How do I run a virus scan with Avast?

There are several types of scans:

Smart Scan : a comprehensive scan that detects malware, outdated software, browser extensions with a poor reputation, network threats and performance issues.

Full virus scan: a predefined, in-depth scan of your system that checks your drives and storage to detect malware (including rootkits).

Targeted analysis: analyses the files you selected when you started the scan.

Start-up scan: scans your PC the next time the system starts up, before any malware can launch. Running the boot-up scan when the system starts up improves the chances of detecting and removing malicious programmes before they can attack your PC.

Personalised analysis: scans your PC based on the settings you have specified for the scan.

Running an analysis:

Open the Avast user interface and go to Protection > Virus scans.

Run the scan of your choice:

Smart Scan : Click the ‘Start Smart Scan’ button.
Full virus scan: Click on the ‘Full virus scan’ thumbnail.
Targeted analysis: Click on the ‘Targeted Scan’ thumbnail, then select the file or folder you wish to scan, and click OK.
Start-up scan: Click on the ‘Scan on startup’ thumbnail, then click ‘Run on next PC restart’.
Customised analyses: Click on the ‘Custom scans’ thumbnail, then click ‘Scan now’ on the panel for the scan you wish to run.