CounterSpy 3.1.2250 - Released

It still flags winpfind as win32.exploiter 1.2. Malware possibility: 9% I would say false positive.

 

I tried that one.

With active protection, but not 'on access', this version 3 performed better (and acceptably) than the one I had tried previously.

I chose the 'paranoid' setting, just as I did with 2.5.1043.

I was asked several times if I wanted to block or allow certain windows services (Windows XP), even the task manager ! Not a real problem though.

BUT:

On installation of version 3, Counterspy detected the Spy Sweeper and my antivirus, and strongly advised me (I don't recall the wording, it was stronger than just a recommendation), NOT to use active protection because of potential (performance?) problems due to the presence of those two programs. EVEN the antivirus ! (Which has some antispyware capabilities, but which antivirus doesn't these days?).

It was not just a suggestion to disable what Sunbelt has called 'on access' protection, but active protection ! So that would leave me with just an on-demand antispyware program. There are several good FREE antispyware applications available for on-demand scans, so why buy Counterspy ?

So, while I was testing it with active protection enabled, and I hardly noticed any performance isssues, Sunbelt's recommendation was to NOT use active protection. That was and is just not good enough, what if problems show up at a later time ?

So I did the only sensible thing, I restored an image with Counterspy 2.5.1043, definition version 866. I don't think I'll ever try a version 3 again.

I feel definitely let down by Sunbelt. They ruined a good product. And I've paid for a subscription, almost a year left !

It seems they've been working on an antivirus with antispyware capabilities (VIPRE), with Counterspy 3 just as an afterthought.

I wonder if they will continue to update 2.5.1043 in definition versions.

Sunbelt ?

This whole business makes me consider permanently uninstalling Counterspy, and changing my security configuration.

Currently I have disabled automatic updates and have Counterspy blocked in the firewall. My IMPRESSION is that this causes more memory to be used.

 

Hi. further on Counterspy v2 updates..tempo fix as per post #46 auto updated to definition version 871. regards

 

Fly:

That warning was added because some users have reported compatibility problems with other anti-malware products. And that kind of warning is rather standard with anti-malware products (we're not the only ones who issue such a warning -- some won't even let you install) because the possibility for conflicts does exist, esp. if you have two or more anti-malware products running with real-time ("Active") protection enabled. If both products are running kernel-level drivers, then the possibility for problems only worsens.

That said, I can't guarantee that there will be conflicts between VIPRE/CounterSpy 3 and any other particular anti-malware product -- or that there won't be for that matter. In our beta testing it wasn't uncommon for several users to report that VIPRE (from which CS 3 is derived) worked just peachy with product ABC, only to have another user report problems. I've even seen instances when two anti-malware programs co-existed just fine only to start conflicting after a service update to one of them.

The bottom line is: you're welcome to try running CounterSpy 3 alongside another anti-malware program with Active Protection -- they very well might co-exist. The strongly worded warning that you saw is designed mainly to prevent potential problems before they ever occur on the PCs of less knowledgeable folks, not power users.

We will continue to update defs for CSC 2.5 for the time being. The product will not be supported indefinitely, however.

Eric L. Howes
Sunbelt Software

 

Well, this new version (3.1.2315) didn't resolve my problem in anyway I still can scan my system with this version 3.1 of counterspy

 

After several uninstalls and reg cleans I finally got v3 installed. To my dismay version 3 (without vipre) does not play at all with NOD32. When I exited NOD32 it worked fine and does download updates faster, BUT I would never give up NOD32 for CS. I did like CS v2, but if it's going to be a hassle to get defs then it just isn't worth it.

 

Have to agree re. Ver 3 and NOD/ESET. Ver 2.5 and ESET Smart Security Suite have been coexisting on my machine for quite some time now. Trying Counterspy Ver 3, I got the warning messages, then several issues with uninstalling, re-installing Ver 2.5, cleaning registry, etc. I'm a longtime NOD32 user, then ESET Suite, and have used and trust Counterspy. These are my primary frontline protection tools. If Ver 2.5 won't be supported and ultimately Ver 3 is the only option, and it will not co-exist with ESET (meaning I have to make a choice between Counterspy and ESET) then sorry Counterspy I may have to (not willingly) say goodbye.

 

The latest definition version for 2.5.1043 I have is 866.

I know that recently there was a 871 version.

Today, I tried a 'full definitions' update, and I got a message like 'you have the latest definitions'.

So that's the end of updating 2.5.1043. I don't know if that script ( see a few posts back) still does anything, but I consider this the end of updating Counterspy.

I wonder to what extent Counterspy 2.5 depends on the definitions for active protection.

Sunbelt ?

In all the time (more than a year) I've been using Counterspy it never detected anything (on-demand scan), except for some cookies and one low risk level adware program. I use Counterspy for active (real-time) protection, scanning for present malware is less important (but not irrelevant!).

 

Hi Fly..see my post #53..my counterpy v2 updated to version 871 which is the last one as already confirmed to me by Tim Nolan of the Sunbelt Suppport.
Best Regards

 

'the last one' Meaning, there won't be any further definition updates for Counterspy 2.5.1043 ?

 

No, I don't mean there won't be further updates. My Counterspy v2 is skd for autoupdate in 30 minutes. Will post results. Regards

 

Thank you.

I'm just not enthousiastic about updating through a script on this webpage.

skd means ?

And as I stated, downloading the 'full definitions' doesn't work anymore.

 

the updates of the security risk definitions for Counterspy 2.5.1043 went OK for the last 4 days till definition version 871. now got again warning that definitions are out of date. can't update and the Windows Installer does not install v3.
So I have removed Counterspy v2 and I'm gonna to ask for money back since
I bought 2 licences on Aug.10 that at this point R useless. Regards

 

Counterspy v2.5.1043 is driving me crazy. I don't want to give up all hope so have reinstalled the program again and to my surprise even if it warned me that the new software is available it autoupdated to security risk definitions 872 !!!

 

Some more fun here.

Since there supposedly was a version 872, I tried updating by downloading the full definitions. (And I did unblock Counterspy in the firewall)

(I wasn't too fond of the idea of updating through a script posted on this board)

The download started, and after a while there was a message about 'merging the definitions'. Merging definitions shouldn't be necessary when downloading the full definitions, and I don't think I've ever seen that before.

After a while, I found out my computer was frozen !

To be on the safe side, I restored an image.

I'm really out of patience.

 

sorry to hear about what has been done to Counterspy with version 3.1 and what you have just mentioned above.

I don't want a "one pill cures all ills software" ...

Also sorry I just signed up for another year and might not get the updates all year.....

I liked your software from the first day you started it but the recent decisions have just driven me away from it.....

 

Abby Normal:

You wrote:

We're actually seeing fewer problems with version 3.1 than when we rolled out the 2.x series. There are some issues that our devs are working on, but I do expect that these will be resolved. We've already rolled out one Hotfix update, and another is planned shortly.

No product is supported forever. As I said above, however, we are continuing to release definitions for version 2.5, and we have no firm date for discontinuing those definitions.

And CounterSpy 3.1 isn't a "one pill cures all ills" application -- it's an anti-spyware/anti-malware application. It lacks the anti-virus protection of VIPRE. It also lacks firewall, anti-spam, and parental control functionality. It does sport improved protection, detection, and remediation, but it is more certainly not a "one pill cures all ills" program.

Eric L. Howes
Sunbelt Software

 

(partial quote above)

Well, what IS Counterspy 3 ? antimalware=antivirus+antispyware.

It looks like an antivirus (these days they often have antispyware capabilities as well) without the antivirus ! VIPRE minus the specific antivirus part.

And btw, updating 2.5 doesn't seem safe ! My computer didn't like what was in that soup !

 

I hope you are kidding! I never had a major bug with version 2.X series (at least they were found and resolved in beta testing wich version 3.1 never had!) compare to version 3.1 (can't scan)... And it is more than 2-3 weeks that I am waiting a solution to my problem of scanning with Counterspy 3.1?!?

 

Atomas31:

You wrote:

You can't assume that your experience with an application is universal. Just because you didn't have problems with 2.x doesn't mean other folks didn't. And just because you're currently experiencing an issue with 3.1 does not mean that's its universal or even widespread.

So, no, I'm not kidding. I've been with Sunbelt from the release of CounterSpy 1.0 onward. And this latest release has been by far the smoothest I've seen. That's not to say we haven't had reports of problems -- we have, and the devs are working on them. But the release of 3.1 has presented far fewer problems than any earlier version.

Eric L. Howes
Sunbelt Software

 

Does anyone have any positive or negative experiences updating the definitions for version 2.5 (without installing version 3) ?

Please also state method of updating.

I'm rather hesitant to attempt any update, last time I tried a 'full definitions' download, my computer froze.

I'm thinking about uninstalling Counterspy. When the definitions get too old it's mostly useless.

I have paid money for this program.

 

First time I go through the update procedure I always get there is new software. I kill the connection using Ewido. Then restart the update procedure and the update of the incremental definitions to the 2.5 version old CounterSpy proceeds. A bit of a pain, but it usually works! See screenshots.

 

Thanks Tarnak, but that method is a bit too complicated for me.

 

Hi Fly, just discovered this procedure two days ago and it works.
Open Counterspy then click on the tab FILE (top-left)
in the sub-menu click on DOWNLOAD FULL DEFINITIONS.
a window will open showing :
Downloading new definitions
updating definitions from 0 to xxx (876 is the last def up-to-date)
let the program work..it takes a while (less than 5 minutes) but at the end of
the process U wl get counterspy updated.
I follow this procedure daily and update counterspy regularly. Regards