Targeted Scan - Settings

The Sensitivity section of the settings screen allows you to define the following settings for Targeted Scan:

• Sensitivity: use the slider to determine your preferred level of sensitivity. You can select Low sensitivity, Medium sensitivity (selected by default), or High sensitivity.
• Scan for potentially unwanted programs (PUPs): tick this option if you want the scan to look for programs that are stealthily downloaded with other programs and typically perform unwanted activity.
• Follow links during scan: tick this option to allow Avast to scan other files used by the files being scanned for potentially harmful content.
• Test whole files: tick this option if you want the scan to analyze entire files rather than only the parts typically affected by malicious code. When this option is ticked, the scan is slower but more thorough.
• Scan priority: use the drop-down menu to indicate the scan's level of importance when other applications are running on your system. Higher priority (Medium priority is the default setting) enables the scan to run faster, but slows down other applications.

Note: The more options you tick and the higher you set the sensitivity, the more thoroughly Avast checks your PC. With higher sensitivity, scans are slower, false-positive detections are more likely, and more resources are consumed on your PC.

The Packers and Archives settings section allows you to define the types of archived files saved on your PC. Tick one of the following options:

• Scan most commonly used types (recommended): allows Avast to scan archive types most commonly used for storing purposes, such as .zip, .rar, and other executable or installer files.
• Scan all types of archives (selected by default): allows Avast to scan all archive types. This option is more thorough, but is much slower.
• Don't scan archives: prevents Avast from scanning archived files.

In the File Types settings section, Avast allows you to define which file types will be checked for malware and unwanted programs during a Targeted Scan. Select one of the following options:

• Content based types (recommended and selected by default): allows Avast to scan files types that are typically vulnerable to software. Selecting this option is recommended.
• Name extension based types: allows Avast to scan only files with risky extensions such as, .exe, .com, and .bat. This is the fastest scan configuration.
• Scan all files: allows Avast to scan all file types. This is the slowest scan configuration.

This section allows you to configure automatic responses to any threats detected by the scan.

To set an automatic reponse to a threat:

1. Tick Perform automatic actions during this scan.
2. Select one of the following automatic actions:
   • Fix automatically (recommended action): attempts to repair the file. If unsuccessful, moves the file to the Quarantine or deletes the file if neither action is successful.
   • Move file to Quarantine: sends the file to the Quarantine, where the file cannot harm your system.
   • Delete file: permanently removes the file from your PC.

In this settings section you can determine the behavior of your PC after the Targeted Scan is finished.

Tick the box next to a setting you want to enable:

• Shut down computer after scan finishes: allows Avast to shut your PC down immediately after the scan finishes.
• Generate report file (enabled by default): allows Avast to save the data from your Targeted Scan. This file is sometimes requested by Avast support for troubleshooting purposes.

In the Exceptions settings section you can choose specific files or folders to exclude from Targeted Scan. To add an exception:

1. Click the Add Exception button.
2. Select a file or folder to exclude from Targeted Scan.
3. Click OK to confirm.

View your Targeted Scan exceptions list under the Add Exceptions button.