Windows security icon that disappears when starting Avast

[Nunzio77]

HI,
to my PC (but this also happens to my sister's) it sometimes happens, randomly, that after starting up the PC the "Windows Security" icon disappears as soon as the Avast Free components start up. During startup it appears for a few seconds and then disappears(screenshot)
The problem is solved by carrying out the Windows system file repair procedure with the following command in the DOS prompt with administrator rights:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth

It happened again today after a reboot following the update of the latest release of Avast Free.

Can you solve the problem?
It's just an annoying graphic issue, because entering the Windows Security settings Avast Free reads correctly(screenshot 1)

[DavidR]

Well I don't have Windows Security in the location in your screenshot, but I don't want it there either. 

You also appear to be missing the up chevron to access other programs/functions not in the tray.  Don't worry about the other two icons to the left of that (they are shortcuts I have added).

You also appear to be missing the two bars || that allows you to expand the area used to display the icons - unless of course you have cropped the screenshot.

[Nunzio77]

Well I don't have Windows Security in the location in your screenshot, but I don't want it there either. 

You also appear to be missing the up chevron to access other programs/functions not in the tray.  Don't worry about the other two icons to the left of that (they are shortcuts I have added).

You also appear to be missing the two bars || that allows you to expand the area used to display the icons - unless of course you have cropped the screenshot.

I have all the icons uncovered, I don't have any hidden icons, also because there are few programs in automatic start and therefore the relative icons.

[DavidR]

Well everyone is likely to have different settings depending on their needs/requirements.  So it looks like ours differ as I'm not experiencing this.

A very long time ago I participated in the Avast Beta trials, no longer.   Some time ago I felt that the Alpha testing wasn't great, basically a new Beta was released and it introduced NEW problems that weren't present in the previous Beta. 

Now we're seeing problems in new versions of the regular program release versions of Avast that weren't present in the previous regular update version.  To me that is both an issue with Alpha and Beta testing.

To that end I'm don't do auto program update, but monitor the beta and regular program releases in the forums, am I experiencing problems reported in he forums and do I actually need/use the function.  In many cases I don't so I stick with what I have when I'm not experiencing the problem supposedly resolved.  So you can see from my signature I'm still on 23.1.xxxx

[John367]

I am having the same issue, just started with 23.4.   Did not happen with 23.3.

Continues to happen with 23.5 beta as well.

The Windows defender icon disappears.  If I uninstall Avast, it behaves as expected.

To clarify, the Windows security service is still running and if I start Defender, all is running.  It is just the tray icon disappearing.

[dnzrzx34]

This is happening here since some versions irregularly.
Can't tell why sometimes it doesn't appear.
I already added additionally autostart tasks for windows security icon.

[Nunzio77]

@jan.svoboda and @petr.kolacek please support...

[rocksteady]

I do not loose the Windows Security icon on my Win10 machine with Avast free 23.4.
I see @Nunzio77 has 32bit Win 10.
I wonder if version of Windows is significant for this behaviour to occur.
Maybe @dnzrzx34 and @John367 reporting the same problem can indicate operating system and version they are using.

[John367]

I am on Windows 11 22H2

[Nunzio77]

@jan.svoboda e @petr.kolacek news??

[petr.kolacek]

@jan.svoboda e @petr.kolacek news??

Hello everyone, looking at it and will get back to you soon. Thank you. Have a nice day, Petr

[petr.kolacek]

@jan.svoboda e @petr.kolacek news??

Hello everyone, looking at it and will get back to you soon. Thank you. Have a nice day, Petr

Hello everyone, let me share some info about this issue - today we spent some hours on this and what we have found:
* we were able to induce the issue with windows security icon sometimes missing in icons corner
* the icon itself is displayed as a part of the SecurityHealthSystray.exe process
* this process is for some reason terminated after like 1-2 seconds during the system startup
* sometimes it also happen the icon is not there, but the process is running
* we are still searching for what is causing it

Once there is something new in this, I will let you know. Thank you again for letting us know about it and have a nice day. Petr

[Nunzio77]

@jan.svoboda e @petr.kolacek news??

Hello everyone, looking at it and will get back to you soon. Thank you. Have a nice day, Petr

Hello everyone, let me share some info about this issue - today we spent some hours on this and what we have found:
* we were able to induce the issue with windows security icon sometimes missing in icons corner
* the icon itself is displayed as a part of the SecurityHealthSystray.exe process
* this process is for some reason terminated after like 1-2 seconds during the system startup
* sometimes it also happen the icon is not there, but the process is running
* we are still searching for what is causing it

Once there is something new in this, I will let you know. Thank you again for letting us know about it and have a nice day. Petr

Optimal! Great Avast team!
Yes, it is indeed exactly as you described.
It also happens on some PC startups that even the bluethoot or WiFi icons don't appear, then just restart the PC and they appear.

We await resolution.

[petr.kolacek]

@jan.svoboda e @petr.kolacek news??

Hello everyone, looking at it and will get back to you soon. Thank you. Have a nice day, Petr

Hello everyone, let me share some info about this issue - today we spent some hours on this and what we have found:
* we were able to induce the issue with windows security icon sometimes missing in icons corner
* the icon itself is displayed as a part of the SecurityHealthSystray.exe process
* this process is for some reason terminated after like 1-2 seconds during the system startup
* sometimes it also happen the icon is not there, but the process is running
* we are still searching for what is causing it

Once there is something new in this, I will let you know. Thank you again for letting us know about it and have a nice day. Petr

Optimal! Great Avast team!
Yes, it is indeed exactly as you described.
It also happens on some PC startups that even the bluethoot or WiFi icons don't appear, then just restart the PC and they appear.

We await resolution.

Hello everyone, please let me inform you that yesterday, we finally found out what is causing the issue so let me share some key points:
* the problem seems to start with 23.3 version (23.2 and lower seems to be ok)
* the problem is somehow connected to our security network driver aswNetHub.sys - when not loaded, problem does not occur

Now, hunting what exactly is causing the issue and fixing it could be longer (not much changes went to this driver recently, so it could be something related but not directly connected) but bug is recorded and colleagues are looking at it. Will keep you informed about it.

Have a nice day

[Nunzio77]

@jan.svoboda e @petr.kolacek news??

Hello everyone, looking at it and will get back to you soon. Thank you. Have a nice day, Petr

Hello everyone, let me share some info about this issue - today we spent some hours on this and what we have found:
* we were able to induce the issue with windows security icon sometimes missing in icons corner
* the icon itself is displayed as a part of the SecurityHealthSystray.exe process
* this process is for some reason terminated after like 1-2 seconds during the system startup
* sometimes it also happen the icon is not there, but the process is running
* we are still searching for what is causing it

Once there is something new in this, I will let you know. Thank you again for letting us know about it and have a nice day. Petr

Optimal! Great Avast team!
Yes, it is indeed exactly as you described.
It also happens on some PC startups that even the bluethoot or WiFi icons don't appear, then just restart the PC and they appear.

We await resolution.

Hello everyone, please let me inform you that yesterday, we finally found out what is causing the issue so let me share some key points:
* the problem seems to start with 23.3 version (23.2 and lower seems to be ok)
* the problem is somehow connected to our security network driver aswNetHub.sys - when not loaded, problem does not occur

Now, hunting what exactly is causing the issue and fixing it could be longer (not much changes went to this driver recently, so it could be something related but not directly connected) but bug is recorded and colleagues are looking at it. Will keep you informed about it.

Have a nice day

Thanks so much for the interesting updates. 
We look forward to the next updates and developments. 
Good job to all the Avast team!