The stability and security of your data are among the top priorities when using timeSensor LEGAL. A crucial factor in this is the compatibility between the database, your computer hardware, and the programs running on it, such as the operating system or additional software, particularly anti-virus programs.
In the past, customers have experienced issues where certain anti-virus programs, such as Sophos or BitDefender, interfere with the communication process between the timeSensor LEGAL client app and the 4D database, potentially causing connection interruptions. These problems can occur, for instance, when the anti-virus software disrupts the data traffic necessary for communication between the client and server or blocks writing processes on the server hard drive.
Why is this important?
timeSensor LEGAL requires a stable and continuous connection between the client application and the database. If anti-virus programs block or disrupt this connection, it can lead to unexpected disconnections and, in the worst case, data loss or inconsistent databases. This can significantly affect the smooth operation of your legal software and cause considerable work interruptions.
Anti-Virus on Windows
We explicitly point out that timeSensor LEGAL has been tested and certified exclusively with
Microsoft Windows Defender. Microsoft Windows Defender offers effective protection against threats and works seamlessly with our software without interfering with the necessary communication or writing processes on the hard drive. For this to be possible, the corresponding exclusion rules must be set in Microsoft Windows Defender.
Using other anti-virus programs may cause issues, as they have not been verified as part of our testing procedures. Therefore, we strongly recommend using only Windows Defender in conjunction with timeSensor LEGAL to ensure the reliable operation of the software.
To prevent Microsoft Defender from interfering with timeSensor LEGAL software, you need to add the following exclusions in Microsoft Defender settings:
| Exclusion | Windows Workstation | Windows Server |
| Folder | C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram | C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram |
| Folder |
| D:\timeSensor DataFiles |
| Process |
| C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram\timeSensor Server\timeSensor.exe |
| Process | C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram\timeSensor Client\Native Components\WebViewerCEF.bundle\CEfProcessHandler.exe |
|
| Process | C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram\timeSensor Client.exe | C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram\timeSensor Client.exe |
| Process |
| C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram\timeSensor Server\TSTOOLS\Mythicsoft\FileLocator Pro\FileLocatorPro.exe |
| Process |
| C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram\timeSensor Server\TSTOOLS\Mythicsoft\FileLocator Pro\flpsearch.exe |
| Process |
| C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram\timeSensor Server\TSTOOLS\Mythicsoft\FileLocator Pro\flpidx.exe |
| Process |
| C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram\timeSensor Server\TSTOOLS\Mythicsoft\FileLocator Pro\HotkeyMonitor.exe |
| Process |
| C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram\timeSensor Server\TSTOOLS\Mythicsoft\FileLocator Pro\IndexManager.exe |
| Process |
| C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram\timeSensor Server\TSTOOLS\Mythicsoft\FileLocator Pro\SearchTask.exe |
| Process |
| C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram\timeSensor Server\TSTOOLS\Mythicsoft\FileLocator Pro\ShellAdmin.exe |
| Process |
| C:\ProgramData\timeSensorProgram\timeSensor Server\TSTOOLS\Mythicsoft\FileLocator Pro\tesseract.exe |
Anti-Virus on macOS
We do not consider the installation of antivirus tools like BitDefender on macOS to be useful and believe that they can potentially cause more harm than good:
- macOS is an operating system equipped with a robust security architecture by design. Additional antivirus programs like BitDefender run continuously in the background, scanning files and network traffic, which can lead to significant performance issues. This is particularly problematic for systems used for database management or demanding software like 4D, where performance bottlenecks can disrupt smooth operations and result in connection losses.
- BitDefender and similar security programs often modify the network stack, potentially causing communication problems between software applications. In our experience, these issues are particularly noticeable when interacting with databases and during network communication, where such problems are absent without antivirus software. Furthermore, troubleshooting becomes more complicated as potential issues may be obscured or even caused by the security program.
- Apple develops macOS with several built-in security mechanisms, including XProtect, Gatekeeper, and System Integrity Protection (SIP). These are specifically tailored to macOS’s architecture and already provide solid protection against most threats. Installing additional antivirus tools often duplicates functionality unnecessarily, which can destabilize the system instead of enhancing security.
- Antivirus programs are also prone to false positives, mistakenly identifying harmless files as threats, isolating or deleting them. This can lead to data loss and interfere with the functionality of our software, which is particularly unacceptable in productive environments.
While installing antivirus software is advisable on Windows, the risk-benefit ratio is different in the macOS environment compared to Windows. In our experience, antivirus-related problems are common on macOS, while virus-related problems are exceedingly rare.
Contractual Provisions and System Requirements
Our licensing agreement specifies that timeSensor LEGAL must only be used in an appropriate and compatible environment. This includes computer hardware, operating systems, and necessary auxiliary programs such as antivirus software. The system requirements published in the FAQ section of our Help Center for both
timeSensor LEGAL Classic and
timeSensor LEGAL 365 contain binding information about server configuration and are part of the contractual agreement with our customers.
We kindly ask you to consider this information when selecting your antivirus software. If you have any questions or uncertainties, please contact our support team. We are happy to assist you in ensuring that your working environment is optimally configured for the use of timeSensor LEGAL.