AVG 8 and Windows Secuirty Center

Hi folks,

I've been running AVG 8 for a bit now and haven't had any problems with it. Today, however, I get a message from Windows Security Center (I'm running Vista Business) telling me that it thinks I'm not running any virus software at all. I don't remember getting a message like this before, and it's a bit concerning.

What do you think is going on? Has anyone else had this problem with AVG 8?

The one thing that has changed recently is that I let someone from Netflix alter something on my computer (no, I don't know what) that allowed me to watch instant movies through my netflix account ---- AVG 8 would do something that would make netflix think that I was using a new computer each time I watched a new movie, which got me into trouble. Do you think that the tech from Netflix altered something in my virus software to render it unrecognized by Windows?

In any case, I'd love some help/advice. At the moment, I've told windows that I'll monitor the virus/malware program I have installed myself.

THANKS

 

Get Avira instead, if you don't use any e-mail clients.

 

Google came up with this link, showing that AVG8 really has got a problem with Netflix.
Report the problem to AVG/Grisoft if you wan to continue using AVG8 although a fix/update will probably take a while.
Coolguy's suggestion to use an alternative like Avira (or Avast) is a faster solution to your problem.
Be sure to contact Netflix and ask whether they patched their own program or that they disabled some function in AVG.
Cheers.

 

Thanks for the responses.

I spoke with a Netflix tech today, and he said that the fix/workaround that Netflix uses involves restoring a portion of your registry that AVG mangles (pretty much his words). He said that upon installing, AVG creates a sandbox image of your registry, does its install thing, and then rewrites portions of the registry (keep in mind this is all memory from a chatty conversation I had early this morning --- and that I'm not familiar with ins and outs of system registries). During this re-writing, apparently the portion of the registry that Netflix uses to ID your computer is compromised in some way. Netflix, again, according to the tech, restores it so that Netflix's servers once again see your computer as one computer, and not a different machine each time you log on.

SO, long story short, the Netflix guy was pretty adamant about saying they don't touch the virus software at all. It still makes me a little wary, and I don't remember whether or not the Windows Security Center was hollering at me prior to the Netflix fix or not ---- I seem to remember the icon in my system tray, but do not remember seeing the warning messages actively pop up.

In any case, AVG still seems to be scanning fine, and still likes ot point out that, yes, I have tracking cookies (OMG). For now, as I said before, I just told Windows I'd monitor things myself.

I've used AVG for years now, and like 8 just fine (particularly how it doesn't insist on doing its one daily scan immediately upon machine boot-up). I had looked into avast! and avira prior to installing 8 --- but don't have direct experience with them. Also couldn't find any direct advise that felt definitive, although I'm still open to suggestion.

 

Netflix should be using some cookies on your computer to know that it's registered. Don't delete the cookies after your AVG scan. If you delete the cookies you might need to re-register with Netflix.

I don't how the this registry thing works.

 

Oh, I leave those cookies. A veritable cookie buffet, if you will.

And yes, I don't understand the registry thing either. The Netflix instant movie thing works now just fine ---- and AVG is still running great. It's just the windows security center message that seems odd.. and I'm not 100% positive that the two (netflix and the message) are related.

In any case, I read around on the forum posts that Baserk pointed to, and I have to say that my AVG 8 experience isn't anything close to what so many other folks seem to be complaining about. I haven't disabled any portions of the free AV program, and am never aware of system slowdowns. An entire scan of my system goes somewhere around a MILLION times faster than AVG 7.X did (it only takes a few minutes to complete).

I dunno --- if Windows Security wants to complain, and everything else seems fine, maybe I should just let it whine?

 

Oh --- and I don't know if it means anything at all, one way or another, but I can right-click on files or folders and select 'scan with AVG' from the options that pop up. Should that happen if, in fact, Windows doesn't think I have any AV installed?

HM.

 

To reset the security center
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3118045#post3118045

 

Perfect. WSC is now reporting that AVG antivirus is running and is up-to-date.. and that malware protection includes both Windows Defender and AVG.

Nice fix --- thanks!