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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: rvidil on May 16, 2010, 04:45:04 PM

Title: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: rvidil on May 16, 2010, 04:45:04 PM
I have seen this topic posted here and there a few months back, but I've not seen any true resolution anywhere. Like many others, I experience gradual performance degradation of my Vista system when running Avast 5.0.x (currently x=545), in particular, when using the Behavior Shield. A reboot clears things up for a while, hours or even a few days, but eventually things begin to slow back down. It is most noticeable when browsing the Web (IE or Firefox) -- if I disable that particular shield, performance improves drastically and instantly.

I've tried many reboots, deleting Avast and reinstalling fresh, etc. Ever since I've upgraded to version 5.0, this problem always eventually comes back. I'd prefer to have the protection of the Behavior Shield, but for now, I keep it disabled.
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: ravi16aug on May 17, 2010, 01:42:17 PM
I too 'felt' the same - couldn't put it in numbers. So I just run the File, Web and Network shields.
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: jaymur on May 17, 2010, 02:59:55 PM
Well well..that fixed my own jsut posted about system slow down issues. Disabling this put mys peed back to 'normal' which is very fast.
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: rvidil on May 19, 2010, 03:21:05 PM
This leaves me with two questions:

(1) does Avast acknowledge this as a legitimate problem, i.e., as something they are working on and hope to resolve soon?

(2) what kinds of threats am I making myself vulnerable to by disabling the Behavior Shield?

Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: atulk on May 25, 2010, 08:53:52 AM
 :(
Experiencing the exact same here - Behavior Shield causes high degradation over time.  CPU Usage goes up quite drastically, almost 100% sometimes. 
Process Explorer shows "System" consuming more than 75% CPU with Behavior Shield turned on, and about 1-2% with Behavior Shield turned off, and this even without any Network Connection or Internet browsing.

Please can someone look into this, or advise if there is any clash/incorrect setting causing this.  I would really prefer not to disable this Behavior Shield since I do not have any other similar security software enabled.

System Details:
Avast! Free Antivirus
Program Version: 5.0.545
Virus definitions: 100524-1
Windows XP Professional SP3
Laptop - Dell Inspiron E1705
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: Spline64 on May 25, 2010, 10:49:55 PM
 ::)

I have the same problem with the exception that ALL explorer windows show a 5 - 15 second delay when trying to open. If I disable only behavior shield with all other shields running, all back to normal.

thanks for the tip Rvidil

Spline64
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: YoKenny on May 25, 2010, 11:49:20 PM
How much RAM do your systems have ???
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: atulk on May 26, 2010, 04:47:33 AM
How much RAM do your systems have ???

Hi,

My Laptop has 4GB physical RAM, but since the OS is 32-bit XP Professional SP3, only 3.2GB is available to the OS.

Avast! 5 Free 5.0.545 / 100525-1
Dell Insipiron E1705
OS: Windows XP Professional SP3
RAM: 4GB
CPU: Dual Core 2.0GHz
HDD: 80GB
Video Card: 256MB NVIDIA Go 7800 Resolution: 1920x1200 @ 32bit color

Thanks for any help you can provide.
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: Spline64 on May 27, 2010, 12:41:04 AM
I'm running 2 gb. DDR2
Windows XP Pro 5.1.2600 SP3
2.4  ghz quad core
ATI Radeon HD 4670 w/ 1 gb. RAM

and might mention that the problem started the minute I installed Avast 5.0
Was working fine with 4.8
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: Spline64 on May 27, 2010, 12:52:22 AM
and also the avast.setup process is running at about 20% while it hangs.
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: ToM ™ on May 27, 2010, 09:17:02 AM
Hi,

we found an issue that can be related to the any av5 slowdown. This slowdown may lead after few days to avast! crash too. We hope it will be fixed soon.
sorry for inconvenience.
ToM
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: xavier.tnc on May 30, 2010, 12:57:17 PM
I found this post after becoming frustrated enough to look for a solution to the problem.  I'm developing a web application on my local machine using a WAMP stack and since AVAST upgrade from the "blue icon" to the "orange icon" (Sorry, i don't keep track of version numbers anymore, but it's version 5.xx something ), my pages started taking 500ms-1000ms longer to load!  Firefox also takes much longer to start.  I was reluctant to upgrade to the "new look" AVAST, but I was forced due to my registration expiring.  I eventually tried to disable AVAST for a while to see what happens, and the effect was immediate and DRASTIC.  I then fiddled with the configuration to see if I could isolate the problem and sure enough found that the Behavior Shield  was too blame.  Disabling Behavior Shield fixes my problem instantly. So, I would imagine there's still some bugs to fix in the new version and hope too see something soon (Specially if you have millions of users!)  An advisory on what to do about the problem and whether it's safe to disable this feature would also be welcome.  (Ok, so I checked... it's ver. 5.0.545   :) )
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: ToM ™ on June 03, 2010, 10:16:46 AM
Hi,

this issue is related to avast screen-saver if you reinstall avast! and don't use avast! screen-saver so your speed should be ok.

ToM
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: Lisandro on June 04, 2010, 04:22:31 AM
this issue is related to avast screen-saver if you reinstall avast! and don't use avast! screen-saver so your speed should be ok.
I suppose this will be addressed in future versions.
Is it better to NOT use avast screensaver until next program update?
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: ToM ™ on June 08, 2010, 02:40:04 PM
Yes, it is.
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: kd5 on June 10, 2010, 02:41:49 PM
So, which is it?  Behavior Shield or Screensaver?  And will it be fixed soon? 

I noticed slowdowns on my system too (3.4ghz P4, 2gb RAM, 80gb 7200rpm 8mb hard drive, XP Home SP3/IE8 with all updates) after the computer had been up & running all day.  A reboot would solve the immediate problem.  Will Alwil solve the larger problem?  Soon?       -kd5-
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: kd5 on June 12, 2010, 10:15:58 PM
Since I found this thread on Page 2 with no subsequent replies, I have to assume that no one of any import has either read this or cares to acknowledge this legitimate concern, or can give us any idea whether or not this issue will be addressed any time soon?

I really don't want to cripple Avast, I would probably be more inclined to go back to v4.8 until all the bugs get worked out of v5.       -kd5-
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: YoKenny on June 13, 2010, 12:26:40 AM
@ kd5

I guess now you need to know that your kduncan5 (at) hotmail.com is available to all spammers and scammers. ;)

And your signature Getting old ain't for sissys. is not informative as some old people know a lot. 8)

Go to PROFILE then Modify Profile then select your country in Please select your country: then Forum Profile Information then update your Signature: with information like my signature as this helps the helpers offer pertinent advice.

In Account Related Settings select Hide email address from public? to prevent scammers and spammers harvesting your hotmail.com email address.
Title: Re: Performance degradation over time with Behavior Shield, Avast 5.0.545
Post by: kd5 on June 14, 2010, 12:43:48 AM
@ kd5

I guess now you need to know that your kduncan5 (at) hotmail.com is available to all spammers and scammers. ;)

And your signature Getting old ain't for sissys. is not informative as some old people know a lot. 8)

Go to PROFILE then Modify Profile then select your country in Please select your country: then Forum Profile Information then update your Signature: with information like my signature as this helps the helpers offer pertinent advice.

In Account Related Settings select Hide email address from public? to prevent scammers and spammers harvesting your hotmail.com email address.


How does your post help ANYTHING?????


First, I don't care who harvests that email address because I don't use it anymore, haven't been there in YEARS!

Second, I'll say whatever I want to say in my signature!  'Getting old ain't for sissys' refers to all the aches & pains you'll accumulate when you get MY AGE, not what you have chosen to read into it!  Besides, if you'd bothered to look above my last post, you would see that I've already outlined the pertinent aspects of my computer!

Third, why should what country I live in matter to anyone besides someone who chooses to make such a big deal out of it for no good reason as you have chosen to do?


So, I ask again:  How does your post help ANYTHING?????


I have asked a question.  Obviously you're not capable of answering that question so why did you even bother to post in response to it?  Just because you have 4929 posts here and I only have 21, do you think that gives you the right to crap on my post?       -kd5-