SillyDog701

[Fulvio]

In view of the fact that there has been a discussion on the User Agent, I wanted to see how the User Agent Switcher would fare with Housecall AV scanning. I had some definite problems, and a link, which turned up to be for UK/Ireland. I tried to use the IE spoofing, and noticed that the site considered the gecko products acceptable, but I went on, anyway. first the test, which passed for the OS, but it flunked the next three. I have Java1.5.01. I went on anyway, and had no problem, although the new Java was presumed incompatible ( the coffee mug was in the systray). I did one scan of some folders using the IE UA, and then switched back to default. There was no difference in behavior, but when I selected the United States, and clicked on Housecall, I was told that "housecall.trendmicro.com" was not found. These things do happen, but where is the site hiding?
So, I still don't know if Housecall is usable, for this country.
What's cooking, if anything?

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.2) Gecko/20040804 Netscape/7.2 (ax)

[Alice]

The European version of Housecall should work with Mozilla, since it runs on Java, not ActiveX, according to one site I found:
http://fr.trendmicro-europe.com/consume ... on=browser

So, I went to http://fr.trendmicro-europe.com/consume ... launch.php and tried it with Mozilla 1.7.5... I passed all four tests.... then a dialog box opened, offering me the signed applet distributed by Trend Micro Deutchland.... which I declined, since I didn't actually want to run a scan... I have the Java JRE version 1.4.2_06, not JRE 1.5, if that makes any difference.

According to http://www.trendmicro.com/en/products/d ... e/faqs.htm
Internet Explorer is required to load the Housecall Active X component, in the US version, it seems...

An IE useragent spoof wouldn't help with Housecall, then, in either case.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20041217

[Fulvio]

I had figured out that the UA spoof would not work, since the mechanism is different, and the npmozax.dll file appears to work only for WMP.
And, I guess that since the Java tests failed, but Java was Java, I was able to go ahead. Most likely, they have not heard of Java1.5 and later ones.
But, I was puzzled by the fact that the website could not be found. But, it does now with the same lack of success and more. I even got a General Exception error in Java. Goo thing that I am not desperate for a scan.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20041217

[Alice]

Re-reading your first post, I'm wondering now... did you succeed in scanning your system with Housecall UK or not? Was the problem only that you "flunked" the tests... but the scan succeeded?

I would think that JRE 1.5 would work as well or better than 1.4.2

I found the UK site for Housecall too, by the way:
http://uk.trendmicro-europe.com/consume ... launch.php
... and it also was working for me, up to the point of accepting the signed applet.

Don't bother trying the Housecall link for the US site, http://www.trendmicro.com/en/home/us/personal.htm unless you want to use IE.... otherwise, you'll get offered a " HouseCall (for Netscape) installation" which might be for Communicator.... not sure.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20041217

[Fulvio]

Alice,
I was able to get the scan using the UK/Ireland link, even though the Java-related was not supported. As for Communicator, an entire folder was plopped in the Plugins folder, but nothing works.
I read their "explanation" of why they use Active X, first class bs.
I don't need Housecall, nor any Trendmicro product. I can use McAfee Stinger for emergency situations. They have an update, today, and it isn't fussy as Housecall is.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.2) Gecko/20040804 Netscape/7.2 (ax)

[Alice]

That " HouseCall (for Netscape) installation" might have worked at one time in Communicator. The fact that it's still available for download is most likely just an oversight on TrendMicro's part. The Housecall FAQS (US version) do say that ActiveX is required and that "Netscape browsers are not supported in the current release."

As to why your Java 1.5 version flunked the Housecall UK Java test but the scan worked anyway, I saw that mentioned on another forum
(EDIT: forum, name and date removed):

<snip>
I just went through an experience with Housecall, the free inline AntiVirus scan. It does not like the newest Java, but, it works with it, nevertheless, using the UK/Ireland version which just needs Java. The US/Canada version grooved on Active X, beside needing Java. <snip>.

I haven't used Housecall in ages, by the way. On my Windows 95 machine I did try it out in Internet Explorer and I remembered that other files and folders were added to my system (besides the Windows\Temp Housecall files), IN ADDITION to the (Windows\Downloaded Program Files) Housecall ActiveX Control. From my old Housecall notes:
[tt]C:\WINDOWS\AUBackup and C:\WINDOWS\AUBin folders are permanent and if you look inside those you will find more files.
I also found a Housecall control in the C:\Windows\Downloaded Program Files folder. If you right-click the Housecall Control and check Properties you will find more information including more files listed on the Dependency tab.[/tt]

I didn't care for all the "litter" (I'm a neat freak!). See TonyKlein's 04/24/02 post on Housecall's ActiveX version added clutter in this other forum post. According to THIS recent post on other forum, the Housecall UK Java version may also make changes to your system (files added and registry entries) if that's a concern.

I haven't tried the McAfee Stinger but I think I'll pass on trying it out right now. I do have the link (thanks) "just in case" I 'm in a situation where I want to double-check my eTrust EZAntivirus results.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20041217

[Fulvio]

Westside is an alias of mine, at other newsgroups. Now, you know who is the nut!

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20050217 Firefox/0.9.4

[Alice]

I never suspected

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20041107 Firefox/1.0 (ax)