Hi All. I upgraded Free Avast to 2015 version around 2 weeks ago. As a result, my laptop became incredibly slow, message after message keeps popping out from AVAST, talking about lots of threads, and some files being moved to “chest something”. I have just switced off both File System and Web Shields. Seems to work, but computer is still quite slow. Does this mean the laptop is no longer protected? (please stay with me - I am not a computer specialist… just a user)
Welcome to the forum.
Turning off your shields, turns off your protection.
2 remedies:
1 Repair of Avast (try this first) Control Panel > Programs and Features > Select Avast> Select Repair
When the repair finishes, Reboot your system - If this doesn’t work then go on to the next step.
2 Clean install of Avast - see my signature for directions How to Successfully Install Avast.
Thanks. First option seems to work in 50%. Laptop still really slow. Fewer AVAST warnings when using Internet Explorer (so far, maybe I have not tested it sufficiently yet). Still some strange warnings when using FireFox (example attached).
I will try Option 2 in a moment.
Slowness could be related to initial start up of NG service.
Usually clears within a reasonable amount of time.
The notice could be related to ad-ons in Firefox.
Thanks. What is NB service, and how long is the reasonable time?
The laptop is reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllyyyy slow.
Attached an example of yet another AVAST warning.
Also re firefox - does this mean AVast is not fully compatible with all FireFox add-ons?
Attached is the message that appears when clicking on ‘View Certificate’ from the message from FireFox from my previous post. It seems it has definitely something to do with Avast (not the add-on?)
I have just uninstalled AVAST. All back to normal (except there is no good protection on my laptop), and the machine is almost like new. Is AVAST 2015 not a good match for my laptop then? Maybe its just simply not a good marriage. Will try Option 2 from bob’s post. But I have no energy to do this today, after such a long battle so far. I have even signed up to this forum, and have googled lots of places. And for someone who is generally not into computers, forums, software, IT etc - that’s a lot. Is there a way I can get old AVAST back (pre-2015)? Thanks a lot for support anyway so far.
You haven’t given us any specification for your laptop, such as the Operating System (which version of windows), how much RAM, what the CPU (intel or AMD processor) is ?
The NG Bob is talking about is avast New/Next Generation of protection/detection - this essentially checks files in a virtual environment. This isolates your system from the file/s that avast is checking/running to get a better idea of what they do to determine if it is malware, etc.
This may well be RAM & CPU (and possibly Hard Drive) intensive, so your laptop specification may well not be fully up to the task (and why I asked). If that happened to be the case then you could do a custom install of avast and elect not to install the avast NG element.
You can try disabling the Avast Online Security add-on in Firefox - but that add-on isn’t responsible for that message window that you attached - that is a firefox specific alert.
EDIT: having looked at that Secure Connection Failed image - that is an email based issue. Are you using an email program like Thunderbird or do you view your email from your browser (firefox) ?
Thanks David.
Laptop - is quite old actually:
-Windows 7.
Dell,N5010, Intel(R) Core ™i3 CPU M350@2.27GHZ, 2.26 GHz
RAM:4GB
System type: 64-bit
I would be grateful for your advise whether these specs are (or not) fully up to the task.
Re Secure Connection Failed image - no - I use Internet Explorer to check my emails. I do not use firefox. This message appeared when opening a forum type website in firefox. (but later it appeared when opening standard website as well).
Old or not your laptop has a similar spec as my XP Pro desktop system - so it should be up to the task.
I just used firefox as an example of how you view your email - the difference between webmail viewed through a browser rather than with a specific email program. Viewing the email using a browser means that the Web Shield rather than Mail Shield would be scanning that traffic.
Something to try is disabling the https scanning in the Web Shield - AvastUI > Settings > Active Protection > Web Shield - Customise Main Settings - ‘Enable HTTPS scanning’ and uncheck that option.
Ordinarily this should see an improvement if viewing email in your browser when there is a secure connection. That said since you say you have tried disabling the Web & File System Shields - I have some doubt as to its effect.
Hi. Thanks for looking into.
Just to report (only in case you are wondering what has happened to me and my laptop) -
- after uninstalling AVAST -the laptop was working fine and like new for a day only. That was wonderful feeling
- following that - slowness came back
- AVAST installed again… no warning about threads etc popping out all the time - hence, maybe the software is finally working fine. Laptop still really slow
- AVAST virus scan run, few affected files discovered, and actions taken
- Laptop seems to be working fine (so far) since, except that the time changed and I had to adjust it manually.
Thanks for your support AVAST team.
You’re welcome - thanks for the follow up information.