Avast causes browser to lock up every 10 minutes

[Oxa]

I'm using Avast Free 7.0.1426. For the past 6 weeks I've had a problem with my browser (Firefox) locking up periodically for 10 seconds or so. It happens every 10 minutes on the dot. I isolated the problem to Avast. When I turn off Avast, the problem doesn't occur. Turning Avast back on makes the problem recur. I have automatic update turned off. I also have cloud services turned off. What is Avast doing every 10 minutes to cause this? Is there any setting I can change to fix this? I'm exasperated, and am seriously thinking of switching to another AV program.

[Pondus]

I'm using Avast Free 7.0.1426..........

so why not try installing latest version  7.0.1466 and see if that helps

[Oxa]

Nice try, but can you answer my question?

[CraigB]

Nice try, but can you answer my question?

Pondus did answer your question by suggesting that you update avast first as it's pointless trying to troubleshoot an old version, update and see if the issue continues.

Note that you should turn auto vps updating and cloud services back on if you wish to have the latest protction updates.

[Oxa]

My questions:
1. What is Avast doing every 10 minutes to cause my browser to lock up?
2. Is there any setting I can change to fix this?
(3. Why do Überevangelists not know how to read?)

Looking at the Avast version history, I see nothing listed in the newer versions that fixes this problem.

I am not interested in Avast's "reputation services." I practice safe surfing, have a firewall, and don't want the extra overhead caused by using an unneeded service. Ditto for "streaming updates". I only mentioned that I don't use cloud services so that anyone attempting to troubleshoot the problem would know that it's not the cloud services phoning home that is causing the problem with browser lockup.

I'd appreciate it if someone could give a non-knee-jerk response to my questions.

[CraigB]

My questions:

(3. Why do Überevangelists not know how to read?)

Why do user's not know how to follow instuctions and update

No one is going to troubleshoot an old version, plus you haven't mentioned if you've changed any of the default settings of avast, what operating system your using or if there is any other security programs installed

Another thing i should mention is that at ten minute intervals avast does not do anything so you need to look at what on you system is doing something in this time frame.

[Oxa]

Another thing i should mention is that at ten minute intervals avast does not do anything so you need to look at what on you system is doing something in this time frame.

Did you miss the part where I said the problem does NOT happen when I turn Avast OFF and DOES happen when Avast is turned ON?

[CraigB]

I didn't miss it, just because avast may be exagerating the problem does not mean it is the cause of the problem - it could highly likely be caused by Firefox or a firefox addon that you may have but as mentioned unless you update avast where unable to provide any troubleshooting advice for you so please take the advice given and do so.

[Sumit0008]

Oxa is not the only one having this problem. I recently purchased a new laptop as well Acer V3 - 551G running on Wins 7 Home Premium 64-bit and after using Revo uninstaller to uninstall all the unnecessary softwares including the trial anti virus it came with I did a clean install of Avast! 2012 free anti virus version 7.0.1466. After doing this both my browsers, IE9 and FF15 started throwing up problems with messages 'The connection was reset' and 'The connection has a problem'.

After a lot of troubleshooting which included uninstalling most of my softwares and restoring my laptop multiple times, numerous email exchanges with Acer and consultations with my University's IT services, I concluded that it was Avast! that was causing this problem. No amplifying of any existing problem or clash with any other software, it just was the cause. I only use Avast and no other firewall or anti malware software except for windows firewall. I turned windows firewall off and the problem still persisted. But the moment I uninstalled Avast! the problem disappeared. Reinstalled it back on after a day of smooth internet usage and the problem resurfaced.

Another observation is that most https websites work but http dont. For example if i try visiting www.facebook.com it doesnt work but if I type https://facebook.com it works but only until another http link is clicked. My outlook works fine though and can send/receive emails.

I am a big fan of Avast! and really grateful that a free version is available for pauper students like me. Until this issue is resolved I wont be installing any other AV software on my laptop. Please help me and Oxa and many others out there who are having this problem.

[TheHump]

I'm having exactly the same problem as Oxa. My browser freezes, like clockwork, every 10 minutes, for about 5-10 seconds. The problem started sometime in August, cleared up for a few days to a week, then started again. I thought it might be either Online Armor or Avast. Turning off Online Armor did not fix the problem, but turning off Avast did. I updated Windows in August, but that was after the problem started. Aside from that, the only changes I've made to my software or system since mid-July are to the Avast engine and virus definitions, which I download manually daily.

Bottom line: Something changed in August. The only changes I made to my computer software were the Avast updates.
What else can I do to diagnose this problem?

Win XP SP3
Avast 7.0.1466
Online Armor 5.5.0.1557
Firefox 11.0

Windows Firewall: OFF
Windows Automatic Updates: OFF
Windows Task Manager: OFF
Avast cloud services: OFF
Avast automatic updates: OFF
Firefox automatic updates: OFF
Firefox addons automatic updates: OFF
Java update scheduler: OFF
All other automatic updates: OFF

Scanned with Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware, and no malware found.

[bob3160]

Using Revo or any other 3rd party uninstaller is not recommended. They all have removal tools which is written specifically for
each AV.
You can access these removal tools at:
http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/


To troubleshoot the problem, try using a different browser. If you still have the lag, then maybe it's avast!
If you don't, suspect the browser that's giving you the problem or one of the add-ons.
I have no lags at all using Chrome, IE 10 and, Opera. I happen not to use Firefox.

[TheHump]

It took only 10 minutes to discover that the problem also happens in IE. Would it be worthwhile (or safe) to disable the Avast shields one by one to see if that can pinpoint the problem?

[bob3160]

It took only 10 minutes to discover that the problem also happens in IE. Would it be worthwhile (or safe) to disable the Avast shields one by one to see if that can pinpoint the problem?

Provided you're visiting a safe site like this forum while you're doing it....