It seems as though Skype has changed the way it works, although why it would require an update of IPs everytime it launches is a mystery
Could you report this as an FP to Avast and they will check it out
As requested, I reported it as a false positive, indicating that it was on advice from this forum. Hope it helps…Just saw another person with the wpad error make a new topic…glad to hear Im not the only one 
That was a malware induced one though…
This one? http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=136395.0
Anyway…Im still a bit jumpy on any site which lags, shows an error or something…still not fully comfortable 
No this one http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=136197.0
Hi Essexboy!
As I kept tracking the other topics with the WPAD issues, I noticed that you installed Skype and didn’t get any of the issues I am (or we are?) facing and concluded it was not a false positive. Hence, I’m back as well to see if this issue can be solved.
For reference I am attaching a fresh OTL log. If you need anything else, just let me know!
Ow and the red popup is still generated as soon as I start skype. If I leave Skype untouched, no issues at all…Not sure if it will do any good, but would a deinstall/reinstall of Avast do any good?
Thanks again for your help!
Yes I am looking at various options now. So a reinstall would be an option
Download Uninstall Utility to your Desktop.
Download the correct version of Avast
Avast Free
Avast Pro
Avast Internet Security
Avast Premier
Disconnect from the net
Uninstall Avast via control panel
[]Run aswClear
[]It will offer to reboot to safe mode … no need to do that
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/aswclear.JPG
[*]In the Select Product to Uninstall dropdown choose the version of Avast that is on your system.
[*]Press Uninstall
[*]Once complete reboot your system to Normal Mode
[*]Reinstall Avast
And, we’re back, re-installed and all…but also with still with the nice red warning…
In other words, it didn’t work 
Btw, are you also using the free version of avast? (with regards to you not having any trouble with skype)?
I am using AIS but the definitions are the same irrespective of the version
And yours appears to be related to Skype only ?
Well, I have absolutely no issues when I haven’t ran Skype and can open all kinds of things without errors. However, as soon as I open skype, the first error appears. Then, software which did not give an issue before, all of a sudden starts giving the same errors as well.
It almost appears like Skype causes the error and blocks the wpad thingy. Then each program after it which also tries to call the wpad site, results in an error as well as the site was already reported by avast as dirty…
I of course have absolutely no proof for this (other than some random reasoning based on my pc’s behaviour)…
Just an additional path to check, I am actually using the same modem from my ISP as Darats is using, the UPC Horizon thingy…
funny is i have exactly the same thing. if i have skype off then no problem… but with skype on then ding ding ding and its gives warning form avast from skype phone exe from google exe and other things
I’ve had the same exact problem for a few days now, I turned off Automatically Detect Setting on internet properties and that seemed to work for Skype and the other programs that caused the wpad.net pop up, now it’s just Avast updates that do it. I also have the UPC Horizon box could that possibly have something to do with wpad.net?
Same as me, maybe UPC routers got hacked in some way. Could not be a coincidence…
oh thats a gpood one maybe that got hacked and to do setting turn off ha i dont know but we should let upc know about this
i have called upc about it and they said … no its not from the box. but he made a note if more people call with this issue they wil look deeper into it.
so pick up the fhones and start calling
Could you all try OpenDNS to see if that circumvents it http://www.opendns.com/home-solutions/parental-controls/
Never used OpenDSN before, so just browsed over their ‘common questions’ section and configuration settings. One of the things they mention is being able to use it on either PC, network/router etc.
I assume you want us to use it as a Computer setting and not try to adjust our router/modem settings?
Yes try the computer first … Also I have found out something else about Skype and privacy
So if you could all do the following : disable the Skype Add-Ons (Plug-Ins) in your browsers
I have the same problem - using horzion box from UPC cablecom, getting this wpad.net avast message since the 6th October.
Do you think it is safe to login to someone else’s wlan and try if the message will show up there too?