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[ARS] AV provider Webroot melts down as update nukes hundreds of legit files

6K views 79 replies 45 participants last post by  Megaman_90 
#1 ·
Quote:
Antivirus provider Webroot is causing a world of trouble for customers. A signature update just nuked hundreds of benign files needed to run Microsoft Windows, as well as apps that run on top of the operating system.


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#2 ·
isn't webroot that derpy AV that the geek squad runs/sells?

a LOT of pcs will be affected.
 
#4 ·
Quote:
Social media sites ignited on late Monday afternoon with customers reporting that servers and computers alike stopped working as a result of the mishap. The admin and security pundit who goes by the Twitter handle SwiftOnSecurity told Ars that, at the company he or she worked for, the false positive quarantined "several hundred" files used by Windows Insider Preview. Hundreds of "line of business" apps, such as those that track patient appointments or manage office equipment, suffered the same fate. Webroot was also flagging Facebook as a phishing site.
:wth:
 
#6 ·
Thank god we don't run it at work. A lot
mad.gif
sysadmins right now. I honestly think they've just started the begging of the end of webroot as a company.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by azanimefan View Post

isn't webroot that derpy AV that the geek squad runs/sells?

a LOT of pcs will be affected.
yes

anything recommended by best buy will end up in one kind of disaster or another
 
#8 ·
Reminds me of a friend back in the day who didn't use any AV software because he only used his PC for "junk" anyway, so even if it got infected it was no loss, plus AV made it run worse.

While I never agreed with him, I could see his logic. The best AV is the one that gives you the least headache, that is there just for the peace of mind. The most common kind of "infection" these days is crapware, adware, toolbars, that kind of dreck that gets installed when you don't pay attention to what you're installing. Infuriatingly, AV software most often doesn't even detect and remove these kinds of programs, except for Spybot maybe.

There's always some relative that comes with that usual crap "So my Google disappeared and there's this Baidu antivirus thing..."
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Megaman_90 View Post

My parents are on webroot....Great...
Yea mine as well...now just waiting for my phone to ring.
rolleyes.gif
 
#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by SwishaMane View Post

Whats anti-virus?? Haven't used one in years, and surprisingly, haven't had even 10% the problems I thought I would w/o it. My step dad uses this trash tho, sucks for him... ha haaaaaa
People who think like this, as a group, help contribute to the persistence of botnets used for spam and any manner of other evil things every bit as much as the inexperienced users tech people like to poke fun at. It isn't just about you. Good personal security is to the benefit of us all.
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Particle View Post

People who think like this, as a group, help contribute to the persistence of botnets used for spam and any manner of other evil things every bit as much as the inexperienced users tech people like to poke fun at. It isn't just about you. Good personal security is to the benefit of us all.
False in every way. How does my non-use of a paid product directly benefit the soulless people who program maliciously for the intent to cause harm? PLEASE teach me how I'm contributing to the problem?
 
#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by SwishaMane View Post

False in every way. How does my non-use of a paid product directly benefit the soulless people who program maliciously for the intent to cause harm? PLEASE teach me how I'm contributing to the problem?
My message was pretty clear, and you can't logically just dismiss it out of hand as you appear to want to. People who run unprotected, Internet-connected systems whether out of ignorance or hubris are more likely to end up with infected systems. These infected systems are often used to send spam, distribute malware and child pornography, contribute to denial of service attacks, etc. This is how you can become part of the problem. The spam sent from your computer is a problem for the person whose mailbox you've just polluted. The traffic your system contributed to knocking some service offline is a problem for the service provider and all of its users. And so on. Obviously. You might not even know you were infected and part of the problem for days, weeks, or ever depending on how the malware was written and what it has been instructed to do. It has nothing to do with running a paid product or being required to spend money. That would be a straw man argument.
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by TK421 View Post

yes

anything recommended by best buy will end up in one kind of disaster or another
Nevermind Best Buy...that's Geek Squad...I mean I had 2 fans on my radiator quit so I went there fast to pick up 2 fans, just wanted to confirm that I wasn't crazy and that they were 4 pin fans. The guy told me the 2 fans wouldn't work because there's sensors built into CPU fans that normal fans don't have (which is a HUGE load of crap, the sensors are on the MB/software installed for the water system, not the fans themselves).

Not sure where they found that guy but if he didn't know something that basic, then proceeds to try to tell me that if it doesn't work I can't return opened hardware...he probably isn't qualified to be doing ANY type of tech support job, residential or otherwise.
 
#20 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by SwishaMane View Post

Whats anti-virus?? Haven't used one in years, and surprisingly, haven't had even 10% the problems I thought I would w/o it. My step dad uses this trash tho, sucks for him... ha haaaaaa
Stepdad? Does he know you are computer literate? He's calling you to fix it. Get your recovery disks and laptop ready, hopefully you'll get dinner between endless reboot sessions... Like many of us who have gone through the "Family member computer "my free time killer" knightmare"
:D


Seriously, I cringe when my dad calls to tell me his android phone or pc is acting strange...then he goes on about how he was just in there cleaning things up...
:doh:
cryingsmiley.gif
 
#21 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Particle View Post

My message was pretty clear, and you can't logically just dismiss it out of hand as you appear to want to. People who run unprotected, Internet-connected systems whether out of ignorance or hubris are more likely to end up with infected systems. These infected systems are often used to send spam, distribute malware and child pornography, contribute to denial of service attacks, etc. This is how you can become part of the problem. The spam sent from your computer is a problem for the person whose mailbox you've just polluted. The traffic your system contributed to knocking some service offline is a problem for the service provider and all of its users. And so on. Obviously. You might not even know you were infected and part of the problem for days, weeks, or ever depending on how the malware was written and what it has been instructed to do. It has nothing to do with running a paid product or being required to spend money. That would be a straw man argument.
This isn't as much of a problem as it used to be. MSE/defender catches most things that would happen with normal browsing. Unless you disable it or something which is pointless unless you have another A/V solution.

I have been just using Forticlient for my AV for awhile now. Probably the best you can get for free in my opinion.
 
#22 ·
After 21 years working in IT at one of the largest US datacenter I can say many have no idea about your network ports and how without A/V your PC is just publicly available to others within you ISP network and the International Internet in general. Many network broadcasts will hit your pc's network ports, play a "nice melody of syns and acks" and your PC will do what it shouldn't do and responds. Unless it's one of the brute force malware or trojans that drives your pc's cpu up, you likely wont notice.

Virus makers are not the same kids that they used to be, many are state sponsored, basically all states make viruses as they have no choice in the matter. When you are on the internet your PC is front doored by every nation on the planet and their systems. Parents don't realize their 12 year old baby has an International Presence on Instagra... Got Ya! Just kidding haha.
:D
I'll stop there. Was wondering when one of you would reach thru my monitor /slap me in the face and say "stop preaching you idiot!"
:glasses:
 
#23 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ghoxt View Post

After 21 years working in IT at one of the largest US datacenter I can say many have no idea about your network ports and how without A/V your PC is just publicly available to others within you ISP network and the International Internet in general. Many network broadcasts will hit your pc's network ports, play a "nice melody of syns and acks" and your PC will do what it shouldn't do and responds. Unless it's one of the brute force malware or trojans that drives your pc's cpu up, you likely wont notice.

Virus makers are not the same kids that they used to be, many are state sponsored, basically all states make viruses as they have no choice in the matter. When you are on the internet your PC is front doored by every nation on the planet and their systems. Parents don't realize their 12 year old baby has an International Presence on Instagra... Got Ya! Just kidding haha.
biggrin.gif
I'll stop there. Was wondering when one of you would reach thru my monitor /slap me in the face and say "stop preaching you idiot!"
nerdsmiley.png
:
What is your opinion on Norton? I used to hate them personally, but I wanted a cheap firewall to replace windows and got a 1 year subscription for ten bucks. I like it so far, I mean it doesn't bug me when gaming or anything and I have that nice firewall. I was going to get kaspersky, but getting a russian owned AV is probably not the smartest thing to do right now. I think the Kremlin even arrested a couple kaspersky employees earlier this year.
 
#24 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Megaman_90 View Post

This isn't as much of a problem as it used to be. MSE/defender catches most things that would happen with normal browsing. Unless you disable it or something which is pointless unless you have another A/V solution.

I have been just using Forticlient for my AV for awhile now. Probably the best you can get for free in my opinion.
I don't necessarily disagree with that. He was talking about running sans-AV entirely though in his first post that I quoted. Windows Defender isn't great but it isn't bad. If someone were to install EMET as an extra layer on top of that, they'd have gone a great way toward securing their system without spending anything. Couple that with an ad blocking plugin or upstream filtering DNS server and it's even better.
 
#26 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by caenlen View Post

What is your opinion on Norton? I used to hate them personally, but I wanted a cheap firewall to replace windows and got a 1 year subscription for ten bucks. I like it so far, I mean it doesn't bug me when gaming or anything and I have that nice firewall. I was going to get kaspersky, but getting a russian owned AV is probably not the smartest thing to do right now. I think the Kremlin even arrested a couple kaspersky employees earlier this year.
I have Norton360 subscription as it hasn't caused me any problems for years on my up to 4-5 computers, and seems to work great alongside Malwarebytes. I don't use the Norton web protection. Malwarebytes catches me doing stupid things on the web and stops me before pages even render
:rolleyes:
and or quarantines known compromised Ad tiles or code.

You hear alot about how some don't like Norton. I've ever had a problem with it and with so many A/V vendors competing you cannot tell whats fake reviews or not.
 
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