Re-registration crashed GUI

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Just had a notice pop up to re-register Avast. Clicked on the link, Opera opened, I filled in the form and off it went.

A few minutes later the MS error box appeared, saying that Avast’s GUI had encountered a problem and needed to close.

I quickly disconnected - just after the blue ball had vanished - and checked what was running. All of the usual providers were still OK, but the re-registration was still in Task Manager although there was nothing visible. That shortly dropped out and I restarted the GUI.

A little disturbing as it could have killed Avast and, if I’d not known how to find out what was running, could have left me without protection (although Defense+ would have prevented many things).

BTW, the news item that popped up a couple of days ago still tried to open IE from the link; isn’t this fixed yet?

2

I think only the icon had gone (ashDisp.exe) not the avast protection.

I think not and, maybe, they won’t give it priority as avast 5 is on the way…

3

Is there a corresponding .mdmp file in \Data\Log folder?

I don’t think this will be changed in avast! 4.x, sorry.

4

Yes to the file: 129kB generated at the same time as the incident.

No problem with IE in v4; I’ll just hope that it’s civilised in v5 :slight_smile:

5

Send them to vlk (at) avast.com
They may contain more information about the problem (maybe a link to this thread).

6

Thanks Tech - file sent.

7

Well, this morning there are about a dozen e-mails from “alwil.alwilsoftware.support at gmail.com”, all stopped by Avast with the message:

“Warning! A virus has been detected. This text and title was edited to prevent the virus from activating itself. Also, the address was hijacked to prevent the virus from hijacking into your contact list. If you don’t care and want to view this message, please disable Avast’s Mail Scanner and Avast! Outlook/Exchange Scanner by right clicking the “a” icon on your taskbar and selecting Pause Provider, you should see a line of things. Select Outlook/Exchange and Internet Mail.”

So Avast is doing it’s job, it would appear, but of course I don’t know if this is a genuine message or coincidence!

8

I have never heard of avast using gmail (so that is suspect number 1) and I somehow doubt that they would give instructions in the body of the email to disable your email protection (suspect number 2). I also don’t believe they would be so offhand with the “if you don’t care and want to view this message” remark (suspect number 3).

If they wanted to give any advice relating to a detection it would be simply to allow it.

So I would have my doubts to its authenticity.

I would also suggest you modify your post so the email isn’t clickable, e.g. “alwil.alwilsoftware(dot)support (at) gmail.com”

9

I haven’t any doubt about the email authenticity.
It’s a fake email.

10

I was suspicious, but as the message(s) had arrived soon after I’d sent the file…

I had a look at 1 on the server but it didn’t mean much to me.

(e-mail link changed - sorry).

11

There is another topic on the forums now essentially reporting this same issue.