Avast WEBforum

Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: TomH on August 07, 2011, 05:55:57 AM

Title: Net Shield False Positives on Yahoo Groups Files URLs
Post by: TomH on August 07, 2011, 05:55:57 AM

With an upgrade in the last 24 hours or so to avast Free 6.0.1203, Network Shield has started blocking access to files on Yahoo Groups. An example message:

Malicious URL blocked

URL:   f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/sP89TlM2sINjXK7M3KWCwAH08Hj-qCh0wBnLDetlIe7yomZW6xWLPXNsM3hy7kdNxPgz762UodUkbFOKLyWQB8c2o6bO8g4/ Tables of Contents/all_files_ToC.htm
Process:   file://C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
Infection:   Mal

You have to be a member of a particular group to access the file at that particular URL and the URL will likely change - Yahoo has been randomizing or dynamically encrypting that long middle part for a long time.

I suspect the latest avast update introduced some new rules in Network Shield that are being broken. It's unlikely that overnight Yahoo Groups has become unwittingly reprogrammed to incorporate something malicious in its files URLs.

Until this false detection is fixed, I have to turn Network Shield off in order to use the Files area of any Yahoo Group.

Tom

Title: Re: Net Shield False Positives on Yahoo Groups Files URLs
Post by: smiffypr on August 07, 2011, 06:44:49 AM

I've raised a ticket:
WYQ-362756: All attempts to access files on yahoo groups are blocked

Title: Re: Net Shield False Positives on Yahoo Groups Files URLs
Post by: MsAdelle on August 07, 2011, 07:13:21 AM

Yep its happening to me as well. And others have reported it happening to them.

I encountered it on Safari, Firefox and IE.

Title: Re: Net Shield False Positives on Yahoo Groups Files URLs
Post by: cleo on August 07, 2011, 04:18:42 PM

 The same problem is affecting me too.  I can't download any files from Yahoo.com in IE7 and Google Chrome. 

Title: Re: Net Shield False Positives on Yahoo Groups Files URLs
Post by: DavidR on August 07, 2011, 04:24:12 PM

There is an on-line contact form, http://www.avast.com/contact-form.php?loadStyles (http://www.avast.com/contact-form.php?loadStyles) for:  * Sales inquiries; Technical issues; Website issues; Report false virus alert in file; Report false virus alert on website; Press (Media), issues.

- If you are reporting an FP, then you get another input field open, click Browse button and navigate to the file or enter the web URL for the URL you wish to submit for review, etc.

Title: Re: Net Shield False Positives on Yahoo Groups Files URLs
Post by: bfotk on August 07, 2011, 07:28:51 PM

Add me to the list of people who are encountering this Avast! vs Yahoo! issue.

Title: Re: Net Shield False Positives on Yahoo Groups Files URLs
Post by: TomH on August 07, 2011, 08:29:47 PM

Thanks, DavidR. I posted a ticket before posting to the forum. If volume of tickets affects priority of attention, woul all others with this problem also submit tickets, please?

Tom

Title: Re: Net Shield False Positives on Yahoo Groups Files URLs
Post by: WhatTheHeck on August 07, 2011, 09:03:24 PM

+1  Can't get to my Y! Group files. 
Ticket entered. 

Title: Re: Net Shield False Positives on Yahoo Groups Files URLs
Post by: Mike23 on August 07, 2011, 09:56:51 PM

Hi,
Yes. Add me to the list as well please.

Affecting all the File types on my Yahoo Groups site.
Cannot D/L a thing.

I have submitted a ticket.

Thanks, Mike..

Title: Re: Net Shield False Positives on Yahoo Groups Files URLs
Post by: smiffypr on August 08, 2011, 07:12:42 AM

Fixed now.

Title: Re: Net Shield False Positives on Yahoo Groups Files URLs
Post by: Mike23 on August 08, 2011, 11:50:01 AM

Ahhh. Thank you.  :)

Yahoo is fully functional again.

Regs, Mike..