MAlerter.exe "False positive" when McAfee virusscan is used

Submitted by admin on Fri, 09/17/2010 - 10:20

This posting only applies to users running McAfee anti virusscan (all flavours). Users using other anti virus software (non McAfee) can skip reading and start downloading MAlerter by changing the file extension from .txt to .exe and then following the link: http://dlimages.fineconnection.com/Setup_MAlerter_110.txt

Problem description and explanation

MAlerter.exe is the FineConnection application responsible for the sending of alert emails. Malerter.exe is invoked/started by the Monitor one main program (monitor1.exe) in case a serious event occurs and sends the alert messages to port 25 of a mail- or smpt-relay server.

MAlerter.exe was part of the default installation for years until McAfee anti virus software flagged it as a "Trojan". This is of course a "false positive". MAlerter.exe DOES NOT contain any malware, trojan or virus!! Because of many user complaints we have decided to remove it from the default installation. MAlerter.exe must now be downloaded and installed separately!

PS. If you don't want to send alert messages by email, you don't need to download and install MAlerter!

Workaround

There's only one workaround! Disable McAfee OAS (On-Access Scanning) before the MAlerter installation, run MAlerter setup, add an exclusion for Malerter.exe and enable OAS again.

To disable OAS follow these steps:

  1. Right-click the McAfee quick launch icon on the taskbar and choose "VirusScan Console".
  2. Right-click "Access Protection" and select "Properties".
  3. On the "Access Protection" tab, uncheck "Prevent McAfee services from being stopped".
  4. Stop the McAfee McShield service (My Computer->Manage->Services and Applications->Services)

To add an scan exclusion for Malerter.exe:

  1. Right-click the McAfee quick launch icon on the taskbar and select "On-Access Scan properties"
  2. Click "All Processes"
  3. Choose the "Detection" tab
  4. Click "Exclusions"
  5. Add the file "c:\Program Files\FineConnection\Monitor one\Malerter.exe" to the exclusions list.

What you also need to know

In order to prevent "Mass mailing worms from sending spam", McShield also blocks outgoing port 25. If you want to use Malerter.exe to send alert and/or warning messages through email, you also need to permit the use of port 25. Follow the steps described below:

  1. Right-click the McAfee quick launch icon on the taskbar and choose "VirusScan Console".
  2. Right-click "Access Protection" and select "Properties".
  3. In the right pane uncheck "Prevent mass mailing...."
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