With Web Shield activated it slows down my browsing and downloads.
That said is really necessary to have activated?
See this post http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=94604.0 about the subject of slow internet browsing.
the web shield doesn’t slow down anything here … but okay since you’re asking: my opinion is that the web shield (Avast web shield, ie the original) is a masterpiece … without it your system will still be protected, and well protected by the file shield as it remains the first line of defense at hard disk level. But well, there’s nothing as cool as seeing a connection being just dropped because the web shield detected malware in memory, ie long before it could even reach your hard disk 
It is perhaps the best shield of all of the shields, so yes it is really needed.
I certainly have no slow down, in fact on some of my tests with the web shield enabled is faster than with it stopped, go figure.
I think that of all the shields, the Web Shield is the second most essential one. The first obviously being the File System Shield. If there is one that in a lot of cases is non-essential, it’s the Mail Shield but it doesn’t hurt to keep it running just in case.
Thanks for your thoughts and opinions.
Just strange that my speed increases with this service disabled.
This is because web shield is scanning data before it enteres the computer by using Avastsvc.exe proccess.
Web shield will protect from dangerous data that file system shield might not even detect, like malicious javascript or web exploits that will try to infect your computer with 0-day malicious content.
So yes, this is windows, and windows should be protected with a web shield (unlike UNIX based systems).
Once again thanks.
I know some people say that the Web Shield slows down browsing slightly but I have tested my speed at speedtest.net with it enabled and disabled and there is no difference at all for me.
I see no way to experiment with disabling one shield at a time in the UI to find out which one is causing the massive slowdown. The shields did show up a bit ago but now they do not. I’d have to reboot every time and that is a pain and counterproductive for me.
I cannot live with the slowness. I have to find out which is the culprit.
I did disable them all and was a happy surfer but kept getting that error message that I am not protected.
WHY do I need those shields and WHY do they slow everything down so much? I know, others say they don’t slow down their systems, but I’m not them, my system is different, so pages loading will keep loading and loading forever.
See instructions here https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0
Scroll down to Farbar Recovery Scan Tool … run as instructed and attach the two diagnostic logs
I’d like the answer to my question, please.
The slowdown started the moment I got rid of ‘browsercleanup’ !!! BTW, on prowling around I found that browsercleanup has a bad reputation so I’m glad it’s gone.
It was deleting things I wanted to keep, deleting without my knowledge or consent. So I had to keep reinstalling things, over and over, with no slowdown. Lost two days of productivity doing scans, etc.
Now I want a simple answer.
Why do I need those extra things? Doesn’t Avast work to catch the bad guys without those “shields”? It never used to have them and everything was fine. No bugs, no slowdown. Why can’t Avast run the way it used to?
If there is a difference between having the definitions updated only and not using the shields versus using the shields, I want to know what those differences are. Then I will make the decision to use them or not use them in addition to the regular protection.
Or is there no protection at all if I don’t use one or more of the slowdown ‘shields’?
Why do I need those extra things? Doesn't Avast work to catch the bad guys without those "shields"? It never used to have them and everything was fine. No bugs, no slowdown. Why can't Avast run the way it used to?Avast have always had the shields, and without the shields you have a none working antivirus program
Attach the requested diagnostic logs and we msy be able to see what your problem is
Why do I need those extra things?I think maybe you are mixing shields and additional products?....... more details would help?
It was deleting things I wanted to keep, deleting without my knowledge or consent.Browser Cleanup doesn't delete things unless you give it permission to do so. It advises you of toolbars that may be bad and have a bad reputation. [b]You make the final decision[/b].
The only shield that is probably not needed is the Mail Shield. I would say the Web Shield is necessary. My personal opinion is that Avast should strip out the browser cleanup, the software updater, and a few other things from the free version and just have it use the basic shields which provide very good protection on their own. Most of the other stuff is fluff imho. I know you don’t have to install it but I feel the option to shouldn’t even exist. There really isn’t much advantage as it is to go to the paid versions when so much is given in the free one.
The Mail Shield may be your first indication of a hidden or undetected spambot on your system.
If you aren’t using conventional email but webmail viewed through your browser then there would be no additional resources used as is sits waiting for activity.
I’m sorry. I gave a wrong answer before. Web Shield is important.
[s]Avast Web Shield slows down PC and internet.
I always choose custom setup (installation) and uncheck everything but the file shield.[/s]
I use Avast Free Antivirus in combination with the free version of Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit (real-time protection).
Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit shields browsers and software programs from attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in their code. A layer of protection that stops malware before it's delivered to your door.
I also use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and ESET Online Scanner (installed on my PC) only for on-demand scanning.
But you should not uncheck the web shield,it is not slow down pc or internet.
The Webshield is probably the most important shield in Avast.
Since 85% of all infections come through the internet, it’s the one shield that should never be turned off as long as your online.
It also uses very little overhead. I suggest you see what else is running that might be slowing you down.
WebShield and this add-on or similar: https://adblockplus.org/ I use uBlock Origin add-on. Slow loading of webpages is due to ads loading within your browser (most likely).