MalwareTeks Blog

Check your security applications before installing

According to Microsoft certain security applications are blocked from running, knowledge base article, due to “reliability” issues with Vista SP1.

The following security applications are blocked from running, if installed, after install SP1 for Vista:
BitDefender AntiVirus or Internet Security 10
Jiangmin KV Antivirus 10
Trend Micro Internet Security 2008
Zone Alarm Security Suite 7.1.078

If you have any of the above applications installed, see the vendor for a supported version; before installing SP1 for Vista.

There’s been quite a bit of chatter and noise over the December 2007 Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update.

There has been a lot of dismay over the update of Vista, apparently allowing it to be more compatible with a known Rogue Anti-Spyware Application. This is not the case. English can be such an ambiguous language, at times. Especially when word choices and combinations are not carefully considered.

I’m not going to post the entire Update notice, but instead use the relevant portion:

This update is cumulative, and it supersedes update 935280. In addition to the fixes that are contained in update 935280, this update improves application compatibility in Windows Vista by implementing a block on the application, by providing a notification that the application is not Windows Vista-compatible, or by providing an update to improve functionality for the following applications:

•	Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0 - 7.07
•	WinAntivirus Pro 2007 v5.0.356
•	Webroot Software Spy Sweeper 5.0
•	Omniquad Total Security 2.0.3.0
•	Windows Internet Explorer

Emphasis mine

The manner in which the emphasized portion of the above quote is worded, would lead you to believe there is increased compatibility between Vista and the listed applications.

In Fact what the compatibility update does is one of three things:

1. Block an undesirable application.
2. Inform you that a given application is not Vista compatible.
3. Improve functionality between Vista and a Vista compatible application.

So, depending upon the application, listed in the compatibility update, what action is taken. In the case of WinAntivirus Pro 2007 v5.0.356 it is blocked by Vista.

So, lay your fears to rest Microsoft is not making Vista compatible with Spyware applications, instead they are taking steps to make Vista more secure; by blocking known Rogue applications.

Yesterday while doing my usually rounds which include checking out Digg, is saw a Digg post about Vista blocking Firefox.

Initial reaction, What The …., then I forgot about it as I went back to checking sites and doing some additional research on IE Defender.

So, today here I am, back to what in the world is going on with Microsoft and blocking Firefox. Is there some sort of attempt to keep competing browsers, not running in Windows Protected mode, from accessing the internet? Nope, not even close.

Larry Osterman does a much better job of explaining what is going on, then I ever could. You can read about it in his blog post: Chris Pirillo’s annoyed by the Windows Firewall prompt

Information of how to configure the Windows Firewall, on both XP and Vista, for Firefox can be found in the Mozilla Support Tutorial Configuring Windows Firewall