A situation where security software Avast blocks access to your website is frustrating for both visitors and site owners. It becomes even more confusing when you have already checked the website, found no malware, or removed the suspected issue long ago. Despite this, the site is still marked as dangerous. How should you proceed in such a case, and where might the real reason for the block lie?
Why Avast May Flag a Website as Dangerous
When evaluating websites, Avast does not rely on a single source. It combines its own databases, reputation systems, and external security checks. As a result, a website can be flagged as risky even without a direct infection. A common example is a rating such as Medium Security Risk, which does not necessarily indicate malware but rather a set of security weaknesses.
This type of assessment can be seen, for example, when using tools like SiteCheck by Sucuri, which evaluates not only malware presence but also the overall security posture of a website.
Missing HTTPS as a Critical Issue
One of the most common reasons for a degraded website reputation is the lack of a secure HTTPS connection. If a website is still running on HTTP only, communication between the server and visitors is unencrypted. Many security tools automatically classify this as a potential risk.
Even if the website content itself is clean, the absence of HTTPS can negatively affect its trustworthiness in the eyes of antivirus and reputation-based systems.
Different Scan Results Are Not Unusual
Each security tool uses a different methodology. It is not uncommon for one scanner to report multiple issues while another detects only a single minor warning. A typical example is a scan performed by VirusTotal, where sometimes only one detection engine reports a potential issue.
This, however, does not mean that Avast will automatically lift the block. The software often considers the overall domain reputation and historical data, not just the current scan results.
How to Report a False Positive to Avast
If you are confident that your website is safe and all detected issues have been resolved, you can request a review from Avast. The company provides an official form for reporting false positive detections for websites or files. You can submit your case here:
Avast False Positive Report Form
When submitting the request, it is recommended to clearly describe the security measures you have taken and include links to external scan results if available. Keep in mind, however, that if Avast determines the block is based on other factors, such as reputation or historical behavior, your request may not be approved.
When the Cause Is Not Related to Visible Issues
The reason for a block is not always the same as what public scanners report. Avast may react to past security incidents, suspicious redirects, third-party advertising scripts, or the reputation of the server’s IP address. In such cases, fixing the visible issues alone may not lead to immediate unblocking.
This is why it is important to look beyond surface-level scan results and consider the broader technical and historical context of the website.
Contact Your Hosting Provider or Server Administrator
If you are unable to resolve the block on your own, contacting your hosting provider or server administrator is strongly recommended. They can verify the IP address reputation, review server logs, and determine whether the issue is related to other websites hosted on the same server.
In practice, deploying an SSL certificate, adjusting server security settings, or even changing the server IP address can significantly speed up the recovery of your website’s reputation.
Unblocking Takes Time and Patience
Even after resolving all issues and submitting a review request to Avast, it may take several days for the changes to take effect. Security databases are updated gradually, not instantly. It is important to continue monitoring your website, performing regular checks, and maintaining basic security standards.
In most cases, a consistent and thorough approach will eventually lead to the Avast block being removed and the website becoming accessible again without warnings.
