Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Secure Browser => Avast Secure Browser for Windows => Topic started by: REDACTED on July 19, 2018, 10:03:48 PM
-
While it was installed without my consent, I still like Avast Browser, however during past week or so, I came across couple annoyances and few rage inducing issues. This post is for that rage inducing experience.
I believe that being unable to forcibly close an application is huge no no. Personally, I got so frustrated that I reconsidered having this browser installed on my computer. When you try to close Avast Browser via Task Manager using "End Process Tree", while in "Processes" tab,... you get an error message saying "The Operation could not be completed. Access is Denied.".
This is frustrating beyond belief, first of all, why i'm not allowed to be in control of my own computer?! Secondly, why is this a problem you ask?
When Avast Browser becomes unresponsive - I mean stops to a complete halt (even if you wait 30min. nothing happens) - your computer is completely frozen.
* Browser can not be turned off using traditional classics such as "Alt + F4" or "X" in the corner of the screen.
* Task manager is also of no help if you're in Applications Tab.
* The only hope left is Processes Tab and ending the Browser processes themselves - however some "genius" thought it was a good idea to disable that.
As a result there is only one option left - yes, it is to cut the power for the computer. Brilliant, ehh? There is nothing better than to loose all your unsaved work :)
Ok, how did my crash happen? In YouTube comments section. If you open enough comments (we're talking hundreds), by opening more and more you slowly notice the performance of Avast Browser dropping faster than f(x)=1/x , when x approaches 0. And if you open enough comments, Browser performance crashes just like mathematics, when you put x=0 into that function.
Huge amount of tabs may have played the role in this incident. We're talking ~70 tabs. I'm not sure yet about it yet, but I had the exact same crash at ~20 tab mark.
I use windows 7 SP1. I have 8 GB of RAM. I didn't have any other RAM or performance hungry applications running at those times. Avast, give me control back! Also your Captcha is almost unreadable - had to request new one 18 times, wth?
-
Please don't start new topic all over the place.
No problem here closing the Browser via Task manager even though it's a lot simpler to simply close the browser
via the X in the upper right corner.
-
Please don't start new topic all over the place.
No problem here closing the Browser via Task manager even though it's a lot simpler to simply close the browser
via the X in the upper right corner.
You didn't read the topic at all.
I dedicated an entire topic to explain why your proposal wouldn't work.
This problem arises when Browser freezes, and when I need to kill the process. Because that's my only option during those circumstances.
-
No problem here closing the Browser via Task manager.
I can't kill the Avast Browser Process even now (The way i described it in the post). So there clearly is a problem - I even wrote the error it gives me in starting post that you didn't read. And I need to kill that process that way, because that's my only option when Browser becomes unresponsive - other methods don't work.
-
Trying to kill Avast Processes using the task manager is likely to fail as the Avast Self-Defence Module will be trying to protect avast processes, presumably including the Avast Secure Browser.
You would have to disable the self-defence module from the AvastUI > Settings > Troubleshooting.
-
Trying to kill Avast Processes using the task manager is likely to fail as the Avast Self-Defence Module will be trying to protect avast processes, presumably including the Avast Secure Browser.
You would have to disable the self-defence module from the AvastUI > Settings > Troubleshooting.
Is there no other way around turning off self defense for both Antivirus and the Browser? Is it possible to make "Avast Secure Browser" processes an exception? Or maybe implement something that recognizes that browser is unresponsive and gives you an option to "kill it"?
I'm not really feeling comfortable disable Avast Antivirus self defense for the sake of having the ability to "unfreeze" my computer, when Avast Browser crashes.
-
The whole point of the Avast Self-Defence Module is to make it more difficult for any old piece of malware easily disabling your protection.
-
There is a way to disable autostarting and running browser processes after close:
There are three areas to cover:
- Click 3 dots upper right>Settings>Scroll down to On Startup
- Scroll down to Advanced>Click on Advanced>Scroll Down to System
- Open Task Manager>Open Startup Tab>Disable Avast Secure Browser
Follow the pictures attached below to see how settings should be changed from default settings [ON] to [OFF].
Using Task Manager to force-quit ASB likely is causing the hang/freeze as DavidR says, due to a possible Avast Self-Defense process in play. Likely can't be done unless self-defense is turned off temporarily.
-
(https://screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1532173125782-62864.png)
That setting is off by default.
-
A year later the problem does not seem to be resolved.
When I close Avast Browser, its processes (always from 6 to 12 even if I just have opened 2 tabs) STAY in Task Manager, using lost of the (scarce 2GB) RAM in my notebook. I have to kill every process, and to make matters worse, while killing (by pressing "Del") any other process takes scarcely a second, killing Avast Browser processes takes many seconds: I need a minute of clicking to clear these processes from RAM! Every single time I close down Avast Browser.
Which is why I am not using it anymore. Pity.
-
A year later the problem does not seem to be resolved.
When I close Avast Browser, its processes (always from 6 to 12 even if I just have opened 2 tabs) STAY in Task Manager, using lost of the (scarce 2GB) RAM in my notebook. I have to kill every process, and to make matters worse, while killing (by pressing "Del") any other process takes scarcely a second, killing Avast Browser processes takes many seconds: I need a minute of clicking to clear these processes from RAM! Every single time I close down Avast Browser.
Which is why I am not using it anymore. Pity.
Probably because there wasn't a problem there to start with.
-
A year later the problem does not seem to be resolved.
When I close Avast Browser, its processes (always from 6 to 12 even if I just have opened 2 tabs) STAY in Task Manager, using lost of the (scarce 2GB) RAM in my notebook. I have to kill every process, and to make matters worse, while killing (by pressing "Del") any other process takes scarcely a second, killing Avast Browser processes takes many seconds: I need a minute of clicking to clear these processes from RAM! Every single time I close down Avast Browser.
Which is why I am not using it anymore. Pity.
Hello,
I can't reproduce your problem.
- always from 6 to 12 even if I just have opened 2 tabs - the same for me.
- 2GB RAM - I have 500Mb RAM used for 2 tabs + new tab page. But it depends on opened websites so it could take this space.
- killing Avast Browser processes takes many seconds - can't reproduce. It takes a moment for me.
Could you provide more details?
Browser version
Operating system
Anti-Virus version
Also, it would be helpful to see the diagnostic Information output. You can get it by visiting this link: secure://settings/diagnosticInfo
By the way, we have a new version in beta which includes a new performance optimization feature, called Performance Manager, which reduces RAM and CPU usage and extends battery life.
This can solve the problem with a lot of open tabs.
Thank you!
-
I had the same issue. I tried to kill it using both Task Manager and Sysinternals Process Explorer. Both say access denied. So I tried the steps mentioned above and it works!
1) Go to the bottom right portion of the task bar and right-click on the Avast icon and choose Open Avast user interface
2) At the top right of that window click on Menu and then choose Settings
3) Click on General on the far left then Troubleshooting at the bottom of the next column
4) Un-check Enable Self-Defense and click OK when it wants you to verify it
5) I was then able to use Sysinternals Process Explorer (although I imagine Task Manager should work too) to highlight the Avast Browser process and end task. It killed the process and the window closed.
6) I then checked Enable Self-Defense in the Troubleshooting settings for Avast so I am protected again
Thanks for the help above. I am in Program version: 19.8.2393 (build 19.8.4793.544) and UI version 1.0.415 if that matters.
-
You're welcome, it good to see users checking the forums for a solution to a problem.
-
Same problem. And it is a problem. No program should run automatically and users should be able to stop using a nonessential program. I have six browser programs, I don't need another. The antivirus program legitimately should not be easy to turn off, but the browser is unnecessary.
I am attempting to uninstall the Avast browser. Hopefully that will work. Shouldn't be necessary, but I don't want programs sitting in background if I have no current use for them. I might h ave looked at usingthe Avast browser if someone identified a use for it, but if the only way to not use it is to uninstall it, that's the only choice I have.
-
Same problem. And it is a problem. No program should run automatically and users should be able to stop using a nonessential program. I have six browser programs, I don't need another. The antivirus program legitimately should not be easy to turn off, but the browser is unnecessary.
I am attempting to uninstall the Avast browser. Hopefully that will work. Shouldn't be necessary, but I don't want programs sitting in background if I have no current use for them. I might h ave looked at usingthe Avast browser if someone identified a use for it, but if the only way to not use it is to uninstall it, that's the only choice I have.
The Avast secure Browser is the same as any other browser in as far as it's usage goes.
You choose which browser you want to use. I personally have 5 browsers installed but only use one as my default browser.
The Secure Browsers strength is the ability to use it Bank Mode to keep you safe when doing your banking and shopping.