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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: pewterbot9 on February 23, 2009, 12:29:31 PM

Title: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: pewterbot9 on February 23, 2009, 12:29:31 PM
I'm running Avast! 4,8 free home version on Windows XP-SP3, (Firefox 3 browser, Comodo Firewall 3.8, Threatfire 4.1), and I do not use a proxy. Just installed your excellent program less than an hour ago:

Web Shield blocks most URL's...at least, I can't log onto any sites, until I Terminate it. Even "Pause" will not unblock my web access. None of the pages or sites I'm talking about are pornographic, or in any other way, suspicious. For example:

http://www.pcworld.com
http://ezinearticles.com

I can, however, log onto my Google e-mail, which is secured, as in "https". I do NOT have URL blocking turned on.

(I also tried Web Shield "on" but with web scanning disabled. Still, I couldn't load those pages. The only answer seems to be, to turn Web Shield off, entirely.)

I'm spanking new to Avast!, so perhaps the answer lies somewhere in the help files. However, I find it upsetting that the default setup causes over 98% of the web to be inaccessible! I think web shield is a great concept, but what good is it, under such an over-the-top blocking?

BTW: I've read some messages regarding same problem, and I assure you it has nothing to do with Norton, as I've never installed their product on my present system (Asus eee PC 1000HA, a fabulous "netbook". Same goes for ZoneAlarm. I have, however, tried out Avir and AVG antivirus software...but have uninstalled each, thoroughly (using a registry cleaner afterward). And Windows own firewall is definitely turned off, replaced by Comodo. I don't do P2P or torrent software, and I am a standalone system using dialup at home, wifi at public venues.

Thanks for your help...I think Avast! is great, regardless. (Maybe your program is haunted with a NanoPoltergeist? I know some good voodoo freeware on the dark side of cyberspace!)   :P
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Lisandro on February 23, 2009, 01:54:05 PM
Comodo Firewall and Threatfire are a serious candidate to connections issues with avast...
Check if ashWebSv.exe is allowed to connect into Comodo settings and try uninstall Threatfire to see if it is not conflicting with Defense+ from Comodo.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: pewterbot9 on February 24, 2009, 01:55:22 AM
Comodo Firewall and Threatfire are a serious candidate to connections issues with avast...

No way! What are the issues, specifically? I  can search for those topics on this forum, or you could post the links, if not an inconvenience.

Quote
Check if ashWebSv.exe is allowed to connect into Comodo settings and try uninstall Threatfire to see if it is not conflicting with Defense+ from Comodo.

How on goddess's green earth do I go about that? Why on earth would I allow ashWebSv.exe to connect into Comodo's settings? I don't capiche. Hopefully, there is a step-by-step instructional page for that...otherwise, I'm lost!  ???

Thanks for your efforts. Both Comodo and Threatfire are highly rated across the board, by many PC experts. So is Avast. But if push comes to shove, I'll remove Avast before I do either of the other two.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: alanrf on February 24, 2009, 02:15:38 AM
If you want avast to work for you then you need to cooperate.  The same is just as true for any other antivirus product.

The avast Webshield (ashWebSv.exe) works by intercepting the http calls made by your browser.  It then acts on behalf of your browser to make the connection so that it can scan the results before passing them back to your browser. 

So, just like you need to tell Comodo to allow your browser to access the Internet you must do the same for ashWebSv.exe. 

If you are using an email client and the avast Internet Mail provider you need to give permission in Comodo to ashMaiSv.exe and to allow avast virus updates to be obtained you need to allow svast.setup access in Comodo permissions.

By the way avast does not attempt to scan https connections (they whole point of them being that they are secured and cannot be scanned).
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: pewterbot9 on February 24, 2009, 03:14:37 AM
If you want avast to work for you then you need to cooperate.  The same is just as true for any other antivirus product.

Cooperate? I haven't even gotten any suggestions yet...so stop demonizing me. That is plain rude. I just read your post, after more online research to this matter, and discovered the solution, which is NOT at all what you've suggested. Your original explanation was incomprehensible, period...so obviously I had to ask for details.

Quote
So, just like you need to tell Comodo to allow your browser to access the Internet you must do the same for ashWebSv.exe.

Glad to see you can speak in plain English, finally. Your assumption is that Comodo is blocking Avast's webshield, but I doubt it, as Comodo did not alert me about this. Therefore, it had no conflict with webshield in the first place. In fact, Alwill software is already listed in Comodo's trusted zone!

Quote
If you are using an email client and the avast Internet Mail provider you need to give permission in Comodo to ashMaiSv.exe and to allow avast virus updates to be obtained you need to allow svast.setup access in Comodo permissions.

I am definitely not using an emial client...I get all my mail via webmail services. My Avast updates work just fine, BTW, no doubt because Alwil software is already in Comodo's trusted zone.

Quote
By the way avast does not attempt to scan https connections (they whole point of them being that they are secured and cannot be scanned).

That makes sense...however the rest of your theories don't. Well, I had already composed an update to the issue, which I resolved on my own today. Now, after responding to your present message, I will post my update in a seperate message.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: alanrf on February 24, 2009, 03:17:24 AM
They are not theories ... they are pure fact. 

If you do not want to listen that is your choice.
Title: SOLUTION FOUND!
Post by: pewterbot9 on February 24, 2009, 03:19:34 AM
 ;)

Couldn't find any messages in this forum re. "Comodo" or "Threatfire", when I used the embedded search engine. i KNOW those programs are discussed; the search engine is lacking.

So I googled "conflicts avast threatfire", and found the likely reason for the webshield glitch.

Two statements found in another forum:

http://forums.vnunet.com/message.jspa?messageID=1144195

--begin comments:

1) It turns out that there is a compatibilty problem between Avast and the latest update of Threatfire. To get around the problem you can either un-install one of them or do as I have done and pause the Web Shield in Avast.

2) ThreatFire was designed to work alongside conventional anti virus programs as it uses a `behavioural' method of detection. It was fine with Avast until ThreatFire was updated. It is only because Avast has it`s own WebShield which works in a similar fashion that there was a problem.

--end comments

Apparantly, Threatfire already has its own webshield...and since it is a most useful adjunct for any antivirus program already running, I will keep it, w/Avast's webshield turned "off". I'm sure the conflict will be resolved in the next update of either program.

I think it's a disservice to suggest removing Threatfire as the solution, scaring people from believing that with Avast's webshield turned off, your system is dangerously exposed. It most certainly is not, for Threatfire has it covered...and provides a more robust security than Avast! does, alone.

ADDENDUM

I did a web search for "avast comodo conflict" to discover others had the same problem w/Avast's webshield, and blamed it on a conflict w/Comodo's firewall. One person found a simple solution:

Change Webshield's http forwarding from port 80 to port 12020. In fact, you can change it to any port number, so long as it's not 80, and it should work just fine. I did that, and "voila": no more blocking web sites. I gleaned the answer from the following page:

http://forums.comodo.com/cfp_beta_corner/cfp_and_avast_web_sheild_ashwebsvexe_resolved-t11435.0.html

I checked ashWebSv.exe under Task Manager Processes: it's definitely running now! And I did NOT need to uninstall either Threatfire or Comodo. Seeing as this problem appears over and over again in Avast forums, I'm surprised the answer is not readily provided. Competitive product envy, perhaps?
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: pewterbot9 on February 24, 2009, 03:29:59 AM
They are not theories ... they are pure fact. 

If you do not want to listen that is your choice.

Nonsense. Pure fact? More like pure obfuscation. The solution is simple: just change the http port in webshield. THAT is pure fact, and I bet you knew it all along. To make Avast users paranoid of other excellent anti-malware programs smacks of competitive envy towards those products...likewise, for getting them to dance through hoops with convoluted and useless solutions, with the regular suggestion that one remove either "offending" program.

When ALL you need do is change the Webshield http port. And you don't know that, eh? I find THAT rather hard to believe...and you did not make that your first suggestion; in fact you never mentioned it at all.

Deception regarding your product in order to wipe out perceived competition does not make Avast look very good, now does it? Why would you feel the need to do that, if you really believe your product is excellent? Microsoft set a bad business precedent, that's for sure! Their example is not to be followed, if you regard your product as one that is reputable.

Sad to see you as a representative of Avast! You're not helping them any!
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: DavidR on February 24, 2009, 03:49:14 AM
Alan doesn't work for Alwil software he is an avast user just like you and I, he volunteers of his time freely to help other avast users.

What he said is 'fact' the comodo firewall is most likely blocking ashWebSv.exe (it's what firewalls do deny access to new applications connecting to the internet) and two people have suggested that you have comodo allow the ashWebSv.exe permission to connect or no internet browsing.

The fact that you don't appear to understand how to do this (allow a process permissions) in comodo is what the problem is and when you find how to do that I believe you will be able to browse as normal. I can't help in that regard as I don't use comodo.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: alanrf on February 24, 2009, 04:51:26 AM
David,

thanks for your comments.  I hope that the poster will listen to you and Tech, as the members in this forum who have, over the years, provided the highest level of support to other users.  I still have to learn from the calm level of support that you and Tech provide to the users most certain in their lack of knowledge and most resistant to the help they suggest they need.   

Quote
When ALL you need do is change the Webshield http port. And you don't know that, eh? I find THAT rather hard to believe...and you did not make that your first suggestion; in fact you never mentioned it at all.

With complete respect to the poster, who (as a relatively new avast user) has to be totally technically unaware of the implications ... for anyone who follows this thread in the future  ... please understand that this is total nonsense ... it is most certainly the equivalent of just turning off the avast Webshield.  So please just ignore it. 
 
Title: Re: SOLUTION FOUND!
Post by: Vladimyr on February 24, 2009, 04:51:36 AM
;)

Couldn't find any messages in this forum re. "Comodo" or "Threatfire", when I used the embedded search engine. i KNOW those programs are discussed; the search engine is lacking.

So I googled "conflicts avast threatfire", and found the likely reason for the webshield glitch.

Two statements found in another forum:

http://forums.vnunet.com/message.jspa?messageID=1144195

--begin comments:

1) It turns out that there is a compatibilty problem between Avast and the latest update of Threatfire. To get around the problem you can either un-install one of them or do as I have done and pause the Web Shield in Avast.

2) ThreatFire was designed to work alongside conventional anti virus programs as it uses a `behavioural' method of detection. It was fine with Avast until ThreatFire was updated. It is only because Avast has it`s own WebShield which works in a similar fashion that there was a problem.

--end comments

Apparantly, Threatfire already has its own webshield...and since it is a most useful adjunct for any antivirus program already running, I will keep it, w/Avast's webshield turned "off". I'm sure the conflict will be resolved in the next update of either program.

I think it's a disservice to suggest removing Threatfire as the solution, scaring people from believing that with Avast's webshield turned off, your system is dangerously exposed. It most certainly is not, for Threatfire has it covered...and provides a more robust security than Avast! does, alone.

ADDENDUM

I did a web search for "avast comodo conflict" to discover others had the same problem w/Avast's webshield, and blamed it on a conflict w/Comodo's firewall. One person found a simple solution:

Change Webshield's http forwarding from port 80 to port 12020. In fact, you can change it to any port number, so long as it's not 80, and it should work just fine. I did that, and "voila": no more blocking web sites. I gleaned the answer from the following page:

http://forums.comodo.com/cfp_beta_corner/cfp_and_avast_web_sheild_ashwebsvexe_resolved-t11435.0.html

I checked ashWebSv.exe under Task Manager Processes: it's definitely running now! And I did NOT need to uninstall either Threatfire or Comodo. Seeing as this problem appears over and over again in Avast forums, I'm surprised the answer is not readily provided. Competitive product envy, perhaps?


The suggestions of alanrf and Tech may well be described as unadorned, direct, even blunt, but
"Competitive product envy"??
Plenty of people on this forum use avast!, Threatfire, and the Firewall component of Comodo CIS in combination (as they use Avira, AVG, PC-Tools AV, etc.) How are we "competitors"?
Threatfire 4.1 and avast 4.8 are coexisting perfectly well on this PC as I write this without any modification to either, so speaking only for myself, I'm not holding out on providing the "answer".

Important note, especially for anyone else experiencing this kind of problem with this software combination. Both links quoted above refer to superseded Threatfire and Comodo Firewall product versions discussed by people whose knowledge is not quantifiable and of questionable value, apparent  in their descriptions of how Threatfire works and the 'solution' which effectively disables the avast! webshield. The Threatfire (http://www.pctools.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=59) and current Comodo CIS (http://forums.comodo.com/firewall_help-b135.0/) forums would be more useful.

Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: greendager on February 24, 2009, 02:44:50 PM
Hi,
I'm running windows xp with windows firewall only. Since I updated the avast program to 4.8 I am unable to browse any web pages with the web shield turned on. I've tried searching the forums and help topics for answers but I can't find one that works. Any ideas as to what is causing this problem and how to fix it?
I can however ping out to web pages with no problems and get the replies.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: DavidR on February 24, 2009, 03:44:17 PM
What is your browser ?
Have you tried an different browser ?

What have you tried, for fear of repeating that ?
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: greendager on February 24, 2009, 03:50:23 PM
I use firefox 3.06 and google chrome. I've tried going back to older versions of avast with no luck. I've even tried disabling all firewalls but the only thing that works is to shout off the web shield. I also tried installing the patch that avast suggested, also with no luck.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: DavidR on February 24, 2009, 03:57:28 PM
What patch, I haven't heard of this ?
Do you connect to the internet using a proxy (web accelerator, ISP, etc.) if so you would have to co-ordinate that with the web shield proxy ?

Chrome is as far as I'm aware currently an unsupported browser, so you would have to manually set it to use the web shield proxy, see examples below for other browsers, you would have find the equivalent in Chrome.

For IE - broadband users: - Tutorial - Web Shield Proxy Set-up for IE (http://www.avast.com/files/tutorials/ws_ieproxy.htm)
For IE - dialup users - Tutorial - Web Shield Proxy Set-up for IE (Dial-up) (http://www.avast.com/files/tutorials/ws_ieproxy_dialup.htm)
For Firefox users - Tutorial - Web Shield Proxy Set-up for Firefox (http://www.avast.com/files/tutorials/ws_ffproxy.htm)
Opera Users - Tools> Preferences> Advanced> Network> Proxy Servers, see image.

If you find How to do this please report how you do it for Chrome.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: greendager on February 24, 2009, 04:05:47 PM
I connect to a wireless broadband net work that to my knowledge does not use proxy. I found a link to a patch on the avast technical support page  it was for people who where having this same problem with vista, but as it was the same problem I am having I tried it, but it didn't fix it.
Title: Re: SOLUTION FOUND!
Post by: pewterbot9 on February 25, 2009, 01:20:07 AM
Plenty of people on this forum use avast!, Threatfire, and the Firewall component of Comodo CIS in combination (as they use Avira, AVG, PC-Tools AV, etc.)

Hi, Vladimir. My point exactly. In perusing this forum re. Webshield blocking the browser, I see Avast representatives constantly proposing the removal of Threatfire and Comodo...with statements like  "Serious conflicts with Avast". I don't think you've read my original posts very well, or you'd not respond with a statement that totally agrees with my posts.

Be that as it may, I think Avast is excellent, but some "experts" here not so excellent.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: pewterbot9 on February 25, 2009, 01:30:07 AM
Since I updated the avast program to 4.8 I am unable to browse any web pages with the web shield turned on. I've tried searching the forums and help topics for answers but I can't find one that works. Any ideas as to what is causing this problem and how to fix it?

Have you tried my solution yet, posted in this thread? (I am the OP.) My solution, which may  well work for you, is to change the port that Webshield checks, from 80 to any other. Here's how:

1) Right-click on the Avast "a" icon in your Windows quicklaunch toolbar, and select "On-Access Protection Control".

2) Select "details" to call up a more detailed menu. Then scroll down on the left column to the final option, "Webshield" and click on that.

3) Select the "customize" button on the right side.

4) The first tab option "basic" should show, if not, click on it. See the number 80 for "redirected http port(s)"? Change it to any other number, I put "12020" in there.

5) Save the change by clicking "OK" twice, and you're good.

Now, see if you can browse the web again. If not, you have some other problem...but still, keep the new port option intact, anyway.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: pewterbot9 on February 25, 2009, 01:36:40 AM
The fact that you don't appear to understand how to do this (allow a process permissions) in comodo is what the problem is and when you find how to do that I believe you will be able to browse as normal. I can't help in that regard as I don't use comodo.

What drivel! I do understand how to change permissions for any program in Comodo. But if you bothered to read my post in full, you'll see that permissions were already granted for Alwil software, dufus! And you will also learn that I resolved the issue, no thanks to the lousy "help" I was offered. The answer was so simple (change the http port for Webshield), I am suprised that was not a suggestion offered by anyone here. It should have been the first! So you have me to thanks for resolving what seems to be a common problem for Avast users, for which many wrong answers have been posted.
Title: Re: SOLUTION FOUND!
Post by: pewterbot9 on February 25, 2009, 01:42:20 AM
Both links quoted above refer to superseded Threatfire and Comodo Firewall product versions discussed by people whose knowledge is not quantifiable and of questionable value, apparent  in their descriptions of how Threatfire works and the 'solution' which effectively disables the avast!

Hogwash. Those links I gave, present a simple solution to unblock your browser with Avast webshield running. It is simply to change the http port webshield uses, from 80, to another number. In fact, my very clear solution is right in my message that you quoted, the same message where you accused me of not knowing what I'm doing!

Granted, the links may not have been as recent as the ones you gave...but what does it matter when the provided the correct answer? Oh, and BTW, how nice of you for thanking me for getting the solution so quickly, that others may not suffer the obfuscation  and disinformation that certain "experts"  prefer to spew.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: DavidR on February 25, 2009, 01:54:27 AM
And if you had read many of the posts relating to possible firewall blocking it advises that you delete the entry if present and force the firewall to ask permission again when you browse when the web shield (ashWebSv.exe).

There are many occasions when a firewall even with apparent permissions granted is blocking Zone Alarm more than most, but I have also had it happen on my own firewall and the deletion of the entry forcing the firewall to ask permission, recreating the entry.

As to why we didn't suggest the change of redirect port, because as has already been said that effectively disabled the web shield so we might as well have offered that as a suggestion. But that isn't the point we have been trying to get things working 'with' the web shield enabled and not as your title suggests blocking browsing.

So at almost 1a.m. here I'm calling it a day.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: pewterbot9 on February 25, 2009, 02:09:39 AM
For Firefox users - Tutorial - Web Shield Proxy Set-up for Firefox (http://www.avast.com/files/tutorials/ws_ffproxy.htm)

Doesn't work, when Webshield is access port 80 (the default). As I said twice before, change that port to any other, and you will never have your browser blocked. Install Threatfire as an adjunct to Avast, and you'll be quite  secure. I recommend Comodo firewall pro, to complete tight-as-a-drum security.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: pewterbot9 on February 25, 2009, 02:22:20 AM
And if you had read many of the posts relating to possible firewall blocking it advises that you delete the entry if present and force the firewall to ask permission again when you browse when the web shield (ashWebSv.exe).

I made it very clear already, that all Alwil software is in the safe zone of my firewall. I just did a triple-check: yes, ashWebSv.exe is also there, and has been. Even so, using port 80 for webshield effectively blocks my web browsing (except for https of course). Even when I set up my Firefox per Avast's online video instruction (returning to port 80 for webshield)...my browser remains blocked.

FYI, my comodo firewall has NEVER popped up against ashWebSv.exe...so that has never been the problem, ever. My browser gets blocked, nonetheless. Posters here and in other topic areas, persist in telling users w/this problem to remove Threatfire and or Comodo, claiming they are major obstructions to running Avast. This is totally wrong, yet you have NOT criticized them in doing so...including right here in this thread. Yet  you persist in dismissing my solution.

Now how pathetic is that?
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: alanrf on February 25, 2009, 06:14:11 AM
About as pathetic as your uninformed, ignorant and abusive posts.

We are (I wonder under Heaven why) still trying to assist you despite your "I know better than you" attitude.

We really want you to succeed with avast ... if you do not want to please go somewhere else and let them deal with your attitude.

If you want avast to work for you ... please take a deep breath ... calm down and at least work with us to see if we can get you working.  Please understand that we know avast far better than you do ... at least for now.   

Can we work together ... or do you need to move on?
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: lukor on February 25, 2009, 09:27:53 AM
Hi,
it was a real mistake that we put the "Redirected port" field on the first tab in WebShield settings. Now I now it and it will be removed in future versions.

Therefore we can not blame people that don't know what they are talking about for such non-sense advice like pewterbot9 or other similary confused users on Comodo forums are suggesting.

Pewterbot9: If you want to protect your browsing, than Web Shield must protect the port 80 - known as HTTP port, or simply Web port. You can of course change the "80" to anything else, if you want to protect communication on other ports. As I currently don't know about any application using port 12020, that you are suggesting I am sure with this setup WebShield would not do anything. It will just wait for the traffic on 12020, but since there is none, nothing will ever happen. You can terminate the whole WebShield provider, same effect but uses even less resources.

I have just one plea on you: please stop repeting this non-sense. It might hurt other users and disable WebShield for them in a similar way that it already hurt your understanding of how avast! WebShield works.

Secondly, WebShield needs to connect with your browser and connect with the web pages on the Internet. If is unable to do that, your browsing will be blocked. Blocking network access for certain applications that is the typical task of firewall. Hence the first step is to verify that this is not the case. We usually suggest to remove the WebShield process from the firewall database (ashWebSv.exe), stop the provider and start it again. Now the firewall should either popup or automatically detect it as safe program and reenter it into its database. If this happens we at least know that WebShield is trying to make some network related work (connect, accept connections) and that this is working.

Have you done that? Can you configure you firewall to display you the popup? What was on the popup - accepting connection from localhost or connecting to the Internet, opening listening port on 12080? This information can help us guess what is happening on your system.
 
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: alanrf on February 25, 2009, 10:01:00 AM
While we anticipate the response of the original poster I want to thank the participation of a member of the avast team in this discussion.

Many thanks Lukas,

Alan   
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Jahn on February 25, 2009, 10:59:15 AM
Comodo developers have acknowledged an issue between CIS 3.8x and Avast. A fix is forthcoming.

Comodo Forum (http://forums.comodo.com/defense_help/avast_cis_conflict-t34957.0.html)

Re: Avast Forum (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=42765.0)
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Lisandro on February 25, 2009, 01:20:37 PM
Comodo developers have acknowledged an issue between CIS 3.8x and Avast. A fix is forthcoming.
Why does this always happen? ??? ::)
I've gave up on Comodo due to a lot of issues with avast WebShield. Sooner or later, problems...
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: greendager on February 25, 2009, 10:59:53 PM
I never had to set any kind of proxy stuff up when I first connected so I'm pretty sure that there is no proxy problems. I read in one of the above posts about forcing avast to ask the fire wall for permission, again, but I don't see where you say how to do this.  ???
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Jahn on February 26, 2009, 02:44:24 AM
Comodo developers have acknowledged an issue between CIS 3.8x and Avast. A fix is forthcoming.
Why does this always happen? ??? ::)
I've gave up on Comodo due to a lot of issues with avast WebShield. Sooner or later, problems...
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones - never had a problem with Comodo on 2 XP machines in 2½ years.

Edit: BTW, the current problem seems to be with Defense+, not the firewall.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Jahn on February 26, 2009, 02:47:42 AM
I read in one of the above posts about forcing avast to ask the fire wall for permission, again, but I don't see where you say how to do this.  ???
Well, you actually force your firewall (not Avast) to ask for permission again by removing the existing Avast permission(s).

For CIS, remove the Avast entry(ies) in Firewall - Advanced - Network Security Policy, press Apply.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Jagoroth on February 26, 2009, 04:28:33 AM
I have the same problem, though I am positive the cause is different.

When I first installed Avast!, I opened up my browser (Firefox) to use the internet.  Avast! popped up with the permit/deny question and I accidentally denied the program, so now I can't use Firefox to browse.  Is there a way to undo my blatant fudging and restore Firefox's access through Avast?  I'd feel more comfortable with the Web Shield on, and not disabled as it is currently :(

Any solution/walk-throughs on how to unblock it?
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: alanrf on February 26, 2009, 05:16:30 AM
You have not mentioned the provider of your firewall.  Typically a firewall allows you to display a list of the permissions and a list of the blocks you have given and probably yours does too. 

Again typically you are given the option to remove the permissions or blocks you have placed.  In this case you will need to remove any block you placed on Firefox and ashWebSv.exe (the Webshield).  When you remove the blocks your firewall should again ask you for permission for both Firefox and ashWebSv.exe.  I think you know how to respond this time.   
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Jagoroth on February 26, 2009, 05:20:36 AM
I use Nvidia's ForceWare firewall.  I am able to browse just fine when I have Avast itself turned off, because I didn't block Firefox with my firewall.  It is Avast that is blocking it.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: alanrf on February 26, 2009, 05:43:17 AM
Please understand that avast does not block.

avast only attempts to scan the connection and again I tell you it does not block.  What you are seeing is some other function blocking avast's attempts to scan your internet connections.

What was you previous antivirus provider and how did you remove it?

Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Jahn on February 26, 2009, 07:41:13 AM
I use Nvidia's ForceWare firewall.  I am able to browse just fine when I have Avast itself turned off, because I didn't block Firefox with my firewall.  It is Avast that is blocking it.
No. I think you will find that Firefox will also connect to the internet if you disable your firewall. Think of Avast Web Shield as a intermediary host. If your firewall blocks Web Shield, it (your firewall) will also block your internet connection. Yes, disabling Avast will work too, because you are no longer redirecting web traffic through Avast.

I'm not familiar with ForceWare Firewall, but somewhere in the GUI should be a list of programs showing what permissions/rules you have allowed/denied. Remove/delete anything pertaining to Avast/Alwil and either restart the firewall or reboot. Connect to the internet and allow any alerts you receive for Avast/Alwil.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Jagoroth on February 26, 2009, 08:27:13 AM
I found it.  My firewall was blocking Avast's web shield.  Sorry for the mix-up :-X

But thank you for the help!
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Jahn on February 26, 2009, 10:33:44 AM
I found it.  My firewall was blocking Avast's web shield.  Sorry for the mix-up :-X

But thank you for the help!
No problem - glad you got it sorted, and you're welcome. :)
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: greendager on February 26, 2009, 03:35:52 PM
This is the error message I get, " Connection Interrupted "

"The connection to the server was reset while the page was loading

The network link was interrupted while negotiating a connection. Please try again."
it makes not difference if windows firewall is on or off, if the webshield is on I get this message. If I turn my firewall of and I still get this doesn't that mean that its not my firewall blocking the internet?
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Lisandro on February 26, 2009, 04:15:21 PM
Does this occur with any site? Or just particular ones?
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: greendager on February 26, 2009, 04:17:48 PM
All sites.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: pewterbot9 on March 01, 2009, 02:26:54 AM
About as pathetic as your uninformed, ignorant and abusive posts.

Hardly. "Abusive" is when I'm told to remove Comodo or Threatfire (trying to scare me  about some sort of "serious" conflict by either program w/Avast)...or that turning off webshield eliminates Avast's anitvirus protection. That is certainly not true, it just turns off..er..webshiled. You are otherwise protect. So whether you turn off webshield or, as I do, change port 80 to some other port...as long as you have Comodo Pro w/Defender and/or Threatfire running, you already have the equivalent of Webshield.


Quote
We are (I wonder under Heaven why) still trying to assist you despite your "I know better than you" attitude.

Spreading disinformaation is hardly assisting anyone. The bad advice was so OBVIOUSLY bad, of course I'm p'o'd. I had to figure this out myself, on some other  sites. And the answer is what I came up with...because this webshield blocking is an unresolved problem that will someday be resolved. Until then, turn it off, and use Threatfire for your webshield...or Comodo's Defender.

That way, you have the best of all worlds, even with webshield turned off.

Quote
We really want you to succeed with avast ... if you do not want to please go somewhere else and let them deal with your attitude.

I have succeeded. What you don't care to acknowlege, is the ridiculous disinformation being spread by several participants...which I've pointed out already, more than once.

Quote
Can we work together ... or do you need to move on?

How arrogantly spoken! Can't admit to disinformation spread by your associates, so you scapegoat. NOT very good representation of Avast. It is YOU who should move on...you only confuse users and inspire them to switch to some other antivirus.

Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: pewterbot9 on March 01, 2009, 02:52:11 AM
Comodo developers have acknowledged an issue between CIS 3.8x and Avast. A fix is forthcoming.

And until then, you can safely turn off webshield. It's much ado about nothing.

Quote
Why does this always happen? ??? ::)
I've gave up on Comodo due to a lot of issues with avast WebShield. Sooner or later, problems...

Don't blame Comodo...if push comes to shove, keep Comodo...and you don't even need to get rid of Avast, it's a great antivirus...just turn off webshield. It's a non-issue anyway. As one participant in Comodo's message board said:

Josh, Why do I need a Webshield? All the webshield is doing is scanning the file in a TEMP folder, that the on access scans anyway.

Using webshields\email scanners aren't scanning it " In the air" it's being done on your pc.


Here's the link:

https://forums.comodo.com/general_security_questions_and_comments_not_product_related/do_you_really_need_a_webshieldemail_scanner-t26466.15.html (https://forums.comodo.com/general_security_questions_and_comments_not_product_related/do_you_really_need_a_webshieldemail_scanner-t26466.15.html)
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: normishmael on March 01, 2009, 06:01:18 AM
Pewterbot9
"It's a non-issue anyway."

If this thread is your responce to a non-issue,
really bad things must happen when you are
faced with a "Major Problem"
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: BILL G on March 01, 2009, 03:14:09 PM
   I think we have a Cause + Effect Problem.

   I run a P4  2GHZ  512 Mem

   XP SP2  3Mbps Cable

   My  Paranoid Hobbyist Security Setup

   AVAST

   ZAF V5.5.094

   PG  V3.5

WinPatrol  V15.5

   ThreatFire  V4.1.0

   GSS  sometimes

   Spyware Blaster

   WWDC  V 1.4.1

   Seconfig  XP

   Open DNS

   IMO AVAST plays very well with Others

   I can Block or Cause  AVAST or WebShield to not work right

   with ZAF, PG, WP, TF, + GSS.  If any of these Programs   

   Screw up they can cause  WebShield to Fail also.

   I have had NET Connection problems over the years.

   Never has the problem been AVAST or WebShield.

   It has always been one of the Other Programs or Settings.

   I do not know all the Details of How AVAST works but for Me it 

   Works Very Well.

   When Forum Member with a Thousand + Posts or a ALWIL

   Team Member answers a ? or Details how AVAST  Works I

   Read + Learn.

   Give these Forum Members some  RESPECT
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Vladimyr on March 02, 2009, 02:29:49 AM
General advice for 'Netizens'

Evaluate the reliability of quoted sources.
Consider attitude and demeanour.
Weigh the arguments carefully.

Someone "fishing" for a fight? Ignore the "bait".

Remember: Wise judgement is its own reward.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: CharleyO on March 02, 2009, 02:58:14 AM
***

Good advice, Vladimyr.   :)

Besides, the posting reminds me too much of an old forum nemesis with a new name.


***
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: alanrf on March 02, 2009, 06:10:44 AM
Nevertheless, I have to wonder why Zeke (aka pewterbot9) feels the need to brag in his personal blog:

Quote
Arguing with dim-witted "advisers" on avast anti-virus's message board.  Talk about "disinformation".

Only to see that this poster who apparently knows so much better than any in this forum about firewalls and anti-virus programs then reports next in his blog ...

Quote
Resolved my dialup modem problems, after four days of not being able to connect.  Yay!


I think that even we "dim-witted" advisers might have helped him to get his modem going in less than 4 days. 

By the way Zeke, next time I am in my old neighborhood (I lived for years at 17th and Sanchez) I will stop by the Church Street Cafe and ask for you.  Maybe we can chat.
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: csiga00 on July 26, 2009, 12:03:03 AM
Hey guys,

greetings from Hungary, keep up the good work! I have always liked Avast AV and recommended to others as well, but now I have some problem related to this topic.

I have installed a fresh Windows XP SP3 and Sunbelt Kerio firewall on my pc and of course, avast as antivirus software. I can't remember when webshield started to block (yeah I know it doesn't block anything, but read it further please... ;)) http traffic, because due to this problem I've tried to re-/uninstall kerio and avast several times and I don't know what was the original installation order at the beginning (maybe avast was installed before kerio), but nothing helped (I also allowed ashWebSv.exe in- and outgoing traffic on all ports in kerio).
Now I removed kerio (I didn't have any idea) and made a fresh install of avast (with avast uninstall utility), but browsing is still blocked.

Let me summarize things and provide more information to clarify things:

So...I have had Online Armor and Kerio installed on my pc (not the same time of course) and after I choose Kerio I installed avast. Webshield (or something else) started blocking browsing (can't remember when and why, or if it was ever working or not, because I did so many install/reinstall after experienced the problem) and after that Kerio "rule" for ashWebSv.exe didn't help, I uninstalled Kerio and Avast and made a fresh install of Avast. Now I only have windows firewall and Avast free on my computer, and even if I turn off windows firewall, avast webshield "blocks" browsing, i.e if I terminate this provider, everything works fine. Because you say that some firewall should block traffic (or ashWebSv.exe) I don't have any idea what to do now, because I uninstalled all the firewalls I had before and turned off windows firewall to check, if webshield is working or not. It is not...any idea?

I use firefox and firefox proxy settings could't help either.

Any help would be much appreciated!
Please feel free to ask if I messed up things and can't make out what happened :)

Best regards,

Csiga
Title: Re: WebShield blocks browsing
Post by: Sammo on July 29, 2009, 06:41:52 PM
I regularly have the reoccurring problem of WebShield blocking my browsers as well (see attached graphic). It will happen on all browsers  and doesn't matter which firewall or their settings. I've complained about this a number of times in the past. Is anyone at avast looking into this stuff? Is version 5 going to be any better?