Author Topic: Avast/Zone Alarm Conflict  (Read 5766 times)

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east yorkie

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Avast/Zone Alarm Conflict
« on: August 22, 2006, 08:57:16 PM »
Hello I am new to this forum.  I have just installed Avast Home Edition to replace Norton AV.   So far I am very impressed with it, in fact it has exceeded my expectations.

There is just one point I would like to clarify and that is the conflict Avast has with Zone Alarm firewall.  On installation I received a pop up which informed me of this conflict and gave me the option to allow or not transparent web scanning.  What is the best running options and can this be changed at some future date.  Also on boot up my Security Center indicated that two firewalls were running. This later changed to show just the Zone Alarm, could this be a false report or has it seen the Avast web scan as a firewall?  I have Windows XP installed and the Windows firewall is turned off.  Any advice would be most grateful.   Regards.

Online DavidR

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Re: Avast/Zone Alarm Conflict
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2006, 12:31:09 AM »
There is no conflict with the ZA free version only if you have the pro version and use the privacy settings on high.

http://www.avast.com/eng/webshield_issues.html

- ZONE ALARM - AVAST Web Shield compatibility dialogue - Install/Update Question - YES or NO

If you are using ZoneAlarm Free you should click NO, because privacy features are not present in ZoneAlarm Free this will not turn off web shield transparent mode proxy.
Use a text editor and edit the avast4.ini file, the default installation location is C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA\avast4.ini (I would advise you copy avast4.ini before editing it, just in case).
Locate the line containing ZoneAlarmCompatibility= and delete that line.  Save the edited avast4.ini file.

If you are using ZoneAlarm Pro and Privacy Control in ZoneAlarm is set to High and if you click YES in avast compatibility dialogue box the transparent mode proxy in web shield will be turned off you have to manually configure browser to access internet. To manually configure your browser watch instructional video

For IE - broadband users: - Tutorial - Web Shield Proxy Set-up for IE
For IE - dialup users - Tutorial - Web Shield Proxy Set-up for IE (Dial-up)
For Firefox users - Tutorial - Web Shield Proxy Set-up for Firefox

avast isn't a firewall so I don't know where WSC is getting that from. It hasn't reported either web shield or network shield as a firewall on my system. So another hiccup on WSC by the look of it.
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east yorkie

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Re: Avast/Zone Alarm Conflict
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2006, 04:38:52 PM »
Many thanks for your prompt reply.

I have ZA Free installed. I am sure I answered NO to the compatibility question.  (now having doubts that I clicked on the right button).  I deleted the line Zone Alarm Compatibility = 1 in the Avast 4.ini file as you suggested.  What was the reason for doing this? My main concern now is that the shields are operating correctly I say this because I see that the Network and Web Shields have no scan counts listed yet it states at the top of each that they are currently running.  Thanks once again for your help.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2006, 04:45:16 PM by east yorkie »

Offline Lisandro

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Re: Avast/Zone Alarm Conflict
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2006, 04:51:44 PM »
I have ZA Free installed. I am sure I answered NO to the compatibility question.  (now having doubts that I clicked on the right button).
If you are using ZoneAlarm Free you should click NO, because privacy features are not present in ZoneAlarm Free this will not turn off webshield transparent mode proxy.

I deleted the line Zone Alarm Compatibility = 1 in the Avast 4.ini file as you suggested.
Did you boot after that? It's ok to delete the line.

What was the reason for doing this?
You can add the line back and set it for zero if you want.
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=1647.msg15960#msg15960

Network and Web Shields have no scan counts listed yet it states at the top of each that they are currently running.  Thanks once again for your help.
Network won't 'caught' anything if your Windows is updated and if you have a firewall (like ZA).
WebShield should be working... which browser do you use?
« Last Edit: August 23, 2006, 04:54:06 PM by Tech »
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Online DavidR

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Re: Avast/Zone Alarm Conflict
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2006, 04:53:35 PM »
If that line was present then I think it means you pressed Yes. Have you rebooted since making the changes ?

With compaiibility mode on (=1) then the transparent proxy is disabled and you would have to manually set your browser up to use the proxy. The Privacy function in ZA Pro clashes with the transparent proxy, effectively ZA Pro blocks the passing of data through the proxy. Typically this causes problems in Hotmail, MSN and Yahoo web mail logon. But nothing to worry about with the free version of ZA.

If after a reboot the web shield isn't scanning http web content, check and ensure the avast4.ini changes you made were in fact saved. If so check this image and ensure your settings match especially the arrowed ones.
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east yorkie

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Re: Avast/Zone Alarm Conflict
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2006, 08:55:56 PM »
DavidR and Tech.   Thankyou for your help it has been so much appreciated.  I followed your advice and on checking the settings which were shown in DavidR's graphic I got a pop up re the compatibility issue I clicked on 'NO' and then checked the settings which were as shown.  I then check the avast4.ini. file and it has changed itself and reinserted the line (I removed?)  to read compatibility=0

All appears to be fine now and both Avast and ZA are working normally.

Many thanks once again.

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Re: Avast/Zone Alarm Conflict
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2006, 10:39:30 PM »
Glad we could help, welcome to the forums.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security