Microsoft Security Essentials accidentally kills Google Chrome

Microsoft Security Essentials accidentally kills Google Chrome
Microsoft has updated its MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials) antivirus definitions this weekend after an earlier released update began detecting Google Chrome as malware and deleting it.

The first reported incident came from the Chrome help forums:



This morning, after I started up the PC, a Windows Security box popped up and said I had a Security Problem that needed to be removed. I clicked the Details button and saw that it was 'PWS:Win32/Zbot.' I clicked the Remove button and restarted my PC. Now I do not have Chrome. It has been removed or uninstalled.


Microsoft, after updating the definitions, acknowledged and apologized for the mistake:

An incorrect detection for PWS:Win32/Zbot was identified and as a result, Google Chrome was inadvertently blocked and in some cases removed from customers PCs. We have already fixed the issue..., but approximately 3,000 customers were impacted.


Google, forced to act on the stupid mistake, placed a large red banner on its support pages reading "Alert: Google Chrome has been incorrectly marked as malware by Microsoft security software."

If you were affected, just download the update, reboot, and reinstall Chrome, says Microsoft.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 2 Oct 2011 22:22
Tags
Google spyware Chrome MSE
Advertisement - News comments available below the ad
  • 5 comments
  • Hyasuma

    well, they are losing share to Chrome, why wouldn't they do such a thing.

    2.10.2011 23:22 #1

  • llongtheD

    Oops, can you say protecting your monopoly? Or diminishing market share?

    If your fish seems sick, put it back in the water.

    3.10.2011 01:04 #2

  • shortybob

    Yes... "Accident"...

    3.10.2011 01:11 #3

  • KillerBug

    Yeah...I accidentally killed my wife...the gun kept going off every time I accidentally pulled the trigger, and then I accidentally put in another clip and finished her off...accidentally of course.


    3.10.2011 06:43 #4

  • bobiroc

    I guess it helped all the people that got Chrome installed without them realizing itbecause it was forced as "Opt in" when they installed some other program. Too bad it didn't detect the google toolbar as a piece of malware too.

    AMD Phenom II 965 @ 3.67Ghz, 8GB DDR3, ATI Radeon 5770HD, 300GB 10,000RPM Raptor, 2TB Additional HDD, Windows 7 Ultimate.

    http://www.facebook.com/BlueLightningTechnicalServices

    3.10.2011 21:31 #5

© 2024 AfterDawn Oy

Hosted by
Powered by UpCloud