Norton Reputation Block: Fix Guide

TL;DR

Norton’s WS.Reputation.1 block often flags legitimate software as potentially unwanted. This guide provides steps to bypass this, including submitting files for analysis, using exclusions, and checking your system for malware.

Steps to Bypass Norton Reputation Block (WS.Reputation.1)

1. Understand the Problem: WS.Reputation.1 is a heuristic detection that identifies software based on its behaviour and reputation, not necessarily a virus definition. It can sometimes give false positives.
   • It’s often triggered by installers or downloaders rather than the final program itself.
   • Aggressive marketing tactics (bundling) can also cause flags.
2. Submit Files to Norton: The best long-term solution is to get the file correctly identified.
   • Go to Norton’s False Positive Submission Page.
   • Select “False Positive” and fill in the form with details about the software, including a link to download it (if available).
   • Submit the file itself for analysis. This can take time (days or weeks) but is the most effective approach.
3. Create Exclusions: Temporarily exclude the flagged file/folder from Norton scans.
   • Open Norton Security.
   • Go to “Settings” > “Antivirus”.
   • Select “Scans” and then “Exclusions”.
   • Click “Add” and choose either a File or Folder exclusion.
   • Browse to the location of the flagged file/folder and add it. Be cautious – only exclude files you trust!
4. Run a Full System Scan: Ensure your system isn’t actually infected.
   • Open Norton Security.
   • Select “Scan” > “Full System Scan”.
   • Let the scan complete and address any genuine threats found.
5. Check for PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs): Sometimes, bundled software causes the issue.
   • Open Norton Security.
   • Go to “Settings” > “Antivirus”.
   • Select “PUP Detection” and ensure it’s enabled. Run a scan specifically for PUPs.
6. Review Installed Programs: Uninstall any software you don’t recognise or didn’t intentionally install.
   • In Windows, go to “Control Panel” > “Programs and Features”.
   • Sort by installation date to identify recently added programs.
   • Uninstall suspicious entries.
7. Check Browser Extensions: Remove any unwanted or unknown browser extensions.
   • Chrome: chrome://extensions in the address bar.
   • Firefox: about:addons in the address bar.
   • Edge: edge://extensions in the address bar.
8. Reset Browser Settings (Last Resort): If problems persist, resetting your browser can remove unwanted changes.
   • This will delete cookies, history and potentially saved passwords – back up important data first!
   • Refer to your browser’s documentation for reset instructions.

Important Note: While exclusions can bypass the block, they reduce your cyber security protection. Only exclude files you are absolutely sure are safe and consider submitting them to Norton for analysis as described in Step 2.