Avast Firewall is blocking my internet access! June 2020 Update.

[afishgill]

Originally I posted this on the June 2020 update thread, but it was recommended I move it.

Every time Avast updates (I have the paid version) it blocks both me and my husband's internet connection.  Multiple restarts and shut downs have fixed the problem in the past, but this time that isn't working.

Disabling all shields worked at first so I could even just get online to post in the forums; but now I have isolated it to the firewall.  Deactivating the firewall will give me my internet access back.  I was told that there are many settings in firewall that can cause this, but without an intimate knowledge of the program, I simply can't agree or disagree.

I have done Avast Repair.  My firewall is set to private and my paid Avast VPN is turned off because most websites will not work if I am behind a VPN.

All system rules are enabled except for remote desktop and steal mode from public networks.  Programs without defined rules: Ask.  There are no other options ticked under Settings>Protection>Firewall .

I would prefer to actually have the Avast firewall active, but if I can't use the internet unless it's inactive, there is little choice for me.

If anyone can help, I'd appreciate it.

[DavidR]

Are you getting any Avast warning/error ?

Or are you getting any error from the browser/s or websites ?
Or are you just not getting anything, just can't connect ?

Edit: I have asked another Avast Überevangelist who is using the Avast Firewall if he can take a look at this topic.

[afishgill]

No Avast warning or error other than when I click "Menu" rather than my logon information on top I see "The online content is unavailable  Please, check your internet connection and try again."  Very ironic considering simply disabling the Avast Firewall will give me internet connection instantly.

No errors of any kind when trying to load any website using Firefox or Avast Secure Browser outside of "check your internet connection" when attempting to load a page.  No other program on my PC is able to access the internet, and Windows Network Diagnostics troubleshooting returns a very strange response to attempting to fix the internet connection;

"Troubleshooting was unable to automatically fix all of the issues found.  You can find more details below.
Problems found: website(www.microsoft.com) is online but isn't responding to connection attempts." 

This error only appears if Avast Firewall is active.  It disappears immediately upon deactivation of the Avast Firewall service; at that time my internet is perfect, as it used to be before I updated Avast Premium Security.

Basically when all shields are active the only indication that something is wrong, is that Avast (and my entire PC) is unable to access the internet, and some features reflect this.  However, if I disable the firewall, Avast is able to connect to the internet and everything looks and acts normal.

[Captain555]

I have also the exact same problem. Definitely a bug in the firewall. Ver 20.4.2410. Firewall on, nothing go thru, website or email. Firewall off, everything is fine.  Everything was fine yesterday with Ver 20.4.2405.

[DavidR]

I have also the exact same problem. Definitely a bug in the firewall. Ver 20.4.2410. Firewall on, nothing go thru, website or email. Firewall off, everything is fine.  Everything was fine yesterday with Ver 20.4.2405.

Don't you mean, yesterday it was version 20.3.2405 ?

[Captain555]

YES. Today it was upgraded from 2405 to 2410. I always look at the 1st number.

Update: today application says (ver. 20.4.2410 - version 20.4.5312.561).

[DavidR]

YES. Today it was upgraded from 2405 to 2410. I always look at the 1st number.

Update: today application says (ver. 20.4.2410 - version 20.4.5312.561).

Yes but before the 2020-06-03 update it was 20.3.2405 before updating to 20.4.2410.  In this and monthly updates it is the second sub group that indicates the monthly update.

[Captain555]

You're right.

[dariogcq]

YES. Today it was upgraded from 2405 to 2410. I always look at the 1st number.

Update: today application says (ver. 20.4.2410 - version 20.4.5312.561).

Yes but before the 2020-06-03 update it was 20.3.2405 before updating to 20.4.2410.  In this and monthly updates it is the second sub group that indicates the monthly update.

How would that help?

[Asyn]

No Avast warning or error other than when I click "Menu" rather than my logon information on top I see "The online content is unavailable  Please, check your internet connection and try again."  Very ironic considering simply disabling the Avast Firewall will give me internet connection instantly.

Hi, see if this helps: https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/222/ (Changing DNS settings)

[afishgill]

No Avast warning or error other than when I click "Menu" rather than my logon information on top I see "The online content is unavailable  Please, check your internet connection and try again."  Very ironic considering simply disabling the Avast Firewall will give me internet connection instantly.

Hi, see if this helps: https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/222/ (Changing DNS settings)

I read the article and although I may have misunderstood its theme, it looks like it's talking about issues with a VPN and I'm not having a VPN issue.  My Avast VPN works and connects just fine, even when my internet access is blocked by Avast Firewall. 

My issue is identical to the person who posted "I just updated Avast, and now the Firewall is blocking my internet access". 

I read the solution you gave that worked (to remove Avast with avastclear and reinstall), and I'd like to try that since it has already worked, but I use Avast Secure Browser. 

So, my question before I start this process is, if I simply save the Bookmarks.bak file from Avast Secure Browser and from Bankmode folder will simply importing those upon reinstalling Avast completely restore Avast Secure Browser's bookmarks? 

I know I will lose history and logins etc. which is inconvenient but not as frustrating as losing my entire library of bookmarks.   My assumption here is that by uninstalling Avast Premium Security I will lose all Avast products associated with the program except for the VPN program, as it appears to be separate.

I truly hope this works because I've been a loyal user of Avast for over 20 years and of paid premium for at least 10 of those years now, I really don't want to have to jump ship now just because I want to use Avast, have a firewall and be allowed to use my internet service all at the same time.

[DavidR]

YES. Today it was upgraded from 2405 to 2410. I always look at the 1st number.

Update: today application says (ver. 20.4.2410 - version 20.4.5312.561).

Yes but before the 2020-06-03 update it was 20.3.2405 before updating to 20.4.2410.  In this and monthly updates it is the second sub group that indicates the monthly update.

How would that help?

It isn't intended to help but to clarify the version that worked and the subsequent updated version with the problem.

[Captain555]

So, my question before I start this process is, if I simply save the Bookmarks.bak file from Avast Secure Browser and from Bankmode folder will simply importing those upon reinstalling Avast completely restore Avast Secure Browser's bookmarks? 

I just did clean reinstall of Avast on Asyn suggestion and it worked perfectly. Didn't touch the Avast Browser at all. All my bookmark are still there.

[Narwain]

Well, I have the same problem. Last Update (3 June 2020) blocks my internet conection if I have the firewall on. If I turn off the firewall I don´t have any problem.

Edit:
I could solve it with the instructions of Asyn:

1. Download Avast Premium Security: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premium_security_setup_offline.exe
2. Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions..!!)
3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
4. Reboot.

PS: Regarding Avast & Malwarebytes, see: https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/200324-exclusions-for-avast-users/

[Captain555]

Well, I have the same problem. Last Update (3 June 2020) blocks my internet conection if I have the firewall on. If I turn off the firewall I don´t have any problem.

Edit:
I could solve it with the instructions of Asyn:

Worked for me.