Why is VE Pro accessing the network if I have an iLok and auto updates disabled?

[rgames]

At some point over the last couple months I started running into an issue where I get constant browser pop-ups when I'm using VE Pro without a network connection.  Sometimes it happens shortly after I start up VE Pro, sometimes when I shut down.  But it does *not* happen unless I have VE Pro running.  Note, though, that I don't think it happens unless I load a Synchron Player instrument, so maybe the issue is actually the Synchron Player.

I have a physical iLok and my VSL licenses are stored there, so I shouldn't need a network connection (right?)  And I have auto-update check turned off, so it shouldn't be going to the web to look for updates (right?).

I have tried disabling all other plug-ins so that only the Vienna Instruments and Synchron Player instruments are available.  That had no effect - it still loads up a bunch of browser windows looking for a network connection.  Unfortunately the addresses in the browser are just the logins for whatever I was connected to last (e.g. at an airport or hotel).  So I have no idea what web location it was trying to get to.

So... why is something trying to access the web when I run VE Pro?  And how do I stop it?

Thanks

[Lofe]

I have never seen or heard this before. VEPro needs local network access because that’s how it works. But I never seen any VSL players request web pages. The only thing that needed web login was Vienna Assistant.

[rgames]

I agree - it's extremely odd.  When it first happened I assumed it was some plugin that was looking for an update.  But I disabled all plugins and it's still popping up a bunch of browsers when I load up and/or exit VEPro.  It's also odd that it sometimes does it on exit; why would anything access the internet on exit?

The fact that I don't get the browser pop-ups when I'm on a network is the most concerning aspect.  Whatever it is is probably still accessing the internet, I'm just not aware.  If I weren't on a laptop with an intermittent network connection I never would have known it's happening.

The only things I can come up with are:

1.  Disabling auto-update check doesn't actually disable auto-update check

2.  Disabling plugins doesn't actually disable plugins.

3.  There's some kind of licensing check that VE software does from time to time that requires internet access.

4.  I got a virus that appears only when VE Pro is running.

#2 seems unlikely because I don't have the issue when Cubase loads up.

Fortunately there's an easy fix: make sure my network adapters are disabled when I'm using VE Pro.

[Paul]

Hi, 

This could be the VSL Helper that gets active when older eLicenser-protected projects are opened. The goal is to help with the transition from eLicenser to ilok. What do the browser pop-ups say/do?

Best, 
Paul

[rgames]

@Paul said:

Hi, 

This could be the VSL Helper that gets active when older eLicenser-protected projects are opened. The goal is to help with the transition from eLicenser to ilok. What do the browser pop-ups say/do?

Best, 
Paul

That could certainly be it.  But it only started within the last couple months so it's related to some update in that time frame.

The pop-ups load my browser looking for whatever URL it had when I was last connected to a public network, e.g. at a hotel or airport.  You know how you get the page that asks you to put in your name and room number when you log onto hotel wifi?  I get that one when the last network I was on was at a hotel.  Likewise, if the last network I was on was in an airport then I get the airport wifi login page.  As I noted above, I don't get any indication of what address the software was trying to access. I just get the wifi login screen for wherever I was last connected.

When those pop-ups start, they don't stop and I can't use my computer.  I have to hard boot and turn off the wifi connection.

So it's not a big issue so long as I remember to disable wifi when I'm not on a network.  (EDIT: or, if I'm not using VE Pro).

[Paul]

Hi, 

Can you please send a short screen video of those never-ending popups to support@vsl.co.at?

This should be fixable. 

Best, 
Paul