Frequently Asked Question

NOTE: The Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) is new with Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and later and with Windows Server 2008. The WFP architecture is used to check network communication and since it uses special monitoring techniques, the Web browsers and Protocol Filtering sections are not available. Continue with the following procedure if you are not running Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and later or Windows Server 2008:

Both ESET Smart Security 4.0 and ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4.0 scan network traffic for viruses by using the ESET kernel service (ekrn.exe) as an internal proxy server.

By default, your ESET security product automatically detects programs that are used as web browsers and email clients, and adds them to the list of programs that the internal proxy scans. This can cause loss of internet connectivity or other undesired results with applications that use network features but are not web browsers/email clients.

This can be fixed by adjusting the settings of the internal proxy, or protocol filter, to ensure that it is only being used for web browser and email applications:

1. Open the main program window by clicking the ESET icon next to the system clock or by clicking Start → All Programs → ESET → ESET Smart Security or ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
   
   
2. Press the F5 key to display the Advanced Setup window.
3. From the Advanced Setup tree, click Antivirus and antispyware → Protocol filtering.
4. Select the Applications marked as Internet browsers and email clients option.
   
   
   
   
   Fig. 1-1
5. From the Advanced Setup tree, click Antivirus and antispyware → Web access protection → HTTP, HTTPS → Web browsers and make sure that only the applications you want scanned are selected. Typically only web browsers (iexplorer.exe, firefox.exe, etc.) need to be selected.
   
   
   
   Fig. 1-2
   
   
6. From the Advanced Setup tree, click Antivirus and antispyware → Email client protection → POP3, POP3S → Email clients and make sure that only the applications you want scanned are selected. Typically only email clients (outlook.exe, thunderbird.exe, etc.) need to be selected.
7. Click OK to save your changes.
   
   
   
   
   Fig. 1-3