Serious Discussion Does Avast Free slow down the connection?

lokamoka820

Level 23
Mar 1, 2024
1,240
A simple browser extension has better ability to protect you from malicious websites because it protects you from inside the browser, where antivirus software doesn't have access. It's better to just use browser extension than to use HTTPS scanning. In fact, all HTTPS scanning does is slowing down your browsing and reduces your security. Seriously, your antivirus software has to decrypt every single connection to a website you visit and then scan it; that takes time. Try surfing with and without, you'll see what I'm talking about.
I can confirm this as from my test I found that Bitdefender TrafficLight extension way better than Bitdefender Web Protection.
 

SeriousHoax

Level 49
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 16, 2019
3,863
I can confirm this as from my test I found that Bitdefender TrafficLight extension way better than Bitdefender Web Protection.
Keep in mind that you may disable HTTPS scanning for other AV products but shouldn't do it for Bitdefender because for Bitdefender it means it will not scan any HTTPS connection system wide, only unsecured HTTP connections will be scanned. For other products disabling HTTPS connection means it will not decrypt the traffic but will still block blacklisted host, but this is not the case for Bitdefender. So, let's say you have an app that's trying to communicate to malicious site via secured HTTPS protocol, there will be no reaction from Bitdefender.
TrafficLight extension can block blacklisted first party host but cannot block third-party malicious connection made by an infected website. In my experience, only McAfee WebAdvisor, Malwarebytes extension and Symantec's extension can but the latter two also impact browsing speed. McAfee WebAdvisor doesn't have an impact but it's available on Edge extension store only.
There are cases like shopping websites got infected by magecart or similar malware which stole millions of user's credit card information by injecting malicious code into the website's HTML. Those cannot be blocked without HTTPS scanning, but such cases don't happen that often.
I should add one more additional info that is, only ESET can still block third-party malicious script even after disabling HTTPS protection for browsers but can't block first-party infected HTML content like the magecart malware without HTTPS scanning.
HTTPS scanning is great, but it impacts browsing speed. Speed matters because browsing is all we do mostly on our PCs.
 
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