It's frustrating when your antivirus program deletes files that you need. This issue is more common than one might think and can be a significant inconvenience. Here’s what you can do to manage and prevent this problem.
Antivirus programs are designed to identify and remove threats. Sometimes, they can mistakenly identify safe files as harmful and remove them. This is known as a false positive.
Many antivirus programs move suspicious files to a quarantine folder where they can't harm your system. Check this folder first.
If the file isn’t in quarantine, you can recover it from a recent backup. Regular backups are crucial in protecting against data loss.
Most antivirus programs allow you to create whitelists of files and folders that shouldn’t be scanned or deleted. Add your important files to this list.
Ensure your antivirus is up to date. Updates include new definitions that help the program distinguish between real threats and false positives.
You can often customise the scan settings to avoid specific types of scanning that might lead to false positives. Check the settings and adjust them to suit your needs.
If you continue to experience problems, contact your antivirus software's support team. They can provide assistance and may offer a solution.
If the issue persists, you might need to consider using a different antivirus solution. Research and choose one that has a lower rate of false positives and meets your security needs.
By taking these steps, you can minimise the risk of losing important files to your antivirus program and ensure your data remains protected.
