Uploading Files to Avast FTP Server

 

You may need to upload files to our FTP server for either of the following reasons:

• Support analysis: If you have been asked by our support agents to send larger diagnostic files (such as logs or memory dumps) for further analysis, or when you are Submitting Suspected False Positives.
• Whitelisting: If you are a developer who joined our Whitelisting Program, and you want to submit files to our Threat Labs for whitelisting.

Avast Threat Labs are notified automatically once you upload your files, which are then usually processed within 24 hours.

Note that you might not receive any feedback regarding the submitted files. However, if the files are whitelisted/confirmed as false positives by our Threat Labs representatives, your Antivirus client should automatically receive the update within the following 24 hours.

If you are already in contact with our support agents regarding the upload, please ensure you provide them with the name of the uploaded folder so they can locate it on the server.

Preparing Files for Upload

Before uploading your files to the Avast FTP server, you need to compress them, i.e. put them in a zipped folder. Also, make sure to give the zipped folder a specific name (e.g. your email address) so we can easily identify it on the server if needed.

If you are unable to compress a file because it is flagged as suspicious by Avast, temporarily disable all Antivirus Core Shields, then try again.

Uploading Files for Support Analysis

Uploading From Windows Devices

After compressing your files, upload them to the Avast FTP server with any FTP client software using the following parameters:

• Protocol: SFTP
• Host: ftp.avast.com
• Port: 22
• Username/Password: anonymous/anonymous

If you do not have any FTP client software installed, you can install the free WinSCP software from winscp.net, then perform the upload as follows:

1. Open the WinSCP app
2. On the Login screen, provide the parameters listed above, then click Login to connect to the Avast FTP server
   • When you log in for the first time, you may see a message asking if you want to continue connecting to an unknown server. This is expected behavior, and you can click Accept.

3. On the left side of the screen, locate your zipped folder, then drag and drop it to the public folder
   • If you try to access the public folder, you may encounter a Permission denied error message. This is expected behavior, as the contents of the folder are not accessible. Press OK to close the message.

4. Click OK to upload the files to the server
   4. If the upload stops mid-progress, it cannot be resumed (you will need to repeat the upload).
   5. Please make sure you notify the Avast Support agent who asked you to upload the files and give them the name of the zipped folder.

Uploading From macOS Devices

After compressing your files, ensure the device is connected to the internet, then upload the zipped folder to the Avast FTP server with any FTP client software using the following parameters:

• Protocol: SFTP
• Host: ftp.avast.com
• Port: 22
• Username/Password: anonymous/anonymous

 

If you do not have any FTP client software installed, you can install the free FileZilla client for macOS from https://filezilla-project.org/ and perform the upload as follows:

1. Open the FileZilla app
   1. If prompted, allow FileZilla to access your files and folders.
2.  In the top panel of the app, provide the parameters listed above, then click Quickconnect to connect to the FTP server
   1. When you log in for the first time, you may see a pop-up message regarding an unknown host key. This is expected behavior, and you can click OK.

3. On the left side, locate your zipped folder, then drag and drop it to the public folder
   1. If you try to access the public folder, you may encounter an error message. This is expected behavior, as the contents of the folder are not accessible.
   2. If the upload stops mid-progress, it cannot be resumed (you will need to repeat the upload).
   3. Please make sure you notify the Avast Support agent who asked you to upload the files and give them the name of the zipped folder.

Uploading Files for Whitelisting

Uploading From Windows Devices

After compressing your files, ensure the device is connected to the internet, then upload the zipped folder to the Avast FTP server with any FTP client software using the following parameters:

• Protocol: SFTP
• Host: whitelisting.avast.com
• Port: 22
• Username/Password: Your account credentials received after joining the Whitelisting Program

 

If you do not have any FTP client software installed, you can install the free WinSCP software from winscp.net, then perform the upload as follows:

1. Open the WinSCP app
2. On the Login screen, provide the parameters listed above, then click Login to connect to the Avast FTP server
   1. When you log in for the first time, you may see a message asking if you want to continue connecting to an unknown server. This is expected behavior, and you can click Accept.

3. On the right side of the screen, double-click the data folder

4. On the left side, locate your zipped folder, then right-click it and select Upload... from the context menu

5. Click OK to upload the files to the server
   5. If the upload stops mid-progress, it cannot be resumed (you will need to repeat the upload).

Submit only those files for which you have the authorization to request approval. Do not submit game hacks, cracks, keygens, or similar apps. Also, upload only complete files. Partially uploaded or broken files and delta-update files won't be considered for analysis or whitelisting.

Uploaded files are only visible to our Threat Labs analysts. Avast does not collect any personal information from files submitted for whitelisting. We reserve the right to share the uploaded samples with other security companies for research purposes, along with the information that the whitelisted samples are virus-free. We also reserve the right to refuse to whitelist any application.

You are not notified about the whitelisting process. However, you can update virus definitions in Avast Antivirus, then scan the submitted files to verify that they have been whitelisted.

Uploading From macOS Devices

After compressing your files, ensure the device is connected to the internet, then upload the zipped folder to the Avast FTP server with any FTP client software using the following parameters:

• Protocol: SFTP
• Host: whitelisting.avast.com
• Port: 22
• Username/Password: Your account credentials (received after joining the Whitelisting Program)

 

If you do not have any FTP client software installed, you can install the free FileZilla client for macOS from https://filezilla-project.org/ and perform the upload as follows:

1. Open the FileZilla app
   1. If prompted, allow FileZilla to access your files and folders.
2. In the top panel of the app, provide the parameters listed above, then click Quickconnect to connect to the Avast FTP server
   1. When you log in for the first time, you may see a pop-up message regarding an unknown host key. This is expected behavior, and you can click OK.

3. On the right side of the screen, double-click the data folder

4. On the left side, locate and right-click your zipped folder, then select Upload from the context menu to upload the folder to the server
   1. If the upload stops mid-progress, it cannot be resumed (you will need to repeat the upload).

Submit only those files for which you have the authorization to request approval. Do not submit game hacks, cracks, keygens, or similar apps. Also, upload only complete files. Partially uploaded or broken files and delta-update files won't be considered for analysis or whitelisting.

Uploaded files are only visible to our Threat Labs analysts. Avast does not collect any personal information from files submitted for whitelisting. We reserve the right to share the uploaded samples with other security companies for research purposes, along with the information that the whitelisted samples are virus-free. We also reserve the right to refuse to whitelist any application.

You are not notified about the whitelisting process. However, you can update virus definitions in Avast Antivirus, then scan the submitted files to verify that they have been whitelisted.