Privacy Settings

Manage these settings from: ☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Privacy

Webcam Shield

On the Webcam Shield settings screen, you can reconfigure the default settings to adjust how Webcam Shield handles applications that attempt to access your webcam. Configure the following Webcam Shield settings:

  • Enable Webcam Shield (enabled by default): allows you to temporarily disable Webcam Shield for troubleshooting purposes. We do not recommend disabling it indefinitely. To disable Webcam Shield temporarily, click the (ON) slider so that it changes to (OFF).
  • Which apps require permission to use my webcam: allows you to select which apps need your permission to access your webcam (set to Smart mode by default). Select one of the following modes:
    • Smart mode: automatically allows trusted applications to access your webcam. If an untrusted application attempts to access your webcam, a notification appears asking you to allow or block the application.
    • Strict mode: notifies you each time any application attempts to access your webcam and allows you to decide if the application is blocked or allowed.
    • No mercy mode: automatically blocks all applications that attempt to access your webcam.
  • View allowed / blocked apps: allows you to add to your Blocked & Allowed apps lists.

To simply manage Webcam Shield, go to Privacy ▸ Webcam Shield. Read more...

Sensitive Data Shield

On the Sensitive Data Shield settings screen, you can reconfigure the default settings. Configure the following Sensitive Data Shield settings:

  • Enable Sensitive Data Shield (enabled by default): allows you to temporarily disable the shield for troubleshooting purposes. We do not recommend disabling it indefinitely. To disable Sensitive Data Shield temporarily, click the (ON) slider so that it changes to (OFF).
  • Restrict document access to this Windows account: prevents users logged into other Windows accounts on the same PC from opening documents protected by Sensitive Data Shield.

To run a Sensitive Data Shield scan, go to Privacy ▸ Sensitive Data Shield. Read more...

Data Shredder

On the Data Shredder settings screen, you can reconfigure its default accessibility and shredding capability. Configure the following Data Shredder settings:

  • Show Data Shredder in the Windows context menu (enabled by default): enables you to right-click a file or folder in your file explorer or on your desktop and select Data Shredder from the Windows context menu that appears.
  • Which algorithm for shredding you want to use: allows you to choose from Random overwrite (selected by default), Gutmann algorithm, and DOD (Department of Defense) 5250.22-M algorithm.
  • With 1 number of passes (1 pass specified by default): allows you to specify how many passes your preferred algorithm will take on the data you want to shred. To change the number, click into the text box and type your preferred number.

To shred selected files, your whole drive, or deleted files, go to Privacy ▸ Data Shredder. Read more...

Anti-spam

Note: Anti-spam is only available as an additional installable component in Avast Ultimate, Avast Premier, and Avast Internet Security. You can install this component via ☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Privacy ▸ Anti-spam ▸ Add & Modify Components.

On the Anti-spam settings screen you can reconfigure the default sensitivity of Anti-spam and configure specific behavior to ensure the inbox in your mail management software is free from unwanted spam and junk emails. This feature applies to email clients installed on your PC, such as Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird. Configure the following Anti-spam settings:

  • Enable Anti-spam (enabled by default): allows you to temporarily disable Anti-spam for troubleshooting purposes. We do not recommend disabling it indefinitely. To disable the feature temporarily, click the (ON) slider so that it changes to (OFF).
  • How strict should we be when judging potential spam?: allows you to specify the sensitivity of Anti-spam. Strict mode is selected by default. You can also choose Relaxed or No mercy.
  • Mark in subject of spam messages (enabled by default): marks junk emails with the subject line *** SPAM ***. You can also modify the text as preferred by clicking into the textbox and customizing your subject line.
  • Mark in subject of phishing messages (enabled by default): marks scam emails with the subject line *** PHISHING ***. You can also modify the text as preferred by clicking into the textbox and customizing your subject line.
  • Add Email or Domain: allows you to add an email or domain to your Allowed and Blocked lists. Click the Add Email or Domain button and type the email or domain into the textbox that appears.
  • Add recipients of outbound emails and domains to Anti-spam whitelist automatically: adds email addresses that you contact to a list of trusted emails (known as a whitelist) so that replies from these email addresses are never treated as spam.
  • Add entries from address book to whitelist automatically (MS outlook only): adds all contacts from your Outlook address book to a list of trusted emails (known as a whitelist). Messages from whitelisted email addresses are never treated as spam.

To simply manage Anti-spam, go to Privacy ▸ Anti-spam. Read more...