Problems after problems since updating to the new avast. Many web pages not working unless i disable avasts shields.
Im turning the shields off so much now theres no point having avast so I give up.
Going back to AVG after 5 years.
Will you try attaching a OTL diagnostic log first?
If the pages aren’t loading…
If you want to stay with Avast then go back to version 8. It works. If you really are finished with Avast I can’t blame you. I have also been looking at other AV’s. I have been a long time user of Avast and have recommended Avast to a countless amount of people . But I just can not recommend them anymore.
Joe,
why not try to solve your problems?
Ever thought that avast is blocking those websites for a legitimate reason? (containing malware, malicious code etc)
What do you mean with “new avast”? What exact version?
What os/sp?
Ram,
stop giving people a useless advise please ask you have been asked several times now.
If I go back to version 8;
How do you prevent it from updating to version 9 ?
I tried to do this a couple of weeks ago, unchecked auto update and it did not help.
Given the apparent recent spate of emupdates, does this hack still work as intended?
It’s not a hack… it’s a fix.
It still works as intended.
Alikhan, Thanks for that.
With respect, the procedure given requires a user to manually edit one of the .ini files.
The advice was given as a “you can try…” and “Please let us to know if the problem is gone”. It also says “We are preparing fix for that”, and does suggest the .ini edit would “switch to old WebShield implementation”. In my book that is a “workaround” requiring a user modification to the content of a file to a form other than what had been officially released, so it’s a “hack” not a “fix”
But that’s just me being pedantic.
I don’t know is whether the “fix” mentioned in the post was ever subsequently issued (maybe one of the emupdates that have occurred since) and if that were to be the case, whether the “fix” might have made the .ini change invalid. There is at least one report that indicates the code added into the .ini file had disappeared after one of the emupdates.
I’d agree that it’s a workaround of an issue which has been address by the avast! emergency updater (Win 7 and Win 8). The patch isn’t out for Windows Vista so it would be a fix for the issue there…
I’m not sure if the patch overwrites the .ini data, however, I’m certain that after the patch you can edit .ini to your likings and the changes should remain.
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143211.0
On the topic their, it’s also labelled as a “fix”.
From that thread, could you check that (to ensure if you have had the fix applied):
To verify you have the patch applied, you may go to:
C:\Program Files\Avast Software\Avast\Setup\Inf\x86 or .\x64
You should see:
aswstm.sys - file version: 9.0.2011.265
aswstm.sys.sum - file size: 223 bytes
To be on the safe side on things, you could have the right file and the fix applied. 
Thanks for the link, I was following that thread a while ago, but had not been back to read the more recent posts.
To verify you have the patch applied, you may go to:C:\Program Files\Avast Software\Avast\Setup\Inf\x86 or .\x64
You should see:
aswstm.sys - file version: 9.0.2011.265
aswstm.sys.sum - file size: 223 bytes
It appears from http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143211.msg1040384#msg1040384, and http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143211.msg1040389#msg1040389 that is is also worth checking aswstm.sys file inside c:\Windows\system32\drivers to make sure it is also 9.0.2011.265
To be on the safe side on things, you could have the right file and the fix applied.
Yes, Lukor’s post at http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143211.msg1042670#msg1042670 does seem to confirm that one can apply the .ini edit after the aswstm.sys (9.0.2011.265) and aswstm.sys.sum update.
It’s not useless info. There are numerous problems with 2014 that the common response is to disable this or that. I recommend that people go back to version 8 which is a working version of Avast. So no I will not stop telling people this info. You Eddy have been told this several times now.
So sure are you that the current version with a few “Tools” deconfigured is not better than an older version?
-Noel
ram,
there are also problems with version 8. Problem with the 2014.9.0.2011 version is often pebkac, but it is working fine.
Telling people to go back to version 8 is NOT a solution. It is like telling people to remove windows and install dos v1.
You are telling people you have a fix, but you don’t give them the fix.
“I have to ask my teacher first”… 
No you don’t.
If you have a fix, tell it to the person who has a problem and solve the problem.
That is what helping is about.
Like others, I’ve been a loyal Avast user and advocate for many years, but feel I had no choice but to jump ship this morning. I updated to 2011 a week ago that essentially made browsing impossible as long as web shield was active. Everything worked normally when switched off, and System Restore was able to revert Avast to the previous version. Though probably of no help, I posted my experiences. I’ve since learned that even the previous “good” version was erroneously blocking some websites.
I made sure that Program Update was set to Manual to avoid a possible automatic update, but this morning the web shield was disabled. Hitting “REPAIR” installed 2011 all over again; and the problems previously encountered reappeared. Unfortunately, System Restore didn’t this time, but the Avast removal tool finally got rid of the program in the Safe Mode.
I’d love to be able to help troubleshoot the problem, but if had been earning just minimum wage for the hours I’ve already spent troubleshooting and trying to restore the computer after the 2011 update episodes, I could have bought any of the full version antivirus programs out there! NOT everyone is a computer geek or has the knowledge, time, or inclination to dive into the inner workings of their machines … and that’s even if there was a reliable repair. They simply expect their antivirus program to work or at least not screw things up.
Perhaps I’m mistaken and the Avast crew is really taking these problems seriously, but excusing the matter by saying that “most people don’t have any issues” is condescending and likely without basis in fact. Most users don’t have a clue what’s wrong when their computer experiences any of the problems being enumerated in this forum. Most don’t even know there is a forum! They’re screwed without even knowing the cause!
I’ll keep monitoring and hoping this issue will be resolved; possibly I’ll return to Avast. I really liked it, not to mention the sexy definition update announcements! Now to take care of my other five computers that also have Avast, not to mention the several computers I routinely maintain for others.
I took the matters in my hand and actually did something about the problem - helped avast! to fix it for quite a high % of people.
I encourage those who still have the problem contact Lukor. He’s really nice person and the process of helping is fairly very simple (with instructions). It’s basically all about updating the driver, then restarting PC, starting one small program and going to internet. After encountering problems, send in the logs. That is, when new driver doesn’t help.
Isn’t it an awesome feeling after helping avast! to fix the problem for other users? I think so at least 
Avast! is community driven in my opinion and we all can help them make avast! better! 8)
Hi Turtledriver,
Loads of people are enthusiastic about what webshield protection provided. I see some complaints on the forums that it hinders certain users going to certain locations. Would unblocking those not be dangerous? Did you establish beyond a shred of a doubt that these websites were free of malcode,(spyware, clickfraud), not on an IP that launches additional malcode via other domains? Did you report in the virus and worms section to get an exclusion for a specific domain you cannot visit because of shield blocking from an avast staff member?
Why you want to throw the child our with the bathwater? Often found that an av solution that interferes too much with bad Internet (security )habits is being disqualified as “bad”, “bloatware”, “too strict too handle”, some users here react like “spoilt teens” when told what is better for them no to,
polonus
Lord Ami: Good comments, and when I can, I’ll get back to troubleshooting using one of my other computers; I just don’t have time at the moment and can’t afford to tie up my main machine. But again, how do you measure the percentage of those being helped vs. those who don’t have a clue what’s wrong and don’t post here?
Polonus: Yes, without a doubt, it was the 2011 update from Avast – not the websites or malware.
UPDATE: Perhaps I misspoke when I mentioned Web Shield - it was the Antivirus program itself!
I think the intent behind telling people it CAN work might be to give them hope that there may be something specific that can be done to make it work for them. And I do think virtually everyone would notice if their Internet access just stopped working. 'Course it might be a bit harder for them to come here to complain about it, at least right away… 
-Noel
Just to clarify, I could still get on the Net with the 2011 version. However, some pages loaded normally, others would load verrrrrry slowly, others wouldn’t load at all, and a few “clean” sites were blocked altogether! Most people I know wouldn’t even suspect their antivirus program and getting onto this forum would never cross their minds. They’d just think something was wrong with their computer or Internet connection!
UPDATE: Now that I’m using a different AV program, I can’t help noticing how many of the sites I frequent are loading at least twice as fast!