Avast! Conflicting with Sunbelt CounterSpy

[Dark Heart]

Recently I installed counterspy on my system, and when I downloaded this, I decided to scan the program for any potential threat and found that the quick scanner was stuck on "Initializing engine". I waited and waited...

Then decided to test Avast! and opened the full scanner. At the memory test on the splash screen, it froze (well it didn't completely freeze it just stood there initializing).

I rebooted into safe mode and Avast! worked perfectly, and I am currently desperately hoping I am wrong in my suspicion in CounterSpy. In SUnbelt's 'FAQ' it said that the program will not conflict with my A.V. (this being Avast!)

Windows Security center says Avast! also protects from "Spyware and other Malware", so that's what points a finger at Counterspy, since it protects from "Spyware and other malware" too.

When I did scan the program for malware, no threat came up, so I assume it isn't that.

[Dark Heart]

Nope, it wasn't sunbelt...A virus came with the program downloaded. I was lucky I had a restore point for System Restore at a good time too.

SOLVED

[Lisandro]

It's a clone... http://spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
Sunbelt CounterSpy     sunbelt-software.com     version 1.x powered by GIANT  (code independently owned by Sunbelt)

Maybe you can consider using other (better) antispyware tools.

[wyrmrider]

Actually there is no better anti spyware than genuine Sunbelt Counterspy
Webroot Spy sweeper trades off for the top spot

A long time ago Giant was bought by Microsoft however Sunbelt kept a license
Microsoft and Sunbelt shared for a year- a long time ago
I would think that Ver 2 of Sunbelt is new code

Next in line is Spyware Doctor
then SuperAntispyware and some others

Webroot Spysweeper is about twice the price of Counterspy

What makes you think that Counterspy is on the rogue's list?

I have both avast and Counterspy running together- on several machines with several os
no problems

[Lisandro]

What makes you think that Counterspy is on the rogue's list?

Indeed it is not listed there as being rogue.

[wyrmrider]

Thanks
just a few good products out there and lots of scams
One of Sunbelt's people- Eric Howes maintains the i.e.spyads list
this list blocks malware via the i.e. "restricted sites" feature
another level of protection for i.e. users
similar in scope to a HOST file but not as easily bypassed by malware if i.e is properly locked down
he also publishes black lists which can be downloaded to various routers and firewalls
See Spywarewarrior for lists

On a site I maintain for a school we have a separate linux box with software firewall and various white and blacklists, name server, AV, spam filter etc

[wyrmrider]

I got this reply from Sunbelt tech support for any having any potential Sunbelt Software "problems"
(Also they seem to watch Spywarewarrior.com


There are numerous forums for Sunbelt consumer products out there that we monitor.

They are posted on the following sites.

http://www.Castlecops.com

http://www.wilderssecurity.com

http://www.dslreports.com

http://getsatisfaction.com/sunbeltsoftware

hope this helps

Wyrmrider

[Lisandro]

i.e.spyads list

Does it work well on Vista? I had troubles in the past... maybe restricted mode of IE is due to this spyads problems on Vista...

[wyrmrider]

Contact
ehowes at sunbelt-software.com <ehowes at  sunbelt-software.com>
or
eric howes <ehowes  at insightbb.com
and let's get the correct answer straight from the author
Eric's page is here
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/main-nf.htm

response

Hi:

According to Funky Toad (which makes the ZonedOut utility to load Restricted sites lists like IE-SPYAD into the Registry), the ZonedOut utility does work on Vista:

http://www.funkytoad.com/content/view/15/33/

Eric L. Howes

[DavidR]

I suggest you modify your post so that the email address for Mr Howes aren't harvested and subjected to spam. The forums are publicly available and as such harvester bots roam the internet trawling for email addresses to add to spam lists.