AppGuard 3.x 32/64 Bit

Please read the help topic related to Windows Update (Under Advanced Topics->Trouble Shooting and Usage -> Topic 10).

This really applies to the older release of AppGuard though and Windows Update should be much improved in the new version (I need to update the Help - not my most favorite thing to do). Anyway, one developer told me that you could try adding the following exception files (on the Guarded App tab):

c:\windows\softwaredistribution\authcabs\muauth.cab
c:\windows\windowsupdate.log

Be sure to set the "Type" to "Read/Write". We're going to add these exceptions as part of the default policy in the released version.

 

Yikes! I thought we fixed that bug a while ago. I forwarded to the developers to take a look.

 

If you click on the icon itself, it will change back to displaying the protection level. Do you want something in addition to that?

 

I think we're very close to finishing up the development on the release version so that we can deliver our "final" release candidate to QA by COB today so that they can test tomorrow, through the weekend (lucky them) and Monday. I think we'll go live on Monday evening unless any show stoppers arise in the meantime.

Tomorrow I'll take some time to list all of the improvements that resulted from your feedback. I can't thank you all enough!!!

 

Thanks, Barb.

I hope the final release has addressed the majority of the issues people were experiencing. At least, so far, I haven't yet experienced the SAM lockout issue [Win 7 32-bit] anymore and, the WMP is working playing video files after I added the exceptions pointed out by poster "stackz".
I have yet to see if the Windows Defender definitions update being blocked has been solved but, so far I haven't seen any issues.

You guys at Blue Ridge Networks have been doing a great job ensuring that this latest release of AG goes as smooth as possible and providing us with support and listening to our suggestions here at Wilders.

Regards,


Carlos

 

Any update on the final release? Beta is working great for me.

 

Beta is working great for me

 

Yes, I can't wait to get the final to start testing it as well!

 

I'm excited about it as well

btw the new website looks nice

 

Yes, the new website looks great! It looks very professional, and the new color scheme is easy on the eyes.

 

Also, congratulation on Blue Ridge Network's partnershift with GTRI! It appears these two companies are of like minds, and complement one another well! It looks like a win win situation.

 

Please read this thread on Blue Ridge Networks, and Shadow Defender. https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=2043032#post2043032

 

I want the new AppGuard, now!

 

me too

 

I'll check it out when I can come up for air. We're very close to releasing - missed our deadline last night.

 

Hopefully tonight!

 

My apologies for not getting back to you all on Friday (or the weekend or yesterday for that matter). We're hoping to put the new release on the web site this evening! You should start getting those annoying update reminders shortly.

There were quite a few changes in the release that came directly from your feedback. Here's a summary of the changes made since the beta release:

1. Microsoft Update Support: Enhancements have been made to the default policy and its enforcement to significantly reduce AppGuard’s interference with Microsoft Updates. Until Microsoft digitally signs all of its update files, issues may still be encountered, but this release should increase the update success rate.

2. Policy Enhanced to Stop Additional Attack Vectors: Programs At.exe and SchTasks.exe are not permitted to launch in “High” or “Locked Down” protection levels. Currently the policy for these programs has been added to the “User-Space” policy even though they are found in the Windows System 32 directory. This was done to expedite the inclusion of this protection in this release. In a future release, these applications will be included as part of a “red list” policy (red listed applications will not be permitted to run).

3. Number of Exception/Protected Folders/Private Folders Increased: The combined total number of folders that can be specified as part of the Guard List Policy (Exception, Protected Folders and Private Folders) has been increased from 16 to 128.

4. Settable Default Protection Level : AppGuard will prompt the user to select the default protection level during installation. In addition to allowing the user to select their default protection level, this educates the user about the use of AppGuard protection levels.

5. Defect Fixes and Minor Enhancements:

a. Fixed an issue that prevented Guarded applications from writing to “user profile” folder if the application specified the path in short format.
b. Suspending Privacy Mode from the tray menu was not working. This has been fixed in this release.
c. Privacy Mode Status Messages are no longer reported in the “Normal” alert level.
d. With the exception of Privacy Mode alerts, the “Normal” level Alert Status Log policy has been reverted back to version 3.2 Alert policy.
e. On some Windows 7 64-bit systems, Windows Media Player did not operate properly in Locked Down and High protection levels. The following exceptions were added to the Protected Folders policy in order to fix this defect:

c:\users\public\libraries\recordedtv.library-ms
c:\users\public\pictures\desktop.ini
c:\users\public\desktop.ini
c:\users\public\videos\desktop.ini
c:\users\public\music\desktop.ini​

f. A brief tutorial is displayed before AppGuard is installed. This won't affect updates.
g. Blue Ridge Networks has been added to the trusted publisher list so that it can update itself without requiring the Protection Level to be reduced.
h. On 64-bit systems, the full path for the Microsoft Malware Removal tool was incorrect in the default policy so it was not being added as a power application.
i. Applications launched by power applications are also considered by AppGuard to be power applications.
j. The intermittent issue with AppGuard displaying a message to enter an integer between 0 and 1 has been fixed in this release.
k. The following anomalies from past releases have been fixed:

i. Switching the protection level to Locked Down from a lower level sometimes caused user-space Guarded applications to become unGuarded.
ii. MemoryGuard interfered with opening up Power Point file attachments from Outlook.
iii. MemoryGuard interfered with Internet Explorer launching the default mail client when clicking on an email link.​

l. The trial expiration message has been enhanced to include a count of the blocking events that AppGuard performed during the trial.
m. The AppGuard Policy files are now protected for all users (previous versions only protected them when Parental Controls were invoked).​

Sorry that we couldn't get everything you asked for in this release. High priority candidates for the next release are:

1. Allow Power Applications to be specified during the installation. This will have to be handled in such a way so that most novice users won't see it. We're trying to make this product easy to use and asking users to specify power apps during installation will give the impression that AppGuard is more complicated than it is (our hopes is that most people can use AppGuard out-of-the-box in the High Protection level).
2. Allow customization of the Alert Levels.
3. Red list policy (specify applications that aren't allowed to run in Locked Down and High Protection Levels).
4. Parental Controls for Power Application Settings.​

 

Barb,


WOW! That's a bunch of fixes/enhancements for this long awaited AppGuard new release.
I'm eager to download the final version and test it on my computer.


I have to congratulate Blue Ridge Networks software engineers for this great job.



Carlos

 

First, thank you very much for the update Barb! I'm excited to hear the final will be available shortly. I'm very excited to see that BRN has decided to give an option to define Power apps during the installation process for an upcoming release. It was a request of mine, and I would like to thank them for listening to their testers advise! I would like to address Blue Ridge Networks concern with designing an installation wizard that will not confuse novice users. I knew this would be a concern, and I had already thought of a solution. During the installation process it would be easy to give two options that would facilitate both Novice, and the more tech savvy to expert users. There should be an option for a Normal installation, and an option for an Advanced installation.

A Normal installation would have (recommended for most user) next to it in parentheses. Almost all novice users I have ever encountered choose Normal installation when prompted. That's how they end up installation so many toolbars, adds, and other unwanted software on their PC's. This is already a common practice, and would work well for BRN's end goal of trying to make AG easier to use for novice users. It is my understanding that Power apps are to prevent incompatibility issues that may arise with other security applications. A normal installation would scan the user's PC for other security applications, and add them as a Power app without the user having to understand how AG works. The user would not have to be bothered at all by the installation wizard to decide which applications need to be defined as a Power App.

An Advanced installation would allow the user to define which applications he or she would like to add as a Power App during the installation wizard. It also facilitates the option to add none if the more advanced user does not want to define a Power App during the installation. An advanced installation could in reality give the user the option to add publishers to the trusted publisher's list, Memory Guard exceptions, Guarded applications, User Space Exceptions, etc.. I would recommend allowing the user to define define Power apps, and Trusted Publishers during an Advanced installation. This would be the most useful for avoiding incompatibility with other Security Applications. User space exceptions, Memory Guard Exceptions, Guarded Applications, etc.. could at any time be made part of the installation wizard in the future if needed.

 

New version working great. Great job Blue Ridge!!!

 

Thanks everyone for your kind words! AppGuard 3.3 should be live soon (if not already). If you reboot, you should see the pesky update reminder.

Cutting, I think your suggestions regarding the installation wizard are right-on. I can probably just cut and paste your post to give to the Install developer (thanks for saving me some time).

 

Reminders popped up on all machines here without reboot. Thanks for the update.

 

i updated my AG and AG was set to lock down mode. when i updated it was set to High Mode. not sure if that is intentional or a bug. just thought id let it be known.

other than that working great.

 

AppGuard New Release 3.3.4.0

AppGuard April 2012 New Release 3.3.4.0 . Pdf docs for change log.thanks http://www.blueridge.com/index.php/support/products