Avast VPN not turning off and hanging Windows 10 Sshutdown

[Norm2020]

We have diagnosed the problem. Malwarebytes "Web Protection" component is blocking our VPN. Ive contacted them and hopefully we will reach solution.
Temporal workaround: before you turn on our VPN, turn off "Web Protection" component in the "Real-Time Protection" box (in Malwarebytes application). After you disconnect the VPN you can turn "Web Protection" on again.

Just to be sure is there anyone with this problem that doesn't have Malwarebytes installed? If so do you have any other security product?

I've experienced this problem, and I do have Malwarebytes installed. Thank you for the diagnosis.

[bob3160]

We have diagnosed the problem. Malwarebytes "Web Protection" component is blocking our VPN. Ive contacted them and hopefully we will reach solution.
Temporal workaround: before you turn on our VPN, turn off "Web Protection" component in the "Real-Time Protection" box (in Malwarebytes application). After you disconnect the VPN you can turn "Web Protection" on again.

Just to be sure is there anyone with this problem that doesn't have Malwarebytes installed? If so do you have any other security product?

I've experienced this problem, and I do have Malwarebytes installed. Thank you for the diagnosis.

The problem isn't in having Malwarebytes installed, the problem is in allowing Malwarebytes to be resident. (Always running)

[YahayKa]

same here...all troubleshooting has been made but still not turning off...

any update???

[bob3160]

same here...all troubleshooting has been made but still not turning off...

any update???

Did you read this reply from Avast?
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=231530.msg1532813#msg1532813

[J2roc]

We have diagnosed the problem. Malwarebytes "Web Protection" component is blocking our VPN. Ive contacted them and hopefully we will reach solution.
Temporal workaround: before you turn on our VPN, turn off "Web Protection" component in the "Real-Time Protection" box (in Malwarebytes application). After you disconnect the VPN you can turn "Web Protection" on again.

Just to be sure is there anyone with this problem that doesn't have Malwarebytes installed? If so do you have any other security product?

I tested it a couple of times, and the workaround works. It is fine for the time being.

Interesting that after more than 10 years of working fine together there is a conflict.

One other thing that I have noticed over the last week is that I cannot eject any external password protected
backup Western Digital drives. It used to be fine till about a week. Now, every time I back
up and try to disconnect I get the old "The disk in still in use ..." stuff. I do not think that
WD Security can do much to interfere with Avast and/or Malwarebytes, but it just a thing
to log as it is another new behaviour.

Needless to say, I have seen this millions of times before and I could never figure out
what Windows was talking about I suppose it is another one of those "Windows things".

I do like Malwarebytes as it has helped me through some ransomeware infections years ago when out daughter shipped in something. So, I will keep it a running process as its protection is more important to me than VPN.

Thanks. I hope all this gets figured out.

[bob3160]

We have diagnosed the problem. Malwarebytes "Web Protection" component is blocking our VPN. Ive contacted them and hopefully we will reach solution.
Temporal workaround: before you turn on our VPN, turn off "Web Protection" component in the "Real-Time Protection" box (in Malwarebytes application). After you disconnect the VPN you can turn "Web Protection" on again.

Just to be sure is there anyone with this problem that doesn't have Malwarebytes installed? If so do you have any other security product?

I tested it a couple of times, and the workaround works. It is fine for the time being.

Interesting that after more than 10 years of working fine together there is a conflict.

One other thing that I have noticed over the last week is that I cannot eject any external password protected
backup Western Digital drives. It used to be fine till about a week. Now, every time I back
up and try to disconnect I get the old "The disk in still in use ..." stuff. I do not think that
WD Security can do much to interfere with Avast and/or Malwarebytes, but it just a thing
to log as it is another new behaviour.

Needless to say, I have seen this millions of times before and I could never figure out
what Windows was talking about I suppose it is another one of those "Windows things".

I do like Malwarebytes as it has helped me through some ransomeware infections years ago when out daughter shipped in something. So, I will keep it a running process as its protection is more important to me than VPN.

Thanks. I hope all this gets figured out.

On a personal note, I haven't used Malwarebytes as a resident program since they released their version 4 for 2 basic reasons.
1. It is too system intensive. (Slows down your computer.)
2. It really hasn't caught anything in many years. Anything caught has been done via Avast.

[Darren119]

hi, yes i have Malwarebytes as well. Very possibly the culprit i will test tonight ...thank you for your investigation.

[J2roc]

I did some further tests and found that Malwarebytes is also the cause of my being unable to eject password protected Western Digital external drives.

So far, I have determined that only Exploit Protection can be on. If I turn off Web Protection, Malware Protection and Ransomeware Protection, I can ejected the external drives. Looks like some part of MB is know accessing the drive. As there are 8 more possible settings to test, and it is not of great interest to me, I may or may not get to the critical settings. But, if you have the same problem, turn off all four components, wait a few seconds, and then eject.

Curiously, non-password protected devices eject without trouble! May be some subtle interplay between WD Security and MB.

As far as VPN in concerned, turning off Web Protection does the trick.

So, thanks, Pavel. Good job!

[Darren119]

malwarebytes top switch (Web Protection) switched off...Avast VPN switches off properly and behaves as expected again. Confirmed here also.

But i am concerned that this now leaves my system open to potential problems.

I assume this is a Malwarebytes problem and not an Avast problem, if Malwarebytes issues a fix/update for this problem can someone please notify us here so we can update and resume the Web Protection to ON.

many thanks

[J2roc]

malwarebytes top switch (Web Protection) switched off...Avast VPN switches off properly and behaves as expected again. Confirmed here also.

But i am concerned that this now leaves my system open to potential problems.

I assume this is a Malwarebytes problem and not an Avast problem, if Malwarebytes issues a fix/update for this problem can someone please notify us here so we can update and resume the Web Protection to ON.

many thanks

As you say, it is a MB problem - including my issues with Western Digital Security.

I am going to post on the MB forum and hopefully it will get looked into. I will be referring this thread there so that the MB experts/developers are aware that preliminary work has been done on the VPN issue.

If I hear anything over there, I will post here, but you may want to just move over to the MB forum as it is really not an Avast issue.

[bob3160]

malwarebytes top switch (Web Protection) switched off...Avast VPN switches off properly and behaves as expected again. Confirmed here also.

But i am concerned that this now leaves my system open to potential problems.

I assume this is a Malwarebytes problem and not an Avast problem, if Malwarebytes issues a fix/update for this problem can someone please notify us here so we can update and resume the Web Protection to ON.

many thanks

As you say, it is a MB problem - including my issues with Western Digital Security.

I am going to post on the MB forum and hopefully it will get looked into. I will be referring this thread there so that the MB experts/developers are aware that preliminary work has been done on the VPN issue.

If I hear anything over there, I will post here, but you may want to just move over to the MB forum as it is really not an Avast issue.

Avast has already stated that they have been in contact with MB.
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=231530.msg1532813#msg1532813

[Asyn]

Hi guys, good news: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=231718.msg1533136#msg1533136

[J2roc]

Hi guys, good news: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=231718.msg1533136#msg1533136

Thanks. But, I cannot get the beta version (perhaps it is still being worked on).

I created a ticket with MB. They wanted logs and I just uploaded those.

I also got an email saying that there is an update that fixes the issue and that I should update. THEY ARE WRONG!! THERE IS NO FIX!!! DO NOT UPDATE AND THEN TRY VPN. YOU WILL END UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM!!!

If I get a response from them, I will let this thread know.

Note that I also have the issue with Western Digital Security. I have mentioned that as well in my MB ticket.

[Darren119]

once you turn on "allow Beta versions" in the settings of Malwarebytes and hit "Update" again it downloads the Beta version and.....

ALL WORKING BACK TO NORMAL AGAIN.

Thanks Avast for your work tracking it down and nudging to fix the problem! i must say im most impressed with your response

[J2roc]

once you turn on "allow Beta versions" in the settings of Malwarebytes and hit "Update" again it downloads the Beta version and.....

ALL WORKING BACK TO NORMAL AGAIN.

Thanks Avast for your work tracking it down and nudging to fix the problem! i must say im most impressed with your response

Second the thanks to the Avast team. This is the second time in about a year that it has quickly fixed a problem.

All working fine with the MB beta upgrade -- even the issue with Western Digital Security has gone away.