FIX: Antivirus is blocking Internet or Wi-Fi network

How to unblock the Internet/Wi-Fi access blocked by a third-party antivirus?

1. Check the connection
2. Check firewall exceptions
3. Reset the antivirus to default settings
4. Reinstall the antivirus
5. Disable the antivirus

1: Check the connection

Firstly, let’s eliminate other possible causes for this occurrence. There are so many various reasons why your PC is unable to connect to the internet or the Wi-Fi network of choice. So, we advise you to follow the instructions below, and check for the alternative causes for this burning issue:

• Restart your PC.
• Restart your modem and router.
• Use the LAN cable instead of Wi-Fi and look for changes.
• Boot in Safe Mode with Networking mode and try connecting.
• Run the dedicated Windows Troubleshooter.
• Update router’s/modem’s firmware.

On the other, if you’re prompted by the antivirus itself and informed about the blocked network, subtly continue reading.

2: Check firewall exceptions

The antivirus or antimalware solution can’t block the internet connection per se. However, with the unifying of various security solutions into one package, we got ourselves third-party firewalls. Those, on the other hand, can and will block your internet connection. Sometimes by mistake, other times because of the justified suspicion that your network isn’t safe.

In order to regulate that, you can reconnect your router, reset all equipment like we already advised, and look for changes. If those actions are to no avail, make sure to thoroughly inspect the Firewall part of your antimalware suite. You can create exceptions to let individual programs (like browsers and e-mail clients) to communicate through the firewall. This procedure varies, so make sure to google your antimalware or check the Help section in order to find out how to do it.

Run a System Scan to discover potential errors

Click Start Scan to find Windows issues.

Click Repair All to fix issues with Patented Technologies.

Run a PC Scan with Restoro Repair Tool to find errors causing security problems and slowdowns. After the scan is complete, the repair process will replace damaged files with fresh Windows files and components.

In addition, some users reported that large updates caused issues for various antivirus solutions. Make sure to update it again and, hopefully, the developers will provide timely patches.

3: Reset the antivirus to default settings

If you meddled with the implemented firewall on your own or a peculiar update changed something and thus blocked the internet access, you should just reset the antivirus to its default values. That seems like the best way to resolve the problem at hand. It’s not an unusual practice for antivirus solutions to go bonkers and, with the introduction of secondary security tools, that practice flourished.

Reset everything to default values, restart your PC and look for changes. If you’re still unable to connect, there’s still one thing you can do.

4: Reinstall the antivirus

Finally, if none of the previous steps proved fruitful, the only solution that we can offer is the reinstallation of the antivirus solution. Now, before you navigate to Control Panel and uninstall the antivirus, have in mind that most of the supporting applications that come with the suit are not really essential. Meaning: Windows Firewall is quite sufficient and you don’t need a third-party firewall unless you’re a knowledgeable user who can take advantage of extra features.

So, reinstall your antivirus, but consider installing only the antivirus this time. That should resolve your problem and you should be able to connect to the internet just like before. In case you’re unable to do so with the standard procedure, make sure to boot in the Safe Mode and try again.

5: Disable the antivirus

In the end, and we can’t call this a solution but rather a workaround, you might want to disable your antivirus or go for an alternative. Of course, there’s always an option to contact the antivirus support and ask for help. Maybe there’s a bug at hand with the current iteration and you pointing towards it should help developers deal with it swiftly.