============================================ Edit: further testing - Norton still objects to FanControl installer. FanControl.sys does not load. Even with all app permissions Allowed. Norton objects to FanControl installer.Norton objects to FanControl.sys install.
Norton blocked a vulnerable driver
The driver fancontrol.sys has been blocked due to vulnerabilities that could cause your PC’s operating system instability or even put it at risk of a hacker attack.
Maybe, FanControl files need to be signed.
Maybe, fan control is too risky.
I am now trying to resolve the same issue, but without success.
Should we understand it, that Norton 360 ACTIVELY refuses my configuration?
I do trust the fancontrol.sys file and want to use it. This is what exclusions and whatnot are for…
Yet Norton still decides to know better and prevent me from doing my stuff?
What a time to be alive. As is often said, Norton is becoming more and more of a virus itself.
https://getfancontrol.com/
FanControl_211_net_4_8_Installer.exe
Identified: 1/14/25
Few users
Hundreds of users in the Norton Community have used this file.
Very new
This file was released a day ago.
Unproven
There is not enough information about this file to recommend it.
SHA-256: 7e07de39661619f9114c2cf640ef3d5bcfc0b4d6c15b4d4bf1cb2ca871e75789
VirusTotal report here
Norton remains:
Norton blocked a vulnerable driver
The driver fancontrol.sys has been blocked due to vulnerabilities that could cause your PC’s operating system instability or even put it at risk of a hacker attack.
I even tried to set those exclusions explicitly for the fancontrol.sys file, but that doesn’t help as well. Seriously getting more and more disappointed that there is no “Run anyway” like button that even Defender has.
Interesting workaround is to turn off “Block vulnerable kernel drivers”, launch FanControl (and do any setting necessary) and then turn “Block vulnerable kernel drivers” on again. This way the fancontrol.sys is already loaded and the app works as expected - up until some change in config is needed, then it re-loads the fancontrol.sys and Norton catches it again.
@bjm Do you perhaps have some way to raise it this issue to Norton dev team? To me this seems like a bug of some sort that these exclusion rules do not work.
No…fwiw ~ in my opinion…Norton is working as designed.
That is just nonsense, sorry. Software that does not let me control it and that ignores it’s own settings is not working as designed. Of course if you think any software should be a hindrance, then sure, it is working as designed.
I think we all understand why fancontrol.sys is being flagged and prevented. What my main issue is that I have no option to say “I know and accept this risk, allow it.”. Which was always a thing in Norton. I’ve been using it since 2006-ish and never had issue I could not resolve using exclusions and so on. Due to my nature - being software engineer - I sometimes need to do iffy things, yet want to be generally protected.
Seeing as Norton 360 fails in allowing me to do so, I will not renew my licence once it runs out.
I just canceled the automatic subscription renewal. If Norton can’t figure out how to let me decide whether to use fancontrol.sys or Fancontrol.exe, then…sorry.. I’m out.
This is standard software for gamers.
All switches disabled in Norton (no protection active) and still, its blocking fancontrol.sys
There isn’t a specific CVE directly named for “fan control” in 2025 but a significant event in March 2025 involved the Windows kernel driver WinRing0.sys, which Fan Control and other monitoring software use, being flagged as malicious by Windows Defender due to a known vulnerability, CVE-2020-14979. This incident caused issues for users and highlighted the security risks of using this unsigned driver to access hardware directly.
What happened in March 2025?
Defender Alert:Windows Defender began flagging WinRing0.sys, a driver used by Fan Control and other monitoring software, as a threat.
Why it Happened:WinRing0.sys has a known security vulnerability (CVE-2020-14979) that allows unprivileged programs to gain high-level system access by manipulating memory and hardware.
Impact:This led to Fan Control and other software failing to detect sensors or even crashing.
Developer’s Response:The Fan Control developer acknowledged the issue and pointed to the vulnerability within the WinRing0 driver itself, not the software, and stated the intention to switch to an alternative library.
How this affects you:
Security Risk:Using software that relies on the vulnerable WinRing0 driver, even if the software itself isn’t malicious, can expose your system to security threats, as it bypasses security measures.
Software Reliability:If you updated Fan Control or other similar software around March 2025, you may have experienced issues or received warnings from your antivirus.
What you can do:
Check the Fan Control Repository:Visit the official FanControl GitHub page for updates or instructions on how to resolve the issue or use an alternative version.
Consider Alternatives:Look for fan control software that uses a different, more secure driver or does not rely on unsigned kernel-level drivers.
Be Cautious:Be wary of software that requires direct hardware access via an unsigned driver, as this poses a significant security risk.
At first glance, the post seems to be an explanation. At second glance (as I see it), it’s more of an excuse. We do what others do. But: With other products, it is possible to work with exceptions. This is not possible with Norton (at least not with vulnerability drivers).
I find it interesting that you are now telling me that WinRing0.sys is also blocked. This is a driver that I have used many times. I am interested in cryptocurrencies, and WinRing is very often used in mining software (especially when mining is done via CPU only). So I will once again encounter an insurmountable hurdle when I want to mine a coin.
Why don’t you leave it up to me to decide whether I want to use this driver? I have an IT background and know very well what I’m doing. Dr. Norton is welcome to wag his finger, but leave it up to me to decide what I want to do.
