Avast
Skip to main content
  • For home For home Products for PC and mobile phone protection
  • For partners For partners Partner with Avast and boost your business
  • About us About us Careers, media, contact
  • Blogs Academy, Blog, Decoded, Forum
  • South Africa
For home
  • Security
    • Free Antivirus
      Basic protection for all your devices
      Free Antivirus
      Basic protection for all your devices
      Free Antivirus
      Basic protection for all your devices
      Free Antivirus
      Basic protection for all your devices
    • Premium Security
      Complete protection against all internet threats
    • Ultimate
      Our best security, privacy, and performance apps in one package

    Looking for a product for your device? Free Antivirus for PC, Free Security for Android, Free Security for Mac, Free Security for iPhone/iPad

    Looking for a product for your device? Free Antivirus for PC Free Security for Mac Free Security for Android Free Security for iPhone/iPad

  • Privacy
    • SecureLine VPN
      Encrypt your connection to stay safe on public networks
    • AntiTrack
      Disguise your digital fingerprint to avoid personalized ads
    • Secure Browser
      Secure, private, and easy to use web browser
    • Secure Browser PRO
      Unlock the full potential of Avast Secure Browser and fully encrypt your online activity
    • BreachGuard
      Protect your personal info from being exposed and sold
    • Online Security & Privacy
      Privacy and security browser extension from Avast
  • Performance
    • Cleanup Premium
      Boost your computer’s speed and performance
      Cleanup Premium
      Boost your computer’s speed and performance
      Cleanup Premium
      Boost your computer’s speed and performance
      Cleanup Premium
      Boost your computer’s speed and performance
    • Driver Updater
      Automatically update drivers with a single click
  • Store
  • Home
  • Support
  • Store
  • Account
For business
  • Products
    • Small & Home
      Office
      1-10 devices
      Protect up to 10 devices, including laptops, mobile, computers, and tablets with Small Office Protection.
    • Small Businesses
      11+ devices
      Essential, Premium, or Ultimate Business Security managed from integrated, cloud-based Business Hub platform.
    • Specialized products
      • Patch Management
      • Cloud Backup
      • Premium Remote Control
      • Antivirus for Linux
      • CCleaner

    Not sure which solution is right for your business?

    Help me choose
  • Business partners
    • Partnership opportunities
      • MSPs
      • Resellers
      • Distributors
      • Affiliates
    • Solutions for MSPs
      • Business Hub Security Platform
      • Cloud Network Security
      Shop by vertical
      • Education
    Become a partner
    Partner locator
  • Resources
  • Trials
  • Store
  • Home
  • Contact sales
  • Support
  • Store
  • Account
    • Business Hub
    • CloudCare
    • Partner Portal
For partners
  • Smart Life
  • Mobile Security
  • VPN
  • Threat Intelligence
  • Knowledge Center
About us
  • About Avast
  • Careers
  • Privacy
      • Privacy
      • Expert guides
      • Privacy blogs
  • Digital trust
  • Press center
      • Press releases
      • Events
      • In the news
      • Media materials
      • PR contacts
  • Awards
  • Contact us
  • Blogs
  • Avast Blog Read about recent news from the security world
  • Avast Academy Expert tips and guides about digital security and privacy
  • Avast Decoded In-depth technical articles regarding security threats
  • Avast Forum Discuss with the community

List of available regions

Main regions
  • Worldwide (English)
  • Europe (English)
  • América Latina (español)
AMERICAS
  • Argentina
  • Brasil
  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (français)
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • EE.UU. (español)
  • México
  • USA (English)
  • América Latina (español)
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
  • België (Nederlands)
  • Belgique (français)
  • Česká republika
  • Danmark
  • Deutschland
  • España
  • France
  • Italia
  • Magyarország
  • Nederland
  • Norge
  • Polska
  • Portugal
  • Schweiz (Deutsch)
  • Slovensko (česky)
  • South Africa
  • Suisse (français)
  • Suomi
  • Sverige
  • Türkiye
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • Ελλάδα
  • ישראל
  • Казахстан
  • România
  • Россия
  • Україна (українська)
  • Украина (русский)
  • المملكة العربية السعودية
  • الدول العربية
  • Europe (English)
ASIA & PACIFIC
  • Australia
  • India
  • इंडिया (हिंदी)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • Indonesia (Bahasa Indonesia)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Malaysia (Bahasa Melayu)
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines (English)
  • Pilipinas (Filipino)
  • Singapore
  • Việt Nam
  • 日本語
  • 대한민국
  • 简体中文
  • 繁體中文
  • ประเทศไทย
  • Worldwide (English)

Sensitive Data Shield - FAQs

What is Sensitive Data Shield?

Sensitive Data Shield provides an extra layer of protection for your sensitive documents against malware and unauthorized access. Sensitive files contain your personal information that, if revealed, can compromise your privacy and identity. Sensitive Data Shield secures your private data by controlling which applications and users have access to your files.

Is Sensitive Data Shield a free feature?

No. Sensitive Data Shield is only available with a paid Avast Premium Security subscription.

Which files does Sensitive Data Shield protect?

Sensitive Data Shield scans for and protects documents that may contain your personal data such as banking details, passwords, IDs, payslips, and other sensitive information. If malware or hackers attack your PC and gain access to these unprotected documents, your identity can be stolen and misused.

After scanning, Sensitive Data Shield displays a list of any unsecured .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, and .xlsx documents found on your PC that contain sensitive data. You can choose if you want Sensitive Data Shield to protect all or some of these files.

How can I use Sensitive Data Shield?

To scan for sensitive documents on your PC:

  1. Open Avast Premium Security and go to Privacy ▸ Sensitive Data Shield.
  2. Click Scan for sensitive documents to start scanning your PC for sensitive documents.
  3. When the scan completes, Sensitive Data Shield displays a list of unprotected files that may contain your personal data. All files are selected by default. Optionally, untick the box next to a file to deselect it. Click Protect all or Protect selected to start protecting all selected documents.

Your sensitive documents are now protected and cannot be opened by unknown, untrusted, or blocked applications.

During a scan, Sensitive Data Shield checks your entire hard drive, including each page of every document, and looks for files that contain sensitive data. The duration of the scan depends on the number of files stored on your PC.

The basic functionality of Sensitive Data Shield is also integrated into Smart Scan, which you can run by clicking Run Smart Scan on the main Avast Premium Security screen.

Can I protect my files from other people who use my PC?

By default, Sensitive Data Shield ensures that protected files are inaccessible to other user accounts on your PC. This is useful if you have sensitive documents stored on a shared PC.

To check this setting:

  1. Open Avast Premium Security and go to Privacy ▸ Sensitive Data Shield.
  2. Click Settings (the gear icon) in the top-right corner of the screen.
  3. Ensure that the box next to Block other user accounts on this PC from accessing protected documents is ticked.
If you share your user account login details with someone else, they will be able to view your protected files.

Can I block a particular application from opening my sensitive files?

Yes. You can specify applications that are always blocked or allowed access to your protected files. To manage Sensitive Data Shield application permissions:

  1. Open Avast Premium Security and go to Privacy ▸ Sensitive Data Shield.
  2. Click Settings (the gear icon) in the top-right corner of the screen.
  3. Click View allowed / blocked apps to open and modify the list of applications that are always blocked or allowed by Sensitive Data Shield. For more information, refer to the following article:
    • Using the Blocked & Allowed apps screen in Avast Antivirus

Where can I learn more about Sensitive Data Shield?

To learn more about how to use Sensitive Data Shield, refer to the following article:

  • Sensitive Data Shield - Getting Started

What is Sensitive Data Shield?

Sensitive Data Shield provides an extra layer of protection for your sensitive documents against malware and unauthorized access. Sensitive files contain your personal information that, if revealed, can compromise your privacy and identity. Sensitive Data Shield secures your private data by controlling which applications and users have access to your files.

Is Sensitive Data Shield a free feature?

No. Sensitive Data Shield is only available in the paid version of Avast One.

Which files does Sensitive Data Shield protect?

Sensitive Data Shield scans for and protects documents that may contain your personal data such as banking details, passwords, IDs, payslips, and other sensitive information. If malware or hackers attack your PC and gain access to these unprotected documents, your identity can be stolen and misused.

After scanning, Sensitive Data Shield displays a list of any unsecured .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, and .xlsx documents found on your PC that contain sensitive data. You can choose if you want Sensitive Data Shield to protect all or some of these files.

How can I use Sensitive Data Shield?

You can scan your PC for unsecured sensitive documents, or manually protect documents by adding them on the Sensitive Data Shield screen. During a scan, Sensitive Data Shield checks your entire hard drive, including each page of every document, and looks for files that contain sensitive data. The duration of the scan depends on the number of files stored on your PC.

To scan for sensitive documents on your PC:

  1. Open Avast One and go to Explore ▸ Sensitive Data Shield.
  2. Click Open Sensitive Data Shield.
  3. Click Scan for sensitive documents to start scanning your PC for sensitive documents.
  4. When the scan completes, Sensitive Data Shield displays a list of unprotected files that may contain your personal data. All files are selected by default. Optionally, untick the box next to a file to deselect it. Click Protect all documents or Protect selected to start protecting all selected documents.

Your sensitive documents are now protected and cannot be opened by unknown, untrusted, or blocked applications.

To manually secure your files:

  1. Open Avast One and go to Explore ▸ Sensitive Data Shield.
  2. Click Open Sensitive Data Shield.
  3. Click + Protect a new document, then navigate to the file location, and click Open.

Your sensitive document is now protected and cannot be opened by unknown, untrusted, or blocked applications.

Can I protect my files from other people who use my PC?

By default, Sensitive Data Shield ensures that protected files are inaccessible to other user accounts on your PC. This is useful if you have sensitive documents stored on a shared PC.

To check this setting, go to Explore ▸ Sensitive Data Shield ▸ Open Sensitive Data Shield and select the User permissions tab. Ensure that the box is ticked next to Block other users on this PC from accessing protected documents.

If you share your user account login details with someone else, they will be able to view your protected files.

Can I block a particular application from opening my sensitive files?

Yes. You can specify applications that are always blocked or allowed access to your protected files. To manage Sensitive Data Shield application permissions:

  1. Open Avast One and go to Explore ▸ Sensitive Data Shield.
  2. Click Open Sensitive Data Shield, then select the App permissions tab.
  3. Click + Add application, then select an application using either method below:
    • Select from list: Click Add next to the application you want to block or allow.
    • Select by location: Click Select app location, then locate the application on your PC and click Open.

The application is added to the app permissions list and the status is set to Blocked. To change the status to Allowed, click the red (Blocked) slider next to an application in the list so that it changes to green (Allowed).

To remove an application from the list, tick the box next to the relevant app, then click Remove app.

Where can I learn more about Sensitive Data Shield?

To learn more about how to use Sensitive Data Shield, refer to the following article:

  • Sensitive Data Shield - Getting Started
  • Avast Premium Security 24.x for Windows
  • Avast One 24.x for Windows
  • Microsoft Windows 11 Home / Pro / Enterprise / Education
  • Microsoft Windows 10 Home / Pro / Enterprise / Education - 32 / 64-bit
  • Microsoft Windows 8.1 / Pro / Enterprise - 32 / 64-bit
  • Microsoft Windows 8 / Pro / Enterprise - 32 / 64-bit
  • Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic / Home Premium / Professional / Enterprise / Ultimate - Service Pack 1 with Convenient Rollup Update, 32 / 64-bit


Updated on: 02/06/2022

Was this article helpful?

Need additional help?

Contact us
Avast logo
South Africa
For home
  • Support
  • Security
  • Privacy
  • Performance
  • Blog
  • Forum
For partners
  • Mobile Carriers
Company
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Press center
  • Digital trust
  • Technology
  • Research Participation
Avast logo © 2025 Gen Digital Inc. All rights reserved.
Privacy policy Products policy Legal Report vulnerability Contact security Modern Slavery Statement Do not sell my info Subscription details