Slowly slowly napop reveals more about the environment.
Previously napop told us that "the" computer is connected via cable modem. napop seems to be unaware of the concepts of router or firewall.
Now we hear of another computer napop uses and we hear of a 3com network.
So, it seems that napop's computer is part of a home network and that when avast! is turned off the problem still persists.
Frankly guys I doubt that this has anything at all to do with avast!.
I live with a home network and an online games player. My experience is that quite a few of these online games have port requirements that are incompatible with the standard setup of home networks.
A little net research shows that the games being played by napop are similar in port requirements and that "port forwarding" requirements are needed in the home network for the full functionality of the games to be
enjoyed.
Don't let me stop you beating your heads against a wall to prove it isn't avast!