Since Christmas Day, I’ve been having a problem connecting to the Internet. The problem is not with the Internet connection itself, of this I am sure. I have no problem using AOL Instant Messenger. I have no problem accessing the Internet from someone else’s computer using my wireless Internet access. And my ISP has confirmed that my modem is functioning properly.
However, when I attempt to log onto the Internet using my own computer, I cannot do it. Upon opening the browser, the homepage begins to load, and then simply stops, leaving a blank screen. If I attempt to leave the homepage, I receive the traditional “Internet Explorer cannot display this webpage” message. I am then invited to diagnose any connection problems. The message I get when I attempt to do so reads as follows:
Windows cannot connect to the Internet using HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP. This is probably caused by firewall settings on this computer.
Check the firewall settings for the HTTP port, the HTTPS port, and the FTP port.
You might need to contact your Internet service provider (ISP) or the manufacturer of your firewall software.
After checking the firewall settings for my computer (and seeing them purport to check out as normal), I (as mentioned previously) contacted my ISP’s technical service line. After hearing my problem, and confirming that my Internet connection was in perfect working order, they advised me that the problem was likely caused by my antivirus software and that I should contact them immediately. Avast! is the only antivirus software I use, so here I am.
Is my firewall blocking my Internet access because of Avast!? If so, how can I make it stop? If not, does anyone know why it might be doing so? Please help.
avast isn’t a firewall, so doesn’t conflict with your firewall, which you don’t say what it is.
The more common issue is the firewall blocking avasts ashWebSv.exe (Web Shield) and this in inadvertently looks like your browser can’t connect.
I bet that you can connect to https pages - Try this one to prove the theory as the web shield doesn’t monitor secure traffic, avast SSL Registration Page: https://secure.avast.com/scripts/register.php?lang=ENG. Does it display ?
What is your firewall ?
Does it allow ashWebSv.exe internet access ?
If it does delete the entry for it and do a manual update and reconnect to the internet, this should force the firewall to ask permission again.
What is your ISP, as this looks like classic buck passing due to a lack of knowledge of your AV solution ?
OK, I was able to visit that website, so I guess the problem is what you think it is. That being said, I have no idea what ashWebSv.exe is or how to get Windows Firewall (my firewall) to allow access to it.
I’m afraid I’m not particularly computer literate. :-[
Well the windows XP firewall doesn’t have any outbound checking at all, the Vista firewalls outbound checking is disabled by default.
What is strange is if you only have XP’s firewall then in theory there should be nothing wrong as there would be no checking/blocking and being able to access https pages still makes me think conflict of sorts.
What is your Operating system ?
Have (or did) you another Anti-Virus installed in this system, if so what was it and how did you get rid of it ?
Don’t do this straight away as we want to try and find the cause first:
As a temporary measure you could Terminate the Web Shield, which should break any conflict as it would remove one element of the conflict.
To do that, left click the avast ‘a’ icon in the system tray (bottom right of your screen), from the window that pops-up (avast! On-Access Scanner), if you see a button marked Details… >> click that. Now select the Web Shield provider and click Terminate, answer Yes to the question. Once the problem is found and resolved you need to Start this provider again, reverse the process as your protection is lessened with this disabled.
My operating system is Windows XP. In addition to Avast!, I also have AdAware (for adware), Spybot Search & Destroy (for spyware), and Malware Bytes (which I downloaded to deal with a particularly stubborn virus, but have never used, because it’s missing a .dll file it needs to activate).
OK, so your saying that before you installed avast you never had another antivirus installed (as none of those you listed are antivirus applications) ?
AdAware is a waste of hard disk space, Spybot isn’t bad but there are better. So I would suggest installing SAS (link below), update, run and report the findings.
SUPERantispyware On-Demand only in free version.
Don’t worry about reported tracking cookies they are a minor issue and not one of security, allow SAS to deal with them though. - See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie.
What is the missing dll stopping you install MBAM ?
As getting that to run would provide good support to avast and SAS.
On further checking, it’s HijackThis, not MalwareBytes. And the .dll it’s missing is MSVBM60.dll.
And I can’t install anything else unless I bring my Internet back online, because I’m currently typing this on somebody else’s laptop. Unless now you think I should get rid of the Avast! network shield?
We used to have McAffee (or however you spell it). We uninstalled it by using the Add/Remove Programs thing on the Windows Control Panel.
Hijackthis is also much depreciated nowadays as there is a lot of malware that evades its search. You could download the installation file for SAS and MBAM (see below) and transfer it to a USB stick and then to your system. SAS has a Repair function which may be able to reset Internet connection settings.
The Network Shield has no impact as it isn’t a firewall and doesn’t block unless the site you are trying to visit is on its malicious sites list and it would alert.
MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, On-Demand only in free version http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/malwarebytes/mbam-setup.exe, right click on the link and select Save As or Save File (As depending on your browser), save it to a location where you can find it easily later.
McAfee could still have remnants and this can cause the issues experienced.
You didn’t say which McAfee version, so here are the various tools:
OK, well, I’m going to have to get back to you on this. The person whose computer I’m using is going to have to come around see about whether or not it’s OK to download these programs, and then if it’s cool I’m going to have to scrounge up a USB drive of some sort.
Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do to try to fix this that doesn’t involve going online and downloading things? Just, sort of, in the meanwhile?