I have a couple of different computers in the family running Avast.
This particular computer is Windows 7 running Avast version 2014.9.0.2021
Last year on my mothers computer a bad update or upgrade of Avast came out which at that time caused the web shield to start blocking internet access. Those instructions at that time were to do the following:
Go to C:\programdata\avast software\avast directory
Find the WebShield.ini, file and add following lines:
[General]
UseStreamFilter=0
This worked at the time. However a recent update to Avast last week on this same computer has caused it to have intermittent internet access and it is even showing machine code in internet explorer and firefox at other times other times it gives connection errors. If Avast is disabled the problem stops and I can get to the internet, re-enable avast the same problem occurs again. I even tried putting this setting back in and still no internet.
I have tried uninstalling and even using the avast clear utility to fully uninstall the software. I then redownloaded the latest version reinstalled it and I am getting the same results.
My other computer has no issue at with all with avast
Here are the logs you requested. Thank you for your assistance, sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
I just wanted to mention this to see if it would help. I noticed something else strange as well if you go into avast user interface, settings, troubleshooting and go under the redirect settings it lists 80,81,82,8080,8091,8081,8008,8888,3124,3127,3128
on all other avast’s I have checked, friends my other pc etc. Port 81 and 82 are not listed. I removed those settings and rebooted but it didn’t make a difference. I then uninstalled and reinstalled the app using the avast clear utility and those ports 81 & 82 came back so it seems something is stuck in the registry or someplace that holds those settings which may be part of the issue as it seems to be the web shield causing the issue.
While Zone Alarm is off, please turn on the machine’s internal Windows Firewall so you have some kind of protection. Essexboy will give you further directions when he returns to the forum later in the day. In the meantime, do not make any further changes to your machine. Thank you.
zotyatailor, you will want to start your own thread but I do have a quick question for you if you do the following:
go into avast user interface, settings, troubleshooting and go under the redirect settings what does your list ? does it have port 81 and 82 ?
I have completely uninstalled Zone Alarm.
If I uninstall Avast - Problem Goes Away
If I right click on Avast and select disable shields until restart - Problem goes away
I am positive it is the web shield as it is happening with both IE and Firefox. I have cleared the cache and reset both of them with no difference.
I have compared settings to the one that is not working to two other computers running Avast Free and neither ones that are working lists port 81 or 82. The one that is NOT working does list ports 81 and 82. Wasn’t sure if that had something to do with it.
What I find interesting is even after a full clean uninstall. Deleting the programs directory and pounding it out of the registry HKCU\Software\Avast Software
I have noticed some folders survive in C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_avast.vc110.crt_2036b14a11e83e4a_11.0.60610.1_none_d58a6d64ab65b396
C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_avast.vc110.crt_2036b14a11e83e4a_11.0.60610.1_none_1d37a43bbfe1dc9c
along with 4 Security Catalog Files and 4 Manifest files in the C:\Windows\winsxs.
I don’t know if this I contributing to the issue, I am guessing their is either a driver, a dll file or registry setting that is getting left behind from an older version of avast that the Avast cleaning utility is not removing.
This happened in the past with avast with this very same computer. https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143646.msg1041958#msg1041958
what I did previously to fix the problem was the following but I tried that and that didn’t work either. This problem occurred in the past two weeks since the updating of Avast.
Go to C:\programdata\avast software\avast directory
Find the WebShield.ini, file and add following lines:
[General]
UseStreamFilter=0
Now restart „avast! Antivirus“ service, or reboot.
Essex I am trying something again… I may have misspoke when I said that I did one of the steps above. I’ve been working on this problem so much before I even posted I am getting lost in what I have tried and what I have not.
I apologize I goofed up… I uninstalled Zone Alarm and now I have internet access. I reinstalled an updated version of Zone Alarm and now both seem to be working together now. Thank you for all your help.
I’m glad things are working for you now. You may want to check to see if you have any other outdated software since this is another potential way for malware to work it’s way into your system. Either way, I’m glad things are working for you.
What happened was when Avast updated the file number changed and ZA no longer allowed access
Next time you get a programme update open ZA and remove all references to Avast and then ZA will ask again for clearance
