Avast Service and high CPU

[frankey999]

Hi David,
I think you're requesting screenshot of task manager... but which screen in particular?

In processes tab, there is no activity, maybe 1 or 2% for Firefox.
In performance tab there is no indicator of what is getting involved, you only see the high CPU.

Only if you open Resource Monitor in the CPU tab does it show AvastSvc using at this moment 45% average CPU (sorted by average CPU).  Everything below that in the list is around .5%, iow nothing to see.

Is this the screen you're interested in?

Thanks.

[DavidR]

See the image I attached (click to expand), essentially you are looking at the Processes screen (the first Tab in the columns) and the Avast processes in particular.

You can see I have included the other programs I have running above that showing what else is running.  With Avast being an on-access antivirus it is scanning activity, but there are other monitoring functions. Any high activity on other programs will result in increased activity by Avast (which would generally be AvastSVC.  It is an extremely long time since I used win7, so I don't know if the naming convention in the task manager is the same as win10.

For me the Program that uses most CPU and especially RAM is Firefox, now that activity would be being monitored by Avast Web Shield.
The problem with Averages are just that an average, with peeks and troughs. The image that I attached is actual real time.

[frankey999]

Hi,
Here is an image of Task Manager and Resource Monitor.
The system is idle.  Firefox is open but not currently doing any activity.  As soon as I click on a website, CPU goes to around 100%.

As you can see, sorted by CPU.
Thanks.

[frankey999]

Hmmmm.... I just rebooted and seems everything is back to normal.

This time when it came up Avast sent the message "we've updated your Avast... and a list of improvements and fixes".   Didn't do that last time.  Although last time it started the Avast browser (again), even though every time I click it not to start at startup.

But it's still at 22.8.6030, so I'm guessing it needed the reboot to finish some updates?

Anyway, thanks for your assistance... appreciate your support.

[DavidR]

You're welcome.

Yes a program update needs to restart for changes to be applied.

OK, but What does the Application tab show (if this occurs again).

Unfortunately I don't use the Avast Secure Browser and I don't have it installed, so I can't help in that regard.

[frankey999]

The App tab only shows what apps are running, but doesn't show any low level stuff.

Maybe you meant the Processes tab, but like I said earlier, it also didn't show anything - max CPU was Firefox at 1-2%.

The only thing that showed anything was the Resource Monitor, like my image shows.

I also don't use the Avast browser, even though it frequently starts when I boot.  I wish they would fix that, but not a big deal.

Thanks.

[DavidR]

Yes Processes.

For some reason I didn't see it in your image, so I was thinking the nearest you had on win7 system image you posted was Applications.

But aren't we looking for Avast Processes taking up CPU.
So if it isn't taking up any, so I don't know where Resources Manager gets its data, if as you mentioned this is an average I think it is skewed.  If avast were taking up that kind of CPU for a prolonged period you should be able to notice that without Resources Manager.  At that point I would open Task Manager as it is a live data for Avasts CPU activity.  And bare in mind what you are also running that would cause avast to scan activity.

Re ASB, you must have it installed or how could it start it (it isn't an integral part of avast antivirus) ?
Uninstall it if you don't use it.

[frankey999]

Hi,
You can see in the Resource Manager image that the actual CPU is 56% for AvastSvc.exe , while the average CPU is 48%.
As mentioned, this is sorted by CPU.  In a previous post I did mention average CPU.
Under that, you see services - Avast Antivirus running at 56% with average 47%.

I don't know where Resource Manager gets its data either, but I assume since you open it via the button at the bottom of Task Manager, (see image I uploaded) that it goes deeper than Task Manager and shows what Task Manager does not.

As I mentioned, the system was idle for this image.  There was nothing running.  And yes, it was very noticeable - every time I did anything in the browser, for example respond to a captcha, CPU went to 100%.... very very noticeable with response lagging for many seconds.  Sometimes things would timeout because of lag.  That's why I asked for help.

re ASB, I have never used it, and every time it pops up after boot, I go through ASB config and tell it to not start at startup, to no avail.  The check box to start at startup is always checked, and I always uncheck it.  But I know I'm not the only one seeing this, as I've seen other posts about this.

Everything is back to normal now, so I'm happy.

Thanks again.

[bob3160]

Uninstall Secure Browser via Programs and Features - Reboot
Run the removal tool, https://download.avastbrowser.com/avast_secure_browser_uninstall.exe
Avast has offered a separate tool to totally remove the Secure Browser if the above instructions don't work.
You can find that tool here, https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=230288.msg1531315#msg1531315

[frankey999]

Thanks very much Bob - I'll try it...

[bob3160]

Thanks very much Bob - I'll try it...

You're welcome.

[Stefano16]

So I disinstalled and reinstalled Avast and it worked for a few days then it started to have the CPU problem again. I posted a screenshot with the Avast service using 80% of CPU even if I wasn't opening new tabs or anything else. Now I disinstalled/reinstalled it again but it's really becoming impossible to use it, any possible solutions? Thanks

[bob3160]

@frankey999,
You've done a clean install of the Secure Browser.
Maybe it's also a time to do a clean install of Avast?
Please follow these instruction by first trying a repair:

Repair & Clean Install of Avast -> https://goo.gl/t7aJGq
Repair Avast:
Open the Avast User Interface > Menu > Settings > Troubleshooting > Repair App. > Restart the Computer or,
Control Panel> Program and Features (Add/remove program)>Select Avast> Select Repair. Reboot when completed
https://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB204

If Repair doesn't fix the problem, try the following:
If your Avast settings are not the default settings and you want them restored after the Clean Install, follow this before removing Avast.
https://goo.gl/TXjM7h
Clean Install of Avast:
https://goo.gl/4Ptzkf
If you need additional help with the Clean Install, watch this:
https://youtu.be/p-h3myRD51A