WSA Protection Status Color?

Discussion in 'Prevx Releases' started by STV0726, Apr 2, 2012.

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  1. STV0726

    STV0726 Registered Member

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    It starts off fairly typical of most AVs today, using a traffic-light inspired theme...

    Green means you are protected and no action is required on your part (other than maybe asking if you want to register online).

    Yellow means that there is something that requires your attention but it is NOT critical.

    I have seen the yellow once before but I cannot remember off-hand what it was for. Whenever there is an issue it is usually red it seems.

    Red means either you're infected, or one or more of the shields are disabled. These are considered "critical" issues.

    Now here's where it gets interesting. This is something they have inherited from Prevx 3.0 and I am really curious why they made this its own color instead of just using YELLOW for this...

    Blue means a scan is required.

    So why does "scan required" get its own color instead of just being a yellow? The help manual does not even mention the blue state.

    Mystery of the blue color's purpose, lol. :D
     
  2. kjdemuth

    kjdemuth Registered Member

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    Maybe if you haven't done a scan in a while, it reminds you. Yellow might be a hazard that requires you to look at it. Like a suspicious file.
     
  3. STV0726

    STV0726 Registered Member

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    Yes, but what must be kept in mind is that the color/state of your security status is independent from the reason shown.

    For example, Webroot will give you a red for turning off one or more protection aspects, but it will also give you a red for threats detected. The icon and red hand are the same, but the description of what is wrong and the button to fix the problem changes based on the problem.

    So with this logic, what I am inquiring is, why does Prevx/Webroot feel that "scan required" needs its own color/state of blue instead of just showing a yellow since it seems to be a moderate-level concern.

    I'm thinking blue is an unknown state...kind of like...we need to scan to determine whether you are green, yellow, or red. I don't know. Hopefully Joe will respond.

    NOTE: I am NOT suggesting the removal of the blue status, I am just inquiring why it exists. I actually kinda like it. It's cute. :)
     
  4. kjdemuth

    kjdemuth Registered Member

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    Because if there is a concern they want you to flag it as such and get your attention turned to a possible suspicious file. They would give it a separate color as not to give any cause for concern but rather a notification that something needs to be done. Just my two cents.
     
  5. STV0726

    STV0726 Registered Member

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    Possibly, but as for right now to my knowledge the only thing Yellow is used for is subscription expiration...so that doesn't really fit with that theory.

    Maybe Yellow is also used for low risk threats...I don't know.
     
  6. Techfox1976

    Techfox1976 Registered Member

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    Hmmm...

    Yellow = "Warning! Your base protection is having problems!"

    But everything works realtime with the program anyway, so in all technicality, a scan isn't absolutely necessary to keep you protected.

    Blue = "By the way, a scan hasn't been run recently. This doesn't reduce your protection, but I just wanted to let you know."

    For expired, it's yellow because it will still detect, but it won't clean. :)
     
  7. STV0726

    STV0726 Registered Member

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    I'm yearning for an official answer from Joe why the blue exists and why it isn't in the manual.

    By the way...

    Yellow for subscription is when you have X days left.

    It will turn red if your trial expires because then you've got no protection.
     
  8. STV0726

    STV0726 Registered Member

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    I'll forward this question to the support inbox to see if they have an answer.
     
  9. trjam

    trjam Registered Member

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    who really cares. It Webroot hasnt answered it yet, and they have seen it, then obviously there is a reason.
     
  10. STV0726

    STV0726 Registered Member

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    And I am asking for that reason because the Green, Yellow, and Red are explained in the help manual but the Blue is not. Having a 4th protection state other than Safe/Caution/Warning is not all too common in major AV products today so it is a valid question...I care.
     
  11. Techfox1976

    Techfox1976 Registered Member

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    If I had to guess about the manual, I'd say it's probably because Joe updates the program faster than the people who make the manual can keep up. XD
     
  12. STV0726

    STV0726 Registered Member

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    True...I do believe strongly that the blue was in there at launch tho. :/
     
  13. Triple Helix

    Triple Helix Specialist

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    From Kit at the Webroot Community Forums via PM with his permission!

    TH
     
  14. STV0726

    STV0726 Registered Member

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    Oh I totally understand...

    ...I just wasn't aware blue was new :)

    I thought I remembered seeing it long ago back in Dec. And I remember Prevx 3 used blue for scan required, but Prevx 3 lacked a yellow. :p

    They should hire me to be one of the manual makers. Now THAT'S a job I'd love!!! :D
     
  15. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

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    Sorry for the delayed response - I'm in Austria working with our team there and therefore on a strange schedule :)

    The "Scan required" state is Blue instead of Yellow because there is no actual problem with protection at that point. You'll end up in a Scan Required state if you cancel the default learning scan, but WSA will still fully protect the system and monitor active processes. Finishing the learning scan is definitely helpful, however, as it allows WSA to learn about all of the active applications on your PC, rather than having to scan them for the first time when they execute, making your system run faster.
     
  16. STV0726

    STV0726 Registered Member

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    Thanks Joe! :D

    Cool, I like that. That makes sense.

    Besides X days left on trial, what else will the yellow show for then? What does WSA consider a protection issue that is non-critical?

    EDIT: And lastly, are there any other states besides red/yellow/blue/green? ;)
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2012
  17. Techfox1976

    Techfox1976 Registered Member

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    Well, yes, of course! There's 50 of them in the US, for example, including California and Colorado as two that start with C. :D

    Probably manuals are written based on a combination of tech information passed by the developers as well as observational information. If it takes a eek for the product to turn blue, and this state is rare, the it may not have been observed. So at that point, it's up to developers to pass all the information. :)
     
  18. STV0726

    STV0726 Registered Member

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    I think I remember suggesting something like this back in Prevx 3.0 2010 days...

    You know how WSA turns RED if you disable an entire shield, well, I wonder if WSA should turn YELLOW if the user just disables one or more of the heuristics. Currently I believe it still says You Are Protected (GREEN) which is more or less true but not ideal. Maybe it should change YELLOW but then have a DISMISS button to turn back to GREEN...just so the user is aware of the consequences of what they have done.

    Just a suggestion/thinking out loud. :)

    Also if someone cancels the cleanup scan doesn't it remain RED? If not it should at least show BLUE for scan required.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2012
  19. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

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    Disabling a non-essential shield will turn it yellow (i.e. the core system shield) and indeed, canceling a cleanup scan will remain red/infected. The heuristics won't toggle it as they aren't required and could end up scaring users at the moment, considering they'd be receiving a warning which is due to their previous conscious decision.
     
  20. STV0726

    STV0726 Registered Member

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    Awesome, that makes perfect sense & thanks for the clarification!

    So yellow is indeed for caution while red is warning. Blue is like a notice.

    I like the blue it is unique; most AVs especially suites these days just use green/yellow/red so it is interesting to see a 4th state--that's why it caught my eye.

    So I take it there are no other states?

    EDIT: I forgot to ask, will it show Blue if you keep canceling scheduled scans and don't let it scan for 24-48 hours or so?
     
  21. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

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    That's all of them, and yes, it will change blue if it hasn't completed a scheduled scan in 1 week and the user configures it to do so.
     
  22. STV0726

    STV0726 Registered Member

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    Thanks so much, Joe. You are always so helpful! :)

    As you've known me for awhile now, you probably have figured out I am a very detail-oriented person so I notice things that most people glance over or don't give a second thought and I like to know exactly what they mean. :D
     
  23. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

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    I appreciate that and enjoy answering specific questions :)
     
  24. Joe even though I did not pose this question. I do like coming here and reading your replies they are both clear and precise. Thank You :thumb:
     
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