Internet Access performance problem with AVAST 4.8 home addition

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hi all
I replaced Norton Anti Virus with AVAST 4.8 home addition last week with a view to testing and prior to buying profesional versions for my company.
I have come to the conclusion that the product would be exactly what we needed if I can fine tune internet access performance.

I have now tested on 3 different ISP’s with different service levels and all 3 tests showed a performancedropby 50% when testing ADSL bandwidth with speedtest.net.

All installations were done using the standard default settings.

I took the trouble to perform these tests because I noticed a massive slow down ininternet access after installing AVAST.

The actual figures I have for the Virgin XL DSL 20mb package are
Without AVAST on access protection stopped
19.4 MBPS download
0.75 MBPS Upload

With AVAST on access protectionrunning
7.98 MBPS Download
0.4 MBPS Upload

The figures for Be Unlimited 24mb ADSL connection show
Without access protection
21.9 MBPS Download
1.75 MBPS Upload

With access protection enabled
9.2 mbps Download
1 mbps upload

Is it possible to fine tune the default installation settings so that no bandwidth throttling is encountered?
I have other optins as far as AV protection is concerned but I kinda like the product and it would be a shame to reject this option because of this problem.

Thanks

2

That is unusual as normally the difference is negligible and it is possible that Norton may still have some fingers in the pie.

I take it that you uninstalled Norton before installing avast ?
Even so Norton is notorious for being difficult to remove, so you might want to check this out:
A link worth looking at, which is a program removal tool that can remove the remnants of a number of different Norton Programs:
Removing your Norton program using SymNRT

avast doesn’t throttle bandwidth, it merely passes http port 80 traffic through its localhost proxy so that can be scanned before being saved to the browser cache and displayed on the monitor.

The Web Shield doesn’t monitor outbound traffic so I don’t see how it could impact upload speed. So when the web shield is terminated and traffic throughput is back to normal seems to be me to be some sort of conflict.

3

Hi Smiler,

I see no HUGE change like yours when I do a similar comparison to you (although mine is only about 8MB)

The only thing that I can think of is have you correctly removed Norton? (using their removal tool)
This may be causing problems for avast…

-Scott-

EDIT:Dammit…not quick enough…:wink:

4

Which is your firewall? Any other security program that could interfere with avast?
WebShield scanning of avast should have minimal impact (of course it need resources to scan the Internet traffic…). Maybe Norton remains like others pointed out.

5

Thank you all.
Yes Norton was removed properly using the norton removal tool.
To test the differences I have been right clicking on the Avast spinning blue ball and selecting the stop On-Access protection option from the pop up menu.

Norton has never been near the other 2 environments so I know that is not in the equation.
Interestingly enough I have just spoken to my father in law who uses AVAST and asked him to check on his system and he reports almost identical results.

I also know of a few other people that use this so I’ll ask them tonight if they have similar experiences.
I know the blurb states that the proffesional ersion has performance enhancements but I’m not happy with my findings so far.

Another point is that all systems are running Windows XP with SP3. I’m wondering if this may be a factor.

I initially thought my problems might be down to firewall software so I disabled windows defender before I ran anything else as I had only just switched defender on.

I normally rely on the firewall on my Router (Belkin N1 vision pre-n DSL) but thought I’d try out defender at the same time as I tried out AVAST. But like I sa that is now switched off.

As for the other systems I have tried this on I will have to check that out tomorrow and get back to you.

Obviously I understand that this is going to use system resources but 50% bandwidth reduction was not what I was expecting.

The only other software I am running from a protection point of view is Super Anti Spyware but that is not loaded as a system task and is only run on demand.

6

No. avast Home should work well. It’s not a trick for the one to buy the Pro version. There isn’t differences on performing using Home and Pro versions. Alwil is a serious company…

You don’t need to do that. avast should have no impact or interference with Windows firewall.

Sure. It does not work this way in normal conditions…

Can you activate logging in WebShield?
0. (Disable avast self-defense module: Program settings > Troubleshooting tab of settings.)

  1. Edit \data\avast4.ini file with Notepad (or use step 0 with other text editors).
  2. Find the section [WebScanner]
  3. Add the line:
    EnableLogging=1
  4. Restart Web Shield in XP\Vista (terminate and start again) or whole PC in case of Win98
  5. Browse (trying to access some webpages)

The log file are \data\log\ashwebsv.log and ashwebsv.ws.
They would be accessible when WebShield is terminated again.
Post them here or send by mail to rypacek (at) asw.cz
After that, disable the logging to avoid a big log file.

Oh, enable the self-defense module again after that if you have to follow step 0.

7

I have eMailed the log files.

The .ws file appears to be empty if you need me to rerun then let me know

Thank you

8

It’s not my email. It’s Lukor’s one.
Well, if the file is empty nothing was logged. Maybe booting.

9

OK there is data in the log file.
This is a cutdown version

30/07/2009 19:29:09,“http://www.speedtest.net/",“text/html”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,4067,4719,791,791,4719,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1110 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1111->69.17.117.207:80,SEQ: 1
30/07/2009 19:29:10,“http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.speedtest.net%2F&ei=deZxSoubBd-fjAex19WmDA&usg=AFQjCNHr6YyAkpiq37Q1AYAxF9ZW18CZrw&sig2=qJBMH63FPRMNn2uKIJcinQ","text/html; charset=UTF-8”,“GET”,HTTP Status: 302,0,222,30849,6223,6223,30849,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1103 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1104->209.85.229.104:80,SEQ: 3
30/07/2009 19:29:11,“http://www.speedtest.net/",“text/html”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,4067,14156,2356,2356,14156,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1110 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1111->69.17.117.207:80,SEQ: 2
30/07/2009 19:29:11,“http://toolbarqueries.google.com/search?client=navclient-auto&ch=677887108&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&features=Rank&q=info:http%3A//www.speedtest.net/","text/html; charset=UTF-8”,“GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,21,1850,9505,9505,1850,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1077 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1078->209.85.229.99:80,SEQ: 4
30/07/2009 19:29:11,“http://dcs.consumerinput.com/fast-cgi/MI?ver=3ss&userid=20090320003640&registrar=searchstatus&d=www.speedtest.net/",“text/xml”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,1306,4826,1664,1664,4676,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1106 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1108->66.151.182.194:80,SEQ: 2
30/07/2009 19:29:11,“http://lsapi.seomoz.com/linkscape/mozrank/www.speedtest.net/?AccessID=quirk&Expires=1248978851&Signature=l8XlFVs8uOXPcHewBiEzxMx%2BC14%3D",“text/plain”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 302,0,0,4976,7976,3798,2398,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1082 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1109->174.129.230.217:80,SEQ: 5
30/07/2009 19:29:11,“http://ads.ookla.com/adjs.php?n=238004597&what=zone:23&blockcampaign=1&exclude=,&referer=http%3A//www.google.co.uk/search%3Fclient%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%253Aen-GB%253Aofficial%26channel%3Ds%26hl%3Den%26q%3Dspeedtest.net%26meta%3D%26btnG%3DGoogle+Search",“application/x-javascript”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,877,1354,1105,1105,1304,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1113 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1114->69.17.117.207:80,SEQ: 1
30/07/2009 19:29:12,“http://xml.alexa.com/data?cli=10&dat=nsa&ver=quirk-searchstatus&uid=20090320003640&userip=192.168.2.2&url=http%3A//www.speedtest.net/",“text/xml”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,1778,1912,506,506,1865,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1115 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1116->75.101.145.196:80,SEQ: 1
30/07/2009 19:29:12,“http://lsapia.seomoz.com/linkscape/mozrank/www.speedtest.net/?AccessID=quirk&Expires=1248978851&Signature=l8XlFVs8uOXPcHewBiEzxMx%2BC14%3D","text/javascript; charset=utf-8”,“GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,151,6066,8111,3861,2526,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1087 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1112->174.129.230.217:80,SEQ: 5
30/07/2009 19:29:12,“http://ads.ookla.com/adlog.php?bannerid=207&clientid=94&zoneid=23&source=&block=0&capping=10&cb=9fe425ec12fc298b6313083922cea7b7",“image/gif”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,43,3977,3211,3211,3877,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1113 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1114->69.17.117.207:80,SEQ: 2
30/07/2009 19:29:12,“http://ads.ookla.com/adjs.php?n=365650466&what=zone:24&blockcampaign=1&exclude=,campaignid:94,&referer=http%3A//www.google.co.uk/search%3Fclient%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%253Aen-GB%253Aofficial%26channel%3Ds%26hl%3Den%26q%3Dspeedtest.net%26meta%3D%26btnG%3DGoogle+Search",“application/x-javascript”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,877,1354,1119,1119,1304,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1117 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1118->69.17.117.207:80,SEQ: 1
30/07/2009 19:29:12,“http://ads.ookla.com/adlog.php?bannerid=222&clientid=105&zoneid=24&source=&block=0&capping=10&cb=b26127aa27a42e690759d15116c89ce9",“image/gif”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,43,7961,6225,6225,7811,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1113 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1114->69.17.117.207:80,SEQ: 3
30/07/2009 19:29:13,“http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmwv=1.3&utmn=96584360&utmcs=UTF-8&utmsr=1280x1024&utmsc=32-bit&utmul=en-gb&utmje=1&utmfl=10.0%20r22&utmcn=1&utmdt=Speedtest.net%20-%20The%20Global%20Broadband%20Speed%20Test&utmhn=www.speedtest.net&utmhid=1583825210&utmr=http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=speedtest.net&meta=&btnG=Google+Search&utmp=/&utmac=UA-389482-3&utmcc=__utma%3D207425361.1661250119.1248965943.1248971781.1248978553.5%3B%2B__utmz%3D207425361.1248978553.5.5.utmccn%3D(organic)|utmcsr%3Dgoogle|utmctr%3Dspeedtest.net|utmcmd%3Dorganic%3B%2B",“image/gif”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,35,1968,5707,5707,1968,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1089 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1090->209.85.229.100:80,SEQ: 3
30/07/2009 19:29:14,“http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/update/current/xml/version_en_win_pl.xml",“text/xml”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,1081,1384,440,440,1334,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1119 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1120->84.53.178.18:80,SEQ: 1
30/07/2009 19:29:15,“http://www.speedtest.net/speedtest-config.php?x=1248978554281",“text/xml”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,21560,22145,700,700,22095,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1121 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1122->69.17.117.207:80,SEQ: 1
30/07/2009 19:29:28,“http://zixi-clans.net/speedtest/speedtest/latency.txt?x=1248978568140",“text/plain”,"GET”,HTTP Status: 200,0,28,417,419,419,367,\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe,PID: 1036,CON: 127.0.0.1:12080->127.0.0.1:1123 ↔ 192.168.2.2:1124->195.178.107.78:80,SEQ: 1

10

Smiler, I can’t analyze that log. Lukor can. But should be the whole log by email.

11

No probs, The whole log has been sent. Thank you