Norton anti-virus being too enthusiastic

We have a legacy piece of software being used at home by volunteers for a charity, mostly these tend to be older with little tech expertise.   This software writes to a text file which we have tried in numerous locations, including the user Documents folder and their Desktop.  For some reason Norton keeps blocking access to this file and the software fails with a Path/File Access Error when it tries to open the file for writing.  Many of the users have no idea how to add the folder, the file or the software onto Norton's exclusion list (which isn't a simple or obvious task).  I wish there were an easier way, such as a prompt whether to allow the access, but there isn't.  Failing that, is there a way to stop it happening?  Maybe locate the file someplace where the access won't fail?

Related?

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/language/reference/user-interface-help/path-file-access-error-error-75

SA

No I'm not certain it is Norton but on three occasions adding the containing folder to Norton's exclusions has solved the problem.

 

No it isn't using Office at all.  It is a 20-year old VB6 application which is still maintained by me until a replacement is written.  It fails on an Open statement attempting to overwrite an existing .txt file with a run-time error 75 Path/File access error.

this may help

 

https://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-10/how-to-fix-windows-cannot-access-the-specified-device-path-or-file-error/

 

 

 

IanBrooke:

Yes it is free and publicly downloadable.  Why do you ask?

Norton does not produce any messages, the software just fails as I described.  When I add the folder holding the file to Norton's exclusion list the failures stop.

Maybe, I can reproduce my side. 
Oh okay.  So you've been able to exclude the folder.

Many of the users have no idea how to add the folder, the file or the software onto Norton's exclusion list (which isn't a simple or obvious task).  I wish there were an easier way, such as a prompt whether to allow the access, but there isn't.

Oh okay.  You want an easier process.  

For some reason Norton keeps blocking access to this file and the software fails with a Path/File Access Error when it tries to open the file for writing. 
Norton does not produce any messages, the software just fails as I described. 

Hmm....no prompt? no related History event?  

For some reason Norton keeps blocking access to this file and the software fails with a Path/File Access Error when it tries to open the file for writing. 

You're sure Norton is blocking access? 
Legacy software = Office application? 

Sounds like you know how to make legacy software work with Norton.
Sounds like you want an easier user friendly process flow for others.

Yes it is free and publicly downloadable.  Why do you ask?

Norton does not produce any messages (or at least I've never been told of any), the software just fails as I described.  When I add the folder holding the file to Norton's exclusion list the failures stop.

Um, is this piece of software free & publicly available? 

Report a suspected incorrect detection to Norton
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v126152382

Submit a file to Norton
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/kb20090602171902EN

Respond to incorrect Norton alerts that a file is infected or a program or website is suspicious
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/kb20100222230832EN


Please tell us what Norton is telling you regarding this event.
For information regarding this event > from Norton pop-up > View Details > Copy to Clipboard &or from Norton history > More Options > Copy to Clipboard > paste here.

For second opinion choose File &/or Search hash at VirusTotal 


Act on quarantined risks or threats
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v6200305

Turn off or turn on Download Intelligence
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/norton-security/current/solutions/v23920640

Exclude files and folders from Norton scans
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v3672136

Norton detects a file or program as a threat even after you exclude it from scan
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v115455517

Configure Exclusions/Low Risks settings
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/norton-360/home/solutions/v15457075

Exclude files with low-risk signatures from Norton scans
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v15463085

Configure Data Protector to block malicious processes affecting your PC
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/norton-360/current/solutions/v130571264