After setting all the parameters in Settings/Virus Alerts, when I click on Test, Avast! freezes and becomes totally unresponsive. It’s impossible to make it stable again, and also trying to reboot via Windows commands is impossible (the system itself freezes).
The only solution is clicking the on/off button of my machine aka turning off the power.
Please, keep in mind that you have to use port 465 and SMTP server in order to reproduce the issue (I used a yahoo account).
I was able to reproduce it on my father’s system as well (same OS/security software, different hardware).
Could anyone please confirm (or not) the issue (but be very careful, since the system freeze). Thanks in advance.
Regards
Win XP Pro SP3
Avast! Free AV 8.0.1489
Online Armor Free 6.0.0.1736
HostsMan 4.0.95 (MVPS HOSTS + hpHosts “ad/tracking servers only”)
HostsServer 2.0.57
Norton ConnectSafe aka Norton DNS v2
Hi tested on a Gmail account (with smtp port 465) and avast will freeze also for me.
Nothing relevant happens, I didn’t receive any test mail.
Tested on my home pc, see sign below
HI I just thought I would confirm that when I went into the settings and clicked on the Virus alerts and put all my information in and pushed ok I got the settings Not responding message as well.
Yeah I’m having the Identical Problem too!! I’m running Win-XP Pro Svc PK3 using MS-Outlook as an email program. I tried to set up to send myself an email if an Avast message was generated. My ISP uses Encryption and SSL for their POP and SMTP connections on port 465. When I enter the SMTP information into AVAST and hit TEST - my PC goes Catatonic. It’s notable that there is no SELECTION to implement SSL encryption in the Avast email alert set-up. I suspect that is the source of the lock ups.
I could not tell whether you have successfully submitted this problem as a BUG to the support people. So I did. The ticket number I received is/was #YGB-910-26500. Hope they fix it soon.
Well I’ve been working with computers since 1967 and in the past they use to use a phrase “Unspecified Results” which included everything from a total system crash to minor or major data corruption. But your point about it not being mentioned in the HELP system is a good one - given that it pretty much temporarily turns your pc into a doorstop. :o
A couple of Minutes ago I posted this message in a reply to the Tech Support Help Desk.
Thank you for your response. Due to the severity of the consequences in attempting to set up a Virus Alert to a mail system that uses SSL and the fact that the Avast system does not support SSL email communications, I would think that it would be prudent to “Issue a Warning”. The proper location for the warning would be in the HELP system information that deals with setting the email parameters. Thank you in advance for your attention to this issue.
Guess what? I got another message from avast support today. Here is the “Body” of the message.
This message concerns your ticket #YGB-910-26500. We have not received any response back from you in 72 hours, and would like to know if you consider this issue to be resolved. If you have any further questions, simply respond to this e-mail.
Ticket ID: YGB-910-26500
Subject: Avast system becomes unresponsive (Locks Up) when testing “Virus Alert” email when the ISP is using SSL encryption
Department: Technical Support (Level 2)
Type: Communication
Status: On Hold
Priority: Normal
Please note that the ticket will automatically be closed within 72 hours if no response is received from you. The ticket will not be closed in the case that you send another reply. You can check the status of or reply to this ticket online at: https://support.avast.com/Tickets/Ticket/View/YGB-910-26500
Kind regards,
AVAST Software a.s.
I sent them this reply.
This issue is still active in my mind because Avast has done nothing to prevent it from happening and the consequences are catastrophic to the users operation. I can understand Avast not being capable of handling SSL email transmissions at this time, but, at the very least, there should be some sort of WARNING given when trying to set up the person’s email information, via a pop-up or some “un-ignorable” message stating that SSL is NOT SUPPORTED, and that a Possible/probable system lock-up might occur.
Here’s a link to the problem as discussed in the Avast forums
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=123961.msg951853#msg951853
Finally, it appears to me that there is an increasing emphasis being placed on personal security within the digital world, and more and more ISP’s are opting for secure communications via SSL or other encryption methods. So eventually Avast will either have to address this problem or see an increasing number of complaints IMHO.
this is the reply I got from Tech Support!