Avira antivirus upgrade wreaks ‘catastrophic’ havoc on Windows PCs
German security firm Avira yesterday issued a service pack for its antivirus software that crippled an unknown number of Windows machines, with one customer calling the gaffe "catastrophic" to his company.
Today, Avira updated the software to sidestep the problem.
"Following the release of Service Pack 0 (SP0) for Avira Version 2012, the ProActiv feature blocked legitimate Windows applications on customers' PCs," Avira acknowledged on its support site. "We deeply regret any difficulties this has caused you."
Avira is the world's second-biggest antivirus maker, according to usage statistics. Read more...
Facebook video scam puts malware on Mac and Windows
Facebook seems unable to stop scammers from circulating malicious Web links that install fake antivirus software on victims' computers.
The scam was spotted Tuesday by antivirus vendor Sophos. At that time the criminals behind it were luring victims into installing the software by offering links purportedly to a video of disgraced former International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a hotel maid. On Wednesday the scam switched and the link was supposed to be an X-rated video of celebrities Rihanna and Hayden Panettiere. Read more...