When entering an avast.com address into browser, I noticed on status bar that it was first trying to connect to www.google-analytics.com. This zips by very quickly so it helps to have a slow connection (or fast eyes)! :wink:

My MVPS HOSTS file has these relevant entries…

127.0.0.1 ssl.google-analytics.com #[disabled = Firefox issues]

127.0.0.1 www.google-analytics.com #[Google Analytics]

So I unblocked www.google-analytics.com in my HOSTS file, and it appears that is the culprit! The avast website works correctly for me now (pending further tests) using either Firefox 3.6.18 or Internet Explorer 6.

Note: ssl.google-analytics.com block was disabled by MVPS HOSTS file developers, because they found a related problem with Firefox. I’m not privey to those details.

At this point, I have no further details about www.google-analytics.com nor its purpose but will try to find out something. Does anybody know what it does, or why the avast website is using it?