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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: REDACTED on December 02, 2014, 10:17:36 AM

Title: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on December 02, 2014, 10:17:36 AM
2 Major Bug Reports on Avast Update Crippling Functionality That a Lot of Us Critically Rely On


Never acknowledged, never commented on, never given a path to resolution...

Do we matter???

Or should we de-install and all move back to AVG???
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: Milos on December 02, 2014, 11:12:59 AM
Hello,
is there any detection from Avast? Screenshot might help.

Milos
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: Lisandro on December 02, 2014, 11:14:59 AM
Given your unfriendly approach, maybe it's better to move :)
Anyway, this is the first time I face a program called Chatango. We'll need much more info to try to help.

- Which OS are you using? Is it up to date?
- What avast! version and virus database number?
- What was the filename and path where the virus was found (if any)?
- Which actions have you taken to try solving the problem?
- Do you use a firewall? Which one?
- Do you have any other antivirus installed in your system?  Did you have in the past?
- Any other security programs that could interfere?
- Is there any useful information into Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Events, specially 'Errors'?
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on December 02, 2014, 07:06:14 PM
I might be a whole lot friendlier if the support forums were actually monitored and responded to by Avast -- having open bug reports for a month (which were in the top-5 most recently updated for many days) is not exactly warming my heart towards your product (which I have been using for close to a decade and recommending and installing on well over 50 other machines, most w/ the paid version)

There is more than enough information in the 2 posts cited for this to be reproducible by any half-capable QC / QA Eng if they were actually read.

As to details for the still challenged, just go to any website that uses Chatango as chat embed or any chat on Chatango.Com (try http://cricfreetvs.chatango.com/) and select Legacy Flash Version in upper right and all you will get is a spinner in the chat box. Manifests this behavior in Win7-Ult and Win8.1 in IE, Firefox, & Chrome w/ latest update to Avast 2015.10.0.2208
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: schmidthouse on December 02, 2014, 07:59:14 PM
Unbelievable attitude.
Doubtful anyone would want to help.
Two Avast team members have responded and requested information and still you display attitude.
Unbelievable.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on December 02, 2014, 08:02:21 PM
They responded to this post, they ignored the 2 others for a month.

Information provided is more than enough to reproduce the problem.

This is NOT my first rodeo w/ Avast NON-Support -- last go-around they told me to turn off active protection to fix the problem, great answer...

And if your answer is this problem should be ignored because I am a little pissed off and therefore deny functionality to the many thousands of less technical (and probably woefully confused) users who have Avast installed and wish to participate in Chatango chat rooms perhaps you should examine your own motives.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: CraigB on December 02, 2014, 08:23:46 PM
If this is the attitude you displayed in earlier posts then I can guess why you were ignored but at this stage you have been given to opportunity to provide more information as what was requested so if you want you matter solved in a friendly and efficient manner then please provide us with more details, personally I've never heard of Chatango either so It cant be that well known.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on December 02, 2014, 08:34:16 PM
There are at least two threads going re: this chatango thing... which Avast has chosen to ignore (not ignore this user... but ignore the entire multipage threads which is a common move for avast).  The poster's attitude has come from avast being less than helpful, not vice versa.

Don't attack the messenger for stating the obvious... attack avast for feeling it's ok to ignore their customers.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: Pondus on December 02, 2014, 08:39:35 PM
And when he get a responce, why not provide the info asked for?


Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: schmidthouse on December 02, 2014, 08:40:39 PM
There are at least two threads going re: this chatango thing... which Avast has chosen to ignore (not ignore this user... but ignore the entire multipage threads which is a common move for avast).  The poster's attitude has come from avast being less than helpful, not vice versa.

Don't attack the messenger for stating the obvious... attack avast for feeling it's ok to ignore their customers.

I don't see anyone attacking the messenger Only the way the message is being delivered.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: CraigB on December 02, 2014, 08:41:50 PM
With the amount of traffic on this forum it is fairly easy to go down the list and not be noticed which is probably what has happened with this Chatango matter but that's no excuse for rude behaviour/attitude and if anything bumping the original topic up to be noticed would be much smarter as more details were explained in the original topic as the OP here doesn't want to give any ::)
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: schmidthouse on December 02, 2014, 08:49:34 PM
Yes, provide the needed information, Screenshot! as asked "Error messages" what ever,
 Lets move on with resolving the issues
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on December 02, 2014, 09:44:46 PM
From my previous post, what about this is not explicitly clear????

"As to details for the still challenged, just go to any website that uses Chatango as chat embed or any chat on Chatango.Com (try http://cricfreetvs.chatango.com/) and select Legacy Flash Version in upper right and all you will get is a spinner in the chat box. Manifests this behavior in Win7-Ult and Win8.1 in IE, Firefox, & Chrome w/ latest update to Avast 2015.10.0.2208"

Edit: I have been a software engineer / gigantic systems-networks architect for 35 yrs and the above quote (and details from the ignored threads) would have been more than enough for me to run a browser in trace mode w/ whatever proprietary profiling tools Avast has and identify the cause of the problem.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on December 02, 2014, 10:12:09 PM
I can help out on getting this issue fixed. Thanks for responding to the matter Avast. I will answer the following accordingly, and have a screenshot attached.

-Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
-Avast 2015.10.0.2208, Virus Definition: 141202-1
-No virus' detected.
-I've disabled the Web Shield, which is the only means to fixing the problem. I've attempted to add it as an exception, which doesn't seem to work.
-I use the default Windows Firewall.
-No I do not, just Avast. Had it ever since I've gotten this computer in 2010.
-Nope
-No errors I could find, then again, I've never actually used the Error tool before. Lol

The same issue occurs when you go to the actual chatango page and click on Legacy Flash Player. I've updated Flash, have used 5 different browsers including (IE, Opera, Chrome, Firefox, Pale-Moon.) All to which don't work.

w11.zetaboards.com/HWA_Online (Bottom of the page is the embedded chatango.)
h-w-a.chatango.com (The full screen chantango page) *I click on Legacy flash and it don't work.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: Milos on December 02, 2014, 10:35:49 PM
Hello,
this topic was reported to QA to test.

Milos
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: jursa on December 03, 2014, 04:02:06 PM
Thanks guys, problem has been reproduced and forwarded to the development department. We will release emergency update as soon as possible.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on December 03, 2014, 04:44:57 PM
THANK YOU AVAST!!!

This is how all these bugs that have been floating around for a while should be handled:

You acknowledged the chatango problem, advised you were working on it and everyone is happy and civil and no attitude... see how easy that is?

Now how about some of thee:
UI popping up after scheudled scan
Threat Detected message after scheduled scan when there is no threat
Scheduled scans not starting at the scheduled time
Exclusion list not keeping entries
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on December 03, 2014, 06:32:32 PM
After ignoring it for a month until I shouted in 30 pt loud red to get attention paid to it -- not a great resolution actually given what had to be done to get there so I would be a little reserved while breaking your arm patting yourself on the back...

And as to friendly, to paraphrase Harry Truman: "if you want friendly get a dog..."

Real software engineering (not "social site puffery") is a contact sport if you have ever been in a Silicon Valley design / code review, project management meeting, BUG MARKUP / RESOLUTION SESSION, etc. and real engineers have very little patience for stupidity, inattention to detail, process over production, and being nice while critical things go unattended to....
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on December 03, 2014, 06:38:31 PM
After ignoring it for a month until I shouted in 30 pt loud red to get attention paid to it -- not a great resolution actually given what had to be done to get there so I would be a little reserved while breaking your arm patting yourself on the back...

And as to friendly, to paraphrase Harry Truman: "if you want friendly get a dog..."

Real software engineering (not "social site puffery") is a contact sport if you have ever been in a Silicon Valley design / code review, project management meeting, BUG MARKUP / RESOLUTION SESSION, etc. and real engineers have very little patience for stupidity, inattention to detail, process over production, and being nice while critical things go unattended to....

Here here.   I would add that the average software house is also very careful to "not admit" when they release a "dog" and also that support take the brunt of the criticism even though it's not really their fault.

If Avast development and QA is anything like a couple of companies that I have worked for then all I can say is that they are about par for the course.  The 3rd party support scam is, however, imho, another matter - shameful.  They deserve to slowly die a painful death for that one......
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: TheViper4Life on December 04, 2014, 02:29:34 AM
I was one of the other people who made a thread about the Flash version of Chatango no longer working with the newest version of Avast (it's a chat room used primarily on major Anime sites...it's actually quite popular), but it seems it was deleted.

However I see that issue is being looked into, so hopefully Avast can get a proper update out there soon. I had to do a system restore to get the old Avast back...so it would be nice to finally use the new one.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: lukor on December 06, 2014, 08:32:46 PM
I was one of the other people who made a thread about the Flash version of Chatango no longer working with the newest version of Avast (it's a chat room used primarily on major Anime sites...it's actually quite popular), but it seems it was deleted.

However I see that issue is being looked into, so hopefully Avast can get a proper update out there soon. I had to do a system restore to get the old Avast back...so it would be nice to finally use the new one.

we are looking into this, but let me ask a question: you mention system restore. What was the reason? Isn't disabling HTTPS scanner enough? You are able see any problems with chatango even with https scanning turned off? Thanks.

L.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: KevTech on December 06, 2014, 09:02:00 PM
I don't use chatango but in my testing the only way to access the flash version was to disable the web shield.

I tried turning off https scanning, making exclusions and every other option in the web shield with no affect. Even made a global exclusion for that URL but no go.

Only disabling the web shield would allow the flash version to load.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: TheViper4Life on December 06, 2014, 09:21:16 PM
I had to do a system restore because nothing else worked. The only way I could get the Flash version of Chatango to work was to shut down Avast completely...even turning off the Web Shield didn't work, and obviously I want Avast to be on at all times. I played around with all the settings I could before I came here to see if this was a known issue or not...and nothing short of turning off Avast worked.

Doing a system restore allowed me to get the previous version of Avast back and low and behold, the Flash version worked again. I even had a friend of mine be my guinea pig. I asked her to upgrade to the new version and see if Flash worked for her, and sure enough as soon she came back from her restart it didn't work anymore, with a system restore also doing the trick for her, aswell.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: lukor on December 06, 2014, 09:48:59 PM
Thanks guys.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: KevTech on December 06, 2014, 10:06:58 PM
I had to do a system restore because nothing else worked. The only way I could get the Flash version of Chatango to work was to shut down Avast completely...even turning off the Web Shield didn't work, and obviously I want Avast to be on at all times. I played around with all the settings I could before I came here to see if this was a known issue or not...and nothing short of turning off Avast worked.

Did you reload the page after disabling the shield?

I tried having page up and then disabled shield but still had spinning icon but as soon as I reloaded the page (F5) the page came up.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: TheViper4Life on December 07, 2014, 04:57:19 AM
I had to do a system restore because nothing else worked. The only way I could get the Flash version of Chatango to work was to shut down Avast completely...even turning off the Web Shield didn't work, and obviously I want Avast to be on at all times. I played around with all the settings I could before I came here to see if this was a known issue or not...and nothing short of turning off Avast worked.

Did you reload the page after disabling the shield?

I tried having page up and then disabled shield but still had spinning icon but as soon as I reloaded the page (F5) the page came up.
Sure did, several times. Even left it there for a while to see if the page would catch. Only turning off Avast worked.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on December 13, 2014, 12:05:19 AM
So,

10 days since I started this thread...

6 wks since the bug was originally reported...

Chatango powered sites all over the interwebs crippled (was just in one that changed to another service, several hundred confused chatters and a huge site management headache for website owner)...

Any ETR yet???
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on December 13, 2014, 11:05:43 PM
and, of course, now Chatango is down on a DDOS attack -- oh well...

EDIT: Appears to be back up as of 9:28am ET 12/14/14
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: lukor on December 28, 2014, 01:55:50 PM
Hi guys, we are still working on this. There was a bug in ssl filter related to this, fixed. Still not working - trying to find out problem in the SPDY parser.

More progress can be expected in January.

(internal bug id: AV-7301)
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: lukor on December 30, 2014, 11:33:46 PM
Hello guys,
we have identified the problem with Chatango. The binary communication that the flash plugin emits was parsed as SPDY traffic inside WebShield. We have now improved the detection of modern protocols SPDY and HTTP/2. The issue with Chatango seems to be fixed in our internal builds. When tested, we'll discuss how to deliver the fix to you.

Thanks for pointing out to the bug.
Lukas.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: TheViper4Life on December 31, 2014, 05:32:29 AM
Hello guys,
we have identified the problem with Chatango. The binary communication that the flash plugin emits was parsed as SPDY traffic inside WebShield. We have now improved the detection of modern protocols SPDY and HTTP/2. The issue with Chatango seems to be fixed in our internal builds. When tested, we'll discuss how to deliver the fix to you.

Thanks for pointing out to the bug.
Lukas.
Awesome news!

I just bought a new laptop and tried installing the 2014 version of Avast, but no matter what I did it insisted on updating to the 2015 version, so I'm without the Flash version of Chatango until this fix is issued. So it's great to see this update.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on January 17, 2015, 01:52:54 AM
6 Wks since I opened this thread...
10 Wks since 1st thread reporting this bug was opened...

And I was too harsh and roundly criticized for screaming about poor QA/QC & support??? -- Go Figua.....

If this was my shop programmers would be looking for a new home...
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on January 19, 2015, 02:09:21 AM
Yep.
From my side, i suspect that this bug, or this slow correction to hide something else.
I removed avast from some of my other computers but i'm now thinking to remove it definitely from my main laptop.
Avast is my first anti-virus from my first laptop. I'm totally disappointed by this story.

For me, the most impressive thing in this story is that Lukor have said they have the patch since December 30 !
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on February 03, 2015, 08:49:48 AM
2 Months since I started this thread
3 Months since it was first reported

And I got yelled at by all the fanboys for being rude and too loud, uh huh....

No fix yet...

Yeah, they care -- NOT!!!
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: Eddy on February 03, 2015, 09:04:34 AM
Well, you are too loud.
There is no need at all to use such large text and the red color.
It will not speed up things, mostly it is slowing down things.
Get real.

As Lukor said, they have found the problem, and sofar as it seems, also a fix.
If this is true, and I have no reason at all to think it is not, the fix (as well as several others) will be in the next release.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: lukor on February 04, 2015, 05:44:37 PM
Hi, we are preparing new version which includes this fix. Beta should be available withing a few days.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on February 04, 2015, 08:34:07 PM
 :) :) :) ??? ??? ??? >:( >:( >:(

You folks that are bashing people for having a bad attitude about Avast have to realize, it's beyond frustrating to have your tickets and posts ignored by Avast.  While Avast hides behind we get 1000's each day, all of those don't matter, but our personal problem does.  If we can't do X or Y because of Avast--then we need help in a reasonable amount of time....like 24-48 hours. Not never.

Avast is solely responsible for making people that are happy with Avast hate the product after having these issues.  If you're using a free version one would expect to wait longer but with a paid version Avast has to be on their game...there are plenty of other options out there.  .

I am impressed that the unpaid forum members are quick and can resolve issues, but Avast does not have the staff internally to do it...Hey how about hiring the forum members?  At least they get the job done when you cant, just saying.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: Rednose on February 04, 2015, 09:08:03 PM
First and last warning : The next time someone posts in this topic in a inappropriate way with big letters like above, he/she will find his/her post deleted by me. Thank you !

Greetz, Red.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: Lisandro on February 04, 2015, 10:31:43 PM
First and last warning : The next time someone posts in this topic in a inappropriate way with big letters like above, he/she will find his/her post deleted by me. Thank you !

Greetz, Red.
Thanks Red.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: Para-Noid on February 04, 2015, 10:53:26 PM
First and last warning : The next time someone posts in this topic in a inappropriate way with big letters like above, he/she will find his/her post deleted by me. Thank you !

Greetz, Red.
Thanks Red.

+1

This is very informative http://www.kassj.com/netiquette/netiquette.html
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on February 05, 2015, 05:02:26 AM
First and last warning : The next time someone posts in this topic in a inappropriate way with big letters like above, he/she will find his/her post deleted by me. Thank you !

Greetz, Red.

Really Rednose, you're taking issue with size 18 type font? It's inappropriate?  Maybe it's inappropriate that Avast ignores people's tickets.  Maybe it's inappropriate that  the only place we have to express our frustration is in this forum.  I can certainly say I didn't come here to fight with anyone, but I'll be damned if I'm going to crap from you.
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: lukor on February 06, 2015, 01:01:01 AM
There is a new beta just released, that should fix the Chatango problem.I'd be happy if someone could verify that.

Thanks.
Lukas.

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=165749.0
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on February 11, 2015, 07:31:24 AM
First and last warning : The next time someone posts in this topic in a inappropriate way with big letters like above, he/she will find his/her post deleted by me. Thank you !

Greetz, Red.
Thanks Red.

oh, we are supposed to just squeal like little mice while the great gods of Avast fanboydom tell us we are rude while barely addressing the actual problem and telling us to wait, wait, wait???

Perhaps you should change "RedNose" to "BrownNose" and it would be a more accurate representation of your bias towards the Co / Product over the people who have to live w/ it every day, have serious expectations of support actually being such, and can tell a "food poisoning" story for rest of life to anyone who even mentions the restaurant that did it too us while we will only pass along A++ reviews for about a week....

40 yrs of programming, 35 yrs as a professional in InfoTech Industry, and I have never seen a support Cluster-F*** this extreme -- almost 5 mths to fix what at most is a 5-line bug -- sell your BE NICE to someone who cares and put some more lipstick on that pig....and then just get over it, this is an industry of extremely smart people who don't tolerate idiots well and are damm loud and noisy when something doesn't work and tree-hugging is suggested instead of a crash-fix!!!!

Maybe I should just reach out to the VC investors in the Co (I know partners at all of them) and tell them how crappy their investment is treating their customers, having been involved in some way or another in over 20 IPO's I have a feeling they might just listen to me....
Title: Re: Does Avast Actually Care???
Post by: REDACTED on February 11, 2015, 07:34:26 AM
There is a new beta just released, that should fix the Chatango problem.I'd be happy if someone could verify that.

Thanks.
Lukas.

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=165749.0

Will test as soon as I live w/ MS's Black-Tuesday patches for a few days to make sure that there are no gremlins there....