Two existing threads are relevant here:
https://forum.avast.com/?topic=192509.15 (in which the identity of Avast/Plusnet users' ISP is misreported as the UK Government Department of Work and Pensions)
https://forum.avast.com/?topic=193044.0 (in which Avast keeps reporting finding a new network and changing the firewall mode, on user's machines whose network has not changed)
I have contributed to both of those threads, because I have recently been subject to both of those things. So much for context, because today it all changed again, when the Avast firewall detected
another new network, and a different adapter along with it.
The good news is, my ISP is not longer being misreported as the UK Government Department for Work and Pensions. The bad news is, it is no longer being reported as anything at all. The "My Internet name" and "ISP" fields in the Avast dialogue are both blank.
And the second item of bad news is that my adapter name is being reported differently. Previously it was being reported as Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter. Now it is being reported as FRITZ!WLAN USB Stick AC 860. Problem with this is: I do not have a FRITZ!WLAN USB Stick connected to my machine. My wireless adapter (connected by a USB extension cable) is a Tenda brand adapter (and has been for as long as I have had this machine; about 18 months).
I have checked in Device Mangler and sure enough, Network Adapters reports the presence of a FRITZ!WLAN USB Stick AC 860 and makes no mention of a Tenda adapter, so it does appear that Avast is giving an honest account of what Windows is telling it. To that exteent, it sort of isn't an Avast problem. Except that Avast is my security software solution and if Windows is telling Avast that a device is installed that I have never heard of, and that it is reponsible for a new network and that is how I am connected to the Internet, I think I am right to a) be concerned and b) expect that Avast people should be prepared to help me figure out what's wrong.
I have to be honest, I don't know if the Tenda adapter ever showed up in Device Mangler. When I got the new machine, I installed it and it just worked. As I would expect. It's only in the last couple of months that I've had all the fun with stuff being misreported.
Attached two screenshots of the Avast "New network detected" dialogue, from two weeks ago when the UK Govt nonsense started, and from today, when the UK Govt nonsense stopped and the Fritz USB Stick nonsense started.
I'm really hoping someone can clear up what's going on here because I've had enough of vague chronic paranoia that I can't do anything about. I'd prefer either no paranoia, or at least some well-justified paranoia and a path forward, please.
Andy
