IDP.Generic: Virus or False Positive? Avast/AVG Check

IDP.Generic is an Avast/AVG-style heuristic antivirus alert, not a malware family. Treat it as a warning to verify the flagged file: it is often a false positive in games, launchers, and updaters, but it can also appear when spyware or an infostealer touches browser passwords, cookies, wallets, or other identity data. If the file is unsigned, came from a crack or unofficial download, sits in Temp/AppData/Startup, or keeps returning after quarantine, remove it and scan the system before adding any exception.

First Steps for IDP.Generic

Use the alert context before deciding whether to allow the file. The fastest safe workflow is to update Avast or AVG, rescan the same file, check the file path and digital signature, then confirm it with a second scanner or file-reputation service.

• Signed app from Steam, Epic, Microsoft Store, or the vendor’s site: update definitions, rescan, check the digital signature, and report a false positive if only one product detects it.
• Unknown EXE from a crack, keygen, email attachment, Discord link, or fake download page: do not restore it. Quarantine or delete the file, run a full system scan, and change exposed passwords if it executed.
• Alert returns after reboot or after quarantine: treat it as active persistence. Check startup entries, browser profiles, scheduled tasks, and recently installed programs.

What Does IDP.Generic Detection Actually Mean?

The IDP.Generic alert is primarily a heuristic detection that flags suspicious activities attempting to access identity-related data on your system. This designation breaks down as:

• IDP: stands for Identity Protection, indicating that the behavior touches personal, credential, browser, wallet, or session-related data
• Generic: Indicates a non-specific detection that does not match known malware signatures but exhibits suspicious behavior patterns

When your antivirus reports this alert, it has detected a program attempting to access sensitive data storage locations, such as:

• Web browser profile folders (where passwords, cookies, and session data are stored)
• Gaming platform directories (Steam, Epic, etc.)
• Communication apps (Discord, Telegram)
• Cryptocurrency wallet locations
• System credential storage areas

While this detection commonly appears during the operation of spyware and infostealer malware, many legitimate applications also need to access these same locations for proper functionality, resulting in frequent false positives.

When Is IDP.Generic a False Alarm?

False positives with IDP.Generic detections have become widespread, particularly affecting legitimate gaming applications and development tools. According to our research and numerous user reports, the following scenarios commonly trigger false IDP.Generic alerts:

Games Frequently Triggering False IDP.Generic Alerts

Multiple games from trusted sources like Steam, Epic Games Store, and Xbox Game Pass have been incorrectly flagged as IDP.Generic threats, including:

• Cities Skylines 2 – Particularly after updates
• Valheim – Especially when accessing certain storage locations
• Empyrion: Galactic Survival – During save operations
• Demon’s Tilt – When accessing leaderboard data
• No Man’s Sky – During multiplayer functionality
• Cyberpunk 2077 – Following major updates

Other Software Commonly Affected

• Development IDEs (Visual Studio, VS Code) – When accessing project files
• Communication tools (Discord, Telegram) – During cache/login operations
• Backup software – When accessing personal data for backup
• Game launchers (Epic Games Launcher, Battle.net) – During update processes
• Browser extensions – Particularly password managers and security tools

Primary Causes of False Positives

Our technical investigation has identified several reasons why legitimate software triggers IDP.Generic detections:

1. Digital signature changes – Following updates or certificate renewals, antivirus products may not recognize the program’s new signature
2. Outdated antivirus definitions – Free antivirus versions often receive delayed updates, causing heightened false positive rates
3. Legitimate data access – Games and applications that legitimately need to access profile directories for normal functionality
4. Heuristic sensitivity – Overly aggressive behavior detection settings
5. Incomplete whitelisting – Antivirus vendors failing to properly whitelist popular applications

When IDP.Generic Indicates Real Malware

Despite the high rate of false positives, IDP.Generic detections can indicate genuine malware infections. The most common malicious programs flagged with this detection include:

• Information stealers like Lumma Stealer, RedLine, and Raccoon Stealer
• Banking trojans that attempt to harvest financial credentials
• Credential harvesters targeting passwords and authentication tokens
• Cryptocurrency wallet stealers designed to extract private keys
• Keyloggers and surveillance tools

Common Infection Vectors

Real IDP.Generic infections typically arrive through:

• Fake software cracks and keygens – Illicit software offering “free” versions of commercial applications
• Phishing campaigns – Particularly those involving fake human verification pages
• Malicious browser extensions – Appearing to offer useful functionality while stealing data
• Compromised downloads – Legitimate software downloaded from unofficial sources
• Malvertising – Deceptive ads leading to malware downloads

How to Determine If Your IDP.Generic Detection Is Real or False

When facing an IDP.Generic alert, follow this systematic approach to determine whether you’re dealing with an actual threat or a false positive:

Step 1: Context Analysis

• Timing: Did the alert appear immediately after installing or updating legitimate software?
• File location: Is the flagged file in a standard program installation directory or in a suspicious location?
• Recent actions: Have you recently downloaded files from questionable sources or clicked on suspicious links?
• Program recognition: Is the flagged executable a known application or game from a reputable developer?

Step 2: File Verification

1. Check the file location first. Be more skeptical of files in Downloads, Temp, AppDataRoaming, startup folders, or random-looking directories than files inside a normal vendor folder under Program Files.
2. Check digital signatures of the flagged file: right-click the file, open Properties, then inspect the Digital Signatures tab. No signature does not automatically mean malware, but it raises the risk.
3. Verify file reputation with a second opinion, such as the Gridinsoft Online Virus Scanner or a multi-engine file scan such as VirusTotal.¹
4. Compare the file hash, version, and installer source with the official vendor download when possible.
5. Search the exact file name plus IDP.Generic and the publisher name. A broad same-day wave among users of the same legitimate app often points to a false positive; isolated reports around cracks or repacked installers point the other way.

Step 3: Conduct a Secondary Scan

The most reliable method to distinguish between false positives and genuine threats is to perform a second-opinion scan with a different security solution. GridinSoft Anti-Malware provides comprehensive detection capabilities with a low false positive rate, making it ideal for verification purposes.

For thorough system verification:

1. Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware
2. Run a Full Scan to check for legitimate threats
3. Review detailed scan results that explain detection reasons
4. Take action based on confirmed findings

How to Address IDP.Generic Detections

For Confirmed False Positives

1. Update Avast/AVG and rescan before whitelisting. Many IDP.Generic false positives disappear after a definition update.
2. Add an exception only after verification. Avast and AVG both support scan exclusions, but exclusions should be limited to the exact file or folder you have verified, not a broad Downloads or user-profile directory.²³
3. Reinstall from the official source if there is any doubt. Remove repacked installers, mod loaders, cracks, and third-party mirrors from the decision.
4. Report the false positive to the antivirus vendor. Avast provides an official false-positive submission form; include the detected file, detection name, and product version when possible.⁴
5. Keep the original quarantine entry until the vendor or a second scanner confirms it is clean. Restoring first and checking later is the risky order.

For Genuine Malware Detections

If secondary scans confirm a real threat:

1. Remove the malware immediately – Use GridinSoft Anti-Malware’s removal capabilities to eliminate the threat
2. Conduct a full system scan – Check for additional infections or components
3. Change compromised passwords – Assume any stored credentials may have been compromised
4. Enable two-factor authentication – Add this security layer to sensitive accounts
5. Monitor accounts – Watch for unauthorized activities in financial and personal accounts

How to Prevent Future IDP.Generic Issues

Implement these preventative measures to reduce both actual infections and false positive interruptions:

• Use reputable software sources – Download programs only from official websites or legitimate stores
• Keep operating system and applications updated – Security patches address vulnerabilities that malware exploits
• Configure antivirus sensitivity appropriately – Adjust heuristic settings to balance protection with usability
• Investigate before taking action – Research alerts before immediately removing flagged files
• Implement a secondary security solution – Use on-demand scanners like GridinSoft Anti-Malware for verification
• Be cautious with browser extensions – Install only necessary extensions from verified sources
• Use strong, unique passwords – Prevent credential theft impact with distinct passwords for each service

FAQ

References

1. VirusTotal. “Files.” VirusTotal Documentation, accessed June 1, 2026. https://docs.virustotal.com/docs/file
2. Avast Support. “How to exclude files or websites from scans in Avast Antivirus.” Avast, accessed June 1, 2026. https://support.avast.com/en-us/article/antivirus-scan-exclusions/
3. AVG Support. “How to exclude items from scans in AVG Antivirus.” AVG, accessed June 1, 2026. https://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?l=en&urlName=avg-antivirus-scan-exclusions
4. Avast. “Report False Positive.” Avast, accessed June 1, 2026. https://www.avast.com/false-positive-file-form.php

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Related: If a file shows only one or two VirusTotal detections but a sandbox assigns a high threat score, use our VirusTotal vs Hybrid Analysis conflict checklist before restoring or running it.