Windows Security Alerts

[14k]

I get the little red shield thing coming up when I startup telling me I have no firewall or anti-virus (I am using Zonealarm and NOD32). This has happened recently and I don't know why. It used to detect my firewall and antivirus apps fine and keep quiet. Is there a solution to this apart from check the box "I have a ... solution I'll monitor myself....." I doesn't make me too comfortable doing that, and I'm just desperate to know what has triggered this mental block by Windows Security Centre. I'm using WinXP.
Many thanks in advance to any suggestions.

 

[mechBgon]

Are your real-time protections, in fact, working? Try the EICAR test file to test your antivirus, for starters. http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm Assuming your ISP doesn't block it, that is.

 

[14k]

Yeh, they seem to be. I tried those eicar files and NOD32 wouldn't let me dl a couple of them. The ones on the bottom it detected and deleted when I asked NOD32 to scan them.
=T

 

[Medea]

What's the status now? Are both your firewall and av working now? It sounds like you can access your Security Center. Don't forget that that there's certain malware that disable security settings.

 

[14k]

Originally posted by: Medea
What's the status now? Are both your firewall and av working now? It sounds like you can access your Security Center. Don't forget that that there's certain malware that disable security settings.

My firewall and AV appear to be working as they always have done. I don't think I have any malware as I do NOD32, Windows Malicious Remover, and Spybot scans fairly regularly.

I can access my windows security centre fine (via control panel or the little red shield I have permanently in my task tray now) As I said I'm able to disable the notification if I want by telling the security centre I have a solution and I'll monitor it myself - but it just really bugs me as to why security centre has suddenly failed to recognise my firewall and AV which it had done for many months prior.

Cheers.

 

[tehach]

Originally posted by: 14k
I get the little red shield thing coming up when I startup telling me I have no firewall or anti-virus...

I get the same message on my machine even though it's running the full McAfee suite...Ditto on my wife's computer running AVG AV, Comodo Firewall, and AVG anti-spyware...I've no idea why Windows says that, the McAfee solution is original installation by Dell, so go figure.

 

[14k]

Annoying indeed - just can't understand what triggered it too.

I guess this is a common problem; perhaps an MS Windows bug.

 

[Medea]

Try doing a registry key export to check your settings in the Registry.