CounterSpy 3.1.2250 - Released

Discussion in 'other anti-malware software' started by Malcontent, Aug 13, 2008.

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  1. Persian Boy

    Persian Boy Registered Member

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    CounterSpy 3.1.2252 Released:rolleyes:

    but what changes in the new version?
     
  2. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    For those who have tried Counterspy version 3: how slow/fast is the process of downloading definitions ? And merging definition files ? The latter can usually take 5-8 minutes on version 2.5.1043.
     
  3. ambient_88

    ambient_88 Registered Member

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    It's way faster than before. For me, it took about 1-2 minutes to download and merge the full definition.
     
  4. SIR****TMG

    SIR****TMG Registered Member

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    I'm using the newest one out 3.1.2252 and it took 1 min. Super fast and I love this new one. Can't find one thing to complain about now this is very odd.
     
  5. Metting

    Metting Registered Member

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    Just a quick report about CS release 3.1.2252

    1- Installation went smooth without any issue.

    2- Update was about 49 meg "as there were no definitions included in the installation file".

    3- No slowdowns or conflicts of any type, keeping in mind that I installed CS on a fully patched XP SP3 with the following security apps installed:
    Active protection is enabled in CS with custom rules which are "Prompt me for an action" for all.

    Although with this setup there are 3 different HIPS working in the real time i.e OP2009, SSM, and CS and also Regdefend is monitoring registry, but I didn't notice any conflicts which is very good sign for CS new design.

    4- The optin "Check files when they are opened or copied" is disabled, and when I enable it I notice a remarkable slowdown when open folders which contains a lot of files, this is logic since Avira and CS are fighting to scan files on access.

    5- No conflicts between CS and active Antispyware module in OP2009 when running any exe file.

    6- RAM use of CS is SBAMSvc 25 m, SBAMTray 9.6 m, but when open CS GUI it's process sbamui take another 24 m which is so much !

    7- I really miss " Allow only once" button in this release in which there are 2 buttons only "Block" and "Allow" ,and when you choose on of them the app. in question go directly to "Always allowed" or "Always blocked" , this is not practical at all. I hope Sunbelt will reconsider this in the next release and give us back the lovely "ONCE action" buttons.

    8- A quick scan went very smoothly, but I didn't make a full or deep scan yet.

    9- Size of updates are unknown to me till know because there is no update available since I installed CS and made the first 49 m update, but I think updates server is more speedy now as the 49 m update downloaded with about 50kb/s which is reasonable speed when compared with 16 or 20 which I used to practice when download updates in the CS 2.5.

    10- The new GUI is much faster in response to my clicks and orders than the older sluggish one of ver 2.5, also it's design is more logic and beautiful.

    11- No system slowdown in this release at all ,in ver 2.5 there was a noticeable slowdown, so it is a big advance.

    My conclusion
    CS 3.1.2252 is a big advance and it is the best release ever, and I have only 2 notes about it :
    1- "Allow once" and "Block once" buttons must be back again.
    2- Fingers crossed concerning the size of updates and it's merging time, and soon we will know.

    All the best for Sunbelt and greetings for this very good release and keep on the good work.

    Metting

    Just now I checked manually for update and found update from 2195 to 2196 the size is 2 mg and merging time take about 30 seconds which is very good
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2008
  6. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    System: hardware a few years old, Windows XP Home Edition, service pack 2, IE 7 with tweaked security settings.

    I'm not so pleased with the update to version 3 that Sunbelt tried to push on my system. :mad:

    I just intended to (manually) update my definitions, but there was a 'software update' that could not be bypassed. So I went along with it.

    I could choose between: upgrade to VIPRE (not yet !), upgrade to version 3, or 'ask me later'.

    I opted for the upgrade to version 3.

    Sadly, in many ways it's just a different program. Not just a variation on the Counterspy 2.5.1043 that I've been using, to my satisfaction, for over a year.

    Well, I really needed to disable what Sunbelt called the 'on access' feature, for performance reasons.

    I tried to configure it as well as I could, also opting for the 'paranoid' setting just like I did with version 2.5.1043.

    Does this new version have some new weird behaviour blocker ? I was asked if I wanted to allow 'iexplore.exe' (I presume IE 7), alg.exe (a common Windows service), svchost(.exe?), and a few more of those.

    Then I started browsing the web. I could quickly access some websites, but I could really notice a significant slowdown when I tried to access certain websites. It wasn't a lot, but I want to be able to quickly access the web without delays I'm not used to. I suppose this is a thing common to new security applications, my hardware has trouble keeping up. So I ditched version 3, just like I did with the new Spy Sweeper version 5.8.

    So I restored an older image of my system. I tried to update Counterspy again, clicked on the 'ask me later', and then I had a system with Counterspy uninstalled ! The nerve ! (I waited a while, but Counterspy was gone, from the task bar anyway).

    Again: image restore, update full definitions file, disable automatic updates, block Counterspy in the firewall. :mad: I guess I'll be using Counterspy without regular definition updates. I could have chosen to use Counterspy version 3 without active protection, but that is not what I want.

    And yes, Counterspy is not the only security application with antispyware capabilities, but there were no problems or performance issues with 2.5.1043.
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2008
  7. maddawgz

    maddawgz Registered Member

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    I'm running this with Antivir Premium seems the best set up ive had so far :argh: :argh:
     
  8. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    Has anyone else -excluding those with a fast modern machine- experienced a decrease in speed when browsing the web while using version 3 with active protection ?
     
  9. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    I also wonder if there is a clash between the Spy Sweeper 5.5.7 and Counterspy version 3, regarding the observed decrease in speed ?

    I know there is a clash (=slower speed) between the Sunbelt/Kerio firewall and the Spy Sweeper.

    According to Sunbelt, this was due two 'programs following two different codepaths' (paraphrase, not exact quote), and they said they were working on (in)compability issues.

    Again, Counterspy 2.5.1043: no slowdown whatsoever. Version 3: very noticeable on certain webpages.
    I wonder if it's a case of 'different codepaths'.
     
  10. TW843

    TW843 Registered Member

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    Good evening ..re Counterspy I bought 2 licences of the v2 on aug 10 this year.
    definitions risk update went well till 2 days ago when the auto update adzd me that definitions risk were out of date asking me to upgrade to v3. it then downloaded the v3 but the InstallShieldWizard always stops and program does not load. Sunbelt support told me to remove Counterspy v2, run the Windows Install Clean Up, run the CSC clean and then to install v3 but all of this did not work. So I have now my 2 PCs without antispyware/antimalware. I'm still waiting for further help from Counterspy support..if any. or full reimbursement for the 2 licences that became useless now.
    I have on home PC NOD32 v2.70.39 Italian language and Online Armor firewall
    2.1.0.131 (paid) with licence expiring Oct 09. My question at this point is:
    having NOD32 plus Online Armor do I really need an antispyware/antimalware software installed?? my OS is windows XP Pro svc pk3.
    if YES which do U experts suggest ??
    I use PC mainly for sending/receiving mail and surfing the web for not more than 3-4 hours splitted in the day..never at night.
    Your help will be very much appreciated. Thanks
     
  11. emperordarius

    emperordarius Registered Member

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    Yes! NOD32 is one of the worst avs when dealing with spyware. I personally suggest SUPERAntiSpyware(would be even better the PRO version) with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware(FREE). But If you will continue to use Counterspy, just get the Free Superantispyware and Malwarebytes and run on demand scans periodically.
     
  12. TW843

    TW843 Registered Member

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    Thanks emperordarius. Can't use Counterspy v2 because does not update any more and v3 installation is stopped by windows installer. will give a try to the products U suggested. thank you.
     
  13. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    Won't the 'full definitions' update work anymore ?
     
  14. eburger68

    eburger68 Privacy Expert

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    Folks:

    We are still updating CounterSpy v. 2. Definitions for that version of CounterSpy have not stopped.

    TW843, I will contact our folks in support to see what's going on with your ticket.

    Best,

    Eric L. Howes
    Sunbelt Software
     
  15. TW843

    TW843 Registered Member

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    eburger68, Mr. Eric L: Howes, thank u for yr reply. I can confirm that on my
    PC v2 does not update anymore the risk definitions if I do not upgrade to the v3.. Your Customer Support Centre has a full bunch of my PC screen shots sent to them in PDF format showing exactly what
    I get when trying to install v3. I'm standing-by for outcomes. Best regards
     
  16. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    To avoid a misunderstanding:

    When I recently tried to update (I use manual, not automatic, updates), I received a software update that could not be bypassed. So I did install that, next thing I was offered three different choices: upgrade to VIPRE (not yet!), upgrade to Counterspy 3, and 'ask me later'.

    First I chose the upgrade to version 3, but I quickly learned (even after disabling on access protection) that it was basically a program I didn't want on my computer.

    I restored an earlier, recent, image. I tried again, opting for 'ask me later'. After I had done that, Counterspy was no longer visible on the task bar at the bottom of the screen. No definitions update followed. I didn't actually verify if it had been (completely) uninstalled. Even if it had not completely uninstalled, I wouldn't want a nagware version of Counterspy on my computer.

    I restored an image again, did a full definitions update for Counterspy, then blocked Counterspy in the firewall ! I'm back to 2.5.1043, definitions version 866.

    I realize now this post is almost the same as the one I made earlier, but I'll leave it here anyway.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2008
  17. TW843

    TW843 Registered Member

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    Fly, what U wrote is the same situation on my PC. Have reinstalled v2 but
    risk definitions did not update so I removed v2 for good.Regards
     
  18. Abby Normal

    Abby Normal Registered Member

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    I downloaded the 3.1 on 21 Aug, do I have the latest version with the corrections??

    Also I am running ESET NOD 32. Maybe I should just stay with my 2.5.1043 ?

    I am running XP PRO with SP2 and am just about ready to go to SP3...

    Other than Counterspy taking forever to update I don't have any problems with it on active....

    Any suggestions??
     
  19. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    From what I understand: version 3.1 comes without any definition files, you have to download them after you have downloaded Counterspy. Then you can configure several things, including updates.

    What I've read is that updates with version 3 are much faster, but I can't verify that.
     
  20. Abby Normal

    Abby Normal Registered Member

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    All of the above has me a bit nervous about installing the one I downloaded.

    Perhaps I will wait a bit longer and see what happens......

    Thanks....
     
  21. MikewSunbelt

    MikewSunbelt Registered Member

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    As a temporary fix,for people that are having trouble updaing the definitions on the 2.5 version. I have written a script that will install the latest definitions. click on the following link to download then run the script.
    http://www.sunbelt-software.com/ihs/csc2defs.exe

    If you encounter trouble running the script, you can manually download the definitions in a .zip format.
    http://www.sunbelt-software.com/ihs/csc2.5Defs.zip

    After downloading the file, right click on the CounterSpy icon and choose "Shutdown CounterSpy"

    Unzip, or Extract the files and move the contense of the folder to the
    CounterSpy folder in;

    C:\Program Files\Sunbelt Software\CounterSpy

    You will want to replace all the files of the same name that already in the
    folder. Make sure you have CounterSpy shutdown during this process or the
    files will not copy over.
     
  22. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    I'd think a more permanent solution would be preferred. Why do we only get these three options when updating: install VIPRE, install Counterspy 3, or 'ask me later', in which case Counterspy is uninstalled (at least from the task bar) ? (No option to just update the definitions)

    I can imagine for a number of reasons Sunbelt wants to move its Counterspy subscribers to switch to version 3. But I am one of those who don't want to because of performance issues.

    Running a script ? Who knows what could go wrong. :rolleyes:

    Some time ago, Sunbelt stopped mentioning the current definitions file on its website. I'm currently at version 866. What's the current number, if there is any ?

    Partial quote: 'Make sure you have CounterSpy shutdown during this process'.
    What does shutdown mean in this case ?
     
  23. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    Regarding the definition updates (2.5.1043):

    I just did a quick check, and it seems that updates for the 2.5 version have become rather infrequent.

    Some time ago, I restored an image after the problems with version 3, and then I did a full definitions download for 2.5.1043. That got me definition version 866. I just attempted and subsequently aborted a full definitions download to see the latest definition version.

    It's 870 ! Definitely not daily updates anymore. Why would I take risks with a script if I get a feeling that 2.5 will be abandoned ?
     
  24. TW843

    TW843 Registered Member

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    Hi, I followed MikewSunbelt instructions and downloaded from the link:http://www.sunbelt-software.com/ihs/csc2defs.exe
    Counterspy v2 auto updated to definition version 870 that is the last one as
    already confirmed by Tim Nolan of the Sunbelt support. After I shut down Counterspy and run the csc2defs.exe the files in
    C:\Program Files\Sunbelt Software\CounterSpy were auto overwritten .
    My security risk definitions are now updated.
    Will see what happens at next sked autoupdate and wl let U know. Regards
     
  25. Metting

    Metting Registered Member

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    CounterSpy 3.1.2315 - Released

    For all who have problems with 2250, why not try this
     
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