McAfee update smacks Windows XP Computers

Posted on November 17, 2011 by iGennie Technical Services

Due to the bugs in the McAfee antivirus, thousands of Windows XP computers crashed down. A McAfee update that was launched for updating a popular McAfee antivirus, contained some bugs in its software, which when applied to Windows XP computers, crashed the system or caused repeated booting. This bug prompted the antivirus software’s defensive feature (that was developed to fight against malicious softwares) against the vital component of the Windows, named as SVCHOST.EXE. The bug turned the security features of McAfee to act against the Windows itself, in spite of the malicious programs. Due to this buggy update, the McAfee antivirus software considered SVCHOST.EXE as a malicious program. It mistook the Windows component with the W32/Wecorl.a.virus and therefore, deleted it. But, as the bug was recognized in its early phase, the update’s distribution was aborted. Even after being discontinued within four to five hours of its launch, this buggy update caused big loss to the IT world.

Big IT companies like Intel, were also affected by the same. As reported to CNET, a source from Intel confirmed that most of the Intel’s computers in US used McAfee antivirus, and due to this buggy McAfee update, many computers crashed (the exact data is still missing). Even other segments were affected by this buggy update. The University of Michigan’s medical school lost almost 8000 of its 25000 Windows XP computers. Many jails had to cancel their visitations, Lexington police turned off their patrolings, Rhode Island hospital cancelled some of its critical operations and also turned away their non-trauma patients, all due to the buggy McAfee update that crashed down their Windows computers.