Yikes. A recent virus definition update for Microsoft’s free Security Essentials anti-malware software briefly had the program identifying Google Chrome as a trojan, specifically “PWS:Win32/Zbot”.
According to Microsoft’s virus database, Win32/Zbot is a “password-stealing trojan that monitors for visits to certain websites. It allows limited backdoor access and control and may terminate certain security-related processes.”
Of course, Google hadn’t slipped a trojan into its browser on the sly — it was a false positive on MSE’s part. Unfortunately, MSE was fully capable of deleting Chrome without user consent, if the program’s default actions were set accordingly. Otherwise, the worst it could do was block Chrome from accessing the internet.
The issue has since been rectified, with definition versions 1.113.672.0 and above vendetta-free. But, if you were unfortunate enough to get the update and find Chrome mysteriously gone moments later, then here’s the why.
Image: Wikipedia
Encyclopaedia Entry: PWS:Win32/Zbot [Microsoft, via The Australian]
Dan
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 2:23 PMOn purpose…
Drew
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 2:36 PMCan’t you read? They said it was an accident! Sure….
Liam Johnson
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 2:36 PM“Accidentally”. Sure. More like to boost IE9 use.
.
Liam Johnson
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 2:37 PMApparently, I can’t use the sarcasm tag -.-
Logan Booker
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 2:41 PMI got it, Liam, so don’t worry. :)
Hypothetically, even if it had been some crazy conspiracy to boost IE9 stats, it only knocked out 3000-or-so Chrome installs. So not much of a dent, really. :)
Phaedron
Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 2:38 AMNot since last week’s judgement on ‘offending’ white aboriginal adopters, old son.
Sarcasm was an integral part of the judge’s opinion regarding disallowed free expression.
Be careful what you say. The country has now changed. :-|
Anonymous
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 2:44 PMProbably just a subtle dig at Google Botnet. ;)
warcroft
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 3:57 PMDeliberate or not, its still pretty funny.
Steve
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 4:23 PMMSE has caused problems since day one. I switched over from Avast, but the thing repeatedly crashed my PC and kept it hanging in the log-in screen.
Ollie
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 11:00 AMThere’s absolutely nothing wrong with the actual MSE program… methinks maybe there is something else wrong with your computer. Like maybe something important is infected and MSE is quarantining it thus preventing your computer from running properly.
anonymouse
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 4:48 PM“Replace accidentally with repeatedly, and dog with son”
Michael
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 5:28 PMI thought the other conspiracy was inplay. A employee at Microsoft was saving the world from the spyware that is Chrome, and when Google learned about what MSE was doing, paid Microsoft $$$$ to fix it.
Microsoft complied.
What is the definition of spyware?
What does Google want more of?
What is the definition of spyware again?
Steven Janjic
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 6:26 PMI could believe this. Back when Chrome was in its early days (and family members were still using IE6) I tried to push Chrome onto them. My mother (who used to make a living designing websites) freaked out and uninstalled Chrome in less than a day. When I asked why, she said her antivirus software found a trojan as soon as she installed Chrome.
I then proceeded to bang my head against a brick wall for several years (she finally came around recently)
RobbyM
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 5:23 PMGiven how many people find Chrome and Safari installed onto their pc – via an update or install another piece of software which includes either browser, I’m happy to see anti-spyware/Anti-virus software removing them.