Author Topic: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?  (Read 6727 times)

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Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« on: September 27, 2016, 11:01:53 PM »
I am getting messages from Avast at random times saying "Firewall Mode Changed. We detected the network BT Public Internet Service and automatically changed the Firewall Mode to Private/Low Risk mode".

I don't know a lot about computers but it seems strange to me that a public Internet service should be considered 'low risk' (whatever that entails), and so I would like to change it back to 'high risk', but I can't find any information on how to do this. I've tried clicking on 'Avast Premier', then 'Tools' then 'Firewalls' but can find nothing there that I understand. Does anyone know of any Avast user guide documentation that explains to the layman what the recommended Firewall settings should be and how to change them?

I am running Avast Premier, program version 12.3.2280.

Thanks,
John

Offline Eddy

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Re: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2016, 11:09:24 PM »
It is considered as "low risk" as it is not a public access point that you are connecting to.

https://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB25

Offline Rednose

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Re: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2016, 11:50:00 PM »
Hi John :)

With the Firewall Network profiles, recently some changes took place :

a recent change inside firewall in avast, where we started to support different firewall profiles (public or private) for each network adapter.

To be honest : It didn't work out as it should have, and we are waiting now for a(n) ( Beta ) update.
But if you want to change Network profiles :

Avast - Tools - Firewall - Settings - Network profiles - and select / change the desired Network profile.

Greetz, Red.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2016, 12:01:06 AM by Rednose »
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Re: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2016, 10:24:34 AM »
Thanks Red,  I see I have 6 profiles in Network Profiles, some are private and some are public, across 2 MAC addresses that I don't immediately recognise, though maybe one is my BT Homehub (the router). Maybe I'd better switch to one of the public ones until I understand more about what is going on.

It looks like I get the automatic change message from Avast whenever Windows starts up - or wakes up. Seems odd to me that it doesn't say what it is changing from.

Thanks to Eddy also - for that useful link.

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Re: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2016, 05:42:50 PM »
When you have Network profiles you don't recognise, you can safely delete them.
Avast will (re)create new ones when needed.

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Re: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2016, 08:07:33 AM »
I've been getting the same pop-ups nearly every two minutes recently.
..
It's very alarming for someone who doesn't fully understand how the networks and firewall works (me). Why is Avast informing me of this repeatedly if there is no threat?
..
The constant notifications RAISE more questions than any information they provide. Is someone hacking my wifi signal? Is someone trying to switch me to a different network from outside my home? Is my wifi signal being used by an outsider? Is my Network secure?
..
 I wish Avast would allow for ONE setting ( Private/Low Risk ) and just KEEP it there. Why is it "detecting" my regular connection again and again?
..
Frankly it's annoying and disturbing to see this message over and over. It REALLY makes me feel as if my PC is under attack.

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Re: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2016, 08:19:35 AM »
Frankly it's annoying and disturbing to see this message over and over. It REALLY makes me feel as if my PC is under attack.
You can disable it in the settings. Borrowed from Red: Indeed you can uncheck " Show notifications about automatic profile switching " if you are annoyed by the Network switching popups.
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Re: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2016, 11:12:40 AM »
Quote
Why is Avast informing me of this repeatedly if there is no threat?
If it wasn't shown, there will be people complaining that avast is making changes without notifying them.
It is either one or the other and avast has decided to show them.
As they say, you can't please them all ;)
But as Rednose said, you can change things in the settings.

If you want to learn about how firewalls work, here is a good start > http://computer.howstuffworks.com/firewall.htm

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Re: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2016, 11:58:35 AM »
A good place to learn about the Avast Firewall rules:
https://www.avast.com/en-eu/faq.php?article=AVKB25
« Last Edit: October 17, 2016, 03:26:06 PM by bob3160 »
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Re: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2016, 12:01:51 PM »
A good place to learn about the Avast Firewall rules:
https://www.avast.com/no-no/faq.php?article=AVKB25
Hi Bob, see Reply #1. ;)
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Re: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2016, 12:08:13 PM »
A good place to learn about the Avast Firewall rules:
https://www.avast.com/en-eu/faq.php?article=AVKB25
Hi Bob, see Reply #1. ;)
My reply was prompted because Eddy posted a neutral link. :)
« Last Edit: October 17, 2016, 03:26:30 PM by bob3160 »
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Re: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2016, 12:17:28 PM »
A good place to learn about the Avast Firewall rules:
https://www.avast.com/no-no/faq.php?article=AVKB25
Hi Bob, see Reply #1. ;)
My reply was prompted because Eddy posted a neutral link. :)
OK, still I wonder why you post the Norwegian edition. ;)
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Re: Avast Firewall user guide for the non-expert?
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2016, 03:26:59 PM »
Corrected. :)
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