AVG is telling me there's a virus, in an EXE file, not in a data file. AVG keeps asking me if it should quarantine the following file:

C:\ProgramData\BOINC\projects\setiathome.berkeley.edu\setiathome_7.07_windows_intelx86__opencl_ati5_sah.exe

Is this a problem or should I create an exception for it?

I always exempt both BOINC folders in Program Files and ProgramData

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Use Avast free and ditch AVG!

I've dealt with more false positives from Avast than from AVG, in recent months.

plus avast has a fable for not letting the machine boot after updates and just makes the machine bluescreen

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I came down with a bad case of i don't give a crap

If you want a good free anti-virus, Microsoft Security Essentials is a good one. It is built into Windows 10, and is available for download for Windows XP through 8.1.

If you want an excellent anti-virus and are willing to pay a subscription, you can't beat ESET. Their heuristics are still the best in the industry and their active in-memory scanner's footprint is still smaller than all others thanks to being partially written in assembly.

IMO, the rest are garbage.

MSE ... is available for download for Windows XP through 8.1.

The XP version has been discontinued, and updates are no longer provided, ever since the end-of-life for XP in general.

you can't beat ESET

+1

(my first +1 post ever ;) )

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- ALF - "Find out what you don't do well ..... then don't do it!" :)
 

Microsoft Security Essentials

I ran it for quite a while, but noticed off late that when I start my system from hibernate, or even after a reboot, that it can take up to 10 minutes before I can use my system, all due to the MSE scanning process needing to be top dog and holding everything up. I don't use hibernate so I can wait 10 minutes before I can use my system, then I can just as well power down.

So got rid of it and installed the scanner that uses the open source ClamAV scanner, Immunet3. This is a free, cloud-based scanner that can also be installed and run on Windows XP, if necessary. But because the AV definitions live on servers on the internet, it requires an always on internet connection. Scanning off line isn't possible.

The first total scan it did on my 3.25TB system, including in archived files, took slightly over 2 hours and 12 minutes to finish. It had then quarantined 14 files, some of which were game launchers (put those back :)).
Starting from hibernation now takes 3 minutes, instead of the 10 with MSE, so I already find it a win-win.

Sure, this may not be to everyone's liking, but then no AV scanner is always to the liking of everyone.

In any case, if you do not want your anti virus scanner to delete Seti files, exclude the BOINC data directory (default a hidden directory at C:\Programdata\BOINC\) from being scanned by your AV program. And only scan it by hand after you disabled BOINC.

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Ever since the router-problem, Seti has been running erratically - slowing up my system, refusing to upload/download,causing AVG to malfunction, etc. These problems would vanish when I suspended Seti. This tells me there is a problem. Claiming it's a false-positive, etc. doesn't fit the bill. Each time I 'resumed' the project, the problems returned and became worse in short order.

I am truly sorry to say - I have removed Seti altogether before I ended up with data-loss on other things I engage in.

I'll check back periodically to see if there is any news. I hope to re-connect sometime soon.

Good luck, all -

Dave

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I used AVG for a while then replaced with Norton Security Suite(free with from my IP), I also use Win Patrol in the background. Weekly I run additional scans with Spybot S&D and Malware Bytes.

The only 'false' alarms I've had were with Malware Bytes detecting 'PUP's (Possibly Unwanted Programs) but none have been related to SETI or BOINC.

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"Sour Grapes make a bitter Whine." <(0)>

If you want a good free anti-virus, Microsoft Security Essentials is a good one. It is built into Windows 10, and is available for download for Windows XP through 8.1.

If you want an excellent anti-virus and are willing to pay a subscription, you can't beat ESET. Their heuristics are still the best in the industry and their active in-memory scanner's footprint is still smaller than all others thanks to being partially written in assembly.

IMO, the rest are garbage.

finally someone who knows his shit

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I came down with a bad case of i don't give a crap

I used AVG for a while then replaced with Norton Security Suite(free with from my IP), I also use Win Patrol in the background. Weekly I run additional scans with Spybot S&D and Malware Bytes.

The only 'false' alarms I've had were with Malware Bytes detecting 'PUP's (Possibly Unwanted Programs) but none have been related to SETI or BOINC.

of coourse it don't find nothing all those progs are complete garbage

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I came down with a bad case of i don't give a crap

Ever since the router-problem, Seti has been running erratically - slowing up my system, refusing to upload/download,causing AVG to malfunction, etc. These problems would vanish when I suspended Seti. This tells me there is a problem. Claiming it's a false-positive, etc. doesn't fit the bill. Each time I 'resumed' the project, the problems returned and became worse in short order.

I'm afraid you're assuming correlation is causation without additional evidence. The router problem at SETI would only affect the ability to access the website as well as uploads and downloads.

The slowing of your system would have nothing to do with the upload/download problem since your system is not constantly connected to the SETI servers and should be looked into separately.

AVG malfunctioning is due to, as everyone has told you, not putting the BOINC data directory in your exclusions list. The data we process is truly random and there's bound to be files that trigger AV signature alarms. Since the data in these files are non-executable (as also has been said), there's absolutely no risk for harm and are definitely false positives.

The fact that suspending SETI causes the performance problems go away when you suspend SETI and return when you un-suspend indicates a possible overheating problem. When your system gets too hot, various components will downclock to avoid meltdown or will outright start showing signs of failure.

I am truly sorry to say - I have removed Seti altogether before I ended up with data-loss on other things I engage in.

I'll check back periodically to see if there is any news. I hope to re-connect sometime soon.

Unfortunately what this means is you've made a conclusion based upon bad data, and without truly resolving the problem, you'll experience it when you come back. Maybe not right away, but it will happen.

I can only urge you to look deeper into the problems you're experiencing. I've been helping out on these forums for years and we've seen issues like what you describe many times before. There is something wrong, but has nothing to do with SETI's end and removing SETI only pushes the problem away temporarily.

Hmmm.....Let's see here.....

Since removing Boinc, my 'puter has suffered no slowdowns, no problems whatsoever. AVG didn't give me any false-positives. Still hasn't. And though I may not be a "geek," I do know my way around the 'block.'

I had never, ever had a problem running Boinc & Seti before. Nada. Zip.

My problems only began AFTER the router-problem transpired. But you would say the time-line here is meaningless, eh? On that note, perhaps you could recommend a good astrologer?

Homework Assignment:

Look up 'Occam's Razor.'

'ta!

Dave

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My problems only began AFTER the router-problem transpired. But you would say the time-line here is meaningless, eh? On that note, perhaps you could recommend a good astrologer?

Invest in a can of dust-off and use it. Oh, don't over speed your fan while you blow the crap out of the heat sinks.

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Hmmm.....Let's see here.....

Since removing Boinc, my 'puter has suffered no slowdowns, no problems whatsoever. AVG didn't give me any false-positives. Still hasn't. And though I may not be a "geek," I do know my way around the 'block.'

I had never, ever had a problem running Boinc & Seti before. Nada. Zip.

My problems only began AFTER the router-problem transpired. But you would say the time-line here is meaningless, eh? On that note, perhaps you could recommend a good astrologer?

Homework Assignment:

Look up 'Occam's Razor.'

'ta!

Dave

Well i don't have an astrologer but i sure can recommend a couple good books about how filesystems, antivirus and other computer related things work since you clearly not have the faintest clue what you going on about

it's easy to blame something if you have no idea how it works

as for me ..good riddance... one less clueless whiner

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I came down with a bad case of i don't give a crap

Just a reminder.

Just because someone perhaps has a different opinion than you, there is absolutely no need to be rude.

Number crunching should be a thread for helping others out

If you cannot be civil please don't post.

Thank you.

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Since removing Boinc, my 'puter has suffered no slowdowns, no problems whatsoever. AVG didn't give me any false-positives. Still hasn't.

Of course not, you removed the programme/files that AVG was screwing up on.
The problem wasn't BOINC, it was AVG. You've fixed the symptom, not the problem.


A computer is running quite happily.
Someone installs BOINC & starts running Seti. After a couple of minutes it starts making horrible loud beeping noises. A quick search online shows it's a overheating alarm. So they stop running Seti. Noise stops.
So they remove BOINC thinking that they have fixed the fault- they haven't. The fault was the problem with their systems cooling. If they had cleaned out all the dust that was blocking the airflow through the heatsinks, they would have fixed the problem.
Removing BOINC only fixed the symptoms.

My problems only began AFTER the router-problem transpired. But you would say the time-line here is meaningless, eh?

Yep.
Correlation is not causation.
The fact that the router problems stopped people from being able to report & get work may have been why you didn't have any issues then- you couldn't get or report work. Once you could, that activity was enough to cause AVG to have a fit while trying to scan the files being sent & received.

Homework Assignment:

Look up 'Occam's Razor.'

Not much use if you don't understand what it means.

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Grant
Darwin NT

Hmmm.....Let's see here.....

Since removing Boinc, my 'puter has suffered no slowdowns, no problems whatsoever.

Well yes, if you are suffering heat issues, removing BOINC will stop the science apps from stressing your computer and the problem will go away.

AVG didn't give me any false-positives. Still hasn't.

Well yes, if there's no more data files to be processed, there's nothing for your AV to choke on.

And though I may not be a "geek," I do know my way around the 'block.'

Methinks you made a wrong turn at the last block and I'm merely trying to help.

I had never, ever had a problem running Boinc & Seti before. Nada. Zip.

OK, but the problems you're experiencing do not support your conclusion.

My problems only began AFTER the router-problem transpired. But you would say the time-line here is meaningless, eh? On that note, perhaps you could recommend a good astrologer?

Yes, I am telling you the timeline is meaningless. No, I don't believe in astrology. Perhaps instead of being defensive and fighting everyone, you could stop a moment and listen.

Homework Assignment:

Look up 'Occam's Razor.'

Occam's Razor merely states that the simplest answer is most likely the correct one. It doesn't, however, support the idea that unrelated issues should be compounded into one with false conclusions. You have unfortunately ran across two separate issues coincidentally with Berkeley's network issue.

As you said, you're not a geek. The rest of us have been doing this for quite some time. I work in IT Support and do this for a living. We're merely trying to help you. If you don't want the help, then that's fine. But if you're going to argue with people trying to help you, you may want to provide data that supports your conclusions. Correlation is not causation.

Thanks, Bernie.

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"Sour Grapes make a bitter Whine." <(0)>

Just a reminder.

Just because someone perhaps has a different opinion than you, there is absolutely no need to be rude.

Number crunching should be a thread for helping others out

If you cannot be civil please don't post.

Thank you.

That was civil for me bernie :) ...(and you know it hrhr)

i get a lil worked up when clueless ppl accuse something else to be the cause of their problems while having no idea what they talking about

next time when avg gives a false positive pull the power and the problem goes away .......must be the power companies fault then since avg stopped showing false positives

plus that guy thought he could get one in on all of us with his last post

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I came down with a bad case of i don't give a crap