We all know and use the famous Avast antivirus software, and there’s a reason for that. It’s a powerful software with a lot of features and, most importantly, easy to use. One of the features that the software provides is the ability to move a suspected file to a safe place (Chest) or completely erase the file (Delete). Now, you might be wondering why I would need to move a file potentially filled with viruses instead of erasing it. That’s a good point, and that is what we will discuss in this article.

Avast Chest

The Avast Chest is a feature of Avast Antivirus that allows you to store potentially harmful files in a safe and isolated location. The files in the Avast Chest cannot run or access your operating system or data, so they cannot cause any damage to your computer. The Avast Chest also gives you the option to send the files to the Avast Threat Lab for analysis, where experts can determine if they are malicious or not.

Avast Chest Advantages

• You can quarantine files you suspect are infected or suspicious without permanently deleting them. This can prevent false positives, where the antivirus mistakenly identifies legitimate files as threats.
• You can recover files you accidentally deleted or moved to the Chest as long as they are not harmful. This can help you restore important data or programs that you need.
• You can report files that you think are new or unknown threats to the Avast Threat Lab, where they can be examined and added to the virus database. This can help improve the security and performance of Avast antivirus and protect other users from similar threats.

Some examples of when using the Chest might be beneficial are:

• When you download a file from an untrusted source, such as an email attachment or a website, and you are not sure if it is safe or not. You can move it to the Chest and scan it with Avast antivirus before opening it.
• When you find a file on your computer that you do not recognise or remember installing, and you suspect it might be malware or spyware. You can move it to the Chest and send it to the Avast Threat Lab for analysis.
• When you want to delete a file that Avast antivirus detected as a threat, but you are not sure if it is a false positive or not. You can move it to the Chest and restore it later if you find out that it is harmless.

When to Use Delete?

The Delete option in Avast is a feature that allows you to permanently remove files that are detected as threats by the antivirus. The Delete option differs from the Chest option, which moves the files to a safe and isolated location instead of deleting them.

The purpose of the Delete option is to eliminate any possible risk or damage that the threats might cause to your computer or data. The Delete option is also faster and simpler than the Chest option, as it does not require any additional steps or actions.

Some situations where deleting a threat is the best course of action are:

• When you are certain that the file is malicious or harmful and you do not need or want to keep it. For example, suppose you download a file that Avast antivirus identifies as ransomware, which encrypts your data and demands payment to unlock it. In that case, you can delete it immediately and avoid further trouble.
• When you do not have enough space or time to store the file in the Chest, for example, if you have a large number of files that are detected as threats, and you do not have enough disk space or time to move them all to the Chest, you can delete them instead and free up some space and time.
• When you do not want to send the file to the Avast Threat Lab for analysis, for example, if you have a file containing sensitive or personal information and do not want to share it with anyone else, you can delete it and protect your privacy.

The security benefits of immediate removal are:

• You can prevent the threat from running or accessing your operating system or data and stop any potential damage or infection. For example, suppose you delete a file that Avast antivirus identifies as a keylogger, which records your keystrokes and sends them to a remote server. In that case, you can prevent your passwords or other information from being stolen.
• You can reduce the chance of spreading the threat to other devices or users. For example, if you delete a file that Avast antivirus identifies as a worm, which copies itself to other computers or networks, you can prevent it from infecting others.
• You can improve the performance and stability of your computer. For example, suppose you delete a file that Avast antivirus identifies as a trojan, which hides in another program and consumes your resources. In that case, you can speed up your computer and avoid any crashes or errors.

Key Differences:

The key differences between using Avast Chest and Delete are:

What Should You Choose?

The choice between Avast Chest and Delete depends on your preferences and needs as a user. Here are some general guidelines on when to use each option:

• Use Avast Chest when you want to keep the files for later use or analysis or when you are not sure if they are harmful or not. For example, you might want to use the Chest option if:
  • You download a file you need for your work or study, but Avast antivirus detects it as a threat. You can move it to the Chest, scan it again with the latest virus definitions, or send it to the Avast Threat Lab for confirmation. If it turns out harmless, you can restore and use it normally.
  • You find a file on your computer that you do not remember installing, but it seems part of a legitimate program or application. You can move it to the Chest, check its origin and purpose online, or contact the developer or vendor for more information. If it turns out to be safe, you can restore it and continue using it.
• Use Delete when you want to remove the files permanently and quickly or when you are certain they are malicious or harmful. For example, you might want to use the Delete option if:
  • You receive an email attachment that claims to be an invoice or a receipt, but Avast antivirus identifies it as a phishing scam or malware. You can delete it immediately and avoid opening it or clicking on any links. This can protect you from identity theft or financial loss.
  • You notice a file on your computer with a strange name or extension, and Avast antivirus detects it as spyware or a rootkit. You can delete it immediately and prevent it from stealing your data or compromising your system. This can improve your security and privacy.

Customisation and Settings

Users can customise their Avast settings to align with their preferences and needs. Avast settings allow users to adjust various aspects of the antivirus program, such as the Core Shields, the Blocked & Allowed apps, the Notifications, the Appearance, and more. To access the Avast settings, users must open Avast Antivirus and go to Menu ▸ Settings.

One of the settings that users can configure is the Chest and Delete options. Avast detect viruses and then deals with them according to these options. Users can choose to move the files to the Chest, which is a safe and isolated location on the computer or delete them permanently from the computer. After the software has detected malware, users can choose the action of the antivirus. This is either fixing the malware, asking for user input, or resolving the problem automatically.

To configure the Chest and Delete options, users need to follow these steps:

• Open Avast Antivirus, choose the menu and then choose settings.
• Select Core Shields from the Protection menu.
• Click on the green marker, then hold and slide to the wanted sensitivity settings. Choosing high-sensitivity settings means increasing protection and malware detection. Choosing low sensitivity means a low chance of protection and malware detection and also reduces Core Shields’ effectiveness.
• Select the Malware tab and choose your preferred option: Fix automatically (recommended), Ask, or Move to Chest (recommended).
• Select the Potentially unwanted programs & tools tab and tick or untick Notify me about potentially unwanted programs. If ticked, choose your preferred option: Resolve automatically (recommended), Ask, or Move to Chest (recommended).

Since you now know the differences between the two famous features of Avast Antivirus, you can now easily use them to control your files and keep your device safe.

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