Can't join Cross Play lobbies - Error Code PM7

SOLUTION, I believe..

The problem IS related to AVAST! (anti virus) and to solve the issue you need to turn the SHIELDS OFF (that's why also uninstalling the AV solves the problem as well - but simply turning the shields on/off is a better option) - here's how to do it:

- Right-click the Avast! tray icon:

- Hover the mouse over the 'Avast shields control' option and then left-click the 'Disable permanently' option:

- You should see a 'Component stop' blue screen asking "Are you sure you want to stop all shields?" - just click on "Ok, Stop":

- Then you should see a Windows Security popup screen - that's ok:

- Now you're ok to join Cross Play lobbies just fine again.

- When you're done playing, just turn the shields back on by right-clicking on the Avast! tray icon again, hovering the mouse over the 'Avast shields control' option and then left-clicking the 'Enable all shields' option (the number of shields may vary according to how many you have installed):

I also tried to turn off the shields manually and separately to try and isolate the 'problematic one', but it didn't work.

It only worked when I did according to the step-by-step process above.

Hope this helps, BUT I also hope EA can do something to avoid the cross play lobbies being blocked by Avast! - it was working fine until about 3 weeks ago, right until Patch 1.14 was released, so I believe it was something on that patch - I had NO Avast! updates since then (so it was not Avast!'s fault)..

@jenny_a_m 
@ScarDuck14