirm a file is OK that is annoying and does it even solve the problem? Does the file's reputation get updated immediately allowing the download to proceed or do you have to wait for the next definitions update?

In this case the excuse for blocking the download appears to be due to it being a rarely downloaded file. Been there, seen it and bought the T-shirt :) I've had this sort of thing happen to me many times in the past simply because the download's rarity makes it, for some reason, suspicious.

There are gaming related tools I've tried to download which are probably now only of interest to a couple of dozen people worldwide and once downloaded are not required again. So of course they are increasingly rarely downloaded but that does not make them suspicious.

I know it is better to be safe that sorry but isn't basing any default blocking on rarity alone going that little bit too far?

The solution in this case, I suppose, is to wait for the false/positive confirmation but if you want to take the risk you can probably override the blocking by altering the Web Shield and possibly some other Shields Settings from the default Abort connection to Ask as the action for anything "Suspicious".

I'd urge you to return them back to the default settings afterwards.   
« Last Edit: May 29, 2019, 05:48:42 PM by Cluster-Lizard2014 »

Offline bob3160

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Re: How do I tell Avast I want a file it keeps blocking?
« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2019, 12:03:48 AM »
If every user sent all the files that AVAST has reported on our PCs at some point as a "Threat" the service would likely be deluged. How long do we have to wait for a response anyway?

If you're trying to do some work and have to wait even just a few minutes to confirm a file is OK that is annoying and does it even solve the problem? Does the file's reputation get updated immediately allowing the download to proceed or do you have to wait for the next definitions update?

In this case the excuse for blocking the download appears to be due to it being a rarely downloaded file. Been there, seen it and bought the T-shirt :) I've had this sort of thing happen to me many times in the past simply because the download's rarity makes it, for some reason, suspicious.

There are gaming related tools I've tried to download which are probably now only of interest to a couple of dozen people worldwide and once downloaded are not required again. So of course they are increasingly rarely downloaded but that does not make them suspicious.

I know it is better to be safe that sorry but isn't basing any default blocking on rarity alone going that little bit too far?

The solution in this case, I suppose, is to wait for the false/positive confirmation but if you want to take the risk you can probably override the blocking by altering the Web Shield and possibly some other Shields Settings from the default Abort connection to Ask as the action for anything "Suspicious".

I'd urge you to return them back to the default settings afterwards.
There was a problem submitting false positives which was recently fixed.
When I last sent in a report, I was greeted with a reply acknowledging the submission and resolution of that file the next morning.


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Offline Cluster-Lizard2014

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Re: How do I tell Avast I want a file it keeps blocking?
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2019, 01:46:43 AM »
Helpful info, thanks.