[Warning] AV IS 2014 firewall bugged

[propheticus]

Even though some of the blocked network sharing issues have been fixed in the recent 9.0.2007 version, the firewall still appears to be riddled with bugs.
If you recently upgraded from Avast IS 8 to 9 (2014) or from Avast Free to Internet security and you are experiences strange problems, try uninstalling the firewall part. Be sure to enable Window's firewall or another 3rd party's!!

Here's a couple of the problems that people encounter:

• Firewall rules not working -> still blocking http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=140369.0
• Network sharing http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=139134.0 (solved by disabling firewall)
• Mail via outlook/office http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=140354.0
• DPC latency issue leading to sound crackling http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=140679.0 (solved by removing firewall)
• Internet blocked http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=141487.0 (solved by removing firewall)
• Internet blocked 2 http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=141341.0 (solved by removing firewall)
• Internet blocked 3 http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=141301.0
• Vuze and/or JAVA blocked http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=137309.0 (fixed by disabling firewall)
• cant connect to pc's shared folders from phone: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=137857.15
• sound stuttering, another case http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=144018.0
• SQL traffic blocked http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=144385.0
• Can't play Call of Duty since updating to AIS2014 (no problems in 2012 or 2013) http://steamcommunity.com/app/209160/discussions/0/630799815301198114/
• Many more

What strikes me as perculiar is the amount of people that upgraded from free to IS that suddenly had problems. The main difference between these two? A firewall!


Before you remove the firewall, manually upgrade the Avast Program to the newest version (9.0.2011) or perform a repair to see if that fixes your issue.

Update:

• Double click avast icon
• Choose 'settings'
• Navigate to Update -> Program -> click 'update'

Repair installation:

• In Windows go to start -> control panel -> programs -> programs and features
• Select Avast and click "Uninstall/Change"
• Select the repair tab and click continue
• Wait till done ...reboot

Only remove the firewall when this fails to solve your problem.

Steps to remove the firewall:

• go to programs and features in Windows
  • select Avast! and click 'uninstall/change'
• choose the 'change' tab and continue
• untick firewall from the 'tools' column and continue
• wait ... done
• be sure to at least enable the Windows firewall (might need a reboot before)

IF you've already removed Avast (and used aswclear) and wan't to install again, you can also choose to perform a custom installation and untick the firewall. This way you don't have to remove it afterwards.

*last edit: added more examples of problems caused by firewall

[renedes]

I have upgraded to the last AVAST version and lost my internet connection since then. It says Firewall cannot be started, but it stops all other actions as well. Can you help me returning to a state where I can at least have access again. I have submitted a ticket to AVAst support.
#ZFQ-427-82783

[Pondus]

tried avast repair and reboot?

controlpanel > ad/remove programs > avast > uninstall/change > repair option ....wait aminute and reboot

[renedes]

Thanks. The "repair" did not work. But I tried "change", which allowed me to take the firewall feature off Avast. I did get an Internet connection now, without a firewall. But now at least I can go on the Internet to check for a solution.  So long, thanks. Rene 

[propheticus]

Hey Rene,

Good to see my tip at least helped you get your internet back. It's not a pretty solution, but for now it's the best we (the user) can do. Luckily the Windows (7/8) firewall is pretty good.

More examples of the firewall being bugged:

• Internet blocked http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=141487.0 (solved by removing firewall)
• Internet blocked 2 http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=141341.0 (solved by removing firewall)
• Internet blocked 3 http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=141301.0

[mhajicek]

Thanks for the tip, with avast firewall off all seems to be ok again......i hope. How could anyone released so bad code?

[drake127]

Is somebody with this issue able to verify which aswNdis* entries are present in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services registry key?

avast! 2014:
Windows XP and Vista should see aswNdis and aswNdis2.
Windows 7+ should have just aswNdisFlt.

Thanks.

[propheticus]

I guess this is only valid for people that have still got the Avast firewall installed? I haven't and haven't got an aswNdisFlt entry (win 8.1)

New addition to list of problems:
Vuze and/or JAVA blocked: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=137309.0


edit: I installed a complete 2009r2 (all components) after removing/cleaning 2008 to see if the issue was solved. I did have an aswNdisFlt service and registry entry. The problem still existed, so I removed the firewall again.

[drake127]

Sure, these are firewall entries (possible related to the internet connection issue). If you have none, you don't have firewall installed.

[Andrey,pro]

Hi drake127,

Some users confirmed the issue with sound crackling in AIS. How to solve this bug with firewall?
You can watch video with this issue here: http://youtu.be/1JkdnSrZqRI

[propheticus]

That's a nice example of the problem I was having and described in this thread.

If updating or repairing Avast does not help, you can try following the steps I outlined in the opening post under "Steps to remove the firewall". Do this, reboot and re-enable windows firewall if it was turned off. Now check your sound again.

[lexus232]

Hi drake127,

Some users confirmed the issue with sound crackling in AIS. How to solve this bug with firewall?
You can watch video with this issue here: http://youtu.be/1JkdnSrZqRI

Hey I have this problem too! I thought it was hardware related issue because even after I turn off my avast issue still persists. This issue doesn't persist all the time, it just appears randomly throughout the day and disappears later.
I am as well having issue with avast suddenly blocking all websites except google.com that I have described in this thread http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=141973.0

[propheticus]

Could you try removing the Avast firewall like explained in the OP and report back if that helps? In my experience simply turning shields off does not help, removing does.

[lexus232]

Could you try removing the Avast firewall like explained in the OP and report back if that helps? In my experience simply turning shields off does not help, removing does.

I have removed avast webshiled and avast firewall. I will let you know tomorrow whether it has fixed issues.
Meanwhile I am using built-in windows 7 firewall.

[Andrey,pro]

That's a nice example of the problem I was having and described in this thread.

If updating or repairing Avast does not help, you can try following the steps I outlined in the opening post under "Steps to remove the firewall". Do this, reboot and re-enable windows firewall if it was turned off. Now check your sound again.

Hi,

I've already seen your topic and of course removing firewall will solve sound problem, we have already tried to use the latest beta but still no luck. And both users with this issue have windows 8.1 installed. 

Hey I have this problem too! I thought it was hardware related issue because even after I turn off my avast issue still persists. This issue doesn't persist all the time, it just appears randomly throughout the day and disappears later.

Same here, users say that it appears only after 2-3 hours after turning PC on.