Author Topic: Unexplained Avast connections  (Read 11072 times)

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meebmoob

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Unexplained Avast connections
« on: August 21, 2013, 03:47:03 PM »
I've disabled all the cloud/community options I could find, and (temporarily) disabled updates, but netstat shows three connections to avast.com subdomains (such as a349vg.avast.com) during startup. What are these connections doing and is there any way to disable them?

BlobtheBlob

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2013, 10:06:30 PM »
I'm looking at NetStat right now and it says that avast is showing a connection to, among others, stackoverflow.com! What's that about?

Offline polonus

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2013, 10:20:09 PM »
Cybersecurity is more of an attitude than anything else. Avast Evangelists.

Use NoScript, a limited user account and a virtual machine and be safe(r)!

meebmoob

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2013, 02:01:16 AM »
I already read that topic and it's largely unrelated to what I asked. My concern isn't that there's any issue with the site - I mean, it's avast's own site, I think it's trustable enough - my concern was that it doesn't state what the purpose of those connections is. I don't necessarily mind that it's happening, but I prefer to know why software I use is phoning home.

Offline Milos

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2013, 04:25:29 PM »
I've disabled all the cloud/community options I could find, and (temporarily) disabled updates, but netstat shows three connections to avast.com subdomains (such as a349vg.avast.com) during startup. What are these connections doing and is there any way to disable them?
Hello,
"a349vg.avast.com" is one of our VPS/program update servers.

Milos

ram1220

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2013, 09:45:20 PM »
 Thank you Milos. I was wondering the same thing. It was not explained well in the other response.

meebmoob

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2013, 11:17:17 PM »
The point of the question is though, why is it still contacting an update server when updates are disabled?

Arnold72

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #7 on: August 26, 2013, 01:49:28 PM »
Avast has cloud technology and im sure you would wish to keep this enabled as you are weakening your protection by disabling them.

Offline bob3160

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #8 on: August 26, 2013, 02:09:30 PM »
The point of the question is though, why is it still contacting an update server when updates are disabled?
If you disable the part of the program that keeps your protection current, why install the program in the first place ???
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meebmoob

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #9 on: August 26, 2013, 07:49:37 PM »
bob3160, I clearly stated that I disabled updates temporarily, to check that there were no connections other than the desired ones. I wish people would stop replying to messages they haven't even read. :/

As for the 'cloud technology', I've had no issues using other antiviruses without such a thing and personally find the benefits of reducing unwanted connections to be greater than the benefits it claims to provide.

To get back to the point, in the hope of a straight answer - for what purpose does Avast connect when it seems that everything requiring a connection is disabled?

Arnold72

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #10 on: August 26, 2013, 10:09:05 PM »
My personal philosophy on all software is....If you dont trust any of the connections being made then this signifies a total lack of trust for the software as a whole.

i find it odd that you trust avast enough to install it and yet you question the connections it makes which implies a slight suspicious nature in your character.

Avast is a globally recognised security solution and used by millions of people worldwide so its credentials are not up for questioning.
Just allow avast to give you top notch av protection and stop being paranoid about avast outbound connections.

Thanks.

Offline bob3160

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #11 on: August 27, 2013, 12:08:12 AM »
bob3160, I clearly stated that I disabled updates temporarily, to check that there were no connections other than the desired ones. I wish people would stop replying to messages they haven't even read. :/

As for the 'cloud technology', I've had no issues using other antiviruses without such a thing and personally find the benefits of reducing unwanted connections to be greater than the benefits it claims to provide.

To get back to the point, in the hope of a straight answer - for what purpose does Avast connect when it seems that everything requiring a connection is disabled?
I didn't see anything in your posts regarding " temp. disabling" hence, my reply.
If you don't trust avast!, why install it in the first place ???
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meebmoob

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2013, 04:50:20 AM »
bob3160: In the original post it clearly says "and (temporarily) disabled updates."

My primary concern is simply that there's no clear reason for it to be doing this at all. There may be potential privacy issues, but I've no reason not to trust Avast, it's more an issue of control and resources (the same reason I'm currently trying out Avast in favour of my previous AV). I get the feeling you guys just don't actually know the answer to my question and for some reason are choosing to change the subject and question me instead of leaving the matter to someone who'll respond appropriately.

Look, Avast offers options for a reason. Everyone uses their computer differently, and some of the default settings were overkill or irrelevant for the way I use my computer, while others by default weren't quite secure enough. Do you have some kind of problem with that (in which case maybe you should go and tell the developers just to remove all the options), or can we now please focus on the original question?

Offline CraigB

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #13 on: August 27, 2013, 04:59:52 AM »
As Milos already said "a349vg.avast.com" is one of our VPS/program update servers" and I don't think cloud updates can be disabled unless you're going to block it with a firewall which would be awkward as when you need the update you would then have to go and unblock it.

Cloud updates should not be blocked imo as they are giving you the latest up to date protection which is a necessity for safe browsing.

meebmoob

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Re: Unexplained Avast connections
« Reply #14 on: August 27, 2013, 05:44:24 AM »
Isn't that the purpose of the "Enable streaming updates" option?

Part of why I'm not sure that it's update related is because two of the connections on startup (going to similarly named servers) no longer appeared after I registered Avast - this suggests that those connections were account/license related, and perhaps the last one is also related to that.