What happened to Avast Web Rep?

[Nikilet]

To bob 3160's last post, I would like to say AMEN!!!

[bob3160]

To bob 3160's last post, I would like to say AMEN!!!

Thank you Nikilet,
Since today is Thanksgiving, that post is very appropriate. 

[madmax25]

Just want to remind you Avast developers of the fact that WebRep still doesn't work!

And FF18 Beta is out, too.
So, time to start making Avast compatible to FF18, I guess.

[DavidR]

A reminder isn't required they are already aware and already have a patch so it works with FF 17.0.

[Gopher John]

A reminder isn't required they are already aware and already have a patch so it works with FF 17.0.

Please provide the link to the patch for WebRep.  It isn't working for me in most Firefox 17 profiles.

[DavidR]

Try backing up a few pages, I'm sure it is in this topic somewhere.

A reminder isn't required they are already aware and already have a patch so it works with FF 17.0.

Please provide the link to the patch for WebRep.  It isn't working for me in most Firefox 17 profiles.

Sorry some confusion, the patch is for the script shield to work with FF 17.0, the WebRep has been working fine for me. Strange that you say "it isn't working for me in most Firefox 17 profiles." I would expect that it would work for all or none and not be intermittent for different profiles.

What are the differences in the profiles that work from those that don't.

[Gopher John]

Try backing up a few pages, I'm sure it is in this topic somewhere.

A reminder isn't required they are already aware and already have a patch so it works with FF 17.0.

Please provide the link to the patch for WebRep.  It isn't working for me in most Firefox 17 profiles.

Sorry some confusion, the patch is for the script shield to work with FF 17.0, the WebRep has been working fine for me. Strange that you say "it isn't working for me in most Firefox 17 profiles." I would expect that it would work for all or none and not be intermittent for different profiles.

What are the differences in the profiles that work from those that don't.

I applied the Script Shield patch, which worked perfectly.

The profiles that were actively used when Avast updated to 7.0.1473 and broke WebRep still have WebRep broken after the Avast update to 7.0.1474.  This included Firefox 16.0.x and now, Firefox 17.  Profiles that weren't used with Avast 7.0.1473 and new profiles WebRep will work.  The extension loads in all profiles on both machines.  This implies that something in the profiles is amiss, but I haven't found anything in About:Config that I can be sure would fix that.  If I had all the entries that WebRep puts there, perhaps I could find it.  extensions.wrc. entries are obvious but there has to be something besides those.

WebRep itself not working isn't in itself such a big issue, but this may also affect the phishing filter and SiteCorrect.

[DavidR]

I'm not sure how the avast webrep works across different firefox profiles, but the additional protection, browser protection, Firefox, would I guess apply to all profiles as it is still firefox.

I don't know in the profiles that aren't working, if you open the add-ons and see what version of the webrep add-on is reported as installed. Possibly those not working are reporting 7.0.1473 version of webrep. If so uninstalling webrep in those profiles and also in avast additional protection, browser protection, Firefox, so it is removed. I would restart firefox and reboot, then install the webrep again in additional protection, browser protection, Firefox.

[Gopher John]

WebRep extension in Firefox is always the same version as the version of Avast installed.  When Avast updates, it also updates WebRep(currently 7.0.1474).  Since WebRep is installed as a Global extension, it's always the same across all profiles (using the same binaries).  It's the only Global Firefox extension on either machine.

[iroc9555]

I am trying again WepRep. Now with FF 17.0. It has behaved up to now. My memory usage for FF has not gone over 230 MB so that memory leak bothering me with FF 16 seems to be gone.

[DavidR]

WebRep extension in Firefox is always the same version as the version of Avast installed.  When Avast updates, it also updates WebRep(currently 7.0.1474).  Since WebRep is installed as a Global extension, it's always the same across all profiles (using the same binaries).  It's the only Global Firefox extension on either machine.

Have you tried uninstalling the webrep in avast with firefox closed, reboot and then confirm that the webrep isn't in any of the firefox profiles. If all clear close firefox and try an install of the webrep in avast again.

[Gopher John]

WebRep extension in Firefox is always the same version as the version of Avast installed.  When Avast updates, it also updates WebRep(currently 7.0.1474).  Since WebRep is installed as a Global extension, it's always the same across all profiles (using the same binaries).  It's the only Global Firefox extension on either machine.

Have you tried uninstalling the webrep in avast with firefox closed, reboot and then confirm that the webrep isn't in any of the firefox profiles. If all clear close firefox and try an install of the webrep in avast again.

Yes, as well as a repair of Avast itself.  I've tried on both machines, making sure that WebRep is enabled in Firefox extensions.  It shows as installed and enabled in Firefox Add-ons | Extensions.  The WebRep icon is showing in the Navigation Bar of Firefox, but is always gray.  Clicking on it brings up the popup where, if it was connecting to the WebRep servers, would allow you to vote on the site displayed.  There is no communication with the servers at all.

The only thing I haven't tried is a clean reinstall of AIS.  I'm not sure that would make any difference, due to the fact that it works on a new Firefox profile.  Avast 7.0.1473 apparently munged something in the profiles used.  If the profile wasn't opened or didn't exist with that version, WebRep works.

[DavidR]

@ Gopher John
I too rather doubt that a reinstall of AIS is likely to resolve this.

The only thing that I suspect may work is the removal of the effected profiles or clean reinstall of firefox, both of which are a bit of a hassle as you have to restore all of your customisations, add-ons, etc.

You can save some stuff (add-ons, etc.) using the FEBE add-on a firefox backup tool. I have been using it for some considerable time and if I have to reinstall firefox, I first backup what I want to keep in a folder I set for it. When you have done the reinstall, the first add-on I get is FEBE and set that up to use the folder I created for its backups.

Now you can restore your extensions, bookmarks, preferences, etc. note that the Restore Profile is a separate option which I would leave alone to avoid restoring/importing the problem.

[Gopher John]

Unless uninstalling WebRep affects the phishing filter and SiteCorrect, at this point in WebRep's development, it's simply not worth the effort to blow away a profile that has evolved.  Everything else in these profiles are now working correctly.

[DavidR]

Since the Browser plugins, Plugin Settings is where the Phishing filter and SiteCorrect are located. I would say that if the WebRep is uninstalled then you have no phishing filter or sitecorrect functionality.