COMMAND
NAV
SYSTEMS AFFECTED
Novell Netware
PROBLEM
Greg Rice found following. Even with auto-protection enabled,
Norton Antivirus fails to restart when users login to any
workstation which has been logged off at least once.
Systems Affected/Tested:
- Norton AntiVirus 5.00.01C under
- Windows 95/98 with Novell Netware Client 3.1.0.0
Auto-protection is a typical feature found in a variety of
antivirus software packages to automatically scan files being
downloaded, copied, or executed on a workstation. With
auto-protection enabled under Norton AntiVirus, navapw32.exe loads
each time the machine is booted. Under a normal system
configuration this service continues to run and scan files until
the machine is powered off. However with the Novell Netware
Client installed, the auto protection service also shut downs
every time the first user logs off of the machine. When the same
user or different one logs back onto the machine the service fails
to restart. The service must either be manually started by the
user or the system must be rebooted. When tested on systems
without the Novell client the service restarted each time the user
signed off and back onto the windows machine.
SOLUTION
The problem also seems to extend to other Norton Utilities
packages such as the Norton Protected Recycle Bins (nprotect.exe)
and other "auto-protect" software. This isn't really a problem
with Norton AntiVirus or other software packages but it is a flaw
(feature?) in the Novell Client that could have a significant
impact on some system administrators in trying to protect user
machines against malicious code.