Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish users of the popular anti-virus software AVG have discovered a nasty surprise. AVG has mistakenly identified a core Windows system file, user32.dll, as a Trojan, and summarily deletes it, b0rking Windows. AVG has announced they’re working on a fix.
First that stupid browser extension that spammed the intertubes and now this. Hell, even being free, it isn’t worth the money…
AVG IS a virus
hauehuaehua
It’s hard to choose an antivirus…I had to, a few weeks ago and I chose Avast. I used ESET Nod32 previously but it didn’t detect a specific virus that Avira Antivir detected, so I settled to Antivir but then they started popping up obnoxious FUD advertising everyday after daily updates, asking to buy their premium version for full protection. I removed Antivir and I’m now using Avast. So far so good, I’m glad I didn’t decide to install AVG!
I think AVG had it right, Windows IS the virus…
Go AVG, go!
According to the article:
“AVG has announced they’re working on a fix.”
Keep cool, man! Don’t hesitate, you’ve got all the time you want. Program slowly and with your clients’ benefit in mind.
10: echo Looking for USER32.DLL…
goto 10
Seeing how 99% of the time it’s the user’s fault a system gets infected, it only makes sense to remove the user and solve this problem once and for all.
Agreed, I haven’t run any AntiVirus products in years and never had a single virus except maybe for one case that was my own fault (putting a “friends” HD in my computer).
I even always regret when I run a check once or twice a year since the only outcome is wasted time.
So, I think AVG is really on to something.
If you’re not running an anti-virus, how do you know that you do not have a virus?
As I said, I do run a check periodically.
In my first sentence I meant that I don’t actively scan for anything.
Edited 2008-11-12 20:01 UTC
It is ‘funny’ that they are concerned in remarking that “apparently the problem only affects users running XP in Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish.“… as if it meant only a handfull of users are affected.
By the amount of calls I got since monday morning about he issue I am amazed at the lack of testing this issue reveals…
Furthermore, for what I’ve told, it appears that user intervention is not really required to be affected, as the update prevents the system to boot (in ‘normal mode’) if you reboot it after the update took place, regardless of any warning or deletetion of any system file.
Edited 2008-11-12 18:00 UTC
Folks, here is AVG’s official response:
The problem only affects users of the Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish language versions of Windows XP SP2.
AVG has taken these steps to assist users in remedying the problem:
~Ac^AEUR^Ac Immediate release of a new update to correct the problem.
~Ac^AEUR^Ac Creation of a specific informational section on the AVG website that enables users to resolve the problem.
Affected users should follow the weblinks below for further information and to download the fix tool:
Go to http://www.avg.com/support
From the Hot Topics, select FAQ 1574 for the AVG 8.0 fix or FAQ 1579 for the AVG 7.5 fix.
Affected users unable to use their PCs should contact their AVG reseller or ask a friend to download the information and fix tool for them. After running the fix tool, users should run the AVG update program to download and install the correct AVG update.
AVG sincerely regrets the inconvenience users have experienced. We are working to ensure that any other potential vulnerabilities are identified and
eliminated before they can impact users.
Few months ago after I updated AVG 8, my Windows 2000 machine wouldn’t boot anymore. Fortunately I also had Ubuntu installed for dual-booting, so I could still access my files.
This and the recent talk about the problems with the web scanning part of AVG does make them look bad. However, AVG is still one of the best AV software out there.
You see, while mishaps like these are rare (and every vendor has had at least one), other more established products cause general system slowdowns and miscellaneous annoyance for 99% of their users, and the occasional unusable system.
I’d rather risk occasional problems instead of guaranteed ones…
I remember something far more drastic happening when I worked for McAfee many years ago. One of the updates totally jacked the NTFS file system and of course many corporate users who had their systems auto updating because they trusted McAfee to test the updates before distributing were not too amused. It’s been so long I can’t remember if it was a program update or definitions though. Any one else remember that one?
I have been using AVG for at least 5 years and the service has been outstanding. I see the negatives that are surfacing from a pretty major error. I use my computer for business mainly and although the interuption is unexpected it is not unsurmountable. Where is everyone’s back-ups? We rely so much on the internet services that some are letting their guard down!
I would like to say to the folks at AVG . . . did you guys ever screw up! But my hats off to you for the service you have provided to me hassle free over the years! Don’t do it again . . . please!