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First check what Avast blocked: a website or download URL, or the file after it downloaded. Report a suspected website false positive and wait for Avast’s correction; if Avast quarantined the file, review it and submit it for a false-positive check before considering a restore. Add an exception only when you are confident the site or file is safe, because an exception can reduce Avast’s protection.
Find out whether Avast blocked the site or the file
The warning tells you which route to follow. Avast describes website alerts such as “Threat secured,” “Infected website,” and “Malicious URL blocked.” By contrast, if the browser finished downloading and Avast then flagged or isolated the item, the file may be in Quarantine.
- Website or URL warning: Follow the website steps below. Avast may be blocking access before the file can download.
- File detection or quarantine: Follow the Quarantine steps. The file has been treated as suspicious, so do not assume it is safe just because you expected it.
- Browser error with no Avast alert: Avast might not be the cause. Use its Web Guard diagnostic only briefly, then check the browser or connection if the error remains.
These paths vary by product and operating system. The main Windows steps below are for Avast Antivirus; Avast One and Mac Avast Security use different settings paths.
If Avast blocks the website or download URL
Update, report, and wait for a website false positive
- Update Avast and your browser.
- If you believe the site is legitimate, submit its address through Avast’s website access troubleshooting and false-positive process.
- Wait for Avast to review and correct a confirmed false positive before adding an exception. Avast says confirmed website false positives are typically corrected through automatic virus-definition updates within a few hours. That is Avast’s general guidance, not a guaranteed turnaround for every report.
Avast calls reporting and waiting best practice. An exception is an alternative only if you fully trust the site; it bypasses some protection. See Avast’s exclusion instructions if you decide one is warranted.
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Use Web Guard only as a short diagnostic
If there is no Avast alert and the browser simply displays an error, Avast suggests temporarily turning off Web Guard, restarting the browser, and repeating the action to see whether Avast is involved. Turn Web Guard back on immediately after this test. Do not leave protection disabled as a way to obtain the file. If the error persists, investigate the browser or internet connection instead.
If Avast detects or quarantines the downloaded file
Review the Quarantine entry before restoring anything
- In Avast Antivirus for Windows, open Protection → Quarantine.
- Review the file and its origin. If you are unsure whether it is safe, leave it isolated and submit it to Avast Threat Labs as a suspected false positive.
- For the report, include the program name, publisher, version, and why you believe it should not have been detected. Avast says most submissions are processed without a response.
Avast’s Quarantine guide explains the available actions. Restore returns the file to your device. On Windows, Restore and add exception both restores it and excludes it from all Avast scans and shields. Extract / Restore as lets you choose where to restore it. Avast warns that restoring files from Quarantine poses a high security risk and says restoration is intended for specific situations.
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- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
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Do not choose “Open anyway” for an unknown file. Avast says it does not recommend bypassing CyberCapture unless you are certain the file is safe; see its CyberCapture guidance.
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An exception changes future scanning behavior; it does not establish that a file or site is safe. Use one only for an item you know is trustworthy, and avoid excluding a whole folder or domain when a narrower exception will do.
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Windows Avast Antivirus
- Open Menu → Settings → General → Exceptions.
- Select Add exception.
- Choose Website / Domain for a site or File / Folder for a local item, then enter or select the specific target.
- For a file or folder, review which scanning features the exception applies to before saving.
A website exception can cover pages on the same domain, while file and folder exceptions can exclude an item from scans and shields. Avast’s exclusions article covers the available controls.
Avast One and Mac Avast Security
Do not follow the Windows path if the labels differ. Avast One’s exception flow is Menu → Preferences, select the relevant shield, then Exceptions → Add exceptions; Avast One has separate support material for its versions at Avast One FAQs. On Mac, Avast Security uses Menu → Preferences and the Core Shields or File Shield/Web Guard controls; see Avast’s Mac Core Shields instructions. If those labels do not match your screen, check the product name and version in settings and use the corresponding support page.
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Choose the least risky action
| What happened | Best first action | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Avast warned that a website or URL is malicious | Report the suspected false positive and wait for Avast’s correction | Requests a review without bypassing protection |
| Avast placed a file in Quarantine | Keep it isolated and submit it to Threat Labs if you suspect a false positive | Asks Avast to review the detection; the file remains unavailable while isolated |
| You have verified a specific site or file is safe and need to proceed | Add a narrow exception or restore the reviewed file, understanding the risk | Makes the item accessible and can reduce scanning protection |
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