Newbie Question about Web Shield

[Jonty Clogdance]

Hi,

I realise this may be a pretty run of the mill question but after having endured nightmares with McAfee VirusScan I have dumped it and am using Avast which is perfect.
Q.....If I run Web Shield I cant surf, and I understand I have to alter the proxy address and alter the port number. What I would like to know is if I alter the proxy address and port number (I already have existing addresses and port numbers) to suit Avast will I screw-up something else?

Cheers

[RejZoR]

If you're using Windows 2000 or above you don't have to set anything...

[Jonty Clogdance]

Thanks for replying RejZor.

However I dont understand. I use Windows XP, SP2. If Web Shield is turned on I cant load a page on the web. If I turn off Web Shield, the web loads perfectly. So I dont understand your reply '.......you dont have to set anything'. Could you elaborate?

Many thanks

[DavidR]

It sounds like something blocking avast's web shield, with win9x, winME, etc. you need to manually set-up the browser to use the web shield proxy, if you do that incorrectly it could cause a problem. With win2K or higher it is transparent.

What is your firewall ?
Does it allow ashWebSv.exe (Web Shield) ?

[Jonty Clogdance]

Hi DavidR

Firewall is McAfee Plus 8
It is granting Full Access to ashWebSv.exe

I have altered IE, Tools, Internet Options, Connections, LAN Settings to 'localhost' and '12080'

In order to surf with Web Shield enabled, I have had to alter Web Shields settings to Port 12080 (from 80) .I can then surf, but Web Shield does not scan any files, whereas Standard Shield is working through loads of files. I dont know whether it is doing what it's supposed to even though it tells me it is 'currently running'.

Any thoughts on this from yourself or anyone else would be most appreciated.

[Lisandro]

I use Windows XP, SP2.

I have altered IE, Tools, Internet Options, Connections, LAN Settings to 'localhost' and '12080'

With Windows XP the scanning is transparent, you don't need to use a proxy, you don't have to change any setting 

[Jonty Clogdance]

Hi Tech,

Thanks for your reply but I dont understand it. Sorry, can you spell it out simply - I have very basic computing skills!

[DavidR]

You shouldn't have to make any changes to your browser proxy settings with winXP in order for avast's web shield proxy to work. With earlier OS, win9x, wimME you needed to manually set the browser in the way you have.

If you were only experiencing this problem and you had made these proxy changes I suggest you revert to the defaults and also set web shield to monitor port 80, the http port. By changing that redirect port, your browser doesn't make requests to the internet using port 12080, so changing it to monitor that port it won't have any activity to monitor.

The key words in the web shield Basic, settings being 'Redirected HTTP port(s): 80' it redirects requests on port 80 to that of the web shield localhost proxy.

[Lisandro]

Hi Tech, Thanks for your reply but I dont understand it. Sorry, can you spell it out simply - I have very basic computing skills!

No problem. Is David's explanation enough? Do you need further help? 

[Alexo]

Similar problem here.

WebShield acvtive turns a lot of web pages into binary junk.
Firewall: Comodo Personal Firewall.

[Lisandro]

Similar problem here.
WebShield acvtive turns a lot of web pages into binary junk.
Firewall: Comodo Personal Firewall.

You're posting the same problem in three different threads... please...
Can you post an screenshot of the problem?
Is there anything in the avast logs?

[Alexo]

You're posting the same problem in three different threads... please...
Can you post an screenshot of the problem?
Is there anything in the avast logs?

You are right.
Let's follow this on http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=15031 instead.
How do I enable and view the Avast logs?