Flawed Malwarebytes security update wipes out thousands of computers

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    Flawed Malwarebytes security update wipes out thousands of computers


    Posted: 18 Apr 2013
    SECURITY FIRM Malwarebytes has wiped out thousands of computers around the world with a faulty security update, mistaking legitimate system files as malware code.
    The security firm confessed to the mistake in a blog post on Tuesday, and assured firms that the update has since been pulled.
    "It saddens me to report that at around 3PM PST yesterday, Malwarebytes released a definitions update that disabled thousands of computers worldwide," wrote Malwarebytes Marcin Kleczynski.
    "Within eight minutes, the update was pulled from our servers. Immediately thereafter, users flocked to our support helpdesk and forums to ask us for a fix."
    The update definition made it so Malwarebytes protection software treated essential Windows .dll and .exe files as malware, stopping them from running and thus knocking IT systems and PCs offline.
    Read more at:
    Flawed Malwarebytes security update wipes out thousands of computers- The Inquirer

    How to fix:
    **Trojan.Downloader.ED** - Malwarebytes Forum
    Kaktussoft's Avatar Posted By: Kaktussoft
    18 Apr 2013



  1. Posts : 4,049
    W7 Ultimate SP1, LM19.2 MATE, W10 Home 1703, W10 Pro 1703 VM, #All 64 bit
       #1

    Testing before release?


    The update definition made it so Malwarebytes protection software treated essential Windows .dll and .exe files as malware, stopping them from running and thus knocking IT systems and PCs offline.
    Have these jokers even heard of the concept of "testing before release"?
    Didn't they have any Windows PCs available?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #2

    lehnerus2000 said:
    The update definition made it so Malwarebytes protection software treated essential Windows .dll and .exe files as malware, stopping them from running and thus knocking IT systems and PCs offline.
    Have these jokers even heard of the concept of "testing before release"?
    Didn't they have any Windows PCs available?
    Yes they have to test it on winxp, vista, win7, win8. Both x64 and x86 and ALL languages. Even with and without service packs. Update was online for only 8 minutes.... but it infected thousands of machines. Very strange
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #3
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #4

    The good, bad and ugly.

    The good was the problem was correctly quickly.

    The bad is it still effect a bunch of computers and caused all kinds of hell.

    The ugly; How did this update ever get past testing and inspection?
    ------
    I do use Malwarebytes Anti Malware Professionas and missed the bad update. I update several times a day and somehow still missed the mess.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6,879
    Win 7 Ultimate x64
       #5

    Not to defend what happened but they aren't the first,

    Avira Antivirus update cripples millions of Windows PCs | ZDNet

    McAfee Anti-Virus Update Breaks Thousands Of PCs - HotHardware

    and won't be the last security program to do such a thing.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #6

    You are correct stormy13 it has happened before and I venture to say it will happen in the future.
    For what ever reason I hold Malwarebytes Anti Malware to a high standard.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,397
    Win 10 Pro 64
       #7

    Can anyone spell Lawsuit?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #8

    I understand mistakes like this can and do happen.
    This is not the first "recent" FP with MBAM definition updates.
    I got hit by the FP's in February, but I've read there have been 4 FP's since December 2012.
    Why was nothing done to help prevent this problem before the latest FP.
    This seems to be the worst MBAM FP issue, but the previous FP problems should have alerted them to take some action to prevent this.
    I've lost a lot of confidence in using MBAM real-time protection, and I have it on all 5 of my personal systems.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #9

    I got hit by the first screw up and thought they would being paying more attention and not screw up again.

    Maybe they got a IObit mole.
      My Computer


 
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