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)

Managing the Core Shields and Email Guardian in Avast Security for Mac

 

The Core Shields (File Shield and Web Shield) and Email Guardian in Avast Security and Avast Premium Security for Mac provide real-time protection against malware.

Although it is generally not recommended, you can exclude certain files, applications, mail servers, or websites from scanning. Exclusions can be useful to speed up scans or to prevent false positive detections.

This article contains instructions to manage settings and set exclusions for File Shield, Web Shield, and Email Guardian.

Manage settings

To access settings for the Core Shields:

  1. Open Avast Security and click ☰ Menu ▸ Preferences (the gear icon).
  2. Click the Core Shields tab, then select the relevant shield.
  3. Tick the box next to a setting to enable it. The following options are available:
    • Notify me about potentially unwanted programs: When potentially unwanted programs (PUP) are detected, you are notified with an alert message.
    • Scan for Tools (File Shield): Tools are apps that can be used for accessing, controlling, or potentially harming computers.
    • Automatically move infected files to Quarantine (File Shield): If malware is detected, the file, program, or application is immediately moved to Quarantine and you are notified with an alert message.
    • Verify suspicious URLs (Web Shield): Suspicious URLs are checked against Avast's list of reputable websites.
    • Scan secure connections (Web Shield): HTTPS (secured) sites are scanned for malware as well as HTTP sites.
    • Force downgrade HTTP3 (Recommended) (Web Shield): Automatically downgrades all web traffic to HTTP2 or HTTP to scan for malicious code.
  4. If prompted, enter the password that you use when you start your Mac, then click OK to authorize the change.

To access settings for Email Guardian:

  1. Open Avast Security and click ☰ Menu ▸ Preferences (the gear icon).
  2. Select the Email Guardian tab.
  3. Tick the box next to a setting to enable it. The following options are available:
    • Notify me about potentially unwanted programs: When potentially unwanted programs (PUP) are detected, you are notified with an alert message.
    • Scan for Tools: Tools are apps that can be used for accessing, controlling, or potentially harming computers.
    • Scan secure connections: HTTPS (secured) sites are scanned for malware as well as HTTP sites.
    • Receive weekly summary report: Disables immediate detection reports.
  4. If prompted, enter the password that you use when you start your Mac, then click OK to authorize the change.

Set exclusions

To exclude files, folders, or applications from scanning by File Shield:

  1. Go to ☰ Menu ▸ Preferences, then select the File Shield tab.
  2. Click Add exceptions.
  3. Select the file, folder, or application you want to exclude from scanning, then click Open.
  4. If prompted, enter the password that you use when you start your Mac, then click OK to authorize the change.

The file path is added to the exceptions list.

To remove an excluded item, hover your cursor over the file path panel in the exceptions list, then click the Trash icon.

To exclude websites or domains from scanning by Web Shield:

  1. Go to ☰ Menu ▸ Preferences, then select the Web Shield tab.
  2. Click Add exceptions.
  3. Enter the URL of the website you want to exclude from scanning and select the Web server services type, then click Add.
  4. If prompted, enter the password that you use when you start your Mac, then click OK to authorize the change.

The website is added to the exceptions list.

To remove an excluded item, hover your cursor over the server panel in the exceptions list, then click the Trash icon.

To exclude mail servers from scanning by Email Guardian:

  1. Go to ☰ Menu ▸ Preferences, then select the Email Guardian tab.
  2. Click Add exceptions.
  3. Enter the URL of the mail server you want to exclude from scanning and select the Email protocol type, then click Add.
  4. If prompted, enter the password that you use when you start your Mac, then click OK to authorize the change.

The mail server is added to the exceptions list.

To remove an excluded item, hover your cursor over the server panel in the exceptions list, then click the Trash icon.
  • Avast Security 15.x for Mac
  • Avast Premium Security 15.x for Mac
  • Apple macOS 12.x (Monterey)
  • Apple macOS 11.x (Big Sur)
  • Apple macOS 10.15.x (Catalina)
  • Apple macOS 10.14.x (Mojave)
  • Apple macOS 10.13.x (High Sierra)
  • Apple macOS 10.12.x (Sierra)
  • Apple Mac OS X 10.11.x (El Capitan)


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