Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: RHK on March 26, 2008, 12:33:36 PM
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Using Avast 4.7 Home and IE7. Just recently, IE7 will no longer load any site if Avast is running. If I try to load a site, the progress bar sticks about half way. Firefox is fine. If I suspend On-Access Protection, IE will load the site.
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If Firefox works... maybe it's not a firewall trouble.
By the way, which one do you use?
Which OS are you using? Is it up to date?
Do you have any other antivirus installed in your system? Did you have in the past?
Any other security programs that could interfere?
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If Firefox works... maybe it's not a firewall trouble.
By the way, which one do you use?
Which OS are you using? Is it up to date?
Do you have any other antivirus installed in your system? Did you have in the past?
Any other security programs that could interfere?
Using XP. I have XP firewall. The key point though is that IE works if Avast is turned off. Which is why I'm presuming the issue is with Avast.
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I bet on something interfering... it won't be possible just an issue between avast and IE... tons of users will be complaining...
Do you have any other antivirus installed in your system? Did you have in the past?
Any other security programs that could interfere?
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1st replier asked if I had had other AV in the past. I have had AVG, but Avast replaced it a long time ago (several months at least). The problem has only arisen in the past week. The progress bar stops halfway and the Avast icon doesn't spin. If I then turn off on-access protection, I still can't access any site. But if I exit IE and reopen it, I then can. I am posting with IE7 now, but with Avast suspended.
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I think we definitely have a bug here with the web shield. Last night at home some web pages did not load. I had to keep refreshing. I updated my work laptop today from 4.7 to 4.8 and same thing. Every once in awhile a page does not load. Firefox says error and I have to click try again.
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I'm having the same issue. After upgrading to 4.8, IE or Firefox will not open any sites unless I disable Avast. Any other info I can provide? thnx!
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This is most likely a case of your firewall not recognizing the update to avast and blocking the Webshield.
If you are using a firewall then please remove the permissions for avast (ashWebSv.exe) and allow for them to be requested again.
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This is most likely a case of your firewall not recognizing the update to avast and blocking the Webshield.
If you are using a firewall then please remove the permissions for avast (ashWebSv.exe) and allow for them to be requested again.
had to get to work, will try tonite and update then, thnx!
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It's all good! thanks alanrf!
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You're welcome - glad you are back to normal running.
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I didn't have an exception in XP Firewall for Avast. So I created one and IE works.
Curious, though that it was only IE affected, not Firefox or Opera.
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I had the same problems (IE7 did not load any site) after upgrading to Avast 4.8. My PC configuration:
Windows XP Pro with the latest updates - IE7 - AVAST4.8 - ZONE ALARM 6.1.744.001
Removing in Zone Alarm every AVAST Program allowing for them automatically to be renewed did not work!
Either disabling Web Protection or disabling Zone Alarm did allow IE7 to connect to the internet, also without modifying anything on the Windows Firewall
I then decided to upgrade to the latest release of Zone Alarm 7.0.470.00 and now everything works fine! :)
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RHK, strange that Windows Firewall just control inbound connections and avast does not need them...
balrog, thanks for the report. Seems some glitch between avast and the old ZA.
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Hello,
I'm also having a problem with WebShield on my computer since update. Configuration is WinXP SP2 + latest Microsoft updates + Spybot v1.5 up to date and AVAST 4.8.
If I activate Webshield, then I'm not able to connect to any website neither with IE 7 nor with Firefox.
The behaviour is the same even if WinXP firewall is not activated.
If I shut down the Avast Webshield, then I'm able to access all websites... I tried to remove and install avast again but problem remains.
This problem seems to be encountered by some of Avast users but I must say I had no other antivirus software installed in the past (perhaps Symantec evaluation version when I bought the computer but I don't remember because I uninstalled all evalaution versions of all softwares).
From my point of view, it looks like the redirection through AVAST for IE/Firefox or in the way is not working. Others protocols are working fine (POP, SMTP, PING, ...). As behaviour is the same with/without XP firewall, I think that a setting for the http stream's redirection is not working, perhaps something wrong in the registry or something like this.
I tried to activate Webshield log but nothing is written into the file when browsing...
Is it a specific key describing redirection I can search in the registry ?
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Perhaps Symantec evaluation version when I bought the computer but I don't remember because I uninstalled all evalaution versions of all softwares
1) Use Norton Removal Tool for Windows 2000/XP/Vista (http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Norton_Removal_Tool_for_Windows_2000XPVista/1169144666/1). Boot.
2) Then install avast! (or repair the installation) and boot.
I tried to activate Webshield log but nothing is written into the file when browsing...
Activate logging in WebShield:
1. Edit <avast>\data\avast4.ini file
2. Find the section [WebScanner]
3. Add the line:
EnableLogging=1
4. Restart Web Shield in XP\Vista (terminate and start again) or whole PC in case of Win98
5. Browse (trying to access some webpages)
The log file are <avast>\data\log\ashwebsv.log and ashwebsv.ws.
They would be accessible when WebShield is terminated again.
Post them here or send by mail to rypacek (at) asw.cz
After that, disable the logging to avoid a big log file.
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Ok, the result of log files after browsing different websites (avast, Microsoft, Windows update,...) is :
AshWebSv.log content :
06/04/2008 10:43:06,"","","",HTTP Status: -1,0,0,0,0,0,0,Unknown process,PID: 0,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1158 <--> :0->:0,SEQ: 0
AshWebSv.ws is empty
I'll try to use Norton removal tool and update this thread.
>> I just try Norton Removal Tool + repair and it still doesn't work. The only way is to disable WebShield. Does the log help ?
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I think this problem has been encountered by several people with different posts but with different subject names. It would be great to investigate this issue carefully.
Regards
Franck
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FranckM,
forgive me if you have already told us but are you using a firewall? If you are which one?
This problem is almost always a case of the firewall blocking network access to the Webshield component ashServ.exe.
It it essential that this be granted network access in the firewall for the Webshield to work. Even when this has been done previously some firewalls are not good at recognizing a program update and start to block ashServ.exe rather than asking again for renewed permission.
If you have a firewall where you have previously granted permission to avast modules then please remove those permissions for avast and allow them to be requested again.
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I'm not using any firewall on my computer. Neither WinXP one nor others. I removed previous Norton and used Removal tool.
The only software I have on this computer is SpyBot S&D v1.5
Firewalls are external to computer because they are integrated into routers, so I assume it doesn't disturb Webshield.
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I'm also having the same problem and the issue just started to happen within the last day. I cannot load websites at all. However, I could download/send email, use Steam, etc.
We have two computers: Windows XP Home SP2 and Windows Vista Home Premium. This problem seems to only be limited to the Vista computer. I think that it might eventually affect the XP computer which is using the Finnish version of Avast Home Anti-virus. It is a less-often used computer. The Vista comp is using the english version of Avast Home Anti-virus.
We are not using software firewalls on either computer, only an external firewall on a Linksys Router.
Uninstalling the program, yesterday, fixed the browser issue, so I reinstalled it. My wife informed me that this morning she could not surf the internet with either browser. She turned off the program and both browsers worked again.
I can try to forward a port for ashServ.exe but I don't think the firewall is the problem here.
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It may be worth trying a "Repair" function of avast (Windows Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > Avast Anyivirus Change/Remove > Select "Repair" in the list of options for avast).
If that does not help then rather than leaving yourselves exposed by turning off avast completely it should be possible to avoid the problem while it is being researched by terminating the Webshield only. That way your browsing will not be intercepted at all by avast and you will still have the other protections (particularly the Standard Shield).
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Just an extra question - are either of you using any proxy connection to the Internet or any kind of "network accelerator or speed-up" function on your systems?
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Nothing specific on this side.
But it can also be something I just read on another website : I have a VPN client with Safenet installed.
I don't want to remove it because I do not have time to install it again but it add a "deterministic network enhancer" element in the network properties.
Do you think it can be a problem ?
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I have a VPN client with Safenet installed.
Do you think it can be a problem ?
Does it use a specific proxy (server address & port)?
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I don't know but I think not. The VPN is not activated when I'am browsing like I do now writing this post or visiting some website for personal interest.
I can do some more tests but I don't know what I have to check. How can I know if IE/Firefox are routed through a proxy or something like this if no settings apears in the options menu of the software.
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quote from the "overview" of the Safenet website ...
SSL acceleration devices providing fast and secure online transactions
I suspect that the only way that Safenet can do this is by placing an intercept on http transactions in exactly the same way as avast does. Sometimes we have seen that these intercepts do not play well together. Most of these intercepts would be placed at startup (whether or not you are actually using the software).
Let me ask ... did avast recently update on your system from 4.7 to 4.8?
If so has this problem become apparent since the update ... and it was not a problem you saw with 4.7?
And finally can I assume Safenet was installed along with avast 4.7?
I am not suggesting that something in 4.8 is causing the problem ... just the fact that there was potentially a disturbance to the order in which avast and Safenet might be placing their intercepts that is uncovering a problem.
I need to add that this is all speculation of my part - perhaps the avast team have encountered Safenet before.
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Just an extra question - are either of you using any proxy connection to the Internet or any kind of "network accelerator or speed-up" function on your systems?
Nope.
I'll try the 'repair' trick today. I forgot all about this issue when I got home from work yesterday. ;D
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AlanRF :
It's true regarding the fact I was using previously AVAST 4.7 with SafeNet and hadn't any problem.
The computer I'm using was working fine before update from 4.7 to 4.8.
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FranckM,
my preferred suggestion is to ask you to uninstall avast and your Safenet installation, install avast again and then install Safenet again. I am reluctant to do so because we have not proved my hypothesis and, to be honest, I do not think a software user should have to think about the order in which software is installed (although in the real world we may not be able to avoid this).
Which is your preferred browser?
Let me give some thought and testing to a possible option for you of confirming my suspicion that could also provide a workaround that avoids the software removal and re-installation path. If I can suggest it then it will be up to you if you wish to try it (but unless it is fairly simple I will not offer it).
I should be clear that I am not a member of the avast team and that any options I may suggest are just those of a fellow avast user.
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I'm using IE or Firefox depending on what for website I'm visiting.
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Ah, trying to make extra work for me huh? It is just past 3am for me here and time to get some sleep. I will respond later.
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The intent of the suggested setup is:
a) To remove a potential conflict between the avast browser intercept and any other application placing a similar intercept
b) To allow browser accesses still to be scanned by avast
I have tested this proposed configuration on my system (Win XP Pro SP2) and the configuration is in effect and working as intended as I post this. This is not a solution to the problem but is a workaround for it.
1) avast
The avast Webshield needs to be running but not attempting to intercept port 80 so we will set avast to scan a different port (it really does not matter which one – so I am using 88 in this example)
In the avast Webshield click “Customize” and then (Basic tab) in the "Redirected HTTP port(s)" box:
change port 80 to be port 88.
Click “OK”. To be sure this goes into effect Terminate and Start again the Webshield.
2) Firefox
Tools > Options > Advanced tab > In the “Connections” box click on “Settings”
Select “Manual proxy configuration” and in the “http proxy” box enter:
localhost
In the “Port” box enter:
12080
Click on OK
3) IE
Windows Control Panel > Internet Options > Connections tab > Lan Settings
In the “Proxy Server” section check the box “Use a proxy server …”
In the “Address” box enter:
localhost
In the “Port” box enter:
12080
Click OK, OK
If you now use your browser and check the Webshield of avast you should see the last scanned URL showing.
Please remember to keep these instructions so that you can go through the reverse process to remove the changes if needed - hopefully soon if a resolution can be found for the conflict.
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Well the install of Avast seems to be correctly working now on my Vista comp. I really have no idea how it was fixed. I went home after work yesterday and just started surfing.
Odd.....
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I think we call that serendipity ... to be savoured and enjoyed (even though I prefer such mysteries to have a rational explanation).
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Any news on these problems?
My notebook with Vista (SP1) also has problems loading web sites via the IE7, at the same time Firefox works fine. After disabling the WebShield also the IE7 loads the sites correctly.
I reinstalled Avast 4.8 from scratch, there are no other virus protection software installed.
Bye,
Jan
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My notebook with Vista (SP1) also has problems loading web sites via the IE7, at the same time Firefox works fine. After disabling the WebShield also the IE7 loads the sites correctly.
Can you activate logging in WebShield?
1. Disable avast self-defense module: Program settings > Troubleshooting tab of settings.
2. Edit <avast>\data\avast4.ini file with Notepad.
3. Find the section [WebScanner]
4. Add the line:
EnableLogging=1
5. Restart Web Shield in XP\Vista (terminate and start again) or whole PC in case of Win98
6. Browse (trying to access some webpages)
The log file are <avast>\data\log\ashwebsv.log and ashwebsv.ws.
They would be accessible when WebShield is terminated again.
Post them here or send by mail to rypacek (at) asw.cz
After that, disable the logging to avoid a big log file.
Oh, enable the self-defense module again after that.
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Log file sent !
Please keep this post updated.
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Hello,
I'm still waiting informations from you. I assume youreceived my email last week (17/04:2008).
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I'm not having the issue, but I've just got off the phone with my nephew, who emailed me a few days ago saying he was having these issues.
I setup his Avast, and it's the same config as mine.
We are both runninx XP Pro, all SP and patches.
If Avast Webshield is running, he cannot load any webpages in IE7, or Firefox.
We tried repair, and customizing the settings, but it seems to just be simply : turn off webshield. Not desirable.
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I'm still waiting informations from you.
Not from me but from Lukas... hope he can take a look on it.
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Hello,
Since I installed Vista SP1 I experience connection problems with IE or Firefox.
In fact I still have an active connection both on my box and on some applications like Live Messenger which are still connected...
However web browsers seem blocked, unable to refresh pages.
If I shutdown Firefox, the process still appears in the running processes and I cannot kill it (though I'm Administror). How is that possible?
The only solution I had was a reboot which I sometimes had to perform brutally with the shutdown button as Windows wouldn't shut with the Menu.
While reading some other forums (in particular this one-in French-
http://www.geckozone.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63916) a workaround was found
-either by stopping Avast "web shield" service
-either by suspending the whole Avast protection and reactivating it.
Sometimes the first solution worls, sometimes only the second...and sometimes neither of them !
Any idea what could be the problem ?
I have sent you (rypacek (at) asw.cz) the <avast>\data\log\ashwebsv.log log file.
My config
*Avast 4.8.1169 (latest version compatible with SP1)
*ZoneAlarm Pro 7.1.254.000
*MotherBoard Nvidia nForce 430 with latest driver
Thanks for your help
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I bet in some problem with ZA Pro (and privacy features of it) and WebShield.
Which are your settings?
I'm using Vista SP1+ and no problems with WebShield. Oh, I use PCTools firewall while in Vista.
Now I'm on Linux ;)