Symantec update cripples 7000 Chinese XP!

Hi malware fighters,

Probably you have not seen the last FP yet, but getting an update of your AV program taking essential system files from your computers, so you can no longer start it up without restoring the OS is new.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d8104e26-05a6-11dc-b151-000b5df10621.html

polonus

I’m surprised it is only 7000 effected systems, this could just be the tip of the iceberg.

Symantec declined to say how many users had been affected, but local rival security software supplier Rising Tech said the problem had prompted more than 7,000 individuals and hundreds of companies to clog its customer service lines.
Software sold in China by Symantec, the world's largest computer security company, yesterday suddenly attacked the very PCs it was supposed to protect.
that's good ol' reliable hard as hell to get off your system norton for ya' ::) Symantec definitely took the wrong approach on this. In my opinion they should have done many things differently: Updated their virus definitions sooner than 13–hours later after the destructive update was released. Have a nice big link on their homepage so that people looking to solve the problem can easily locate the solution. Finally, they should offer some sort of downloadable patch that users can put on a floppy disc or CD. Then they could boot-up the utility on their computer, press a button, and it will automatically copy the two needed files over to the proper location. That way Symantec can verify that the two files being used are legitimate, and that the proper steps are being taken to correct the issue. All I can say is…what a mess smurf's now huh! damian ???

Another reason not to use Norton ;D
Avast should also write an article about his to push symantec further down ;D
As well as increase its prsence in the chinesse market.

Al968

This can happen to anyone be it Symantec, ALWIL, Kaspersky, McAfee or some third company.

Yes but the reaction was horrible >:(
That’s the problem, they ignored it :frowning:

Al968