Known Issues with 3rd Party Software, including website being blocked

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Albert Wiersch
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Known Issues with 3rd Party Software, including website being blocked

Post by Albert Wiersch »

This topic is updated as needed.

This is a list of known & reported problems with CSS HTML Validator and 3rd party software. Unfortunately, third party software if too often the cause of user difficulties with CSS HTML Validator (other software can be affected as well).

Software that is reported to (currently or in the past) interfere or cause problems with CSS HTML Validator or block access to our website:
  • McAfee Firewall (reported 2023-02-22, 2022-05-05, 2022-02-25): may completely block access to our website at www.htmlvalidator.com; may report a "risky" connection; any blockage would also likely stop the update checking system from working; turning off "Net Guard" may fix this as it seems to also block some safe sites like www.htmlvalidator.com
  • Bitdefender Total Security 2015 (reported 2016-01-05): may cause CSS HTML Validator not to run if not turned off
  • Invisible Browsing from Amplusnet (reported 2011-09-01): may cause CSS HTML Validator to dump out of memory & disappear when starting
  • Online Armor Free (reported 2011-04-27): causes access violation at startup; configure Online Armor to allow CSS HTML Validator
  • PC Tools Spyware Doctor (reported 2011-11-19 & 2011-05-23): causes access violations and/or "CSS HTML Validator Editor has encountered a problem and needs to close." messages
  • Sophos protection (reported 2010-07-13): causes installation failure (i.e. "Unable to create a temporary file. Setup aborted. Error 5: Access is denied."); disable protection to install
  • SysInternals tools, including DiskMon, may trigger the software protection system to not let CSS HTML Validator run
  • ZoneAlarm / Zone Alarm may cause various issues from incorrect installation to CSS HTML Validator freezing
  • IObit Malware Fighter may cause "a monitor program is running in your system" message
  • Webroot SecureAnywhere may break copy & paste (this post about disabling Webroot SecureAnywhere's Identity Shield may help)
What to do?
  • Sometimes a simple system restart can fix problems, so you may want to try that first.
  • If you're running security software, try to temporarily disable it to see if that will solve the problem. You may also want to set it to ignore CSS HTML Validator or CSS HTML Validator's installation folder.
Recommendations:
  • Unless absolutely needed for some reason, avoid using any 3rd programs that insist on blocking or causing problems for legitimate software and/or legitimate websites.
  • McAfee products have been the biggest offender of causing problems, so we strongly recommend using something better if you are using McAfee and it's causing problems.
  • Use the free Windows Defender Antivirus, Windows Defender Firewall, and/or other apps in Windows Security. We haven't had any reports of problems due to these, and they're some of the better tested and more widely used anti-malware/anti-virus programs.
  • Whether you have security software installed or not, always avoid risky websites and opening unknown or untrustworthy attachments and programs.
Additional Notes:
  • Security software is in constant flux, so one day it may cause problems and another day (after an update) it may not
  • Anti-virus and security software may interfere with the installation of CSS HTML Validator (as well as other software)
Albert Wiersch, CSS HTML Validator Developer • Download CSS HTML Validator FREE Trial
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RSteinwand
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Re: KNOWN ISSUES with 3rd Party Software

Post by RSteinwand »

Hi Albert.

We've used Sophos for a couple years and it never interfered with any of my installs.
Rick
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Albert Wiersch
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Re: KNOWN ISSUES with 3rd Party Software

Post by Albert Wiersch »

RSteinwand wrote:We've used Sophos for a couple years and it never interfered with any of my installs.
Hi Rick,

Thanks. I've added this:
* Security software is in constant flux, so one day it may cause problems and another day (after an update) it may not.

I think that may help explain why it works sometimes but may cause problems at other times.
Albert Wiersch, CSS HTML Validator Developer • Download CSS HTML Validator FREE Trial