Hi TheOwner:
I don’t want to take this thread off-topic by trying to troubleshoot a possible conflict between Avast Free Antivirus v25.x and Google Chrome, but after reading AlbertD’s 16-Jun-2025 comment about Avast’s Web Shield feature (now called Web Guard) in your topic Anyone noticed Chrome slowdown/lag since Avast 25.5? I googled “Avast Web Shield Chrome conflict” (without quote marks) and the AI Overview generated the following response:
Avast Web Shield can sometimes conflict with Google Chrome, causing browsing issues or preventing access to specific websites. This often manifests as “Your connection is not private” errors, blocked connections, or websites failing to load. The conflict can be resolved by adjusting Avast’s settings, specifically by adding exceptions for problematic websites or temporarily disabling Web Shield.
I’d suggest you configure your Chrome browser to clear your browsing data on exit and …
- Temporarily disable the Web Guard feature in Avast Free Antivirus, or
- Uninstall Avast Free Antivirus***
…and then run further tests with the latest CCleaner v6.38 to see if it finds any additional data to clean in your Chrome browser.
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*** Use the Avast Clear removal tool to wipe Avast Free Antivirus v25.x off your system and just use the Microsoft Defender antivirus built-in to your Win 10 OS while testing. If you decide to switch to Microsoft Defender permanently you can supplement your system protection by adding a reputable content blocker to Chrome [I use a combination of uBlock Origin (Lite) and Privacy Badger in my MS Edge browser - Malwarebytes Browser Guard is another good choice] and running the occasional on-demand manual scan with Malwarebytes Free v5.x just to check for any low-risk PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) like adware, browser toolbars, etc.
If you aren’t familiar with the Malwarebytes Free anti-malware scanner see my 07-Jun-2024 post # 2678804 in crimsoncricket’s Window Security is Behaving Strangely in the AskWoody forum for hints on how to install and use Malwarebytes Free v5.x.
Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.6093 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.25060.7-1.1.25050.6 * Malwarebytes Premium 5.3.4.202-136.0.5312 * Firefox v141.0.0 * Microsoft Edge v138.0.3351.95 * CCleaner Free Portable v6.37.11523 * HDCleaner Portable 64-Bit v2.091