I recently tried to install PC Tools firewall on my daughter’s Vista machine. On start-up it showed both connection and listening requests for quite a few applications & system elements.
I blocked most of the obvious no-nos such as spooler sub system and a few others. I could surf quite happily, but her Avast! Free woulod not update - could not connect to the server.
As far as I could see all the Avast! elements shown in PC Tool’s application panel were allowed full access/connection - even the one labelled Avast updater. I could not see ASH set-up, whick IIRC is the update service.
So - which is the essential process or service needed for Avast! to update?
Does it allow avast.setup internet access ?
- If it does delete the entry for it and do a manual update, this will force the firewall to ask permission again ensure you allow it.
The aswUpdSv.exe is the service but doesn’t actually do the update, that is avast.setup.
Into the firewall settings, the following programs should be allowed to connect:
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe (avast! Web Scanner)
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe (avast! e-Mail Scanner Service)
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\avast.setup (avast! Update executable). This is a temporary file that just appears when an update (check) is about to launch, and disappears again afterwards.
Don’t need rights to connect:
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe (avast! Update Service)
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe (avast! antivirus service). Although, ashServ.exe sends ping packets to find out if the Internet connection is alive. You can turn this off by checking the “My computer is permanently connected to the Internet” box in the avast Program Settings > Update (Connections) page.
Thank you for your help.
We’ll try again. 
Your welcome, let us know how you get on.