GT500.org Blog

I've noticed that Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware both running real-time protection on Windows XP at the same time have a tendency to cause your computer to freeze. Below is detailed a quick solution.

Restart your computer in Safe Mode, and then launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. Go to the 'Protection' tab, and uncheck the option that says "Start with Windows". Now restart your computer normally.

Once your computer is running normally, open Microsoft Security Essentials, and click 'Settings', and then click "Excluded processes", just like in the screenshot below:




After going to "Excluded processes", click the 'Add' button, and add the files listed below (this must be done one at a time):

• C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe
  
• C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamgui.exe
  
• C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamservice.exe
  

If you have never seen that type of file selector before, then note that to open a folder all you have to do is click the little '+' sign to the left of the folder name, like in the following screenshot:




Now, after adding all three of those files to the "Excludes processes" list, please go to the "Excluded files & locations" list, like in the following screenshot:




Add the following two files to this list:

• C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\mbam.sys
  
• C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\mbamswissarmy.sys
  

After adding those two files to the list, close Microsoft Security Essentials, and then open Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. Go to the 'Protection' tab and check the option that says "Start with Windows". Now, if you restart your computer, the freezing issues should be solved.

My DSL connection just went out while I was in the middle of getting some work done. This is always annoying. It's one thing for it to go out in the middle of a game like Call of Duty 4, but in the middle of work is a total pain in the neck. I had a ton of work sitting there waiting for me, and now I can't get it done tonight.

I guess I can be grateful that this Palm Pre is still connected, but it's not that great for browsing. I seriously need Opera Mobile on this phone!

Steven Burns (the maintainer of hpHosts and some other online security sites, and who is also a researcher for Malwarebytes) asked me earlier today if I could host vURL on my server for him. Of course, I was more than happy to do so.

Now, when you use vURL Online (note that Steven's site is pretty slow, so give it some time to load) you will find GT500 under the list of servers to use.

So, for the last two months AVG has been (on occasion) having issues with Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. Usually breaking the database, but I think they were deleting mbam.exe (the main executable for Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware) the first time they had issues.

A kind user on the Malwareytes forums volunteered a solution that appears to be working. That solution is detailed below, for anyone who needs it.

These instructions assume that you have Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware installed in the default location on your C: drive. If this is not the case, then please adjust the paths. Note that on 64-bit systems the software is in the "Program Files (x86)" folder, instead of just "Program Files".



Windows XP and 2000:

1. If you have removed Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then please reinstall it. Do not allow your computer to restart afterwards.
   
   
2. Open AVG.
   
   
3. Go to 'Tools'.
   
   
4. Go to "Advanced Settings".
   
   
5. Click to expand the "Resident Shield" tab.
   
   
6. Go to the Excluded Files list.
   
   
7. Add the following files to the list of excluded files:
   

   * C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\rules.ref
   * C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\mbam.sys
   * C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\mbamswissarmy.sys
   * C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe
   * C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamgui.exe
   * C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamservice.exe
   * C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\zlib.dll
   * C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.dll
   * C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamext.dll

   
   
8. Uninstall Malwarebytes Anti-Malware via the Add/Remove Programs utility in the control panel, or via the Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware folder in the Start Menu.
   
   
9. Reinstall Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and restart your computer.
   

Windows Vista and newer:

1. If you have removed Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then please reinstall it. Do not allow your computer to restart afterwards.
   
   
2. Open AVG.
   
   
3. Go to 'Tools'.
   
   
4. Go to "Advanced Settings".
   
   
5. Click to expand the "Resident Shield" tab.
   
   
6. Go to the Excluded Files list.
   
   
7. Add the following files to the list of excluded files:
   

   * C:\ProgramData\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\rules.ref
   * C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\mbam.sys
   * C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\mbamswissarmy.sys
   * C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe
   * C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamgui.exe
   * C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamservice.exe
   * C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\zlib.dll
   * C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.dll
   * C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamext.dll

   
   
8. Uninstall Malwarebytes Anti-Malware via the Add/Remove Programs utility in the control panel, or via the Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware folder in the Start Menu.
   
   
9. Reinstall Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and restart your computer.