Norton Security Scan malware?

Out of nowhere, an icon called Norton Security Scan appeared on my Desktop.  Is it some sort of malware?  If it is, how do I get rid of it?  What damage does it do?

 

I have been running Norton Internet Security 2009 for a long time, incidentally.

 

Please RSVP ASAP.

 

Thanks,

 

mrmoderate

@mrmoderate

 

did you install Shockwaveplayer ? 

 

http://www.calendarofupdates.com/updates/calendar44514

Shockwave Player - Norton Security Scan or Google Toolbar

delphinium:

 

No.

 

--mrmoderate

Voyager10:

 

If I did recently install or update ShockWave, the icon didn't appear right after that or after the next restart of the PC.

 

--mrmoderate

Out of nowhere, an icon called Norton Security Scan appeared on my Desktop.  Is it some sort of malware?  If it is, how do I get rid of it?  What damage does it do?

 

I have been running Norton Internet Security 2009 for a long time, incidentally.

 

Please RSVP ASAP.

 

Thanks,

 

mrmoderate

Is there a way to ask this question of Symantec, thus getting an authoritative answer?  Like, you know, actual tech support for their product (Norton Internet Security 2009).  (I might have mistakenly said NAV09 in my original post, but I meant to say NIS09.)

 

I still want to hear what users have to say, though.

 

Thanks,

 

mrmoderate

Hello mrmoderate,

 

I think this Symantec KB article will answer your questions. There are also instructions on how to uninstall.

 

Hope that helps.

Hi mrmoderate,

 

I don't think that the Norton Security Scan got installed into the computer without your knowledge. As part of a recent distribution agreement with Symantec, Adobe will offer its customers the option to install the free Norton Security Scan software as part of the Shockwave Player installation process. Only customers who accept the Norton Security Scan offer will download the Norton Security Scan software. Those who decline the offer will download and install only Shockwave Player. 

 

This Norton Security Scan is also available with the Google Pack program or Google Toolbar, and you are free to decline the offer to have Norton Security Scan. Users who do not wish to take advantage of this offer can easily opt out during the download itself. Now, check which are the softwares that you recently updated or installed, and thus you can find out which program got you the Norton Security Scan.You can uninstall theNorton Security Scan likeany other program through Add/Remove Program in the Control Panel.

 

Yogesh

Yogesh:

 

I checked Add or Remove Programs, and I have Shockwave Player version 11.5 installed.  It says the program was last used on 04/21/09, so, presumably, it had to have been installed on or before 04/21/09.  I know the option to which people are referring with the Shockwave installation, and I might have opted to let it install.  I don't recall.

 

But (and this is a big "but"), why would the icon mysteriously appear on my Desktop today or last night?  Seems very suspicious to me.

 

I'll check out the article that a previous responder (sorry, I forgot your name) in this thread suggested.

 

I didn't want to prejudice anybody's answer, so I withheld one fact.  I'm using a cellular-type modem (CDMA, whatever that means) from Cricket.  Does this change things for anybody?

 

If it's legitimate Symantec software, what's it supposed to do, exactly?

 

Again, is it possible to get actual Symantec tech support for their products, or must I rely on "the kindness of strangers?"

 

Thanks, everybody.

 

--mrmoderate

Phil D:

 

Thanks for the article.  However, it presumes that what's calling itself Norton Security Scan is really that.  My concern is that it's actually some sort of malware that made it past Norton Internet Security 2009.  Anybody think it is or isn't?

 

Thanks again, all.

 

--mrmoderate

Hello mrmoderate,

 

Can you tell us if the program is listed in Add-Remove Programs (XP) or Programs and Features (Vista)?

Hi mrmoderate,

 

First of all, I would like to let you know that the "Last used date" shown in Add/Remove program is not an accurate one. That is a guessing work done by Add/Remove programs. You will be able to find several articles regarding this if you Google. Here is one from MSDN:

http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2004/07/09/178342.aspx

 

Here is a screenshot taken from Add/Remove programs in my computer now (I am typing this post in Mozilla Firefox browser and using Internet Explorer simultaniously)

 

add_remove.JPG

 

If you take Adobe Shockwave Player into consideration, it always get frequest updates from Adobe web site which is mostly unnoticed by Add/Remove programs in similar way. I am not telling that it's the Shockwave Player itself had got Norton Security Scan installed in your computer, but there are more chances for Shockwave Player or Google Tolbar/Earth/Pack to get this on your computer through some unknown update. 

 

Norton Security Scan is a free software program from Symantec, used to scan, detect and identify the infections/threats. It won't be able to remove any of the threats detected. Since it is an authorized program from Symantec, Norton programs installed in the computer won't interfere or block it and so it can co-exist without any problem.

 

The people with names in red are Symantec employees. They will behere soon to give their opinion( will be checking in on their off-times). The people with "Guru" besides their names are people who are assigned by the Symantec employees to help out users as well. They are experienced in handling the problems associated with Norton programs through this Community forum and so they are not at all "strangers" with the Norton users. You can find additional information on this link:

http://community.norton.com/norton/board/message?board.id=forum_feedback&message.id=1403

 

You can always contact Symantec Technical Support through Phone/Email/Chat, here is the link:

http://www.symantec.com/norton/support/contact/contact.jsp?pvid=cs

 

Yogesh

Message Edited by yogesh_mohan on 07-21-2009 07:32 PM

Mrmoderate

 

You can try uploading the Norton Security Scan file that you see on your desktop to:

 

www.virustotal.com

 and

www.threatexpert.com

 

that will give us an idea as to whether its the actual NSS, or a virus.

 

ps: if its a shortcut, please upload the file the shortcut leads to.

 

Matt