Actions

On this screen, you can specify the action that should be taken automatically whenever a virus, potentially unwanted program (PUP), or suspicious file is detected.

The default action is “Move to Chest”. If this is left as the selected action, any suspicious files will be automatically moved to the virus chest.

Alternatively, you can select a different action, which avast! will attempt to carry out automatically – Repair, Delete, No Action, or Ask.

If “Ask” is selected, you will be asked to confirm what action to take at the moment the virus, potentially unwanted program, or suspicious file is detected.

You can also specify alternate actions, from the same list of options, which should be taken if the preferred actions cannot be completed.

Options:

At the bottom of the screen, under the heading “Options”, there are two checkboxes:

  • Show a notification window when action is taken. If this box is checked, you will see a message on the screen telling you when the specified action has been taken.
  • If necessary, perform the selected action at the next system restart. If this box is checked and the action could not be completed, avast! will attempt to carry out the action again the next time the computer is restarted. This could happen, for example where a file was in use and could not be deleted or moved.

Finally there are additional options for dealing with infected archives:

By default, if an infected file is discovered in an archive file, avast! will attempt to remove it.

You can further specify that if the infected file cannot be removed, avast! should remove the archive (the parent archive) within which the infected file is located.

Alternatively, you can specify that whenever an infected file is detected inside an archive, the entire archive should always be removed.

Actions