Author Topic: Avast passwords  (Read 5035 times)

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Offline bilnrobn12

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Avast passwords
« on: August 01, 2020, 04:38:53 AM »
I'm still grappling with a problem I posted about previously, but have narrowed it down a little I think.

I have changed my Avast password and it recognizes this  most times, but not always. Exceptions I have found are if I try to access 'Settings', or Avast asks to scan a periphery. It daily tells me MBAM is trying to access my passwords, but If I click for it to not allow this it again asks for my password but won't accept it. In these cases it says I am trying to access a protected area and asks for a password, but it won't accept the one I have set up.

Does Avast require a second password for protected areas? If so how do I set one up? If not what can I do about this problem?

I'm hoping someone can help. The inability to tell it to block a threat is particularly disturbing.
Bill in Oz
I dream of a day when chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned.

Offline rocksteady

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2020, 10:11:32 AM »
By that I assume you have MBAM installed alongside Avast.
Have you tried uninstalling MBAM?

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2020, 11:17:19 AM »
@    bilnrobn12
Quote from: bilnrobn12
It daily tells me MBAM is trying to access my passwords, but If I click for it to not allow this it again

Did you create a password to protect your Avast settings ?
As this sounds more like what it is asking for not your password related to your passwords, so which are you entering ?

Are you trying to allow MBAM to scan the area (if so why) ?
Or are you trying to stop MBAM scanning it, if so you need to do that in MBAM.

Personally I don't use MBAM.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline bilnrobn12

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2020, 06:17:48 AM »
MBAM is a separate issue. It is a part of Malwarebytes, which I also have running. As such I am not concerned in having it.

I only know of one password I have with Avast. During this problem I have changed it two or three times in an attempt to solve the problem. There is no issue with changing the password, it just doesn't let me enter those areas designated a 'protected area'. Examples are 'Settings' and requested permission to scan a periphery such as a USB thumb drive. Also to allow or disallow MBAM, which it sees a a potential threat. (I think that is probably a false positive as it is a genuine part of Malwarebytes.)

I notice in the menu the first item on the list is an 'Activation Code'. Where does that fit into the scheme of things? Maybe that is what it needs to enter the protected areas, but I don't have a record of having set such a code. It does also accept a subscription code at that point, and I tried that code to get into Settings, but it doesn't accept it there.

The whole password system seems a maze to me and unnecessarily complicated. 
Bill in Oz
I dream of a day when chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned.

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2020, 11:35:11 AM »
Regardless this is an interaction between two security based programs MBAM and Avast - which is trying to protect you.

Personally I don't find the avast passwords overly complex - but I can't see what you are seeing on your screen, so screenshots of these alerts/notifications would help.

If you have set up areas for avast to protect, then what would you expect when a program tries to enter those areas regardless of what that is.  It isn't seeing MBAM as a threat as such, Avast is just doing what you asked of it. 

Are you also using the Avast Passwords browser app, as I just wonder if this could have anything to do with this ?

Unfortunately I can't understand exactly what is going on as I can't see what is on your screen.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline bilnrobn12

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2020, 03:24:04 AM »
Firstly, ignore my comments about MBAM; I am pursuing that through Malwarebytes and it is not connected to my inability to sign in to Avast protected areas.

I have tried to take a screen shot of the Avast window that asks for and rejects my password, but when that window is on the screen the screen capture app becomes inactive. The best I can do is a jpg photo I took of the screen. The window is about 16mm x 110mm and appears in the centre of the screen.  In 'Menu' I select 'Settings' and get this Authorisation box. The password is one I entered a day or two ago and Avast confirmed it had been changed.   I have attached the photograph.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2020, 03:33:24 AM by bilnrobn12 »
Bill in Oz
I dream of a day when chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned.

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2020, 11:19:18 AM »
That certainly looks like the Avast Program Self-Defence Module kicking in and the request for a password is because you have set a password for any changes.  Why it isn't accepting it I just don't know if this is the current (and correct) password.

This could well be the MBAM scan and possibly because it is going in there not just reading files, but to be able to delete/remove permission for anything it doesn't like.

Personally I would exclude the Avast Folder/s from the MBAM scan there is just too much possibility of a conflict.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline bilnrobn12

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2020, 06:47:48 AM »
Definitely nothing to do with MBAM. I turned off every Malwarebytes protection module and rebooted the computer. Malwarebytes, as I expected notified me it wasn't protecting me. I then went to Avast Menu/Settings and it still rejects my password as was shown in the photo I sent you.
Bill in Oz
I dream of a day when chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned.

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2020, 11:21:19 AM »
Have you tried an Avast Repair, from the Control Panel (not AvastUI) Programs, Avast, Uninstall (the Repair option is in that location) ?

Though I suspect you would have to do a clean reinstall to overcome the issue with it not recognising your password.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline bilnrobn12

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2020, 11:58:14 AM »
I will try the repair option first. It comes up with this box (attached). Everything is ticked; should I proceed or untick some first?
Bill in Oz
I dream of a day when chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned.

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2020, 04:14:51 PM »
This isn't the Repair option, but the Change option.

Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline bilnrobn12

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2020, 02:48:20 AM »
On my Win 10 it is the only option apart from uninstall. If I go for a complete reinstall do I need to uninstall first or will the install process handle that? I agree with your thought that it may be the best option.
Bill in Oz
I dream of a day when chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned.

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #12 on: August 07, 2020, 03:20:03 AM »
On my Win 10 it is the only option apart from uninstall. If I go for a complete reinstall do I need to uninstall first or will the install process handle that? I agree with your thought that it may be the best option.

Click the Uninstall option, it doesn't uninstall, but throws up the screen image I posted in Reply #8.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline bilnrobn12

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2020, 09:27:33 AM »
I tried the repair option, but, as you surmised, it didn't solve the problem. I then tried a complete reinstall of Avast Premium Security. The re-install worked fine with it finding my existing Activation Code It asked me to sign in and I did without any problems using my existing password. Then I tried to go to some 'protected areas' including 'Settings'. In every case it would not accept my password! So I still have the problem, even after a complete re-install.

My wife has Avast Premium on her computer; it is one of, (actually the only), device hanging on my multi-device account. She can get into Settings without her being asked for a password at all... it just goes straight in. Her computer is virtually identical to mine, an HP All-in-One desktop with the same version of Win10 and the same version of Firefox browser.

We both have Malwarebytes Pro and after I re-installed Avast Premium the first thing it did was tell me Malwarebytes should be uninstalled as they 'might get in each other's way'. I haven't done that yet, but am prepared to if it will solve the problem, but having said that, it hasn't caused any conflict on my wife's machine. We initially installed Malwarebytes as it covered areas Avast did not at that time. With ongoing improvements to Avast perhaps we no longer need Malwarebytes anyway?

What can I do now? I have followed all your suggestions. Do you have any other thoughts?  I am in Australia so can't ring Avast's US 1800 phone number. Is there another way I can ask their technical department direct?
Bill in Oz
I dream of a day when chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned.

Offline rocksteady

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Re: Avast passwords
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2020, 09:50:26 AM »
If I were you I would first uninstall Malwarebytes then do another full clean reinstall Avast again with your system free of all Antimalware software (except Defender).
I see you have Avast Premium, so you can contact Avast support and raise a ticket online here:
https://support.avast.com
Support may take a while to respond to you, and likely to question what other antivirus/antimalware software you have installed.
If you uninstall Malwarebytes, you can always re-install again if ever needed, but do turn off the real-time protection.