Computer Freezes Only on Internet

For the last six weeks, my 2009 Dell Inspiron (Windows Vista Home Premium) has frozen sporadically, but only when I am on the Internet.

I suspected it might have something to do with a recent upgrade to paid Avast Internet Security, since that happened on August 22 and I started to have the freeze problem about that time. Avast tech support thinks some other software may have issues with Avast, but not Avast itself. (I also have Malwarebytes Premium, Trusteer and Microsoft Security Essentials.)

I ended the processes for Malwarebytes this morning, used Firefox to get on the Internet, did a search for MajorGeeks, clicked on the link to MajorGeeks.com, the page came up and the computer froze.

There seems to be no common thread. The computer has frozen when trying to follow a link, while reading an article and while composing an e-mail post. The freeze has occurred on Firefox and Opera.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to attack this problem/

Thanks in advance.

Tom

 

Sorry for the tardy reply, but I am in the process of changing my ISP. With SMwN, my connection times out. Have followed some online suggestions (e. g., check network adapter drivers) without success….Attached is the CCsetup list.

 

When I go to Windows Control Panel, Avast Internet Security shows a date of 8-22-2015 (an update, I beleive, because I bought it in May). On 8-22-2015, I posted a question on Facebook about Firefox causing the computer to freeze.
I will follow your suggestion by uninstalling MSE.
Thanks again.

 

I uninstalled MSE and got another freeze. Trusteer was uninstalled and I got still another freeze. I have disabled the processes you mentioned. Two weeks ago I bought a new Linksys router to replace the 2008 Belkin. This week I switched ISP from AT&T DSL to Cox high-speed Internet. I run Task Manager when I start on the Internet to make sure that CCleaner and Malwarebytes are not running. I will keep you updated. I really appreciate your suggestions.

 

Freeze happened again. Attached is a list of the processes that are running while I am on the Internet.

 

What is smsseces?
Is it meant to be msseces.exe which is part MSE?
If that is the case, then Microsoft Security Essentials has not been completely uninstalled.

 

My bad -- that process is no longer running (verified by Task Manager).

 

How much RAM do you have?
And, does your browser have add-ons that block adds and/or tracking?

An example is Abine's DoNotTrackMe - it consumes large amounts of RAM and CPU.

 

The Firefox add-ons that have an “Always Activate” (it cannot be changed) are Open H264 Video Codec provided by Cisco and Primetime content Decryption Module.

RAM = 3.0 GB

 

Simple question - Does the freeze occur when running Internet Explorer?

 

I don't use Internet Explorer. I've had freezes on Firefox and - sometime ago before making some of the changes recommended here -- on Opera. I'm sticking with Google Chrome to see if I get any freezes there. I'll also take the suggestion to modify the Firefox add-on.

 

I followed the instructions and the result was that the indicator was already false. Didn't need to change anything. Thanks for the tip, though; at this point, anything is worth trying.

 

Used Google Chrome as my only browser for a week and had only one freeze. I'll take the blame for that because I forgot to check to see if Malwarebytes was running. I'm not sure why it runs, since I don't have it in my Startup menu. I'll bet it hangs around after I have run it stand alone. Again, thanks to everyone who has taken the time to help me with this problem.