Hi, I’m using avast! Internet security and I think it’s causing certain web pages and programs to run very slowly because when I temporarily disable avast they run a lot faster. Is there any way of stopping avast from slowing these down? The main websites are google - analytics & adwords, and the program MYOB. I have gone in to webshied settings and added this to the excludsions https://adwords.google.com/cm/* but that doesn’t seem to have done anything. Thanks in advance for any help.
I used to recommend Avast but lately it’s become too much like Norton 360. This kind of package is for you if you don’t understand computers and thus need absolute and total coverage of every possible attack vector and vulnerability, plus handholding on every step of the way. At a heavy price in terms of reduced useability. If you are savvy enough to recognise a suspicious download or spam email when you see one, then a vanilla antivirus program is adequate protection, and won’t have the same performance hit.
That is the best answer I can give. 
I wanted to comment here and let you know that when you are working with Exclusions and such it’s very important that you put in every possible wildcard for the site you are working with.
Most of the time when I had a problem with the slow websites it was with the Script Shield. Try disabling that also if you trust your users.
If you need to place your specific computer in it’s own group and disable the settings so you can at least get your job done, then try that route.
Again, the exclusions seem to work but really it depends on how you set up the wildcards and also check that you are hitting the right exclusions area. There are a few for each shield.
Don’t forget to try turning off the SCRIPT shield if that is even an option.
Good luck.