Avast Free AntiVirus blocking all web traffic

I have been using Avast Free for months without issues.
The problems started a week or so ago (not sure why) with WebShield blocking all internet traffic. (Chrome/Edge/IE11)
I can’t even browse to the Avast website without disabling WebShield.

I am using Win10 20H2 64Bit with latest updates.
I tried repair/uninstall with no luck.
Today I used the Avast uninstall tool and re-installed Avast …same problem.

Turning off WebShield defeats a large benefit of having this software installed.
Any idea how I can fix this?

I think your problem may be related to the use of 21H2 which is in essence beta software. (Insider preview build)
Current latest final release is 21H1.

I am using Win10 Pro 64Bit 20H2 and not the beta 21H2.
I have Build#: 19042.985

That wasn’t what you had posted in your original post.
Sounds like you need to adjust your firewall settings to allow the Webshield access.

What do I need to do to adjust the firewall to allow Webshield access ?
I don’t recall having to do this before.

Hi,

Please untick the box next to “Enable HTTPS scanning” and let me know if that makes a difference.
https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Troubleshoot-Antivirus-Web-Shield/#idt_0300

If I have Web Shield = ON and I untick the “Scan HTTPS” and then restart the browser, then it seems to work properly.
If I don’t restart the browser, the browser doesn’t seem to always notice I changed the Avast setting.

While this is a BIG improvement to not having any WebShield on, this would mean many sites would not be scanned as more and more sites are migrating to HTTPS.
Does this help narrow down the root cause since I am assuming that if there is such a function to “Scan HTTPS” there should be a way to have it enabled and work without blocking many sites(including the Avast main site) ?

Thanks for investigating this for me!

Strange that I have https scanning enabled but have no problems reaching sites.
I’m using Avast Omni

There must be a difference in the code between Omni and the Free version.
I tried a full reboot just to be sure everything is cleared from mem and I can’t even get to Avast.com if I have HTTPS scanning enabled.
I keep my system pretty “vanilla” so I don’t think there is something else conflicting.
Maybe there is a bug in the Free version that doesn’t show up in Omni.

Highly doubt the reason has anything to do with the fact that I’m using Omni.
Let’s wait for a reply from Avast instead of speculating. :slight_smile:

Hi,

Can you please provide us with a support file ID?
Please follow these steps:

  1. enable debug logging
  2. open Chrome and go to Google.com
  3. re-enable HTTPS scanning
  4. restart Chrome, attempt to open Google.com and allow it to fail
  5. generate and send us the support package ID.
    To generate the support file, please see this link.
    https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Submit-support-file

I have the same problem here, the only difference is that my Windows 10 version is 21H1 (19043.1023 compilation)

I would suggest you follow the instructions given by r@vast (Avast Team member) in Reply #10.

The only difference might be if you are using Chrome or not.

I am also using Win10 64Bit regularly updated. Since yesterday I have been blocked from logging into the comments section of a British broadsheet newspaper “The Daily Express” by an Avast alert to the effect of “Avast has blocked an URL Phishing attempt”, claiming that the Cpmment platform was infected. Other posters have no problem logging in. Nor am I prohibited from commenting. The error # on Firefox was 1ecta7416535 , on Chrome it was Error 04bc52c48db0 …

You can report a suspected FP (File/Website) here: https://www.avast.com/false-positive-file-form.php

Done. Thank you. They answered that their assessment would be reported to me in due course by email.

Done. Thank you. Your team says it will reply by email as soon as it has been assessed

You’re welcome.

Done, file id Z54Z4

Hi,

Can you please check if the file ID you posted here is correct? It seems that we did not receive the package.