Wny do so many security programs flag File Scout?

I've had avast! and Malwarebytes want to get rid of it. It gets 8 flags out of 48 with Virus Total, 2 out of 23 with Jotti, 1 out of 37 with VirSCAN, and 5 out of 43 with Metascan.

It seems to me like a useful and harmless program.

 

Hello conceptualclarity...

May I ask what File Scout does? Sounds like it might be one of those programs that seem to get tagged by the a-v community based on the potential for danger when being used.

I Googled and located some information, but I wasn't sure it was the same program...

 

Oops. I noticed too late "Wny" instead of "Why". I clicked on Administrator to appeal for a late edit, but it just took me to the MG home page.

.

When you're trying to open an file that's not the ordinary stuff, it gives you the option of trying to use one of your own programs or taking you to a page on one of the better known download sites--I have forgotten the name--where it will have a little article telling you what programs are supposed to open this kind of file.

I have no recollection of acquiring it. I have always assumed it was Microsoft--or Dell--that put it on my computer.

 

conceptualclarity...

OK...I see. That you don't recall installing it might be a little bit of a red flag. If you can find the program folder in your Program Files folder, you can right click on the program's .exe start up file to see who the developer is. If there is nothing there, that is a little bit suspect. If there is a name in any of the tabs, you can Google for more information on the developer.

I located this YouTube.com. No need to click on the link in the video description. It goes to a PC fix site:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygRTuYRjJcE

Maybe it's a false positive, but what you have could be related to this Trojan virus, too. Just not sure...

 

You mean right-clicking on Properties, right? Not showing company info.

 

Yes, that exactly correct. That would be the first indication of a concern to me cc. I guess it would help to know more about the program. I can't seem to find anything but a Blackberry app by the same name.

I'll try again...

 

This looks fairly reliable to me cc, but still need more on the program to find out if it's associated with the one on your PC:

http://malwaretips.com/blogs/trojan-pup-optional-filescout-a-virus/

Seems likely since the fact that you don't recall installing the program fits the profile of this malware...

More:

http://blog.spyhunter.us.com/remove-trojan-pup-optional-filescout-a-how-to-delete-trojan-pup-optional-filescout-a

but I don't see an actual program associated with this virus...maybe that's the problem. Perhaps you do have a legit program that is being confused with this...

 

cc...

If this is your program (sounds like it), it might explain why it's being flagged as dangerous:

http://forums.techguy.org/virus-other-malware-removal/1094564-windows-xp-exe-files-have.html

see posts 5 and 8 for starters...

Looks very serious as this thread goes on and something I think I would remove..

 

File Scout did not make plain its authorship. It would take me to the download website SoftTango, so I believe SoftTango was likely the originator of it.

I wonder why I never see SoftTango in search results these days...

I don't have it on this hard drive. I found another program for the purpose that seems better : Free File Viewer. I like it a lot, although when installing or updating it you have to uncheck a series of bundled programs whose search results don't put them in a positive light.