CounterSpy Program and AVAST

General Topics
1

since I am unable to get this to post to a tech support guy through your web site i guess Ill post it here and see what happens.

Below I have posted the email I received from CounterSpy about AVAST and the problems that these 2 programs are having.

I have to do a clean install of Counterspy then turn on AVAST to get CounterSpy to work correctly.

What I believe is happening, When AVAST updates the program it messes this up. It then does not allow CounterSpy to function by itself without my intervention (telling AVAST that it is OK to let it run)

I want to know if there is a way in AVAST to permanently tell it that it is OK for CounterSpy to do its thing for ever.

I don’t want to have to uninstall counterSpy and reinstall it every time AVAST updates the program (not the definitions just the program)

Please read the CounterSpy reply and let me know it there is a work around to this problem.

Thanks

Bob ???
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi Robert,

Thank you for contacting Tech Support. What was done last time was a clean install of the program. Those instructions are as follows below. However, there should be an option with in Avast to allow Counterspy to function normally. If you want, you could contact Avast and see if they have a method to allow certain programs to run unimpeded.

First, uninstall by using Add/Remove programs, then use the cleaner below.

MSI cleaner

http://tinyurl.com/42ul9 Save to your desktop and run. The go to Start/All Programs/Windows Install Clean Up. Once in there locate CounterSpy and hit remove. If it is not in the list move on to the next step.

CSC cleaner

http://www.sunbelt-software.com/ihs/cscclean.exe Save and run.

Restart your computer.

IMPORTANT Make sure you have all your other virus/spyware programs turned off before you reinstall.

CounterSpy V2.5

http://go.sunbelt-software.com/?linkid=410 Save this to your desktop and run.

Thank you,

Justin Palm
Consumer Products Support
Lead Tier 1 Technician

SUNBELT SOFTWARE
Email: support@sunbelt-software.com
Phone: +1 (877) 673 1153
9 am - 6 pm EST
Web: http://www.sunbelt-software.com

From: Robert Davet [mailto:davet102@roadrunner.com]
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 3:58 PM
To: Sunbelt Software Support
Subject: Not running Automatically
I have had CounterSpy up and running since 4/08.

Had a problem with it not running automatically then. You helped and we got it fixed.

Now it is doing the same thing again. (I cannot remember what was causing the problem)

Vista Machine

Running Avast Virus protection. (The Counterspy icon has a Avast shield on it now. It did not after we fixed it before)

Can you help me fix this again??

I think it has to do with Avast. This program automatically updates itself. If it updated the program could that be the reason why it is not running by itself??

If I remember right, I had to turn off AVAST. Uninstall Counterspy. Then reinstall it. Then turn on AVAST.

Am I going to have to do this every time Avast upgrades its program??

Please give me the steps that I need to do to get this corrected.

Thanks

Bob

2

Are you saying that avast detects something in counterspy that it believes is a virus, etc. ?
If so - What is the infected file name, where was it found e.g. (C:\windows\system32\infected-file-name.xxx) ?
Check the avast! Log Viewer (right click the avast ‘a’ icon), Warning section, this contains information on all avast detections.

Otherwise avast! doesn’t block, it is a scanner and would only block if it found what it believed was an infection, otherwise it would allow counterspy to go about its business.

3

When CounterSpy tries to run, whether automatic or when I select it, I get a box that says, “A Program needs your permission to continue”. I have to hit “Continue” before it will run.

This happened when I installed CounterSpy in the begining.
I went to CounterSpy and told them.
They gave me the instructions that i included in the original post to clear it. They worked. Initially counterspy icon had the AVAST shield on it. After going though their instructions, that shield went avay from the CounterSpy icon and the automatic updates and auto scanning started working all by itself the way it was suppose to.

Several weeks agou when AVAST updated the program is when I noticed the Shield back on the Counterspy icon and that the program was not doing anything automatically any more.

Went back to Counterspy to get the instructions again and they suggested coming to you to see if you had a fix for this since it seemed to be linked to the AVAST program/updated ot the program.

That is why I think it has something to do with AVAST.

Bob

4

As I said avast doesn’t block and I certainly haven’t seen a box that says, “A Program needs your permission to continue”. I have to hit “Continue” before it will run.

That most certainly isn’t an avast function, so I can’t see any fix as there is ‘nothing’ in avast to allow a specific program to run as it doesn’t block programs; it only scans files that are executed and alerts to infection if found and then it would block the ‘file.’

avast also doesn’t superimpose its shield over another applications icon/s, in fact there is no shield even in the avast system tray icon, these are the two avast icons, see image. You could post an image od the offending shield in the same way I have here.

So I fear you hunt goes on for the culprit, what is your firewall ?
Does it have anything like HIPS as part of its function or what other security software do you have.

5

As David has already mentioned, avast! only scans and isn’t the program that’s blocking you.
This sounds like either your Firewall program or a program like WinPatrol which monitors any changes to
your system and alerts you when changes are found. There are other programs that perform the same task.
It would help if you told us what other security programs are active on your system.

6

mistake :-[

7

Welcome to the forums, davet102. :slight_smile:

Please post a picture of the box that says, “A Program needs your permission to continue” so that we can see what you are recieving. This could help very much in finding the solution to your problem.