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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Pointy on December 19, 2013, 03:41:00 AM

Title: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: Pointy on December 19, 2013, 03:41:00 AM
Did a fresh install of Windows 7 Pro 64 bit.  Installed Avast 2014 Free Antivirus. 

With the web shield on, most websites and downloads don't work, such as: websites viewed in Firefox and IE, Windows Update, and Samsung Magician update.
Avast generates no errors or popups.  Downloads will either appear to start or not start and get stuck on some percentage.  Web sites will only partially load or not load at all.

With the shield off, everything works fine.  Is this a problem with the latest update, or something else?

Update:  The December 20th emergency patch seems to have fixed my problem.  :)
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: olddog on December 19, 2013, 04:31:22 AM
Did a fresh install of Windows 7 Pro 64 bit.  Installed Avast 2014 Free Antivirus.

Would help to clearly identify the version installed, was it 2014.9.0.2008 or the current version 2014.9.0.2011.  If not the latter you could try updating to that.

If there was a previous AV system installed, did you use the manufacturers uninstallation and clean up utility to completely remove it before you installed Avast.

Quote
With the shield off, everything works fine.

I would suggest you try turning the webshield back on, and then try disabling the Avast Online Security extension in Firefox. If that works, it may be a problem with the AOS itself, or with it's settings blocking tracking. Some web sites will not provide their full features if you block tracking.

If disabling the AOS in Firefox works, you can also disable it in Internet Explorer.
At least then you will then have the protection of the web shield.
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: Pointy on December 19, 2013, 07:39:59 AM
It was the latest one, the 2011 I think.  There was no previous AV.
I tried disabling the extension in Firefox and it had no effect.

I am using a SSD if it matters.  Maybe something to do with the temp directory like I've read in other posts?
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: Zdenek on December 19, 2013, 08:14:54 AM
Hallo, we have discovered an issue in new WebShield implementation. This is probably reason of your problems. We are preparing fix for that.

Meanwhile you can try to switch to old WebShield implementation. To do that, please

Go to C:\programdata\avast software\avast directory

Find the WebShield.ini, file and add following lines:
 
[General]
UseStreamFilter=0
 
Now restart „avast! Antivirus“ service, or reboot.


Please let us to know if the problem is gone.
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: abruptum on December 19, 2013, 08:48:31 AM
@Zdenek
Is this issue in new Web Shield implementation a reason for problems with CCleaner ?

  http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143039.0
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: Ruebenroder on December 19, 2013, 09:26:07 AM
Zdeneks Solution works for me. :)
Added
[General]
UseStreamFilter=0
at the bottom of WebShield.ini.
rebooted,
Webshield is active, Issue is gone.

Thank You
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: Zdenek on December 19, 2013, 10:27:58 AM
@Zdenek
Is this issue in new Web Shield implementation a reason for problems with CCleaner ?

  http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143039.0

The mentioned problem is not browser or CC related, then I do not expect that these problems are connected.
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: henri44 on December 19, 2013, 02:38:00 PM
hi,
retry this morning with v 2011, ditto for blocking emails from laposte.net  >:(
deactivating agent Mail, it goes, so in this version it is the new web shield that problem with my config ... (We finally rewritten Web Shield)
back to version 2008, everything is OK :)

now new updated version of the 2014.9.0.211
I added in WebShield.ini :
 [General]
UseStreamFilter=0

and now everything is OK...and although not always the same problem   >:(

question: what is the action of this command line ?
thank you for your lighting
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: sleepycal on December 19, 2013, 03:28:25 PM
I can confirm I'm having the same problem.

Zdenek - Do you have an ETA on a fix? And can you confirm what `UseStreamFilter=0` actually does?

Thanks
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: sleepycal on December 19, 2013, 03:31:58 PM
Related thread;
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143055.15
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: henri44 on December 19, 2013, 03:47:46 PM
Related thread;
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143055.15

merci  ;)
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: henri44 on December 19, 2013, 04:23:25 PM
hi,
after some investigations in the folder C: \ ProgrammesData \ Avast,
there is a file EmailShield equivalent WebShield for emails and I think it is this document (configuration parameters) that is the problem ...
not too much courage for a new shift towards 2011: - \
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: lord ami on December 19, 2013, 04:56:49 PM
And can you confirm what `UseStreamFilter=0` actually does?

It disables new Streamfilter. I think it might be the new technology for Windows 7 and up that replaces "transparent proxy" that avast! webshield used in the past. I could be wrong tho :)
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: Ureshi on December 19, 2013, 05:08:48 PM
Same problem here avast killing all the web traffic

Added:
[General]
UseStreamFilter=0

at the bottom of WebShield.ini and now it works fine.

Please avast team fix the problem quick.

Avast 2014.9.0.2011
Windows 7 x64
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: T-man on December 19, 2013, 08:49:00 PM
HI!

Please help me,I try to aply this solution :

[General]
UseStreamFilter=0

in win7Prox64, and when I wish to save the modification sistem said:
ACCES DENIED!

why?

Thanks...
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: lord ami on December 19, 2013, 08:51:30 PM
HI!

Please help me,I try to aply this solution :

[General]
UseStreamFilter=0

in win7Prox64, and when I wish to save the modification sistem said:
ACCES DENIED!

why?

Thanks...
You have to disable avast! self protection (Settings - Troubleshooting). But, temporarily. After restart, re-enable it!
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: T-man on December 19, 2013, 09:03:21 PM
I did...but no luck!...I receive the exact: ACCES DENIED mesage when I whish to save the modification...any ideas?...Thanks!
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: AlexeyK on December 20, 2013, 09:23:04 AM
I did...but no luck!...I receive the exact: ACCES DENIED mesage when I whish to save the modification...any ideas?...Thanks!

I tried to do so on Win8 x64, result is the same: access denied.
How we can fix this trouble?
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: Andrey,pro on December 20, 2013, 09:32:04 AM
I tried to do so on Win8 x64, result is the same: access denied.
How we can fix this trouble?
Did you try to do this modification in Safe mode? Also you can try to disable all shildes before saving modifications into WebShield.ini (of course, avast self defence should be disabled).
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: T-man on December 20, 2013, 09:48:14 AM
...safe mode,off all shields...nothing!same access denied!...Avast Free version ,fresh instal on win 7pro x64 clean(only Firefox and Avast is instaled at this moment,nothing else!) get me crazy!when Avast webshield is active...NO WEB BROWSING AT ALL!...Without Avast all is perfect!....please give us one fix for this issues...past 2days and nothing fixed!....Thanks!.... >:(

Same problem in IE8 and FIREFOX...

second time in SAFE MODE work!Now the web browser work ok...but I have one new issue:

...the Avast moon in the Task Bar apear only if I click on the AVAST ICON on the desktop...no automaticaly apear...why?...Thanks!
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: DavidR on December 20, 2013, 12:20:55 PM
I did...but no luck!...I receive the exact: ACCES DENIED mesage when I whish to save the modification...any ideas?...Thanks!

If you use notepad.exe, the only text editor allowed to modify the various avast .ini files, it should be OK. However, windows (7 and above) itself is likely to chip in with the access denied issue. You need to run notepad.exe as the administrator and then open the WebShield.ini to edit it.

Fortunately 2nd time in safe mode (administrator privileges) appears to have worked for you now.
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: AlexeyK on December 20, 2013, 12:25:49 PM
I tried to do so on Win8 x64, result is the same: access denied.
How we can fix this trouble?
Did you try to do this modification in Safe mode? Also you can try to disable all shildes before saving modifications into WebShield.ini (of course, avast self defence should be disabled).

Thanks, modification was successful in Safe mode.
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: T-man on December 20, 2013, 12:40:29 PM
...Thanks to all! Now is ok for webshield...but I don't understand why AVAST no start automaticaly after windows reboot...only if I start him manualy?... ???
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: YaserK on December 20, 2013, 01:43:37 PM
I am experiencing exactly the same problem after updating to 2014.9.0.2011. Very slow connections. Websites hardly open. I had to disable WebShield in order to work properly. Waiting for a solution..
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: swag-nyc on December 20, 2013, 11:16:47 PM
I was having issues with avast blocking some things like video and images (google images) as well as random pages and google api stuff

I'm having trouble understanding why the solution is to edit a config file when all you need to do is turn off the intelligent stream scanner in the web settings.

this corrected the issue for me.
the answer given sounds like unscrewing a bulb to turn out a light when theres a perfectly good switch next to you on the wall
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: lukor on December 21, 2013, 06:39:12 AM
Swag-nyc, what is your OS, please? Windows XP?
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: MaDJiK on December 21, 2013, 01:19:33 PM
Please let us to know if the problem is gone.


Not here... Some sites work and some don't load. I try to add the 2 lines, but the exact same sites are blocked.
(I'm on Win 7 64bits.)


I'm having trouble understanding why the solution is to edit a config file when all you need to do is turn off the intelligent stream scanner in the web settings.

this corrected the issue for me.

And for me!


I did not see the thread about the fix. It seems to correct the problem too.
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: swag-nyc on December 21, 2013, 06:21:35 PM
Swag-nyc, what is your OS, please? Windows XP?

7 64
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: engarde on December 21, 2013, 07:01:18 PM
I've a variation on this theme.

If an admin reckons it needs a new topic, fair enough.


My access to my workplace is through a Barracuda java vpn launch from within the browser, I happen to use chrome.
I can get to the vpn launch ok, i.e. authenticate and login.

Before the rewrite/upgrade this week per http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=139112.msg1021944#msg1021944 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=139112.msg1021944#msg1021944) I could stop my firewall for 10 minutes, i.e. as short as it allowed, then open my rdp connection and restart the firewall.

Post rewrite rather than the rdp timeout/denied type response I see my office desktop start to logon, then nothing. Logs/traffic appears to show my 127.0.0.1 traffic goes out ok but not back. I can see the browser side of that same comms is green ok, but the mstc has the red arrow.

My launcher page gives me other pages to play with aside from rdp, and they render by appear to show dns issues, so the browser otherwise would show the URL as my vpn reference, post new changes that renders as 127.0.0.1/whatever and the on page graphics show a dns issue.

If I hit this page from a non-avast protected system on my network, happens to be fedora 18, I can get the page with no dns issue.
Unfortunately my rdp access form that laptop has always been hit and miss, so I cannot confirm if the launched mstsc from the chrome webpage is denied for local reasons or as a side effect of the rewrite, at least until Monday - however I suspect its the avast changes.
Home and office are both on win7.1x64.

If I stop ALL the active protection one by one or all together to see if I can encourage a new shielded behaviour to stop getting in my way no joy.

I've added the URL to trusted etc and disabled intelligent scanning etc/removed 'other programs' from the scan list etc., and aside from finding I cannot add it as https, it has made no difference. i.e. if I add my https://vpn to the list, the avast adds http to the start of it! So it becomes http://https://..

Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: Pointy on December 22, 2013, 04:46:55 AM
The December 20th emergency patch seems to have fixed my problem.  :)
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: swag-nyc on December 22, 2013, 06:29:58 AM
Confirming the above post
reactivated Intelligent stream scanning from the GUI and the problem seems to be corrected so far for me

win7 x64
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: lukor on December 22, 2013, 07:27:34 AM
Engarde, have you tried enabling "ics sharing mode" in firewall settings? It frequently helps with vpns. The fw mode might need to be "private", but I'm not sure about this one.
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: engarde on December 22, 2013, 03:39:11 PM
ICS has made no difference.

So in terms of the 127.0.0.1 red arrow on the inbound, its actually java.exe. I've got a all connections in/out tcp/udp set for it

In the attachment, 2 of the 443 connections for chrome are for my office vpn, and the blanked out one from the java.exe
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: MartinK on December 22, 2013, 11:27:23 PM
Hi Engarde,
please, could you check version of file \Windows\System32\Drivers\aswNdisFlt.sys - just for sureness.
Thanks
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: engarde on December 23, 2013, 06:58:36 AM
9.0.2011.265
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: Turtlediver on December 23, 2013, 05:46:08 PM
After updating from 2008 to 2011 I experienced the same problems others are reporting.  Couldn't connect to some websites and other sites opened very slowly or not at all.  No problems with Avast turned off!!!  I uninstalled using avastclear, but after reinstalling 2008, it wouldn't go active!  Thank goodness System Restore worked and 2008 is now functioning as before.  It sure doesn't create a warm fuzzy feeling, however.  I think I'll check the forum before rushing to install future program updates.  Running Windows 7 SP1.  ZoneAlarm
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: engarde on December 23, 2013, 07:55:29 PM
I've removed my install with avastclear, and reinstalled from scratch.
I am now able to rdp etc within my vpn with no custom rules nor ics settings which I could not before. My new version of the driver file is  9.0.2010.245, meaning its a previous generation compared to what I had pre-reinstall (9.0.2011.265)!  If I check for updates there are none!
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: jursa on January 06, 2014, 04:40:59 PM
I've a variation on this theme.

If an admin reckons it needs a new topic, fair enough.


My access to my workplace is through a Barracuda java vpn launch from within the browser, I happen to use chrome.
I can get to the vpn launch ok, i.e. authenticate and login.

Before the rewrite/upgrade this week per http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=139112.msg1021944#msg1021944 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=139112.msg1021944#msg1021944) I could stop my firewall for 10 minutes, i.e. as short as it allowed, then open my rdp connection and restart the firewall.

Post rewrite rather than the rdp timeout/denied type response I see my office desktop start to logon, then nothing. Logs/traffic appears to show my 127.0.0.1 traffic goes out ok but not back. I can see the browser side of that same comms is green ok, but the mstc has the red arrow.

My launcher page gives me other pages to play with aside from rdp, and they render by appear to show dns issues, so the browser otherwise would show the URL as my vpn reference, post new changes that renders as 127.0.0.1/whatever and the on page graphics show a dns issue.

If I hit this page from a non-avast protected system on my network, happens to be fedora 18, I can get the page with no dns issue.
Unfortunately my rdp access form that laptop has always been hit and miss, so I cannot confirm if the launched mstsc from the chrome webpage is denied for local reasons or as a side effect of the rewrite, at least until Monday - however I suspect its the avast changes.
Home and office are both on win7.1x64.

If I stop ALL the active protection one by one or all together to see if I can encourage a new shielded behaviour to stop getting in my way no joy.

I've added the URL to trusted etc and disabled intelligent scanning etc/removed 'other programs' from the scan list etc., and aside from finding I cannot add it as https, it has made no difference. i.e. if I add my https://vpn to the list, the avast adds http to the start of it! So it becomes http://https://..

Hi, this problem with baracuda VPN should be fixed in latest build. 9.0.2011 -> http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=142936.0

Could you please re-test it  ?

Thnx,
David.
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: fds_ on January 19, 2014, 04:55:42 PM
Hello everyone,

I tried every solution I found on the net. Different browsers. Disabling all extensions and applications. Disabling WebSecurity. Adding "UseStreamFilter=0" to the .ini-File. I literally sat here for about 4 hours trying to fix the bug, that is obviously exisiting since about a month, without any success.
I still can't watch streams on twitch.tv or any other streaming page. The video will just reload every few seconds. Since you aren't capable of fixing
a known bug in about 4 weeks, I asume your so-called customer-friendly company is a fraud and will uninstall your product, since it is heavily
influencing my internet experience in a negative way.

Bye
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: sleepycal on January 19, 2014, 09:27:47 PM
Avast WebShield now makes web browsing ridiculously slow, to the point where HTTP requests will timeout.

The `UseStreamFilter=0` trick worked for a while, but now I have to completely disable WebShield to be able to use the web browser. Also poking around the statistics panel causes the Avast UI to lockup/freeze indefinitely, and the process cannot be killed.

I've been an avid user of Avast for over 3 years, but I am seriously considering switching because of this problem.

Please Avast, stop this silliness and fix the bugs.

Cal
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: Asyn on January 19, 2014, 09:29:50 PM
Try the new beta: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=144768.0

Problem solved..??
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: sleepycal on January 19, 2014, 09:32:52 PM
Thanks for the heads up, installing now, will report back in 24 hours
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: Asyn on January 19, 2014, 09:34:09 PM
Thanks for the heads up, installing now, will report back in 24 hours

Please do so.
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: fds_ on January 20, 2014, 02:57:20 PM
Installed Beta. Still can't watch streams.
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: lukor on January 20, 2014, 03:17:48 PM
Hi fds_, sorry to hear that, but since you've tried to disable the stream filter and that didn't help - it is expected that fixing the same code wouldn't help either.


You didn't mention that turning WebShield off solves the problem for you. Does it ?


Lukas.

Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: engarde on January 22, 2014, 09:36:23 PM
2011 did let me connect, 2013 stops me again - even if I stop the firewall
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: harlock59 on May 20, 2014, 11:47:26 AM
Hello,

i am under windows xp pro sp3 ansd i have no programdata folder at the root of my c drive.

i've done a search for WebShield.ini but windows didn't find any.

what to do ?

my web pages are blocked unless i disable web protection
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: DavidR on May 20, 2014, 12:21:07 PM
Hello,

i am under windows xp pro sp3 ansd i have no programdata folder at the root of my c drive.

i've done a search for WebShield.ini but windows didn't find any.

what to do ?

my web pages are blocked unless i disable web protection

Look for it in the correct location for XP, which is in c:\documents and settings as c:\ProgramData is in Vista, Win7 and later operating systems.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Avast Software\Avast\WebShield.ini
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: lukor on May 20, 2014, 10:34:35 PM
Hi, there is nothing particularly interesting in Webshield.ini for XP users. Streamfilter is not applied on XP, webshield works in proxy mode without any major change in the way how it handles connections in the last several build.
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: DavidR on May 20, 2014, 11:34:45 PM
Thanks for the refresh Lukor, I had forgotten about the streamfilter not being applied on XP systems.
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: rainbowfart on May 23, 2014, 10:31:09 PM
Please help i dont have the WebShield.ini file.I am using win 7 64bits. :) :)
Title: Re: Avast 2014 Free Antivirus blocking web traffic
Post by: DavidR on May 23, 2014, 10:52:31 PM
Please help i dont have the WebShield.ini file.I am using win 7 64bits. :) :)

It has to be there C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast\WebShield.ini, the major problem is that windows hides folders and their contents the ProgramData folder may well be hidden.

From windows explorer > Menu > Tools > Folder Options > View, hidden files and folders.