[font=Trebuchet Ms][size=3]I've been having problems with my McAfee Security Suite. Various features are being spotaneously disabled for no reason. Their customer support person said it was other software and I should un-install any software other than theirs. I am not satisfied with this answer and would like to know if anyone has encountered this before. I don't want to hear, "Just get rid of McAfee and use Lavasoft anti-virus." That is being just like everyone else. I might do that in the future; I like Lavasoft so far but I want to what kind of help I get with this problem first. It's a kind of test.

Hello Bob.

The problem you are encountering is due to a conflict between the two security applications. Conflicts can occur when silmutaneously running anti-spyware / applications containing anti-spyware related signatures. We are actively working on fixing this problem, though it should be remembered that regardless, conflicts can occur

However, to help us asscertain your specific problem; please do the following.

• Unload Ad-Watch, and disable the Ad-Watch "load on startup" option
  
• Restart Your computer to allow McAfee to correctly load up.
  
• Start Ad-Aware
  
• In the settings for Ad-Aware, choose "Tweak -> Engine Settings"
  
• Deselect the "Unload recognised modules during scan"
  
• Now perform an Ad-Aware scan. At the end of the scan, you may see a McAfee process recognised as "Possible New Malware" -> Take no action at this point, but send us a scan log of your findings
  
• The scan log can be sent through our file submission service on www.lavasoftresearch.com/submit.php

As a temporary fix, you can disable automatic blocking, and when asked if you wish to accept/block the process, choose accept. This will make Ad-Watch ignore McAfee

Thanks

Team Lavasoft

O.K., I did everything you said. I didn't see anything saying "Possible New Malware" but I sent the scan log.
One thing I noticed: When I disabled AdWatch and restarted, the McAfee icon came up black anyway--which means something is disabled--so the problem might be internal to McAfee and not related to AdWatch anyway.
As to the temporary fix: I need more detail on "Disable Auto Blocking" In AdWatch>Tools and Preferences>Blocking Options there is a "Block suspicious processes" option. Shut that off or is it something else? Thanks again for your help.

LS SteveJ ...

There have been reports that Ad-Aware shuts down McAfee's scanning services, causing VirusScan and AntiSpyware to crash.

In fairness, McAfee targets certain of Ad-Aware SE's files, and most of us suggest those files be added to the McAfee whitelist.

This seems to be happening more frequently now that the anti-virus vendors are incorporating anti-spyware databases into their definitions. As a result, conflicts are occuring when both are run.

@Bob A ...

What happens is that the various applications are looking for the same malware that Ad-Aware SE is seeking out. When this happens, a malware signature in a real time monitor can make the monitor itself look malicious.

Even some firewall companies are getting into the anti-spyware battle, so the situation will only get worse in the short run.

The solution seems to be to UNCHECK "Always try to unload modules before deletion" as LS SteveJ has suggested. Next, when the scan is completed, select any McAfee processes in the list and add them to the Ignore List.

This should enable McAfee and Ad-Aware SE to play 'nice' with each other.



Launch Ad-Aware SE and check for updates. Next click on the gear to access the Configuration Menu. Click on Tweak > Cleaning Engine > UNcheck "Always try to unload modules before deletion".

1. Run a full system scan with Ad-Aware SE
2. Select the objects you want to add to the ignore list in the Scan Summary, Critical Objects, or Negligible Objects lists on the Scanning Results screen.
3. Right click and select "Add selected to ignore list"
4. A pop-up window showing the number of objects that will be added to the ignore list opens. Click "OK" to continue.

The object is now added to the Ignore List. Run a new scan to select the remaining objects to be quarantined.

This is correct Winchester. The more vendors that add anti-spyware signatures to their databases, the more conflicts will occur. However, these conflicts usually show themselves when a real time monitor is involved, because the chance that two anti-spyware solutions are loaded at the same time is increased. Bob A., If McAfee has been damaged by this conflict then you should reinstall McAfee, and follow the steps I mentioned earlier (turning off the "Unload Recognised Modules During Scan" option. Then scan while McAfee is running, and post the Ad-Aware log file

Thanks

@ LS SteveJ ...

Sometimes 'more' isn't 'better' ...