Author Topic: Avast blocks "logins.json" & "Login Data"  (Read 2060 times)

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Offline jvidal

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Avast blocks "logins.json" & "Login Data"
« on: January 11, 2021, 11:45:11 PM »
Hi!
Last night, while doing my regular weekly backup, I noticed that the files "logins.json" and "Login data" couldn't be accessed. After A LOT of tinkering, I finally noticed that If I disable avast shields, the files become immediately accessible. Re-enable shields--?> files blocked again.
I read another thread where a guy complained about this exact same issue, but he had Avast premier (or internet security), while I'm using the free version, there's NOWHERE to disable this feature (which shouldn't even be in the free version, BTW).

What can I do? I mean besides uninstalling/reinstalling avast???

Avast free 20.10 running on win7 x64.

thanks!

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast blocks "logins.json" & "Login Data"
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2021, 01:34:18 AM »
You say Avast is blocking it.

Are you getting any alert or error message ?
If so a screenshot may help.

I honestly don't believe uninstalling/reinstalling avast would make any difference, if the above question is correct.
If you are actually getting an alert then you may be able to set an exception (unless I was 100% sure) it was a false positive.
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 jvidal

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Re: Avast blocks "logins.json" & "Login Data"
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2021, 04:29:47 PM »
no, no messages, but if try to open the files with a text editor or copy them to my backup HD, I can't, access denied.
If I disable avast shields, then I can open/copy  them without any problems.

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast blocks "logins.json" & "Login Data"
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2021, 05:01:50 PM »
I can't see any reason why avast would block with an alert, nor block access, unless the location prohibited it Such as in the avast folder/s which could be protected by the avast self-defence module.
Or I wonder if this could have something to do with the Avast protection in the Ransomware Shield.  I don't have this installed so I can't test/check.

But you haven't given a location, so again I can't really speculate.
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 jvidal

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Re: Avast blocks "logins.json" & "Login Data"
« Reply #4 on: January 12, 2021, 07:33:18 PM »
the files are in the firefox (logins.json) and google chrome (login data) profile folders.

avast IS BLOCKING THOSE FILES, because they become IMMEDIATELY available when I disable the shields and are blocked again when I re-enable the shields.
these files contain firefox & chrome stored usernames and passwords.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2021, 09:57:48 PM by jvidal »

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast blocks "logins.json" & "Login Data"
« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2021, 09:45:35 PM »
What I was trying to determine was which element of avast might be blocking/conflicting.

Given the contents are encrypted usernames and passwords, I would have to wonder they aren't protected by avast in some way and possibly by the Ransomware Shield.

If you are getting a notification, is this the access denied message you are getting, see attached image 1.


I really am having trouble trying to fathom what it is actually happening and why, because I'm not sitting at your screen, screenshots help more than words.  I have been able to locate and copy the logins.json file to a data folder on my second hard drive and open it using a text editor with no problem at all and Avast was running as normal and no issue.  Attached image 2.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2021, 09:47:14 PM by DavidR »
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 jvidal

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Re: Avast blocks "logins.json" & "Login Data"
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2021, 10:01:51 PM »
ok, here you go:
(in case you're wondering, "acceso denegado" means "access denied".)
If I disable avast shields, then I can open/copy the files without any issues.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2021, 10:06:31 PM by jvidal »

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast blocks "logins.json" & "Login Data"
« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2021, 11:49:42 PM »
The only thing that I can see is that you have set up a firefox profile for you whilst mine is random-characters.default and looking at the properties for that file, I'm on the Administrators list as far as permissions are concerned.

I would suggest that you DON'T disable avast completely as that doesn't help pin it down.  I would suggest that you disable the ransomware shield (as I don't have it installed) and see if that makes any difference.

Out of this, I'm out of ideas as I can't replicate the problem.
That said I'm not using a 3rd party software Tera Copy 3.5 to copy to another location, but Windows File Explore.
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 jvidal

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Re: Avast blocks "logins.json" & "Login Data"
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2021, 12:43:43 AM »
The other guy that complained about this same issue had premier/internet security installed, which includes a module to protect passwords, but the free version doesn't.

see: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=233898.msg1545185#msg1545185

Edit: Disabling the ransomware shield doesn't do squat. Disabling shields from the tray icon fixes the problem.
Disabling shields from within the UI DOESN'T fix the problem.

I guess I'll uninstall/reinstall as soon as I have some spare time.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2021, 01:07:24 AM by jvidal »

Offline jvidal

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Re: Avast blocks "logins.json" & "Login Data"
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2021, 01:34:31 AM »
To close this issue:
Uninstalling and re-installing avast fixed this problem.

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast blocks "logins.json" & "Login Data"
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2021, 01:38:50 AM »
Thanks for the clarification.
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