HP wifi printer blocked... till 17.1.2286 update...

[REDACTED]

Hi everyone,

I just updated my Avast Antivirus (Free version) and I had many issues... The first one was the multiple start/stop of the HPNetworkCommunicator (almost once per minute). After checking HP website, I did a full re-install of all HP software (& drivers). Now the printer is just blocked anytime I wanted to access it from my computer...

And to encure this is an avast issue, when I Disable every Avast Agent, I can get the printer working fine.

The printer is a HP Photosmart Series, connected through WiFi. And I can find the "allowance" for HP application in the new version.

Any help would be grantly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
Regards
UPDATE: After testing many agent, it seems the blocking one is the Suspicious Action Agent (Sorry, I am using the french version...). And even if i exclude the HP exe, it is still not working (working fine when disabling the only one agent for scan action)

[Eddy]

Add the HP software to the exclusion list.
If that is not solving it, disable the behavior shield and see if it solves the problem.

[REDACTED]

I added the HP software to the exclusion list but still not working.

I stopped the suspicious action Software, and I got everything working fine.

Thanks for your help (dont't know if this will be patched on another update..)

[W4WMM]

A friend of mine started having this problem and notified me about 2 weeks ago. The only solution "I" can find is to turn off the Fire Wall 
Now I am also having this problem. 

This setup has been working for years, now suddenly my friend and I can't print with the firewall on.

The printer IP address is listed in the Friends list...
I've tried "Allow Connections with Friends in Private Mode" ======== didn't help.
I tried "ASK" under default policies --------- didn't help.

My printer:
HP Officejet 6500 E710n-z (Network via Wifi)

What has Avast done?!

[bob3160]

A friend of mine started having this problem and notified me about 2 weeks ago. The only solution "I" can find is to turn off the Fire Wall 
Now I am also having this problem. 

This setup has been working for years, now suddenly my friend and I can't print with the firewall on.

The printer IP address is listed in the Friends list...
I've tried "Allow Connections with Friends in Private Mode" ======== didn't help.
I tried "ASK" under default policies --------- didn't help.

My printer:
HP Officejet 6500 E710n-z (Network via Wifi)

What has Avast done?!

Have you tried the latest version
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=197955.0

[W4WMM]

I have 17.2.2288 (build 17.2.3419.64); still having the problem. I'm going to download and reinstall printer software just to see what happens. It didn't help my friend, maybe it will help me.

[mchain]

Pondus, a long-time avast user like me, posted this link on how to modify firewall rules here:  https://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB25#artTitle

I'm not in front of your machine(s), but willing to guess hp communication is blocked as friends out or more restrictive setting is in play.

[Eddy]

W4WMM,
is disabling the behavior shield solving it or is it really the firewall ?

If it is the firewall, reset all settings and create new rules and see if that is solving things.

[W4WMM]

W4WMM,
is disabling the behavior shield solving it or is it really the firewall ?

If it is the firewall, reset all settings and create new rules and see if that is solving things.

Definitely the Firewall...
Problem solved by resetting to factory defaults!
"I" did not have to make any new rules; all I did was RESET to FACTORY DEFAULTS and the printer started working. I also rebooted the PC at Avast's suggestion after resetting to factory defaults. It said some settings wouldn't take place until I did.

Thanks for the help! Thanks to all of you! Now to my friends printer and see it works there too! 

[mchain]

W4WMM,
is disabling the behavior shield solving it or is it really the firewall ?

If it is the firewall, reset all settings and create new rules and see if that is solving things.

Definitely the Firewall... (problem solved by resetting to factory defaults)
 

Aha.

Glad to help.   

[W4WMM]

Pondus, a long-time avast user like me, posted this link on how to modify firewall rules here:  https://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB25#artTitle

I'm not in front of your machine(s), but willing to guess hp communication is blocked as friends out or more restrictive setting is in play.

I RESET TO FACTORY DEFAULTS as suggested elsewhere in the thread. Then rebooted the PC per Avast's suggestion, now all is well!

Thank you and everyone else for your help!!!!!!

[W4WMM]

These screenshots show the friend settings BEFORE and AFTER the reset.
The 4th line down is the only difference I found.

[W4WMM]

Okay, one more curiosity....
As the two screenshots show below, one shows the printer "not connected" and the other shows it 'black' not 'gray' which means it IS online. Maybe, just maybe it says it's disconnected because it is on Wifi...? I never paid it much attention. Maybe I will have to connect a cable to see if it changes. Or maybe I'll leave a working printer alone!

[mchain]

You are welcome.

Moving your printer to a wired connection will not change wireless settings.  I'd do just that just to see what changes.  Since both are using AIS. set the firewall to notify you when a new default rule is created.  Go and look at the new rule and write down settings if they are working correctly so you can revert if necessary.

Look under Settings>Firewall.

[W4WMM]

Well, I can't tell much but I can see a little different. I asked Avast to show me any new "allow" rules. The only thing it showed me was an install program when I plugged the USB cable in for the printer. And in Devices I can see when it is ONLINE but the other designation still shows it "not connected". It's confusing but it works...