FS Protection PC releases

Ukko

Hello,

Apparently my update didn't go very well. UI reports "Device restart required" (The fs protection product has encountered an error, the device must be restarted). However, this can only be noticed by opening the UI (it doesn’t appear on its own after the very first initial appearance) or after a few minutes the Windows Security center has (x) and generic information about restarting the service.

Happened after installing the update - I rebooted the computer, and now every restart does not fix the problem (I've tried it three times so far). In Updates tab - Device protection listed as "not successful". No link to updates logs is available. No crashes are visible. Even if after some time the situation gets better, I probably I will try to report this via email channel, but just thought it was not only me (but sounds it is).

Thanks!

// Is DeepGuard no longer DeepGuard? Or is there still DeepGuard but with a different name/type?

// "Ransomware Protection" has been removed (and may be returned later) or is it simply impossible to configure anymore (but still remains as a feature)?

Ville

Hi @Ukko

Please report the bug with malfunction through normal channel.

DeepGuard is gone and Behavior Detection fulfills the same functionality.

Ransomware Protection is now part of Real-time protection. You can not configure directories to protect (it's automatic) and it's on when Real-time protection is on.

Karibu

The changes (removal of some configuration settings) are going to result in a lot of people just stop using F-Secure.

Cannot configure virus scan speed? Removing that? Are you kidding me?

Looks like F-Secure will now be re-labeled Avira.

Karibu

Yeah, it is confirmed.

F-Secure is replacing all of its in-house technologies with Avira.

The F-Secure product will be a re-labeled Avira with a different GUI.

TVC15

https://community.f-secure.com/en/discussion/comment/139082#Comment_139082

@Firmy @Ville can you confirm this, please?

@Karibu where, what post confirmed that for you, especially as far as a different GUI, has it changed on the beta?

TIA

Karibu

https://community.f-secure.com/en/discussion/comment/139087#Comment_139087

https://malwaretips.com/threads/f-secure-beta-version-updates.133677/post-1107960

F-Secure version 19.9 has all Avira processes. F-Secure is not even hiding the fact that it is moving to Avira.

I bet Norton Lifelock buys F-Secure (and maybe WithSecure) because both companies are not performing well.

TVC15

https://community.f-secure.com/en/discussion/comment/139093#Comment_139093

Thanks, I'm a member there and saw that.

I agree, it has all the earmarks of big changes happening. After I saw that thread, I uninstalled F-Secure from one of my devices and installed Avira free, just to get a feel of what the new F-Secure may be like ;) :)

Cheers, and thanks again for posting back :)

Karibu

https://community.f-secure.com/en/discussion/comment/139094#Comment_139094

The 19.9 beta version provides all the infos that you require, if you know how to analyze the processes with tools and utilities.

DeepGuard has been replaced with Avira's behavioral analysis.

The changes under the hood are not minor. It is not simply renaming features. The changes under the hood are sweeping changes that fundamentally alter and change the F-Secure product.

F-Secure must have been working with Avira for quite some time. If F-Secure is using Avira technology, that means F-Secure is working with Norton as Norton Lifelock owns Avira.

Der_Reisende

Did not know Avira does have a Behavior Blocker module. Apart from signatures, it always was a disappointment when i quickly tested it.

A pity i gonna throw away one year of remaining subscription, but this is a transition I'm not willing to accept, they should offer a refund, as main features - Deep Guard - will be retired. Also, the VPN almost rendered my internet connection useless (Falkenstein, Germany) so I always switched it off.

Also, the Avira Updates tend to be delayed sometimes, my machines do not receive the latest ones though available according to the log (https://dbtracker.f-secure.com/detailed_reports/capricorn-win64.html) a day later, the latest ones are installed again.

Nothing worth paying for further, will get back to K7 which I have been using for years, only switching because the VPN was cheaper in the Total package than as standalone. Although K7 may be weaker, I have always been happy with it, blazingly fast, in combination with Evorim Firewall (which also compliments my current F-Secure) and AppCheck Anti Ransomware, i feel well protected.

Only thing I will miss dearly is Banking Protection, which however still does not protect PayPal regardless of ticket (at least not when I used it recently).

Ville

We have received reports of malfunction after update to beta 1. We have identified the cause and are working on a fix. We expect to release it in beta 2 early next week. Until that, you can open Services as administrator and restart "F-Secure Hoster" service to fix the problem.

fs-seppo

Release 19.9 beta 2 (6.0.551)

Bug fixes:

• Improved robustness of Device Protection installation (PBL-13781)
• Visibility of banking sessions on ARM64 processor (PBL-13779)

Know issues:

• During upgrade from beta 1 to beta 2, Device Protection components will be uninstalled, and then reinstalled, automatically. During the time period while Device Protection is not installed, Windows Defender will be activated, and there will be a notification from Windows about Virus protection being turned off.

Ukko

Hello,

Can I ask about one thing that I'm not sure how to classify - a bug, design or something else? in general, this is even somewhat rhetorical - if this is "unintendedly" so, then it can be considered just as a report.

Spoiler Warning

given set-up: we have an important task in main UI - which is always open (maximized) or which will be re-opened/expanded from the minimized state after the next opening of the main window.

trouble: if we have a minimized header (with statistics) in any module (for example, "Scam Protection"), then it will be reset to an open (maximized) header after the next use of the UI (where there is an "open" / "expanded" header in the main UI).

real examples: a task / prompt about "error and restart" in beta 1. it was possible to minimize / hide this task, but after reopening UI - it maximized/expanded; a notice about "protection update. protection is in the process of updating, this may take some minutes" in beta 2. it is always expanded, not possible to hide or minimize.

both 'expanded' headers in Main UI will reset any minimized header in other parts of UI. This way, all "headers" (with statistics) will be open and not minimized (if you chose this state).

// a bonus point: for some reason, mentioned 'task' in beta 2 - now - shown always as opened directly in the Tasks screen, immediately after opening the UI (which, in general, is probably correct). Previously it was possible to open the Main UI and this 'task/header' would simply be visible as part of the main screen (with an option to go inside Tasks / its card).

// just as a small edit:

rough steps to reproduce what I tried to mention:

-> minimize "header" in ScamProtection screen;
-> close window;
-> open main UI with its huge task of trouble; or informational task about updating, "header" is opened / expanded now in main screen;
-> go to ScamProtection screen and "header" is no longer minimized too because of that.

Thanks!

Firmy

Hello @Karibu @TVC15

Thank you for your post and comments.

F-Secure products use multiple prevention and detection technologies, including some functionality based in part on 3rd party vendor-provided capabilities. Please find more information about our privacy policy and data sharing in our Privacy Statement. We cannot comment further on current and planned vendors used for specific functionalities within the F-Secure Total product. Any changes in future releases will be announced as part of release notes according to our standard practices.

Thank you and have a good day.

Ville

@Ukko

There is just a single "expanded/collapsed" state for the banner area that is shared across the dashboard and every feature view. So once you change the state in any view, it's in the same state in others. The banner is forced to "expanded" state when there is a task for user that requires their attention.

tiktoshii

I want to join in beta program

dukavi

Release 19.9 beta 3 (6.0.698)

New features:

• Support for Thai language localization
• Manual scans started while Device Protection update is in progress do not fail but are instead delayed until update is finished

Bug fixes:

• Using backspace for navigation in Settings UI does not update selection
• Narrator does not work properly with dropdown controls

dukavi

https://community.f-secure.com/en/discussion/comment/139207#Comment_139207

Please, follow instructions here:

FS Protection Beta Program | F‑Secure

Lord_Ami

Is Release 19.9 beta 3 (6.0.698) supposed to be staged rollout? I have not received it yet.

Ville

Looks like beta 3 did not roll out yet for anyone. We'll fix it.

Lord_Ami

https://community.f-secure.com/en/discussion/comment/139264#Comment_139264

Thanks, it has now arrived :)

Ukko

Hello,

I would like to ask about two things.

Previously, the scan report contained references to which files were excluded for manual scanning in the settings. And could also provide details of why a particular file was not checked.

Now, excluded files or directories are not listed in the scan report, and there are no explicit descriptions of which files were not scanned or why.

the first thing may not be so significant, but I found it useful sometimes to remember or know when looking at the report that certain things are included in the exceptions.

while the second may cause more ambiguity. for example, it is not obvious what items were not scanned. and some lose their meaning. I selected the option to scan inside archives. I scanned password-protected archives - there was no entries that they were password-protected (as before) or the scan failed inside. And for some, there seemed to be no differences or indicators at all that it didn't work inside or that tried to scan but impossible (scanned as if 'scan inside archive' is not chosen; or if password-protected archive is undetected to be so or extension is not supported).

I mean in scan report (html file).

Should it be like this now?

Thanks!

Urmas

The first omission is a bug, to be fixed. The second omission is intentional as we no longer have the capacity to report of scanning errors at that detail level.

TVC15

I know this isn't beta feedback, but this was encouraging to see in a email I just received from F-Secure of future improvements planned, which I'm sure will be posted during the beta testing :)

What’s in store for 2025?

We are soon adding more features to make the online world even safer for our users. An improved VPN will enhance private connection performance and an expanded Password Vault helps you to store and automatically monitor more of your sensitive personal data – such as bank account and passport numbers.

Keep up the good work, F-Secure :)

Ivan_Osipov

The DeepGuard is still mentioned on a "big card".

Late

Release 19.9 beta 4 (6.0.827)

New features:

• Improvements to delayed manual scans that are started while Device Protection update is in progress

Bug fixes:

• Sometimes, web pages are wrongly blocked during banking sessions, possibly even blocking access to bank (PBL-13925)
• Product update requires reboot if browser is running (PBL-13895)
• Issues for some users with Firefox extension for Browsing Protection (PBL-13906)
• Issues for some users with Firefox extension for Password Vault (PBL-13917)

Known issues:

• After upgrade, connection between browser extension and product may be lost. In this case extension will remain in “initializing” state. To fix this problem either extension must be reloaded or browser restarted.

Ville

We had reports that the fix for Firefox extension for Password Vault did not solve the issue. We found additional problem there and it should be properly fixed in next beta.

gena_cidrusskih

after adding the Hydra protocol and restarting the VPN, the VPN settings(killswitch, vpn bypass etc.) cease to be active. and after turning off the computer and turning it on again (not restarting), it is impossible to connect to the Internet. problems only on the Windows client

Ville

@gena_cidrusskih

Please send bug report via email to beta@f-secure.com. This way we can ask for more details and information related to your specific case without posting that info for everyone to see.