Hello,

Does anyone know what Antivir MFC-Anwendung IE_Notifier is and why it is trying to access the internet? I have been using Antivir for awhile now, and this is the first time I got the message from my firewall . I did a search on google and in the forums here but didn't find anything related.

Thanks

Hi HarHarNarf

The 'Notifier' has been quiet of late; so if you are new to AntiVir you might not have seen it before. There is no need to worry, just allow it access, it will then open up a window giving you information. You can click to close it, as with other windows.

It is possible to do some things to prevent the Notifier popping up if you don't like it. You can try renaming notifier.exe (in C:\Program files\AVPersonal) or even delete it altogether. Or you could try blocking it with your FW (but that could give problems).

Personally I would simply allow it on a case by case basis and let it do its job!

Hi TopperID

I don't mind the notifier popping up as long as it's not cause by any virus or spyware. I just want to be on the safe side before I let anything out. Strange, I didn't see any window with information about it. Oh well, maybe I missed it.

Just a couple of questions:

1) Since I blocked the notifier the first time, does it affect anything?

and

2) The notifier starts by itself when necessary right? When I try to launch it nothing happens.

Hi HarHarNarf,

You are quite right to be careful when something you are not familiar with tries to gain access through your FW. If you are not sure it is best to block, do some research, and see what happens.

In this case though it is 'friend' rather than 'foe'; you will have done no harm by blocking it. Next time it wants to pop up, it will do so.

Notifier itself pops up a window, when it is allowed to run, there is no other window to see since you will have no prior warning of when an update will involve use of Notifier.

Notifier.exe is started by the program, you can't launch it yourself by double clicking it etc.

Edit - Mav just beat me to the post!

Thank You both TopperID and mav1976 for the explanation, I really appreciate it. I am still new to this whole internet security thing and learning bit by bit by reading the forums here.

P.S. Congrats TopperID as the new AVPE Host. Sorry if I were late on this.

Regards;
HarHarNarf

Yes, I have noticed this today. I had noticed something opening whenever I did an update with AVPE the last few times. Did not know what it was so adjusted my firewall and it popped up a message box which gave me the choice to deactivate it for this message but only for this time.

You have not yet stated exactly what Notifier.exe actually does? I do not care if it's friendly or not. I want FULL information on this application. I decide ultimately everything to do with my PC. It said something about sharing the info on my computer with AntiVir? No way Jose.

I consider it the height of rudeness and bad form for a program like this to just do it's stuff without consulting me.

I did a Google search too. Apparently, I can simply delete it from my AVPersonal folder? I really hate this sort of thing. It's one of the reasons I quit using Norton. If you do not control your computer, then who does?

I searched the AntiVir Free Support Forums and found only one reference to notifier.exe there. No one answered the post from 20.11.2004.

_________________

Microsoft MVP Consumer Security 2006, 2007 & 2008

Hi Prince_Serendip,

it's an instrumental thing for H+BEDV to give some informations about news to the users.

If it irritates you properly then delete it from program folder.

Hi Topper,

I have no problem with you, just with this mystery program AntiVir has accessing the Internet without giving me the right to approve nor disapprove it. It does not matter whether this application license is free or paid for. That is not the issue here.

The issue is that there is an extra application in the AVPersonal folder accessing the Internet and sharing possible info from my computer for unspecified reasons and purposes.

From a pure security standpoint, this "notifier.exe" is a security risk until it is proven to be safe.

I shall continue to monitor and investigate this issue. Security is my bread and butter too.

_________________

Microsoft MVP Consumer Security 2006, 2007 & 2008

Hi Prince_Serendip,

I'm not gratuitously unquestioning in these matters, but my attitude tends to be "of all your programs, surely you can trust your AV?"

My system gets regular scans from AVs, ATs, and ASs and nothing has ever pointed a finger at Notifier as being a potential 'risk'. And since there doesn't seem to be anything in H+BEDV's documentation to indicate that it may be giving off information that it shouldn't, I personally don't feel threatened by it.

Maybe I'm being a bit naive here.

Hi Topper,

Are you by any chance an X-Files fan? I was, up until David Duchcovny left the show. I liked Fox Mulder. (Scully was like Data from Star Trek, but in a dress.)

"Trust no one." Not paranoia, just good common sense and practical know-how when doing security work.

What bothers me is that they (H+BEDV) are so "closed-mouth" about it. If and when the subject comes up, it's glossed over or ignored completely. It's like that forbidden magazine you once kept under your bed? What do they have to hide about it?

Working on it.

_________________

Microsoft MVP Consumer Security 2006, 2007 & 2008

We eagerly await future developments Prince_Serendip.

In the meantime I suppose I'd better put those mags back under the bed and start watching the X-Files instead!

A recent Notifier hawked the benefits of Premium Edition. Ergo, one might say that AVPEC has moved somewhat into the category of adware. I mention this as perceived fact, not as condemnation.