Avast For Mac Site Cannot Be Reached

  1. Apple Mac Site
  2. Apple Site
  1. Vishnu Vardan (Avast) Graham, could you please share us the screenshot of the web page that shows 'site cannot be reached' to check and assist you further. August 17, 2018.
  2. Aug 04, 2014  Avast Free Antivirus for Mac is the free version of the popular AV program. The popularity stems from the reliable and trustworthy brand that Avast have created. Although virus and malware issues are not as prevalent on the Mac platform, there are still a few serious ones out there you will need protection from.
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While Macs offer strong security protections, they are far from immune to malware, according to new data from security firm Avast.

Hi, I am having a issue with my google hangouts at home, I can get on it at school, it will say the site it secure but when I got home it worked for one day after that, I came home the next day and I came on it again it says site can't be reached.

Since January 2017, Avast has blocked more than 250 million malware threats aimed at their Mac customers.

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'Macs are not impervious to malware,' wrote Lukáš Hasik, senior product manager at Avast. 'As secure as Macs generally are, the fact is that hackers are targeting them more than ever.'

As Apple's market share has increased, malware that targets its products has skyrocketed, as TechRepublic's Jesus Vigo reported. A recent report from Malwarebytes found that Mac malware in 2017 is the highest it has ever been than any other year. And many Macs may be vulnerable to firmware vulnerabilities as well, according to a report from Duo Security.

SEE: Information security incident reporting policy (Tech Pro Research)

Here are the five most common malware threats aimed at Mac users:

1. Adware

Adware represented 17% of the Mac threats found, with 41 million detections. These programs can impact a Mac user's system in many ways by including sneaking suspicious files into the network, redirecting web searches, and flooding the machine with ads.

2. Blacklisted websites

These malicious sites, representing 14% of threats detected, can wreak havoc as soon as their pages fully load in a browser. They may exploit browser vulnerabilities to send spyware and other unwanted software to the user.

3. Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs)

PUPs are suspicious files that enter a system by attaching themselves to downloads of other programs. They sometimes act as spyware. This type of attack accounted for 5% of malware detections.

4. Trojans

Apple Mac Site

Disguised as legitimate software, Trojans are often used by cybercriminals to gain access to users' systems and steal data, or gain backdoor access to the system.

Reached

5. Ransomware

Rounding out the top five is ransomware, one of the largest threats of the year across all systems. These attacks often enter a computer via a phishing email, and lock files or critical systems until a user agrees to pay a ransom—or has a backup available. However, this is less of a concern for Mac users, as about 99% of ransomware attacks target Microsoft products, according to a recent report from security firm Carbon Black.

It's likely that Mac malware will continue to grow in 2018, according to the Malwarebytes report.

For tips on how Mac users can best secure their data, click here.

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Also see

  • 17 tips for protecting Windows computers and Macs from ransomware (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
  • Too noisy, low-level and unethical: Why some cybercriminals hate ransomware (ZDNet)
  • Information Security Management Fundamentals (TechRepublic Academy)
  • Ransomware and cyber-attacks: We need a defence plan, says Europe (ZDNet)
  • Ransomware: The smart person's guide (TechRepublic)
Active1 year, 1 month ago

Using Windows 7, Avast anti-virus and Chrome. Trying to log into my own website which is getting blocked by Avast antivirus saying malware. Others are able to log in on other PC's and via mobile.

Apple Site

Getting this message:

This site can’t be reached, The connection was reset. Try: Checking the connection, checking the proxy and the firewall.

And this:

Allow Chrome to access the network in your firewall or antivirus settings. If it is already listed as a program allowed to access the network, try removing it from the list and adding it again.

How do I allow it and get Avast to stop blocking?

galacticninja
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Kimberly ChaseKimberly Chase

1 Answer

How do I allow my website and get Avast to stop blocking?

Add your site to the Web Shield 'Exclusions' list or disable Web Shield completely.

To add an 'Exclusion':

  1. Open 'Avast Settings'

  2. Click on 'Active Protection'

  3. Click the 'Customise' link for 'Web Shield'

  4. Click 'Exclusions'

  5. Add the URL for your website to 'URL's to exclude'

  6. Click 'Add'

  7. Click 'OK'

  8. Click 'OK' again

To disable 'Web Shield' completely:

  1. Open 'Avast Settings'

  2. Click on 'Active Protection'

  3. Click the 'On' button for 'Web Shield' to turn it off:

    • Select 'Stop Permanently'

    • Click 'Yes' on the popup warning dialog.

  4. Click 'OK'

DavidPostillDavidPostill
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