Author Topic: Avast free and Firefox downloads  (Read 4674 times)

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dcomx

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Avast free and Firefox downloads
« on: November 14, 2012, 09:58:27 AM »
Hello,

I have recently installed Avast free on my laptop.

I am on a limited internet data plan and hence I have to monitor my usage carefully. To do so, I have installed a software called NetLimiter which monitors incoming and outgoing traffic and also has provisions to kill connections.

Now, whenever I use Firefox, Netlimiter shows that Avast is downloading data. Why does this happen ? Does all traffic have to pass through Avast before reaching Firefox ?

Thanks in advance.
Regards.

Offline Pondus

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Re: Avast free and Firefox downloads
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2012, 10:25:55 AM »
all incomming web traffic is checked by avast webshield

avast updater check for updates when turned on and it detect a connection
if left on it check every 240min

dcomx

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Re: Avast free and Firefox downloads
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2012, 10:58:39 AM »
So inspite of disabling updates, Avast will check for available updates every 240 minutes ?

Apart from these, does Avast upload or download anything from the internet ?

Offline mchain

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Re: Avast free and Firefox downloads
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2012, 02:21:13 PM »
hi dcomx,

You can set the free version to check for updates as frequently as 120 minutes.  Default setting is 240 minutes.  If you check manually, downloaded data usually ranges from 3-7 KB if no additional data is downloaded as when an update comes in.  Each main vps update is incremental, the full vps update will run you over 50 MB for that day should you ever need it.
  • Features such as reputation services and streaming update (Summary>Cloud Services) are enabled by default; these services are optional, but streaming updates will get you all the updates between the main updates for Avast! if and when you first connect to the internet.  The main vps update (issued two or three times a day) is put out roughly every twelve hours or so.  Format for this is always yy/mm/dd-version number.  So, the current version for today would be 121114-0.
  • Streaming updates I would leave alone and disable reputation services if bandwidth is a concern.  You can also turn off automatic vps updates and check it manually twice a day if that would work for you.  (Settings>Updates>Manual Updates)
  • Every time you run a program with reputation services enabled, and use Avast! Pro or AIS, data about that program (especially if new on your system) is checked against the cloud; thus that would mean some data transfer.  Works with the Avast! Sandbox.
Seems maybe the real issue is data plan, and not Avast!  The above is a workaround for you until the data plan is changed?
« Last Edit: November 14, 2012, 02:23:59 PM by mchain »
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 22H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.1.6099 (build 24.1.88821.762)  UI version 1.0.797
 UI version 1.0.788.  Windows 11 Home 23H2 - Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.2.6105 (build 24.1.8918.827) UI version 1.0.801

Offline Pondus

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Re: Avast free and Firefox downloads
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2012, 02:31:30 PM »
Quote
So inspite of disabling updates, Avast will check for available updates every 240 minutes ?
not sure if the check is disabled....but it will not download any update
but as mchain say, the check is close to zero kb


Offline Asyn

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Re: Avast free and Firefox downloads
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2012, 04:40:38 PM »
Now, whenever I use Firefox, Netlimiter shows that Avast is downloading data. Why does this happen ? Does all traffic have to pass through Avast before reaching Firefox ?

Yes, as avast! acts as a local proxy.
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

Offline Lisandro

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Re: Avast free and Firefox downloads
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2012, 10:23:36 PM »
Yes, as avast! acts as a local proxy.
It needs to do it to scan the traffic.
The best things in life are free.

mxtecsubs

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Re: Avast free and Firefox downloads
« Reply #7 on: November 15, 2012, 06:45:38 AM »
Every time you run a program with reputation services enabled, and use Avast! Pro or AIS, data about that program (especially if new on your system) is checked against the cloud; thus that would mean some data transfer.  Works with the Avast! Sandbox.

Seems maybe the real issue is data plan, and not Avast!  The above is a workaround for you until the data plan is changed?

So every time a program is run in the sandbox, data usage is done ?

And yeah, Avast is not the problem, my data plan is :)

Thanks everyone for helping me out.
Regards.

Offline mchain

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Re: Avast free and Firefox downloads
« Reply #8 on: November 16, 2012, 09:22:07 PM »
You're welcome.

Other aspect is that all web traffic goes through Avast! web proxy before it goes through FF; this is so you get the protection against .js and flash malware on-the-fly.  This is responsible for some of the data transfers you are seeing.
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 22H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.1.6099 (build 24.1.88821.762)  UI version 1.0.797
 UI version 1.0.788.  Windows 11 Home 23H2 - Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.2.6105 (build 24.1.8918.827) UI version 1.0.801