To reduce Avast CPU consumption, eg CPU always hovering at 50% by AvastSvc.exe running, it was suggested to add these two lines in the WebShield.ini file.
[General]
UseStreamFilter=0
Sadly, this does not appear to be the solution to the issue.
But… If I click on Disable Avast Shields for 10 minutes and then immediately Enable All Shields again, the CPU and Memory consumption normalise until something gets AvastSvc.exe excited again. In which case my CPU temperature rises rapidly to set off the cooling fan and that is what lets me know that AvastSvc.exe has got stuck 50% again.
This problem has only appeared since I recently purchased Avast INTERNET SECURITY.
Since the first time I installed Avast FREE version 12 years ago, I never had any problems with my machine.
Maybe that’s the problem. “Money does not buy happiness”
Just to point out, the only thing that’s different then is AIS has a ‘Firewall’ module where as the Free version does not.
You don’t have 2 firewalls running do you?
I have two Windows machines; XP (Dell Laptop) and Akoya with Win7.
Before I get lectures about still using XP, I am one of the several million users that have programs that do not function in 7, 8.0 or 8.1.
That’s why I purchased AVAST! Premium to help protect me.
I disabled Windows Firewall when I purchased and installed this new version of Avast in this Dell Laptop.
I also have MalwareBytes Pro installed, but that is not causing any conflicts with Avast because I disabled it, to establish which of these
two programs might be getting upset with each other.
From what I can tell so far, the culprit appears to be Outlook Express. Yes… I know, I know, but who wins when you try to convert your wife to new ways of doing things. (No let’s not go there) But yes OE seems to be the program that really gets AVAST all steamed up and stuck.
If you know of an email client that has the editing functionality of OE and is not going to upset Avast or my wife, please let me know :-))
Interesting, as I also run an xpSP3 dell lapper and have used OE, but mostly MS Outlook.
In any case, there was not an issue with CPU or memory use while using OE.
I’m not at my xp right now, so I can’t test the latest version of Avast (Premier) with OE.
(No issue with MS Outlook)
Will test later and see if I see unusual activity from Avast.
Thanks for you help schmidthouse,
look forward to seeing what shows up on your Windows Task Manager when you open OE.
If your CPU usage creeps up to 50% while OE is running, try killing/select Avast for 10 mins and then immediately put 'All Shields back on again to see
what happens to you CPU usage. Amazing how mine just totally calms down.
BTW,
Do you know where I might find “Application Rules page” that is mentioned in AVAST’s Tools-Firewall-Application Rules- Configure?
Have checked Outlook Express 6 with latest Avast Premier on xpSP3 and no issues with CPU or otherwise. Very quiet for hours with OE opened. Now I did not test with Messenger running because I never use.(would be old version for sure).
No help here, :-\
Thanks for spending your time on this schmidthouse but may I ask, does Avast PREMIER have the same structure as Avast INTERNET SECURITY?
Also, I don’t use Messenger either, only Outlook Express 6. That said, I am considering replacing OE with Thunderbird and who knows? Maybe the CPU / RAM issue will disappear. ;D
Well, as OE 6 is not supported anymore, any compatible program with XP that is newer and still gets security updates will be worth your time and troubles all the better to avoid issues with OE 6 getting exploited or hacked. Thunderbird will fit the bill nicely. Version 31.0 is the latest version, but at least SP2 is required, SP3 preferred.
You’re welcome Palebushman , yes Premier and AIS have the same basic structure only as Mchain has pointed out just some added features.
I personally use TB on my W8.1 and like it just fine, you will like it better then OE I’ll bet.
Good luck,
Many thanks to all of you who have provided guidance in trying to resolve this CPU/RAM consumption issue so far, but sadly it still persists.
I have installed the latest version of Thunderbird and the issue is exactly the same. :o :
No other other programs on my machine, except these email clients, trigger or upset Avast in this manner.
Strange, that in all the 12 years that I have been using Avast both free and paid versions, this is the only paid version that has issues.
My next plan of action, if none of you suggest otherwise, is to completely un-install, remove all traces of Alwil/Avast from the registry, reboot several times and then install the latest FREE version of Avast.
If the problem disappears, I will kiss the money I paid for Avast Internet Security as a bad bet and stick with the free version.
Friends, I think I may have found the cause of AvastSvc.exe creating very high CPU and Memory usage.
I went to the following in the Avast User Interface :- Settings → Active Protection → Mail Shield → Mail Shield Settings → SSL scanning.
□ Scan SSL connections
Here I unchecked the box.
Now, when either email client is executed, the CPU/RAM activity momentarily rises to 50% and returns to around the acceptable 8-10%, regardless of how long I keep the email client running.
Looks like this this may be the culprit after all. Will report back here tomorrow to confirm if this is the case.
;D Well folks, here we are after 2 days of no problems with the high CPU and Memory usage issue.
So the SSL scanning switch in the Mail Shield seems to be the answer to the issue.
Will be interested to read your thoughts on this.
Once again, thank you all for your guidance with this.
Having same problem on two of my home computers running Avast Internet Security (program version 2014.9.0.2021). Tried uninstall, CCleaner to clean up registry followed by fresh re-install. Computer ran great for about 30 minutes or so, then AvastSvc.exe jumped up to the top of CPU usage again consuming 99% and bringing the machine to a standstill. Tried disabling SSL email scanning as suggested elsewhere in this post, but that did not work. The only thing that consistently seems to cure it is to disable the firewall, which is not something desirable. One additional point of note is that if I re-enable the firewall, the computer runs fine for about 30 minutes again, but then AvastSvc.exe suddenly jumps to the top CPU user position and stays there.
It’s a real shame because Avast! used to be such a good antivirus with low CPU overhead and no pop-up ads. It’s most frustrating when software I paid for now assaults me with pop-up ads and cripples my system!
