Using Avast! Free Antivirus for MAC - Firewall?

[Maji]

Does Avast! have a firewall?  Can't find a setting to enable/disable it.  I am hospitalized from time to time, and was unable to get on the Internet at all unless I disabled the firewall (using Norton Antivirus).  The hospital has its own server, which I have to log in to, and my firewall prevented me from doing so.  I recently uninstalled Norton and installed Avast!, due to the great things I heard about it.  Am unable to find anything regarding a firewall.  Are the three "shields" the same thing?  In case I'm medically incarcerated again, and am unable to get online, I'd like to know in advance how to disable any functions that are blocking me.  Hope that makes sense.

[Jan Gahura]

Hi,

avast! for Mac doesn't contain a firewall. All the shields can be disabled from preferences. If you'll have any trouble connecting to the Internet, let as know.

Regards,
Jan

[.: Mac :.]

The only issue im aware of is that if you have a firewall (such as little snitch) you may need to allow the avast web shield proxy internet access.