AVG antivirus Free detects malware

[gdo...@gmail.com]

Hey all!
Maybe this issue has been discussed allready but I didn't find anything specific.
Since I recently updated AVG on my phone I get the alert that my MIT app inventor apk is malware when I install it.
I allready wrote to AVG technical support about the issue but I'm afraid that this could scare people away from installing it from the app store.
Has anyone else had similar problems?
Cheers

[SteveJG]

Thanks for the heads-up.   Are all AI apk's giving this issue or just one you wrote?     It is important for us to know this.  There might be something in your app that AVG does not like.   Is this a standard AI apk or is it modified with AILiveComplete or one of the manifest editors?

We have a single user  report that AVAST is reporting AI apk's as malware but never we never got a clarification from the poster.  No others mentioned the issue so it seems to be an isolated instance..but perhaps is not.

Also, we are interested in hearing from others who may have this issue.

Our recommendation to the AVAST users is to use the advice we provided for contacting AVAST.

I have AVG on a tablet (version 3.3.3 supposedly the latest) and I just installed with NO issues an AI2 app I wrote.  This makes me wonder what is wrong with the apk you are attempting to load. . What can you tell us about your app?  What does it do?  ... and what specific message you get from the AVG software on your Android phone.  What version of Android on the phone?

Could you try installing one of the tutorial apps, compile the aia, then produce an apk and attempt to load?   It would be a great help to know whether ALL AI2s apks are reported as a false positive or whether it is ONLY one of your own creations?  Thanks.

Regards,

Steve

[gdo...@gmail.com]

Hi Steve!

Thanx for the quick answer. First thing I did was to try to install another MIT apk from the playstore (I tried BoniBalls). I had the same problem there.
Right after the install AVG scans the app and then a warning pops up saying that it is classified as malware and it is recommended to be uninstalled.
I am using Android 4.1.2 on and GS2.

Another thing I found out is if you run a complete scan with AVG it detects MIT AI2 Companion as dangerous but not the apps themselves.
Really strange.

Regards,
George

[SteveJG]

@ George   Thank you George.  What version of AVG are you running?   Using 3.3.3  Free  I also did a complete scan.  AVG said everything is great.  Are there different versions of AVG in different parts of the World?   I do not know.

I run AI2 apps on two devices.  The one on a Galaxy Tab II with AVG detects no issues.  It uses AVG 3.3.3 Free version.  The phone has Android 4.1 on it , a McAfee virus checker and it too shows no issues with any AI2 apps, including Companion.  Both devices have apps loaded recently and apps created several months ago.

You did not mention anything additional about your app, what it does etc.  It appears something in your app is triggering a response.   You either do something regarding permissions or have a text string or link that AVG identifies as dangerous having a virus signature.    It would be helpful if you would post the exact message you get from AVG (and the virus it detects if it gives a specific virus)  and also please tell us if you compiled your app with the standard AI2 or you compiled with one of the other versions of AI2 or if you modified the AI2 manifest.

In your case, I would delete AVG and then reload it  or try one of the other free checkers and see what happens.  At the moment, you are the only user having issues.

@ Everyone else on the forum    Is anyone else having issues with AI2 apk loading or having virus checkers indicate there are issues with AI 2 developed apps?

Regards,

Steve

[gdo...@gmail.com]

Hi Steve!
Here are two screenshots. One of my AVG version (German) and one of the alert I get when I install an MIT app.
My own app is this one: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appinventor.ai_gdogvie.D8Doc_free
I get the same alert there too.
Didn't use any other programs, links, adserving tools or anything - its basically just an ebook in german.
Hope this feedback is helping. Didn't yet get any response from AVG support.
Cheers, George

[SteveJG]

Thank you George.  You have a different version of AVG than I am using... you have version 4.1.2.    I have 3.3.3 AVG AntiVirus FREE for Tablets and get no issues.  I attempt to update and am told I have the latest update installed.    Your German version indicates your AI2 app is classified as malware.   

Unfortunately, no one else on the forum has reported this issue.    I am passing on the information to my colleagues.

--Steve

[Hal Abelson]

I suggest that you use a different anti-virus checker.

These checkers generate a lot of false positives, and the vendors are bad about fixing them.

== Hal

[gdo...@gmail.com]

Thanks for the effort Steve. Hal - I don't think that's a solution for potential clients on google play who are using the same virus checker  ;)
Today I got an answer for AVG support that they have been taken care of the issue.

[SteveJG]

@George.   Thank you very much for your successful efforts with AVG.    Some finally read about the false positive and are fixing/fixed it.  Users of someones product get a better response that those who do not use the product.   You did a lot of work.

Regards,

Steve