Why does Avast not delete the virus?

[gordon72]

hi, i'm using avast with the gemail mail client. yesterday i wanted to test the viruscanner and sent myself an infected email with the eicom "virus".
avast recognized the virus and asked me what to do. then i clicked on delete but after the file is still in there.
i looked through the faq and the board, but it seems that i'm the only one with this problem.
can anyone help?

[bob3160]

gordon72
Welcome to the Forums.

but after the file is still in there

Please tell us exactly where the file is still located. We need the path and the name of the file.
Please help us help you.
What version of Avast! are you using
What vps version?
What OS?

[gordon72]

i'm using the newest version of avast and the virus definition is also the newest.
i don't really know where the file is located. i guess it is either in the mail folder or in the temporary cache folder of the internet explorer.
i'm using windows 2000 by the way.
i can delete the attachment by myself but i was wondering why avast doesn't delete the file when i click on delete.

[bob3160]

Gordon
I'm sorry but I'm not willing to guess at answers. Guessing doesn't help any one. I'm not asking for info because I'm nosey but because specific information is needed in order to give you reasonable answers.

[gordon72]

i can understand you. the file name ist eicar.com. but when i search with the windows search tool it doesn't find the file. so it is stored within the message. but i have seriously no idea how to find out the file name of the message which contains the virus file.
ok, i just tried it again.
i sent a test virus from testvirus.org to myself. when i close avast it of course doesn't recognize the virus. in the mail client (gemail) i can then choose between "delete" and "save". both options work fine.
then i activate avast again and it is telling me that it found the eicar virus in the mail. oh wait, it is telling me where it is stored. it is the temporary internet explorer folder and the name is Ind16D.tmp.
anyway, when i then click on delete in the avast message box, nothing happens. the message window closes but the file is still in the email.
when i then click in the mail again on save, it doens't work anymore and windows says that it can't be copied. deleting is still possible.
sorry, i know it is a little confusing how i write but my english isn't very good.


 

[bob3160]

gordon72
It is possible that at the time you tried to delete the file, the file was still in use. Also the file your talking about is a test file. It is not an actual virus it only has a signature like the virus. I would also recommend that until you are sure the file reporting to be a virus is an actual virus, that you put it into the virus chest. The chest is a special folder which is a safe place on your computer where the virus can't do any harm.
Once you are sure your dealing with an actual virus and not a "false positive" then you can always delete if from the chest.

[gordon72]

ok, i think i will do this like you said.  thanks a lot for your help.
i was just curious about it and since it is my girlfriends laptop, i wanted to make it as easy as possible.
it would be nice if avast would delete the attachment when i click on delete but ok, then she has to pay attention and must delete it manual. shouldn't be a big deal.

[bob3160]

gordon72
You can automate that portion To automatically put any infections into the Chest.
Right click on the a in the system Tray and then follow the attached outline. Steps 1 thru 4