SpyPC installed by Punchclock Server

Build 1456 finds the following items on my machine: Pepesearch and SpyPC. Both are installed by PunchClock Server 2.20, a commercial program which we purchased to replace the timeclock in the office. When Privacy Expert removes them, Punchclock Server no longer functions properly. It at least requires the Dartsock.dll which is part of the SpyPC package. Anyway, since PE doesn't seem to have an option to not remove certain items, I will have to either 1) replace Punchclock or 2) replace the scheduled scan of PE. I will be contacting Punchclock and asking them why components (at least) of SpyPC are included in their package. PE finds 42 items pertaining to SpyPC. Is it possible that this is a false positive?

 

Hello Maxwel,

Thank you for choosing Acronis Internet Privacy and Antispyware Software.

Here is the brief description of these items in our Malicious Software Database:

Pepesearch - PepeSearch collects information from you. PepeSearch, uses the services of Engage for the serving and/or targeting of ads, promotions and other marketing messages.

SpyPC - SpyPC is a keylogger program that logs the keystrokes typed by the user, captures screenshots periodically, allows the computer to be blocked, disables several system functions, and registers the executed programs and accessed files. It has an English interface. SpyPC spies on user, collects and sends an personal user's information to an attacker via email.

So we recommend you to consult with the manufacturer of this PunchClock Server 2.20 software on this matter. You can also use the non-scheduled scanning in order to be able to exclude these items from the list after scanning.

Thank you.
--
Kirill Omelchenko

 

Punchclock support replied:

"PunchClock does not install any spyware. It does install and use that Dartsock.dll. If you have installed one of those spyware programs, it may take control of that dll and render PunchClock unusable. Unistalling it will too!

You can have both spyware and PunchClock working, but install the spyware first.

Many programs including Microsoft Antispyware use Dartsock.dll.

Please let us know if this answers your question. Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Support Team
support@punch-clock.com
"

 

I believe that Dartsock.dll is a socket library produced by http://www.dart.com - I used it once many years ago. Could be wrong - but looks like an FP on a generic library.

 

Hello Maxwel,

Please accept our apologies for the delay with the response.

If you would like us to proceed with the investigation of this issue then please create Windows System Information as it is described in Acronis Help Post and submit a request for technical support. Attach the collected information to your request along with the step-by-step description of the actions taken before the problem appears and the link to this thread. We will investigate the problem and try to provide you with the solution.

Thank you.
--
Kirill Omelchenko