SEP.cloud is being stupid again, and this is getting annoying

[kahml]

This wonderful message appeared on a client's boardroom widescreen display yesterday afternoon.

I just came back from a week of vacation and have a "high priority" email asking what was the cause and how come there is a Norton advertisement when they are paying for a Symantec product.

Client is running the following:

Platform Version: 2.03.70.2614

Protection Version: nis-22.5.2.15

I am hoping someone can actually answer this question because I am tired and fed up with this kind of stupidity.

This came up months ago and I was promised that the issue was corrected - apparently not.

[PraveenAyappan]

are you sure that you have the right product installed ? because the verision NIS sounds to me as Norton Internet Security

[wvp]

SEP.cloud = NIS

For SBE only SEP 12.1.5 possible to download.

 

[kahml]

Well, the situation with this version is even worse than I thought.

Today, system tray icon is showing grey (apparently as a result of the Microsoft KB issue); however, upon looking at the settings in the Agent (elevated command prompt avagent -SHOW_UI), I am seeing things that simply do not make sense.

There are now scheduled tasks, whose settings can't be controlled via the Partner Management Console or the hostedendpoint.spn web page

There's more, including the 30-day report, which a cloud-based user can't even see!?!?

And finally, the error that got my attention in the first place, there is indeed advertising!

This, I was told earlier, had been eliminated, yet has managed to find its way back.

I am horrified that these settings are on my clients' computers.  As a Managed Services Provider, I use an RMM tool to take care of scheduled tasks - and I don't expect a third-party product to be introducing a completely new and totally ungovernable set of them to my client base.

I certainly don't expect the software to affect the performace of an end-users computer without my ability to control what does, and what doesn't, occur.

And I absolutely want the software to respect my clients' right to privacy from ANY kind of advertising.

Symantec, you have finally gone way beyond what your product descriptions say about this cloud-based product.  It really is time for me to find another solution that doesn't have this stupidity associated with it.

 

[kahml]

My research has confirmed that Endpoint Security Version nis-22.5.2.15 will exhibit these new screens and functions.

If you are still running nis-21.5.0.19 you don't have anything to worry about until the client is updated - or a new one is installed.

[kahml]

The announced SEP.cloud improvement has started to arrive on desktops.

If you click About, you will see nis-22.5.4.24 on desktops only (servers are not being updated).

All of the above items - whether you want them or not - are present.

I am still dumbstruck that Symantec would implement consumer features to an MSP-based product without any recourse to modifying them short of accessing each and every single desktop.