Whitelisting NordVPN in AVG Antivirus Free

AVG Performance
3

Hello  Shapiro,
Thank you for contacting AVG Community Support.
I apologize for the inconvenience you're facing. I completely understand how frustrating this must be.
To help resolve the issue where you're unable to send emails using Thunderbird when NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro modules are engaged,

  • I would like to first clarify whether AVG Antivirus is blocking the NordVPN application or if it's related to the VPN itself.
  • Could you please provide a screenshot of any error messages you're encountering? This will help us better understand the issue and offer precise instructions on how to proceed.
Additionally, once we have more information, we can guide you on how to add an exception in AVG Antivirus to prevent any interference with NordVPN.
Looking forward to your response.
1

Hi,
   I use Mozilla Thunderbird v128.4.3esr (64-bit) under Win11 as my e-mail client and NordVPN as my VPN.  When NordVPN's new Threat Protection Pro modules are engaged, I cann't send e-mail using Thunderbird.  NordVPN suggested the following:

It would be great if you could try adding our application to your anti-virus exceptions list.
 
Please note that the following executables must be added to exceptions:

  • Nordvpn.exe
  • nordvpn-service.exe
  • openvpn-nordvpn.exe (located at \NordVPN\App version folder (e.g.: 7.24.1.0)\Resources\Binaries\32bit and \NordVPN\App version folder (e.g.: 7.24.1.0)\Resources\Binaries\64bit folders)
  • nordsec-threatprotection-service.exe (located at \NordVPN\NordSec ThreatProtection)
Also, you would have to create inbound and outbound rules for nordvpn.exe, nordvpn-service.exe, nordsec-threatprotection-service.exe, and openvpn-nordvpn.exe on both private and public networks in your Firewall.

I have NO idea what the above means.  Can someone who understands these things get back to me and explain to me what I need to do step-by-step to implement NordVPN's instructions?  Please note that I'm using the AVG Antivirus Free.

Thanks in advance to all responders.
2

Dear Mr. Ahamed,

     Thanks for your quick response.  After some trial-&-error I figured out how to add exceptions to AVG Antivirus Free.

     When I added C:\Program Files\NordVPN\NordVPN.exe, I got two exceptions (see attached):

http://C/
https://C/

AVG exceptions.jpg

When I tried to add

C:\Program Files\NordVPN\nordvpn-service.exe
C:\Program Files\NordVPN\7.30.6.0\Resources\Binaries\64bit\openvpn-nordvpn.exe
C:\Program Files\NordVPN\NordSec ThreatProtection\nordsec-threatprotection-service.exe

for each of them I got the same message: "This exception already exists".

     I restarted the laptop.  Startup was normal, and NordVPN opened automatically, as usual. 

     I turned on "Anti-malware" in Threat Protector Pro, and was able to send e-mail from Mozilla Thunderbird.  So far, so good.

     I left "Anti-malware " on, and turned on "Advanced browsing protection", but this module blocked outgoing e-mail from Thunderbird.

     I turned off "Advanced browsing protection" and turned on the third module, "Ad and tracker blocker", but this also stopped outgoing e-mail from Thunderbird.

     I checked Windows Defender, and I think that Win11 recognized that AVG Antivirus Free was engaged and turned Windows Defender off.

     So as things stand at the moment, I can send e-mail from Thunderbird when the "Anti-malware" module of Threat Protection Pro is enganed, but not when either the "Advanced browsing protection" module or the ""Ad and tracker blocker" module is engaged.

     Any suggestions?

Thx.

4

Hello  Shapiro,
Thank you for contacting AVG Community Support.
I apologize for the inconvenience you're facing. I completely understand how frustrating this must be.
To help resolve the issue where you're unable to send emails using Thunderbird when NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro modules are engaged,

  • I would like to first clarify whether AVG Antivirus is blocking the NordVPN application or if it's related to the VPN itself.
  • Could you please provide a screenshot of any error messages you're encountering? This will help us better understand the issue and offer precise instructions on how to proceed.
Additionally, once we have more information, we can guide you on how to add an exception in AVG Antivirus to prevent any interference with NordVPN.
Looking forward to your response.