???Application Hijacking has been detected
The application: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashSimpl.exe try to launch another application: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe to go to remote host sa.windows.com 
please explain this to me >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>… asp
sa.windows.com is the Microsoft Search Companion. You can read their privacy policy HERE
does that mean avast antivirus software uses search companion in its search process ??? why would it need to try launch it ???
P.S Thanks EDDY for your infomation , a fast reply is always appreciated … 
ashSimpl.exe is the simple user interface of Avast. Did you get this message just when starting Avast or did you try to do anything in the simple user interface?
You didn’t say, but this looks like a message from a firewall or some sort of spy-/adware application.
ps: why do you think it so important to ALL Avast users? It is just a simple message and by the looks of it nothing harmfull is going on.
yes its a firewall warning & no i did nothing but perform a normal scan with AVAST & it was during scan warning was given.A simple warning doesnt come up as critical on my firewall ( i would have thought ) If it was harmfull though it would & still may concern all users.
hi,
I read in this post where vewdca2 says that his firewall gave him a warning that :
The application: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashSimpl.exe try to launch another application: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe to go to remote host sa.windows.com .
It still is not clear to me why Avast would be trying to launch another application. Could someone with more knowledge than me clarify this?
Once again i admit , i too cant understand why AVAST would do this
im not trying to scaremonger just would put my mind at rest if i had
a clear explaination as to why. No other antivirus i have used has
cause such a firewall warning. I thought it might have been simply
a known issue & my query easily resolved but im still waiting any
further response from this FORUM , if i get no joy here i will take it
up with AVAST support -tech help !!!
yes its a firewall warning
From which firewall?
I’m quite sure avast! itself doesn’t try connect to Microsoft site.
When ashSimpl.exe is started, it displays the introductory help. The help is in HTML Help format (.chm). Maybe the Microsoft HTML help component is connecting to its site at that moment (for whatever reason… check for updates, improve searching… don’t know)?
You can check if you get the same warning when you simply open the help file, located in \English\Help\CheckListSimple.chm
I did some checking here on one of my systems, and here it was the MS Internet search function that was connecting. But only after changing the Internet search behavior as explaind (strangly enough) in their privacy policy. (Read earlier post here for the link)
sorry i been at uni studying hence later reply but in fairness i dont think AVAST software was doing anything untoward just assumed there was a conflict or something whilst using software.Thanks for any tips i tried to repeat the firewall warning whilst using AVAST and to date it seems a 1 off.to answer a former reply i use SYGATE firewall & as for the last reply i have not changed my search companion settings although i did have a few virus problems that affected my browser.NOW i can ONLY serach using companion am unable to conduct searches in the url addy feature but can access full web addresses with it. I put this down to SP2 & a change in the way ie sp2 worked!!! hope im right , let me know if im missing something , thanks all gonna c if i can help with some other topics , let ya know if i find out more relevent to this topic.