Could you tell me why I always get an alert from my spyware remover stating that "Portal Scan" is being used by ASV ?I tried removing the spyware but the ASV program will not work without it, It tries to reinstall itself instead.Is this portal scan in fact spyware from HiFi.Thanks

Hi,No, portal scan is not part of ASV and no, ASV contains no spyware.The problem is that your anti-spyware is falsely flagging the ChilkatZip.dll file. This file is a valid file, but now some spyware programs are using this file also. The fix is to let your spyware remover company to stop flagging this file. The fix for ASV is to run your Full install and choose Repair.Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Sales and Supporthttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_dev_team.jpg http://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_proud_supporter.jpg

This is becoming a bit troubling to me, as I have recently been doing a lot of system scanning and removal of malware and related files on my computer due to a recent hack tool infection, and in the process destroying the operability of my ASV installation.The infection involved the hiding of processes from the process tree, and was not detectable by any type of scan except Panda and Sophos. But that meant I had to use just about every other scanner around before I figured this out, most of which corrupted the ASV installation.It is very difficult to successfully scan for these types of infections, and even more difficult to remove them. And because of this, more people are turning to the various spyware scanners that are available, which seem to be bound and determined to clean registry entries related to the ChilkatZip.dll file, regardless of the damage it does to the ASV software installation.You have requested that ASV Users notify these spyware scanner companies of the conflict, and tell them to stop treating the presence of the ChilkatZip.dll file on a system as spyware/adware/malware/whatever. But this doesn't seem to have made them change anything. In fact, it seems that even more spyware scanners are becoming available almost on a daily basis which tend to corrupt an ASV installation.I read somewhere on here that there would be no discontinuance of use of the .dll file in question in ASV, regardless of the problems so many users are experiencing.Since ASV seems to be about the only legitimate software one can find anywhere that uses the ChilkatZip.dll file, it would seem foolhardy and contrary to HiFi Simulation Software's customer's best interests to be so obstinate with regard to use of this file.Might I suggest that HiFi Simulation Software do some contacting of these spyware scanning software companies themselves and set things straight once and for all, instead of putting that responsibility squarely in the lap of their customers?I, for one, am growing very weary of waiting 5 minutes to repair my ASV installation whenever I want to use it. I don't want spyware, adware, or any other malware running on my system, and I shouldn't have to spend endless hours investigating exactly which registry entries and/or files to place into an allow list to keep them from being deleted every time I run a scan.HiFi Simulation Software should note that spyware and malware companies are not going anywhere. They are simply creating software that is more complex and difficult to detect & remove. This is making the consumer demand for the very scanners that corrupt your software installations heavier than ever before. This pretty much means that... time's pretty much up, guys. It's time to take some sort of proactive approach to this issue.Just my 2 cents,Steve

Hi Steve,What an excellect idea!! I thought about this all day before posting and here is what I will need from you and anyone else:1. The name of the spyware scanner.2. The e-mail address of their support division.3. Proof that it is removing ChilkatZip.dll. A screen shot will do!4. Proof that the FS04 directory cannot be excluded from the scan process. We all know that any harmful program IS NOT going to reside in the FS04 directory.5. Proof that ChilkatZip.dll cannot be excluded from the scan, either pre-scan or post-scan.Once I have all this I will do my best to follow through. Now, keep in mind that once ChilkatZip.dll is accepted as a legit file, which is always has been, any spyware/adware/malware that uses the file will not be removed also with your software. Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Sales and Supporthttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_dev_team.jpg http://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_proud_supporter.jpg

Hi,To fix these problem, Just redo a scan and add them to "ignore list" from the software, it will never be removed anymore.For those have problems with spyware, there is 2 I know never have these problem with asv.Microsoft spyware removal and spybot don't have this problem with these files.-Microsoft spywarehttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...&displaylang=en-Spybots don't have this problem with these files.http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.htmlThanksChris WillisHiFi Simulation Software Team Developerhttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_dev_team.jpg http://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_proud_supporter.jpg

I will also add Avast to this list:http:/www.avast.com---FREE---Updated on a regular basis---Never has let a problem slip through on 3 computers, 2 of which are used by teenagers, who go to some of the worst sites on the Internet, for spyware.Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Sales and Supporthttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_dev_team.jpg http://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_proud_supporter.jpg

Chris Willis:Hi Chris. With regard to your post, I would love more than anything to add whatever the scanner is removing to an ignore list. But as I said in my post, it is a tedius task that appears impossible for me to accomplish. This is not a simple question of searching for a reference to a string ("ChilkatZip.dll") in the registry; this is a much more complex issue. I have looked at every single entry that my scanners delete, and I still can't find anything relating to the ChilkatZip.dll file. Most of them are hexidecimal/binary registry key data that are impossible for me to decipher. So unless you can show me exactly which key/value it is whose deletion is causing the DLL to un-register itself, I can't make any headway on that route. I ain't lyin'... I've tried!Thanks for your suggestion though.Jim:Hi. Well, I must say it would be nice if one could choose just one or two spyware scanning utilities and be sure they are doing the job, but unfortunately each application has it's own pros and cons, and none of them - nor even any 3 or 4 of them - can yet find and/or block everything. The same holds true for AntiVirus software. That's why I had to go through 10s of each before I was finally able to find everything that was on my system. And even then, amongst the mess was a brand new variant of a hacktool which was merely half detected, and not cleaned, and only by two of all antivirus software applications currently available on the market.I think you missed the point of my post.The point was that none of us, as your customers, should have to be burdened with the tedius gathering of all this information so that you can then forward it on to the software companies in question. That's your job. That attitude is precisely why Microsoft is hated the world over, because they always let the public at large do all of the work THEY should be doing long before they release their (insecure, buggy and crappy) software.Unlike Microsoft, you guys all seem to have some good heads on your shoulders, as you have done one heck of a job of creating a quality software package in ASV (that even works, imagine that!) The only thing really wrong here is the ChilkatZip.dll issue. Without that, it's just about perfect!With regard to this issue, I am simply a bit baffled as to why you're not more concerned about this, or willing to take the initiative. It's like a no brainer - look out for your market share and reputation and just fix the problem; you are the software programmers and marketers - you all know the ins and outs of the business, with all the licensing etc., not us. We pay good money for software so that we can USE it, not DEAL with it.Again, I'd like to reitterate how impressed I am with ASV, and that I do really appreciate the workmanship you've put into it, along with your hands-on support approach and all. ASV totally kicks butt!Suggestion: Why don't you guys go to the makers of the ChilkatZip.dll software and let them know what's going on - that spyware/adware/malware companies are using their product in their malware and are giving it a bad name, to say nothing of causing one of their legitimate corporate customers headaches with customers complaining about corrupted installs. You've said yourselves that you PAY to use it, so how about looking after your investment and holding them to task. Delegate it to THEM if you don't feel you should have to deal with it yourself.Once again... a great software package, ASV is. I've throughly enjoyed it when I could get it to load.All the best,SK

Hi Steve,Question for you: What is wrong dealing directly with the source of a problem?Why is it in today's society WE(myself included) are always looking for work-arounds, get everyone involved, search everywhere, for stuff that 25 years ago would have been dealt with one-on-one?We have a problem with our car. We take it to a shop. The shop has to call the dealer. The dealer needs to see the car. The dealer calls in the design team. The design team needs to consult with the engineering team. The engineering team needs to call the lab. And in the end a wire was loose, a bolt was missing, or a screw was loose. Why couldn't the shop deal directly with the lab?The same thing is happening these last 2 weeks, too bad, in the South. A has to check with B who cannot say anything to C who has no authority over D so the whole process bogs down to a halt and in the end people suffer.Try calling your CC to dispute a charge. OMG, the whole world has to get involved before something gets done.So it seems with this. Some users have a problem. Yes they do! It is not a universal problem, so we deal with it on a one-to-one basis. We say "Hi, we don't own, use, or know anything about your anti-virus/spyware software. We know they are the source of the problem right now. Please get a hold of them and see what they say." And you know what? Since this started happening over the Spring and Summer, not one user has said "Man, HiFi, my anti.XYZ can't do anything for me, what do I do now?" All the users I have worked with say: "This got fixed! The XYZ software company saw that they were flagging a legit. file and changed their ABC software to reflect this. Thanks Much!"Right now I have this thread and one e-mail case that is open, that's it, in dealing with this issue. So why it is up to the customer? Because we have no control over what AV/AS software they have on their system. We can offer suggestions/help, but the final decision is up to them. Please notice that we have never said: That's your problem, please leave us alone." and I know you are not saying that. All we are trying to do is offer an alternative, long term fix, to the problem. Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Sales and Supporthttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_dev_team.jpg http://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_proud_supporter.jpg