This is the new fix put out by Avast. If you had v.7.0.1451 you should update it or you can do an uninstall and clean install. If you had a LOT of problems with v.1451, then I would do a clean install.
You can read the forum to see the problems users have had with the prior version (7.0.1451), but Avast announced the fixes in the new version (7.0.1456). I deal with helping users with their problems and are quite familiar with them.
I will edit the first link. As for your 2nd link, the user realized it is due to his firewall and not due to Avast. In general, the new version of Avast (7.0.1456) has fixed most of the problems, but some users do not reboot after installs, having conflicting software, may have malware, or do not read what they are clicking on installs and get a new browser that they did not expect, etc. Is any new software going to be 100%? No, but close to it…yes. And Avast put out the bug fix with this new version in less than a week.
It is your machine, so it is up to you what you want to do with it. I personally prefer strong AV protection, so that is why I stick with Avast.
Indeed it is and I am not going to waste more hours on something iffy. I will wait until a few more releases have come through before deciding what to do or until we hear something from the Avast team about what happened. There is a sticky area for such post I see.
BTW just checked my laptop and it’s still on 1426 and asking for an update. Think I’ll leave it for the time being.
Of course it was tested but being that there are so many variations in the systems that are supported there are bound to hicups here and there, XP seemed to cop the brunt of the problems this time round but none of the xp systems that i look after had any issues.