Avast blocks both of my web browsers

Viruses and worms
1

Every attempt to use my two web browsers is blocked by Avast FREE! Email and virus definition downloads are unaffected. un-Installing and reinstalling Avast results in the same problem! Malwarebytes ver 1.46 is installed and worked fine with Avg (not Avg 2011) but will no longer after December 16 when Avg 2011 is the only version supported!

Please can anybody suggest a workaround or another virus checker that will work with Malwarebytes?

Thanks

iladdy

2

It is more likely that something is blocking the avast web shield rather than the other way round.

What is your firewall ?
Does it allow avastSvc.exe internet access ?

  • If it does delete the entry for it and reconnect to the internet, this should force the firewall to ask permission again.

How did you get rid of AVG (you did remove it) ?

  • Ensure that all remnants of AVG are gone - AVG8.x (or higher) Remover, download tool from here, http://www.avg.com/download-tools there is a 32bit and 64 bit windows version, ensure you use the correct one.

Your copy of MBAM is well out of date, the current version is 1.5, so if that is pout of date I would need to check that the signatures are up to date as a security program that isn’t up to date is almost worse than none.

3

Thanks DavidR.

I will install Avast again now.

I agree that Avast is most likely not the problem having noted your remarks so have used the removal tool you provided for AVG.

Do I need to use an Avast removal tool for the other attempts I had installing Avast then uninstalling it?

I use Windows firewall so I will allow avastSvc.exe internet access when Avast installed again.

My MalwareBytes version now updated to ver 1.5

Thanks again

Iladdy

4

After having used the AVG removal tool, it would probably be best to do a clean reinstall of avast, see #### below.

The Windows firewall (depending on which OS) either doesn’t have outbound protection (XP) or it is disabled by default (Vista, win7), so unless you enabled outbound protection in the case of Vista or win7, then they shouldn’t be blocking avastSvc.exe.

  • Download the latest version of avast, 5.0.677 http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_free_eng.exe (English only) and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again (if you didn’t save your last download). Use that when you reinstall.

  • Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, aswClear5.exe find it here and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for both 4.8 and 5.0).

    1. Now uninstall avast! (using add remove programs, if you can’t do that start from the next step), reboot.- 2. run the avast! Uninstall Utility from safe mode, first for 4.8 if previously installed and then for 5.0, once complete reboot into normal mode.- 3. install the latest version, reboot.