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McAfee VirusScan giving false positives, turning your computer into a doorstop

Discussion in 'Anything goes' started by 2muchcoffeeman, Jul 5, 2009.

  1. 2muchcoffeeman

    2muchcoffeeman Well-Known Member

    Wouldn't have mentioned this if not for CentralIllinoisian's thread; maybe it's related, maybe not, haven't heard from him ...

    McAfee kicks out a new definitions file for VirusScan, it's badly coded, chaos results.<blockquote>IT admins across the globe are letting out a collective groan after servers and PCs running McAfee VirusScan were brought down when the anti-virus program attacked their core system files. In some cases, this caused the machines to display the dreaded blue screen of death.

    Details are still coming in, but forums here and here show that it's affecting McAfee customers in Germany, Italy, and elsewhere. A UK-based Reg reader, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorized by his employer to speak to the press, said the glitch simultaneously leveled half of a customer's 140 machines after they updated to the latest virus signature file.

    "Literally half of the machines were down with this McAfee anti-virus message IDing valid programs as having this trojan," the IT consultant said. "Literally half the office switched off their PCs and were just twiddling their thumbs."

    When the consultant returned to his office he was relieved that his own laptop, which also uses VirusScan, was working normally. Then, suddenly, when it installed the latest McAfee DAT file, his computer was also smitten. The anti-virus program identified winvnc.exe and several other legitimate files as malware and attempted to quarantine them. With several core system files out of commission, the machine was rendered an expensive paperweight. ...

    A McAfee representative in the US didn't immediately respond to phone calls seeking comment. Friday is a holiday for many US employees in observance of Saturday's Independence Day.

    Based on anecdotes, the glitch appears to be caused when older VirusScan engines install DAT 5664, which McAfee seems to have pushed out in the past 24 hours. Affected systems then begin identifying a wide variety of legitimate - and frequently crucial - system files as malware. Files belonging to Microsoft Internet Explorer, drivers for Compaq computers, and even the McAfee-associated McScript.exe were being identified as a trojan called PWS!hv.aq, according to the posts and interviews.</blockquote>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/03/mcafee_false_positive_glitch/

    Current VirusScan data file is DAT 5666, available here. Of course, if you're already affected you may not be able to get there ... :-\
     
  2. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    So 5666 is good then...
     
  3. 2muchcoffeeman

    2muchcoffeeman Well-Known Member

    Well, it's current.

    Haven't liked McAfee products for about 10 years now; seriously bloated.
     
  4. ArnoldBabar

    ArnoldBabar Active Member

    Just because I like being the asshole ...

    ... how does this affect Mac users? :)
     
  5. Bubbler

    Bubbler Well-Known Member

    Re: McAfee VirusScan giving false positives, turning your computer into a doorst

    Yeah. I got rid of all of mine.
     
  6. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    Got tired of ZoneAlarm and issues with websites and software... Desktop came with McAfee; when the ZA subscrip ended, I just rolled it over. Not a fan of it, but at least I can run programs without having to ask for permission.
     
  7. 2muchcoffeeman

    2muchcoffeeman Well-Known Member

    You get to laugh at them ...

    ... while some Linux user hacks your root password, telnets into your system and replaces all your important files with this picture:

    [​IMG]

    :D
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 15, 2014
  8. ArnoldBabar

    ArnoldBabar Active Member

    That must happen to ... dozens of people a year. :D
     
  9. NoOneLikesUs

    NoOneLikesUs Active Member

    Dumped that shitty AV software years ago. Very happy with AVG now.
     
  10. The only answer is spending $10k you don't have on a Mac.

    Sincerely,

    Jerkoff MAC owners.
     
  11. three_bags_full

    three_bags_full Well-Known Member

    Really? I spent $1,500 on a MAC about five years ago. Zero problems. Couldn't be happier.
     
  12. Rockbottom

    Rockbottom Well-Known Member

    Norton 3.0 working fine and dandy on our three PCs.

    :)

    RB
     
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