PC Guard lets VM spam through

Gary L · 14-12-2007, 17:46

I have just received a pop-up message with a window title of:
"Radialpoint Security Message"

Wow - isn't Virginmedia PCGuard good
---------------------
Ah! no - Its just a message advertising the Virginmedia latest -
Virginmedia.com/sport
offering of football to watch
-----------------------

Why do I put PCGuard as a heading on this?
Because that's the main difference between the PC system that got this
message, and the one that didn't get the message,
Yes I've installed Virginmedia's PCGuard facility on the one that got it!

------------------------

So, can someone (Alex perhaps) pass on to Virginmedia's MANAGEMENT my
consideration that allowing their MARKETTING? department to use the PC
anti-virus and anti-spam facility for advertising pop-ups is an ABUSE by
Virginmedia of the access and service position that Virginmedia hold as an
ISP

And, should such a thing happen again then I will probably complain to the
regulator about that abuse of the controlling and systems access associated
with VirginMedia's business as an ISP

Mick Fisher · 14-12-2007, 18:02

Why bother going to so much trouble for a probable zilch?

PCGuard is junk.

Just don't use it.

Axegrinder · 14-12-2007, 18:35

Hear hear^

Get a much better anti virus such as Avast or AVG, as they don,t use up so much system resources plus they are much better at catching the nasty stuff than PCgaurd.

chickendippers · 14-12-2007, 19:38

Just use Firefox, that comes with a good pop-up blocker - haven't seen a pop-up for years

Toto · 14-12-2007, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

I have just received a pop-up message with a window title of:
"Radialpoint Security Message"

Wow - isn't Virginmedia PCGuard good
---------------------
Ah! no - Its just a message advertising the Virginmedia latest -
Virginmedia.com/sport
offering of football to watch
-----------------------

Why do I put PCGuard as a heading on this?
Because that's the main difference between the PC system that got this
message, and the one that didn't get the message,
Yes I've installed Virginmedia's PCGuard facility on the one that got it!

------------------------

So, can someone (Alex perhaps) pass on to Virginmedia's MANAGEMENT my
consideration that allowing their MARKETTING? department to use the PC
anti-virus and anti-spam facility for advertising pop-ups is an ABUSE by
Virginmedia of the access and service position that Virginmedia hold as an
ISP

And, should such a thing happen again then I will probably complain to the
regulator about that abuse of the controlling and systems access associated
with VirginMedia's business as an ISP

Either you posted that message on the VM Feedback forum, or you have copied it from there to here.

Dump PCGuard and get a decent security system.

dev · 14-12-2007, 20:01

why am i not surprised at the 'author' of this topic

Gary L · 14-12-2007, 20:20

You're all missing the point. PC Guard is an anti spam program that is supplied by VM and is designed to block spam, but it pops up a *warning* saying "Radialpoint Security Message" and it's an advert from VM! they are misusing the program for them to spam with.

---------- Post added at 20:20 ---------- Previous post was at 20:19 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by dev

why am i not surprised at the 'author' of this topic

Why am I not surprised at the 'author' of this comment

dev · 14-12-2007, 20:23

when did it popup the warning? how did it popup the warning? how is a warning advertising? if its a warning, it did something to stop it not promote it

Gary L · 14-12-2007, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by dev

when did it popup the warning?

Is the time relevant?

Quote:

how did it popup the warning?

Is this a trick question?

Quote:

how is a warning advertising?

When it is spam pretending to be a warning by saying "Radialpoint Security Message" Radialpoint Security Services provide the software PC Guard for VM.

Quote:

if its a warning, it did something to stop it not promote it

bonzoe · 14-12-2007, 20:31

Just dump the product and get something useful and also free, but watch out for advertising ..................

One thinks that you are just looking for something to complain about.

Gary L · 14-12-2007, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonzoe

Just dump the product and get something useful and also free, but watch out for advertising ..................

You're right I should get something that doesn't pop up spam from the ISP that supplies the product.

Quote:

One thinks that you are just looking for something to complain about.

Thanks

dev · 14-12-2007, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

Is the time relevant?

not time what were 'you' doing? browsing? nothing? what?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

Is this a trick question?

no, what sort of a popup was it? browser one? messenger one? what type?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

When it is spam pretending to be a warning by saying "Radialpoint Security Message" Radialpoint Security Services provide the software PC Guard for VM.

so it wasn't vm that 'sent' it then?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

doesn't take much to confuse you does it

Toto · 14-12-2007, 21:01

And my point still hasn't been answered.

If you were the one who posted the original message in the VM usenet feedback forum then say so, if not, why repeat the post here?

---------- Post added at 21:01 ---------- Previous post was at 20:59 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

You're all missing the point. PC Guard is an anti spam program that is supplied by VM and is designed to block spam, but it pops up a *warning* saying "Radialpoint Security Message" and it's an advert from VM! they are misusing the program for them to spam with.

Can you please show me where PCGuard is an anti spam program?

lsproc · 14-12-2007, 21:20

I should note that the Radialpoint Security Services is based upon the Computer Associates antivirus engine.

Now, the message you are getting is from the Radialpoint Servicepoint, aka what Virgin call the Broadband Advisor. The purpose of this tool is to a) install the software and b) broadcast messages.

Now on the topic of alternate suites, I should add here that I have had Radialpoint (when I was beta testing) pick up much more proper positives and less false positives than AVG did, and I am not going to mention avast as that was extrodinarily slow last time I tried (v4.7).

If your fed up with the messages, use software like msconfig or Windows Defender or any other startup manager to disable/remove the Virgin Broadband Advisor.