Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Wednesday, 12 November 2008 11:20
Opinion and Analysis
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Grisoft’s AVG 8 free and paid edition anti-virus software had an update
on the weekend that caused some Windows XP machines to delete a vital
file and stop XP from booting – and locking users out of their
computers! The problem’s now fixed and a repair is available, but it’s
the one “oops” you never want your anti-virus software to make!
AVG’s normal slogan is “tough on threats, easy on you” but last weekend saw a threat window open up from an unexpected source: AVG itself.
This temporarily made AVG was tough on threats, and tough on you, too, especially if you needed to fix the problem manually, but the problem has at least now been fixed and AVG no longer poses a threat.
AVG’s update at the time was set to mistakenly identify the crucial user32.dll file as a banking Trojan (PSW.Banker4.APSA or Generic9TBN), and alerted some AVG users on XP systems the file was a threat and could be “healed or quarantined” when AVG performed its optional daily scan.
Those who chose either action found themselves with machines which crashed and then would not reboot properly, as noted in AVG’s
free forum, with the user posting there explaining his own fix and recommending users switch to a different anti-virus program.
Forum moderators quickly responded with answers and pointed to two
support documents from AVG, one which helped users fix the problem and another which offered a “restore tool”, along with instructions on how to create a boot CD or bootable flash drive, then the steps needed to get AVG up and running again.
AVG have also advised contacting the local AVG distributor or representative (where present) for assistance if additional assistance is needed.
Although some reports claim that only the Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish language versions of Windows XP are affected, the initial responders spoke as though English was their first language, although a check of AVG support sites in other languages shows they all list the user32.dll problem and solutions.
As you can see by looking at
the fixes, they are a little laborious to go through, and could confuse not technical types who will likely need the help of a friend – as well as access to their computer and Internet connection as AVG suggests if the user’s computer can’t be booted into anymore.
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