AVG flags FlashUtil10a.exe as Trojan horse virus

Posted on 14 November 2008 | by Aaron Traffas, CAI, ATS, CES

This morning, I began getting reports that AVG antivirus on multiple machines on multiple networks began flagging FlashUtil10a.exe as the PSW.Generic6.AQPD Trojan Horse virus. I’m assuming this is a false positive, even though I would equate anything made by Adobe as a virus. I’ll update this post as soon as I learn more about this condition.

UPDATE

The Register now has a story about this being a confirmed false alarm. Update your definitions and the warnings should go away.

UPDATE

Today’s false-positive comes after AVG recently offered a free, one-year license to customers affected by another recent false-positive.

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Aaron Traffas, CAI, ATS, CES

twitter.com/traffas | aarontraffas.com | aarontraffasband.com

Aaron Traffas, CAI, ATS, CES is an auctioneer from Sharon, Kansas. He is currently community evangelist for Purple Wave in Manhattan, Kan. Aaron serves on the National Auctioneers Association Education Institute Board of Trustees as well as the Board of Directors for the Kansas Auctioneers Association. Aaron is an active singer and songwriter, and when not at work or evangelizing the use of usable, accessible and standards-compliant websites to the auction industry, can be found playing original alternative country music at shows across the Midwest, both solo and with the Aaron Traffas Band. The ATB's latest release, Dirt Red Sun, can be found at iTunes and Amazon.
  • Arlie Hedges

    I am noticing this too, all of the sudden.
    Whatever last night’s virus definitions update contained is treating this as a threat, however, heal, quarantine and ignore all seem to have no effect on the process as AVG continues to prompt me on just about every new page load in my browser.
    Not seeing much, if any info on the web about it though.
    I am reasonable positive that it is a false-positive warning.

  • Arlie Hedges

    I am noticing this too, all of the sudden.
    Whatever last night’s virus definitions update contained is treating this as a threat, however, heal, quarantine and ignore all seem to have no effect on the process as AVG continues to prompt me on just about every new page load in my browser.
    Not seeing much, if any info on the web about it though.
    I am reasonable positive that it is a false-positive warning.

    • http://www.auctioneertech.com Aaron

      @Arlie Hedges -
      Have you noticed it happening again after updating to today’s definitions?

  • anthony irvine

    ive just ran a scan an its came up in the scan also its started coming up on certain webpages i go on! have to say,,,, i feel stupid because before then new version was released i recommended avg to all my friends and now alls there seems to be error after error! come on avg makers!!! pull your finger out!!!

  • anthony irvine

    ive just ran a scan an its came up in the scan also its started coming up on certain webpages i go on! have to say,,,, i feel stupid because before then new version was released i recommended avg to all my friends and now alls there seems to be error after error! come on avg makers!!! pull your finger out!!!

    • http://www.auctioneertech.com Aaron

      @anthony irvine -
      I too believe that the latest version has had more problems than version 7.x. Techspot and others are now reporting that AVG will offer a free, one-year license for another recent false-positive.

  • http://www.aarontraffas.com Aaron Traffas

    @Arlie Hedges -
    Have you noticed it happening again after updating to today’s definitions?

  • http://www.aarontraffas.com Aaron Traffas

    @anthony irvine -
    I too believe that the latest version has had more problems than version 7.x. Techspot and others are now reporting that AVG will offer a free, one-year license for another recent false-positive.

  • Tonya

    I am using AVG Free and it was working up until tonight sometime. I am showing a problem with flashutil10a.exe and I noticed that when I go into my virus vault, it is there. I tried restoring it from AVG VV, and it wouldn’t allow it. Then I tried to run my playlist online and it won’t let me because it needs flashplayer, so I opened up Tskmgr and closed the flashutil10a.exe program and sure enough, it allowed me to play the playlist. What is going on, anyone know of a fix? It is getting to the point where I have to shut down all my Internet windows and restart them after shutting down flashutil10a.exe.

  • Tonya

    I am using AVG Free and it was working up until tonight sometime. I am showing a problem with flashutil10a.exe and I noticed that when I go into my virus vault, it is there. I tried restoring it from AVG VV, and it wouldn’t allow it. Then I tried to run my playlist online and it won’t let me because it needs flashplayer, so I opened up Tskmgr and closed the flashutil10a.exe program and sure enough, it allowed me to play the playlist. What is going on, anyone know of a fix? It is getting to the point where I have to shut down all my Internet windows and restart them after shutting down flashutil10a.exe.

    • http://www.auctioneertech.com Aaron

      Have you updated to the latest version of AVG? It was my impression that the issue was fixed in the latest update of the virus definitions.

  • http://www.aarontraffas.com Aaron Traffas

    Have you updated to the latest version of AVG? It was my impression that the issue was fixed in the latest update of the virus definitions.