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Thread ID: 20549	2002-06-07 10:30:00	Is 'Housecall' AV using scare tactics?	Guest (0)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
53020	2002-06-07 10:30:00	Hi All I just tried Housecall to reassure myself that a current problem was not virus based, but the very first response I got on running Housecall was a 'Trjan (sic)System Cleaner' box telling me my computer was infected with the JS_GIGGER.A trojan virus. I was pretty sceptical about that instantaneous verdict as the program hadn't even got past the boot sector at that stage. My Nortons is always right up to date and I have regular programmed autoscans so I reckon I would have detected GIGGER before now if it was there at all. It is quite an old virus I believe. Just in case, I did a quick check of my C: drive and none of the recognised GIGGER files were present and further Norton & Adaware scans gave my system a clean bill of health. This leaves me wondering if the site was just trying to boost sales of their AV products. Has anybody else had this experience? Cheers Billy 8-{)	Guest (0)
53021	2002-06-07 11:05:00	Hi Billy, I posted an enquiry along the sames lines as you (probably a couple of weeks ago) I had run the Housecall scanner which told me I had been infected with the 'Loveletter.A Virus' Like you, all my NAV was up to date, so to make sure, I ran a complete virus scan. Nothing found..... I then uninstalled NAV and substituted AVG ran another scan and then did the Housecall thing again. This time I was clear of any viruses.... Being a little suspicious, I then reinstalled NAV, went back to NAV. Guess what, the virus had mysteriously reinfected my computer.... I am left with the feeling that if you have NAV installed, Housecall will come up with a virus.... I think they are trying to sucker you into to buying the PCillian product.... Its a load of bollocks! Regards, ALAN :-) us	Guest (0)
53022	2002-06-07 11:53:00	Billy, was going to reply to your other post but thought it more appropriate here. A few weeks ago someone mentioned that Housecall detected a virus on his PC when Nortons hadn't picked it up, so I thought I'd give it a go. Sure enough, it found an infected file on my machine as well (can't remember what it was now). I reported back and it turned out to be the same file in the same program as what the other person had. At the time I thought it was pretty cool that I got 'saved' before I actually used that file, although I couldn't understand why Norton didn't detect it. Now I'm beginning to wonder about Housecall's authenticity after reading of your experience. It's very interesting, isn't it? I'm also keen to hear of other people's experiences.	Guest (0)
53023	2002-06-07 19:26:00	Hi Susan, That was me! If I remember correctly the file was in 1st page (evrsoft) and the file has something to do with some 'buttons' or something. When I first saw the virus I freaked thinking that NAV had let me down. Analysing the virus via symantec it appears the virus was very low risk but still.... I didn't want it in there. When you (Susan) reported the exact same virus in the exact same file then I thought it was a huge coincidence...... until someone else posted a similar experience. I have been wondering for a while whether it was just a con job. Maybe others with NAV can help by, first doing a full scan with NAV, (make sure there are no exclusions) and then again with 'housecall' and see what happens. sam m	Guest (0)
53024	2002-06-07 23:59:00	That's good enough for me folks! Guilty as charged. Pity they feel the need to try and con customers into buying their products. If their AV offerings are good enough they should sell on their merits. Having wasted my time cross checking their false virus alert, there is now no way I would consider buying their program so they've done their dash with me. I'll stick with Norton AV. Cheers Billy 8-{)	Guest (0)
53025	2002-06-08 02:13:00	Just a minute, folks! From the above postings the finger of suspicion is certainly pointing at Housecall at the moment, but it seems to me there is, theoretically at least, the possibility of a bug in Housecall. There seems to be a consistent factor in the reports - the alerts happen when Housecall is run in the presence of NAV. Is that always the case? Has anybody who does not have NAV struck the problem? It seems possible that Housecall may be detecting virus code strings used for reference purposes by NAV. A few postings replying to the above questions might shed some light on the problem.	Guest (0)
53026	2002-06-08 05:25:00	Hi Robin You could be right about a bug, but reflecting on my own experience it was the virtually instantaneous posting of the virus alert before Housecall had even checked for boot viruses (Virii?)that raised my suspicions. No way had it got as far as checking Norton's virus signatures. Incidentally, it failed to pick up my Eicar test virus when it did complete the scan, which makes me suspicious about its effectiveness as well. Cheers Billy 8-{)	Guest (0)
53027	2002-06-08 14:17:00	After reading your post I went and tried the housecall scan out of interest. It took till half way through the scan before it found a virus on my computer. It was a particuarly nasty one that was uncleanable and so off I went and scanned the file first with tauscan and then tds3 to ensure it wasnt a trojan. I then checked it with my updated norton anti virus and also at the AVG site. NOTHING. This supposed nasty was actually a small application that is a joke called small P**is. I thought perhaps the warning was given by an insecure male at the site that did not have a sense of humour??	Guest (0)
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