CB Defense (Confer) flags SteamClient/SteamWebHelper as a security threat

[Ghost Rider]

My company's desktop (end point) management software recently installed Carbon Black's CB Defense (previously branded as Confer). Immediately afterwards, Steam Client failed with a dialog stating "Steam Client Webhelper has stopped working" and offers a dialog to close the program. After selecting to close the program, the dialog returns almost immediately. The end result is that the Steam Client cannot launch any games.

I opened a support request and provide logs from the CB Defense software (Confer) installation directory. The logs contained numerous entries containing the characters "Steamwebhelper.exe". Steam Support is continuing to work on the problem and believes that the CB Defense Software heuristics are generating false positives.

If you have encountered similar issues, please post your experiences as it may help further characterize the issue and help Steam Support to find a resolution.

Note: if you are not sure whether CB Defense is involved with the "Webhelper has stopped working" dialog, go to (Win 7) Control Panel > Programs & Features and look for "CB Defense Sensor" and Publisher "Carbon Black Inc." The "Install Date" will likely precede the first time you encountered the failure. Also, the installation path may be Program Files/Confer.

[Satoru]

That seems like entirely poor managment software if it thinks a totally standard CEF implementation, basically Chrome, is a virus or something.

Basically you'll have to wait for the silly anti-virus/managment company to white list it which again seems silly given its literally just a chrome browser....

[jjoachim3]

@Ghost Rider: I'm currently facing the exact same scenario you describe. Did you find a workaround or a fix to this issue?

[Ghost Rider]

Hi. My apologies for the long delay.

So, no, I did not receive a fix. I opened a support ticket and they forwarded it to the development team.

It is still open. Their response indicated that often times the heuristics of these malware detection software often times throw false positives - which is obviously the case here.

If you have the Carbon Black CB Defense installed by your desktop administration staff then please open a Steam support ticket as it will likely help to add pressure for them to come to a resolution.

The log files may be in "Program Files/Confer" and you may have to examine several zip files to locate the one that contains the error that identifies the SteamWebHelper.exe.

Regards,

Ghost Rider

[A. Punisher]

Hi!
I have the same problem after Carbon Black installation.
I can't run several games and receive exception "Application load error 3:0000065432".

Affected games:
"Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy"
"Rayman Legends"
"Tilesweeper"

But "The Witcher 3" works fine.

[dmof]

This issue with Carbon Black still exists as of today. I am sad.

[Dries_Smit]

Have the same issue wish that there is a fix I'm kind off pissed about the whole scenario.

I see this original post in 2018 its now 2021 hard to think that there is no solution.

[The End]

Originally posted by Dries_Smit:

Have the same issue wish that there is a fix I'm kind off pissed about the whole scenario.

I see this original post in 2018 its now 2021 hard to think that there is no solution.

Make an exclusion for Steam?
https://community.carbonblack.com/t5/Knowledge-Base/Carbon-Black-Cloud-How-to-Set-up-Exclusions-in-the-Carbon-Black/ta-p/42334

I don't use CB and have never used it, but a quick google gave me that howto.

Good luck.

[El.fantasma.de.la.B]

Originally posted by The End:

Originally posted by Dries_Smit:

Have the same issue wish that there is a fix I'm kind off pissed about the whole scenario.

I see this original post in 2018 its now 2021 hard to think that there is no solution.

Make an exclusion for Steam?
https://community.carbonblack.com/t5/Knowledge-Base/Carbon-Black-Cloud-How-to-Set-up-Exclusions-in-the-Carbon-Black/ta-p/42334

I don't use CB and have never used it, but a quick google gave me that howto.

Good luck.

I tried that, but my Carbon Black Cloud does not allow to open any console. It's just there and allows me to do nothing... Anyone has a solution?? I'm waiting for an answer from Support team

[HetaBananer]

2024 and my company also uses CB and now steam won't work. Very annoying, anyone found a fix?

[Iceira]

Originally posted by HetaBananer:

Originally posted by HetaBananer:

2024 and my company also uses CB and now steam won't work. Very annoying, anyone found a fix?

So you want another company to fix your Brand security app in what is allowed or not, Not going to happend ever.

And why you don't take it up with own Security app or your administrator i dont know.

This is know as pc user own problem. and it end there, and i doubt steam will comment on it,
let me put it like this, they should not help you with your security issue thats not a steam issue at all. in what secuyrity app you have installed or not, and how they work or not.

No one here can tell you make whitelist or exceptions rule if you do not want to do that.
in fact you can say jump in lake and die even not going to happend ever.
And this is why this is your problem only. ( and be happy we tell you this. )

In other word you are your own administrator and thats neds at your table to fix whatever the issue is. ( if you are not administarto on the pc then ask Company IT-department, because thats the problem here aient it if this is not a own pc where you are the Administrator.

[cma2step]

I've run into this problem very abruptly in the last 24hrs. Its unclear if its a problem with MALWAREBYTES (my AVP) or some other issue. Steam ran just fine yesterday but not will not load due to the SteamWebhelper.exe fail that I'm encountering. Any seeing this issue recently? Is this JUST the malware software? I've gone through a ton of things in the last 5hrs trying to resolve to no success.

Any insights would be appreciated.

[Adam]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.