Avast causing instabliity in Firefox 58 browser (faulting module snxhk64.dll)

I have multiple problems with Firefox 58.0.2 x64 when using Avast. The only evidence I have is the crash reports, which show the faulting module is snxhk64.dll. Firefox is fully patched to version 58.0.2. Windows 10 1709 x64 fully patched.

It causes Firefox to fail to start, to spawn blank and broken tabs, and to crash outright in the middle of rendering a page, or just when I leave it running in the background.

I do not have the Firefox Avast add-ons installed, and I do not have mail shield installed. Just File Shield, Web Shield, and Behavior Shield.

I’m tracking this problem on Bugzilla:

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1420963

You have to read down a bit before I figure out Avast is the root cause.

Uninstalling Avast and reverting to Windows Defender clears up all the problems listed in that thread. I would really rather use Avast, but Firefox crashes or fails to start so often I will have to leave it uninstalled if I can’t fix it.

I have two other machines, a laptop and a desktop, that are running Firefox with Avast and not having any problems. The problem seems to be specific to this one machine.

I created exclusions in File Shield for C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox* and C:\Users[user]\Appdata\Roaming\Mozilla* (where addon code is stored) to see if it’s the realtime scanning that’s causing the problem. Didn’t help.

http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah32/rjhansen075/Crash%20reporter%20faulting%20module_zpsmy4btc2v.jpg

Any help?

Quote:
“I have two other machines, a laptop and a desktop, that are running Firefox with Avast and not having any problems. The problem seems to be specific to this one machine”.

Agreed.

I also have the same OS specs as your issue machine with AIS installed and have had no issues running Firefox.(same version as you) :slight_smile:

Yup. So what do I have here? Malware? Because uninstalling Avast and letting Windows Defender do the realtime protection gets rid of all the problems.

I really hate Defender and want to use Avast, but other than a system refresh that might not help, I don’t know what else to do here.

Thanks.

I’m going to try a rescue disk and see if it doesn’t pick something up.

In the meantime, I really need to know what that .dll does so I have a chance of fixing the problem.

Push comes to shove, I do a system refresh, but I’m really not looking forward to that.

Additional steps taken:

  1. Ran an Avast rescue disk booting from CD
  2. Used Avastclear.exe in safe mode to completely remove Avast and then reinstall
  3. Ran SFC /scannow

None of that worked. The two scans turned up negative.

The firefox problem is already a known problem and nothing to do with this version of Avast.

The system tray icon still isn’t animated. >:(

Um, I beg to differ. I uninstalled Avast and it doesn’t happen any more. Nada. And I’ve got a crash log full of that Avast module, too.

I would prefer people try to help me than cheer lead for Avast. I’ve been using it for years, and I’d like to resolve this issue.

I guess you misunderstood what I said. It has nothing to do with this version of Avast.
I didn’t say it has nothing to do with Avast.

More information here:
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=215262.msg1447487#msg1447487

Thanks Bob. Different issue though. I have an edge case here, since none of my other machines have a problem. I don’t want to use another browser, though, so right now I’m stuck with Defender.

Microsoft Defender runs slow as a dog, but the Firefox instability is worse. I hope I can get Avast running right on this system again.

I did do an avastclear and a reinstall, so I’m not sure which version you mean, but I was running the latest version of Avast free.

You’re talking about Edge and a Firefox problem ??? Two different browsers. I have no problems using Edge while running Avast.

No Bob. I’m not using Edge. An “edge case” is a use case that is unusual or unique leading to an unusual result. Very hard to fix, and little incentive to work on it because it affects relatively few users.

I hope I can get this fixed, but I’m not hopeful.

I don’t work for Avast, but you may want to look through any apps you may be running that filter your traffic such as proxies or ad blocking software such as AdGuard (unsure if the browser add-ons filter the same as the full bodied program does). If you do, check its settings for an option that reads “Use WFP network driver” and disable it. Restart your computer and the problem will vanish. This driver seems to be in conflict with something Avast sees and is causing some kind of weird reaction that can cause Firefox to hang, crash, or Windows to Blue Screen.

This may not be your problem, but the action fixed my problem where I was being told an Avast file (aswstm.sys) was the source of the crash.

Avast is currently uninstalled.

Here’s a dump of everything that has a network connection on my system:

Application	Protocol	Local Address	Remote Address	State	Received	Sent
===========	========	=============	==============	=====	========	====
Backupper Service	TCP	STARLING: 6045	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
CDPSvc	UDP	STARLING: 5050	*:*	
Dnscache	UDP	STARLING: 5353	*:*	
Dnscache	UDP	STARLING: llmnr	*:*	
Dnscache	UDP	STARLING: 5353	*:*	
Dnscache	UDP	STARLING: llmnr	*:*	
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 17500	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 843	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 17600	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 49856	localhost: 49857	ESTABLISHED
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 49857	localhost: 49856	ESTABLISHED
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 49875	localhost: 49876	ESTABLISHED
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 49876	localhost: 49875	ESTABLISHED
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 50994	localhost: 50995	ESTABLISHED
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 50995	localhost: 50994	ESTABLISHED
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51002	162.125.18.133: https	ESTABLISHED
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51168	ec2-34-202-250-235.compute-1.amazonaws.com: https	CLOSE_WAIT
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51242	162.125.34.129: https	CLOSE_WAIT
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51245	162.125.34.129: https	CLOSE_WAIT
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51748	162.125.18.133: https	ESTABLISHED
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52035	162.125.32.135: https	CLOSE_WAIT
Dropbox.exe	UDP	STARLING: 17500	*:*	
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 17500	[::]: 0	LISTENING
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51755	2620:100:6018:4::a27d:304: https	CLOSE_WAIT
Dropbox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52022	2620:100:6018:3::a27d:303: https	CLOSE_WAIT
EventLog	TCP	STARLING: 49665	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
EventLog	TCP	STARLING: 49665	[::]: 0	LISTENING
FDResPub	UDP	STARLING: ws-discovery	*:*	
FDResPub	UDP	STARLING: ws-discovery	*:*	
FDResPub	UDP	STARLING: 49649	*:*	
FDResPub	UDP	STARLING: ws-discovery	*:*	
FDResPub	UDP	STARLING: ws-discovery	*:*	
FDResPub	UDP	STARLING: 49650	*:*	
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52118	localhost: 52119	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52119	localhost: 52118	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52120	localhost: 52121	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52121	localhost: 52120	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52122	localhost: 52123	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52123	localhost: 52122	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52130	localhost: 52131	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52131	localhost: 52130	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52124	a104-91-166-178.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: http	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52126	forum-02.avast.com: https	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52128	72.21.91.29: http	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52129	72.21.91.29: http	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52140	server-52-84-64-143.ord51.r.cloudfront.net: https	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52150	8.249.5.252: http	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52156	ec2-35-162-190-12.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com: https	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52157	ec2-35-162-190-12.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com: https	ESTABLISHED
firefox.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52162	ec2-35-165-15-150.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com: https	ESTABLISHED
googledrivesync.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51155	yx-in-x7d.1e100.net: 5222	ESTABLISHED
googledrivesync.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51162	ord38s04-in-x0a.1e100.net: https	CLOSE_WAIT
googledrivesync.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51176	2607:f8b0:4002:c00::54: https	CLOSE_WAIT
IKEEXT	UDP	STARLING: isakmp	*:*	
IKEEXT	UDP	STARLING: ipsec-msft	*:*	
IKEEXT	UDP	STARLING: isakmp	*:*	
IKEEXT	UDP	STARLING: ipsec-msft	*:*	
iphlpsvc	UDP	STARLING: 64364	*:*	
jhi_service	TCP	STARLING: 49920	[::]: 0	LISTENING
nvcontainer.exe	UDP	STARLING: 59521	*:*	
NVIDIA Web Helper.exe	TCP	STARLING: 49840	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
NVIDIA Web Helper.exe	UDP	STARLING: 48201	*:*	
NVIDIA Web Helper.exe	UDP	STARLING: 59695	*:*	
NVIDIA Web Helper.exe	UDP	STARLING: 60923	*:*	
NVIDIA Web Helper.exe	UDP	STARLING: 63676	*:*	
NVIDIA Web Helper.exe	UDP	STARLING: 63677	*:*	
Origin Web Helper Service	TCP	STARLING: 3213	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
RpcSs	TCP	STARLING: epmap	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
RpcSs	TCP	STARLING: epmap	[::]: 0	LISTENING
Schedule	TCP	STARLING: 49666	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
Schedule	TCP	STARLING: 49666	[::]: 0	LISTENING
SetPoint.exe	TCP	STARLING: 59243	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
simptcp	TCP	STARLING: echo	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
simptcp	TCP	STARLING: discard	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
simptcp	TCP	STARLING: daytime	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
simptcp	TCP	STARLING: qotd	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
simptcp	TCP	STARLING: chargen	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
simptcp	UDP	STARLING: echo	*:*	
simptcp	UDP	STARLING: discard	*:*	
simptcp	UDP	STARLING: daytime	*:*	
simptcp	UDP	STARLING: qotd	*:*	
simptcp	UDP	STARLING: chargen	*:*	
simptcp	TCP	STARLING: echo	[::]: 0	LISTENING
simptcp	TCP	STARLING: discard	[::]: 0	LISTENING
simptcp	TCP	STARLING: daytime	[::]: 0	LISTENING
simptcp	TCP	STARLING: qotd	[::]: 0	LISTENING
simptcp	TCP	STARLING: chargen	[::]: 0	LISTENING
simptcp	UDP	STARLING: echo	*:*	
simptcp	UDP	STARLING: discard	*:*	
simptcp	UDP	STARLING: daytime	*:*	
simptcp	UDP	STARLING: qotd	*:*	
simptcp	UDP	STARLING: chargen	*:*	
Spooler	TCP	STARLING: 49670	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
Spooler	TCP	STARLING: 49670	[::]: 0	LISTENING
SSDPSRV	UDP	STARLING: ssdp	*:*	
SSDPSRV	UDP	STARLING: 64749	*:*	
SSDPSRV	UDP	STARLING: ssdp	*:*	
SSDPSRV	UDP	STARLING: 64748	*:*	
SSDPSRV	UDP	STARLING: ssdp	*:*	
SSDPSRV	UDP	STARLING: 64747	*:*	
SSDPSRV	UDP	STARLING: ssdp	*:*	
SSDPSRV	UDP	STARLING: 64746	*:*	
System	TCP	STARLING: microsoft-ds	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: wsd	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: 49664	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: 49751	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: 49753	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: 50993	localhost: 65001	ESTABLISHED
System	TCP	STARLING: 65000	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: 65001	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: 65001	localhost: 50993	ESTABLISHED
System	TCP	STARLING: netbios-ssn	0.0.0.0: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: 51990	ec2-52-54-187-129.compute-1.amazonaws.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52036	server-52-222-218-163.msp50.r.cloudfront.net: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52064	ec2-52-201-151-145.compute-1.amazonaws.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52065	ec2-52-201-151-145.compute-1.amazonaws.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52074	a23-45-130-54.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52075	a23-45-130-54.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52077	139.61.74.125: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52085	139.61.74.125: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52086	139.61.74.125: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52087	139.61.74.125: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52088	139.61.74.125: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52089	139.61.74.125: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52097	ec2-52-213-135-55.eu-west-1.compute.amazonaws.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52100	74.125.136.155: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52102	65.254.178.107.bc.googleusercontent.com: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52104	ec2-54-156-23-99.compute-1.amazonaws.com: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52105	ec2-50-16-189-107.compute-1.amazonaws.com: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52109	ec2-34-200-122-167.compute-1.amazonaws.com: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52110	ec2-34-200-122-167.compute-1.amazonaws.com: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52111	ec2-54-194-97-49.eu-west-1.compute.amazonaws.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52113	server-52-84-63-149.ord51.r.cloudfront.net: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52114	ec2-52-202-198-212.compute-1.amazonaws.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52116	ec2-34-200-122-167.compute-1.amazonaws.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52125	forum-02.avast.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52127	ec2-35-160-58-123.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52132	ec2-54-174-51-114.compute-1.amazonaws.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52133	ec2-54-174-51-114.compute-1.amazonaws.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52134	ec2-54-208-235-147.compute-1.amazonaws.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52138	server-52-84-64-143.ord51.r.cloudfront.net: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52141	server-52-84-64-143.ord51.r.cloudfront.net: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52142	server-52-84-64-143.ord51.r.cloudfront.net: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52146	forum-02.avast.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52147	forum-02.avast.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52148	forum-02.avast.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52149	ec2-23-23-107-57.compute-1.amazonaws.com: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52151	209.17.68.150: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52153	ec2-23-23-107-57.compute-1.amazonaws.com: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52161	server-52-84-58-225.ord51.r.cloudfront.net: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52163	72.21.91.29: http	TIME_WAIT
System	UDP	STARLING: ws-discovery	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: ws-discovery	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: 57836	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: 63678	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: 64365	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: 64366	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: 64367	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: 65000	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: netbios-ns	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: netbios-dgm	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: 5353	*:*	
System	TCP	STARLING: microsoft-ds	[::]: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: wsd	[::]: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: 49664	[::]: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: 49751	[::]: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: 49753	[::]: 0	LISTENING
System	TCP	STARLING: 52038	2600:1f18:42fe:8d01:cfb4:b388:a812:600c: https	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52084	2600:1f18:6140:c903:8777:8fb:f926:34d7: http	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52164	yv-in-x6d.1e100.net: imaps	TIME_WAIT
System	TCP	STARLING: 52165	yv-in-x6d.1e100.net: imaps	TIME_WAIT
System	UDP	STARLING: ws-discovery	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: ws-discovery	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: 57837	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: 63679	*:*	
System	UDP	STARLING: 5353	*:*	
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51253	localhost: 51254	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51254	localhost: 51253	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52058	a104-91-166-105.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52059	a104-91-166-105.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52060	a104-91-166-105.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52061	a104-91-166-105.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52062	a104-91-166-105.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52063	a104-91-166-105.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52080	a23-61-160-154.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: https	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52081	a23-61-160-154.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: https	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52094	74.121.138.91: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52095	74.121.138.91: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52096	74.121.138.91: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52098	65.254.178.107.bc.googleusercontent.com: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52099	74.125.136.155: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52101	65.254.178.107.bc.googleusercontent.com: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52112	server-52-84-63-149.ord51.r.cloudfront.net: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52115	72.21.91.29: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51255	yv-in-x6c.1e100.net: imaps	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51256	yv-in-x6c.1e100.net: imaps	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51322	yv-in-x6c.1e100.net: imaps	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 51328	yv-in-x6c.1e100.net: imaps	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52072	g2600-1407-a000-0385-0000-0000-0000-1b01.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52073	g2600-1407-a000-0385-0000-0000-0000-1b01.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com: http	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52144	yw-in-x6c.1e100.net: imaps	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52145	atl14s78-in-x0a.1e100.net: https	ESTABLISHED
thunderbird.exe	TCP	STARLING: 52152	yw-in-x6c.1e100.net: imaps	ESTABLISHED
W32Time	UDP	STARLING: ntp	*:*	
W32Time	UDP	STARLING: ntp	*:*	
WpnService	TCP	STARLING: 51073	13.89.185.177: https	ESTABLISHED

It’s a week later and I still can’t run Avast on this one machine because it breaks Firefox 56, 57 and 58. The problems started with 56.

I’ve switched to Defender. No crashes in about:crashes for an entire week. Firefox is rock solid.

Is there anyone out there that can help me with this issue? I’ve been using Avast for over 10 years and prefer its high-performance (and sandboxing) in comparison to Windows Defender, but Firefox is non-negotiable on this workstation. Please?

You could try Firefox ESR.

Thanks, Asyn. Unfortunately, ESR ends after Firefox 61, so that only buys me a little time, but for the time being ESR works.

I finally decided to run Defender and the latest version of Firefox instead, but that was a good call.

OK, you’re welcome.

Strange I’m not having any problems with FF

https://screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1519214064514-80759.png

Using Windows 10 v.1709 and running Avast Free. Wonder what add-ons might be involved ???