PeerGuardian dismisses ‘malware’ claim
p2pnet news | P2P:- PeerGuardian2 is vigorously denying ‘malware’ charges levelled at it by an anti-virus firm.
Used by millions of people around the world, PG2 is a free open source application developed by Phoenix Labs —- Methlabs, once upon a time —- to block unwanted and unwelcome incoming and outgoing connections from the likes of the RIAA, MPAA, and others, based on IP blocklists.
It’ll also deal with advertising, spyware, government and educational ranges with users entering their own preferences.
But according to anti-virus firm ESET, it’s Malware.
"Over the past week, some servers used for updating the anti-virus software NOD32 were labeled as anti-p2p by a popular list maker for PeerGuardian," says TorrentFreak, going on:
"In response, NOD32’s company, ESET, has categorised PG2 as malware in some of its latest updates.
"Phoenixlabs, which makes PeerGuardian, put out this statement in response [broken link]. Their representatives would not comment further on the subject, referring only to the statement."
ESET defended the addition, "By blocking update and threatsense servers detection of PeerGuardian as potentially unwanted application is fully justified as it could disrupt normal operation of NOD32 and or ESS," says TorrentFreak, adding:
"However, ESET has now changed its mind, saying ‘We have reconsidered detection of PeerGuardian and it will be removed in the upcoming update. However, we will actively continue protecting our users from blacklists that contain the IP addresses (ranges) of our update servers and thus preventing our paying or trial users receiving updates and keeping their computers protected’."
Meanwhile, "We are not, and never have been, malware!" – a Phoenix Labs spokesman told p2pnet.
"We’re open source and non-profit, all of our code is available freely on sourceforge.
"We’ve contacted ESAT to discuss and clarify these points, and I’m confident that a solution will be reached to the benefit of all users."
Stay tuned.
Also See:
TorrentFreak – Anti-Virus Company Says PeerGuardian is Malware, February 24, 2008
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February 25th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I know for damned sure that it was, and never will be, malware.
It’s been a lifesaver, and if it was really malware, of any sort, than we would’ve obviously stopped using it. The fact that their source code can be downloaded should keep most people’s mouths quiet from shooting off allegations.
February 25th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
All this is, is some sort of pet peeve with the A/V company. Maybe one of their contributors is teed off about being blocked and this is ESETs method of protesting. Almost any company, especially datamining companies can buy off an Anti-virus company to not detect their particular signature by becoming an associated pardner by paying enough money. It’s sort of the way business is done.
But many of the freewares don’t play that game. Their not in it for the money or they would not be freeware. So they get to say what they will or will not detect without having to report to their shareholders that they turned down so much in free money or why they didn’t. Some of the more dodgey ones will not try to pay but instead take them to court to attempt to force them to remove the block.
PG has no malware. I’ve used it for years and Protowall before that. I much prefer Protowall, but that app has some bugs in that it wants it’s drivers to be top dog. That puts it in direct conflict with M$ who wants it’s net drivers top dog. With the changing of OSes, I finally gave up on Protowall as just being to tough to continue to configurations with the program. PG is a bit more forgiving on this part. So I sort of figure there is some behind the scenes stuff going on as a suspicion.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Of course the entertainement parasites doe s not like PeerGardian! If evry one was using peer gardian the RIAA, MPAA and their few attack dog such as media centry would be virtually kicked out of internet.
This is already partly the case and this is why they mostly sue people that are not even downloding music. The other one are protected by various means, one of this beeing peergardian. They download and they share but they can not be seen on the net by the entertainement industry. Keeping getting new ip adress as some of these companies does if extremly expesive compare to just added a new Ip adress into a text file. Once again the RIAA/MPAA parasites war against their customers is futile. Actually it give them a very good reason for not paying and not feeding the parasites:
This is your duty as citizen of the word, not to feed these parasites! It is your duty to put them out of their misery! Deworm and desinfect our societies!
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:49 am
oops, once again, Open Source proves its usefulness. man, a Capitalist just can’t stomach something that is Freedom and something that cannot be bought. too funny. i love watching those pricks squirm!!