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

[Asyn]

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.

Confirmed, ASB is a standalone product/installation.

[p33034]

i updated to latest version of Avast Free Antivirus last night (16 June 2020). Now unable to access internet using Firefox, Thunderbird, or Chrome; my separate VPN can establish connection to its server.
Have to turn off shields and antivirus to enable me to reach internet.
Couldn't see any solution in above discussion for Free Version.

[DavidR]

i updated to latest version of Avast Free Antivirus last night (16 June 2020). Now unable to access internet using Firefox, Thunderbird, or Chrome; my separate VPN can establish connection to its server.
Have to turn off shields and antivirus to enable me to reach internet.

Couldn't see any solution in above discussion for Free Version.

Avast Free doesn't have a Firewall, that is only in the Avast Premium Security product.

Are you getting any errors displayed, if so what ?

[p33034]

Thanks for the information on the firewall DavidR.   

Avast does not produce any message as other people have said in this topic. Just that Firefox, Chrome & Thunderbird do not connect with message "the connection has timed out ...".  My VPN is able to connect out - so more properly I should have said that Avast is blocking Firefox, Chrome & Thunderbirds access to the internet. Can't work out what the shields are blocking.  I am running Win 7.

thanks
p33034

[Kuikens]

Same problem here. I couln't find out why my PC didn't connect to the web anymore.
Spend 5 hours figuring out before I shut off Avast and connection came back right away.
Latest Free version and definitions.
PC runs Windows 7
Laptop with Windows 10 works fine with latest Avast version. 

[DavidR]

Thanks for the information on the firewall DavidR.   

Avast does not produce any message as other people have said in this topic. Just that Firefox, Chrome & Thunderbird do not connect with message "the connection has timed out ...".  My VPN is able to connect out - so more properly I should have said that Avast is blocking Firefox, Chrome & Thunderbirds access to the internet. Can't work out what the shields are blocking.  I am running Win 7.

thanks
p33034

You're welcome.

However if Avast Free is blocking it, you should have got an alert or message from Avast not your browser.

What happens if you Enable Avast but disable your VPN ?
It sounds like a conflict, exactly what that is, is the question.

Have you changed any of the Avast settings (if so it might be worth resetting to the defaults) ?

What are your web shield settings, see attached image.

[DavidR]

Same problem here. I couln't find out why my PC didn't connect to the web anymore.
Spend 5 hours figuring out before I shut off Avast and connection came back right away.
Latest Free version and definitions.
PC runs Windows 7
Laptop with Windows 10 works fine with latest Avast version. 

Again a conflict, but what that might be is the problem. 
What are your web shield setting (as in my previous post) ?

If you only disable the web shield rather than all of avast, doest it connect ?

[rocksteady]

As these 2 people incurred internet problem after Avast Free update, maybe worth them trying a [Repair App] via Avast UI:
Menu>Settings>Troubleshooting.
Then do a PC Restart (not shutdown/startup).
Sounds like something has got screwed up by the update, so nothing lost by trying a Repair, before a clean install is suggested.

[Kuikens]

I never used any settings in Avast...
Repair didn't work.
Tried all shields 1 by 1.
Firewall shield is the one that blocks all internet traffic except VPN connections.
 

[DavidR]

I never used any settings in Avast...
Repair didn't work.
Tried all shields 1 by 1.
Firewall shield is the one that blocks all internet traffic except VPN connections.
 

You didn't say (in your first post) what Avast Product/s you are using  ?

What VPN is it that you are using ?

Is your firewall set to Private or Public ?

[p33034]

from DavidR
=============================================
However if Avast Free is blocking it, you should have got an alert or message from Avast not your browser.

What happens if you Enable Avast but disable your VPN ?
It sounds like a conflict, exactly what that is, is the question.

Have you changed any of the Avast settings (if so it might be worth resetting to the defaults) ?

What are your web shield settings, see attached image.

=============================================
today I have just started my PC after being away most of the day - & surprise  I am now able to connect to the internet no problems. So I don't know what happened or changed - but I'm not touching anything.  My shield settings are the same as in your image.

FYI my VPN is Surfshark - good reviews and outside the 5Is and 14Is countries.

Thanks for your help
p33034

[DavidR]

You're welcome.

The usual or exception a glitch, which appears to have gone after a restart (as there have been no avast changes that I'm aware of).

[Kuikens]

Excuse my n00biness...

Firewall is set to private.
VPN: 'Private Internet Access'
Avast Premium Security 20.4.2410 20.4.5312.578

I never used any settings in Avast...
Repair didn't work.
Tried all shields 1 by 1.
Firewall shield is the one that blocks all internet traffic except VPN connections.
 

You didn't say (in your first post) what Avast Product/s you are using  ?

What VPN is it that you are using ?

Is your firewall set to Private or Public ?

[DavidR]

Excuse my n00biness...

Firewall is set to private.
VPN: 'Private Internet Access'
Avast Premium Security 20.4.2410 20.4.5312.578

I never used any settings in Avast...
Repair didn't work.
Tried all shields 1 by 1.
Firewall shield is the one that blocks all internet traffic except VPN connections.

You didn't say (in your first post) what Avast Product/s you are using  ?
What VPN is it that you are using ?
Is your firewall set to Private or Public ?

No Problem.

I don't use the Avast Firewall so I'm not familiar with its settings.  There has to be something going on between your VPN and the Firewall, for nothing to work if you have the firewall enabled (other than the VPN).  So it would appear that the VPN is bypassing the firewall.

If you don't have the VPN enabled and have the avast firewall enabled do you have a connection ?

If this is the case it may be that you need to add the VPN: 'Private Internet Access' program/connections to the firewall settings.

[am05fan]

Thought I would add that I'm having the same problem.  I'm using Avast Premium Security.  This issue cropped up on a previous update and I took the advice of someone on the forum to change my firewall setting from public to private.  This did the job, but now with the latest update I need to switch off the firewall altogether.  What seems to be happening is that my browser is "timing out" trying to establish a connection to a web site.  If I switch the firewall back on again once I'm on a web site the same thing happens if I try to go to another web site, so this is definitely the firewall.

An earlier post suggested uninstalling and reinstalling Avast and provided links for this.  Some replies said this worked for them.  I'm hesitant to try this though; will I need to reactivate Avast if I uninstall and reinstall it, or will it "remember" my computer?

What are the odds that this bug is going to be fixed by Avast?  Presumably it must have been reported to them if so many people are having this problem?