useless security warnings?

Changed to Kaspersky a few months ago after trying several other security packages - and I'm getting somewhat frustrated with it!

In addition to letting it update and check 'on the fly', I run a regular weekly full scan. When I do, it detects a number of virus list threats which it reports as Advisory but 'Very Dangerous' - seven of them at the last count..

Without exception they are related to java, adobe air, or flash. I've tried doing updates on these, but it has made no difference whatsoever. Kaspersky has replied in gobbledigook.

Any thoughts from you experts please?

To put it as simply as possible I would just ignore it, providing you have no virus, I wouldn't pay much attention to what else Kaspersky has to say for itsself. It is nothing to worry about, use the computer for what its purpose is, not to worry about antivirus programs trying to make you paranoid.

Edited by Pipexer (Tue 11-Aug-09 14:19:35)

"providing you have no virus"

How do you know whether there is a virus, based on the very little that you've been told ?

Telling the OP to ignore it based on so little information is rather dangerous advice, I'd say. I'd like to see the Kaspersky logs before making any comment. I use Kaspersky on a few of my computers, and I don't get warnings marked as "Very dangerous".

In reply to a post by zebedeee:

"providing you have no virus"

How do you know whether there is a virus, based on the very little that you've been told ?

Telling the OP to ignore it based on so little information is rather dangerous advice, I'd say. I'd like to see the Kaspersky logs before making any comment. I use Kaspersky on a few of my computers, and I don't get warnings marked as "Very dangerous".

I did say "providing", I didn't say he did or he didn't had one.

If it is advisory, this is Kaspersky saying that the software isn't fully upto date, wow big deal. But I don't have the time getting into a discussion about this. The OP (and I don't want to be blunt or rude) can spend time worrying about it or ignore it, if it was me, I would be ignoring it, Kaspersky should go back to detecting viruses, not trying to tell me when I need to update my software.

Further information here, backing up exacly what I first suspected: http://forum.kaspersky.com/index.php?showtopic=68831...

and here: http://forum.kaspersky.com/lofiversion/index.php/t10...

thanks
very dangerous were perhaps ill chosen words by kaspersky.
how do i no there are NO threats left?

Edited by Pipexer (Tue 11-Aug-09 16:24:10)

Thanks, guys. As I wrote, I have kaspersky running full time, so had regarded this weekly check as 'belt and braces' - possibly paranoid. Perhaps I shouldn't bother?

These are flagged as 'vulnerabilities'. For example:
11/08/2009 10:13:02 Detected vulnerability http://www.viruslist.com/en/advisories/33810 c:\program files\real\realplayer\realplay.exe Very dangerous
Naturally I have looked up 33810 where, amongst the mass of verbiage, it reports that this appears fixed in version 11. I have already updated and have version 11.

The java ref is to 34451 and the other to 35948. Again, I can't find anything wrong.

Just too much information?

In reply to a post by spranglebolt:

Thanks, guys. As I wrote, I have kaspersky running full time, so had regarded this weekly check as 'belt and braces' - possibly paranoid. Perhaps I shouldn't bother?

These are flagged as 'vulnerabilities'. For example:
11/08/2009 10:13:02 Detected vulnerability http://www.viruslist.com/en/advisories/33810 c:\program files\real\realplayer\realplay.exe Very dangerous
Naturally I have looked up 33810 where, amongst the mass of verbiage, it reports that this appears fixed in version 11. I have already updated and have version 11.

The java ref is to 34451 and the other to 35948. Again, I can't find anything wrong.

Just too much information?

Hehe, realplayer is a vunerabilty, to your patience!

As with anyone who has Java I always reccomend going into control panel and removing all instances of Java, restarting the computer, and then going and downloading the latest version from the java website, this might clear this vunerability.

Realplayer, if you don't use it, uninstall it, it is a minor drain on resources. Seeing as BBC require you to have realplayer (or realplayer alternative) installed to watch their iPlayer, BBC quite clearly do not think it is very dangerous

I have Secunia installed - see here.

It's extremely helpful for highlighting apps where updates are available (and provides links to update) and those where a vulnerability exists but no fix has been released as yet.

I find it useful.

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

BBC quite clearly do not think it is very dangerous

I'm amazed that someone who claims to have as much experience in computers as you, has never heard of a well-known program or programs being infected by a virus. Within days of the Windows 7 RC release, virus-infected versions of it were appearing on torrents, and the fact that it was authored by Microsoft didn't automatically make that version safe. The fact that a virus report points to a well-known and respected piece of software does not mean that it can't be an infection. Maybe this time the OP has had a reaction to a few trivialities, but I would not take a flippant attitude to any warning of a possible security breach.

The purpose of Vulnerability Warnings are informative � not to detect the presence, or otherwise, of virus/malware.

With Vulnerability Warning feature turned on:

If software infected, antivirus component deals with it -Vulnerability Warning also indicates 'vulnerability'


With Vulnerability Warning feature turned off:

If software infected, antivirus component deals with it - Vulnerability Warning does nothing because it's turned off.


Ergo: Vulnerability Warning can be turned off without compromising security.