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Anti-Virus Bug Briefly Identified Windows Explorer as Malware

Posted by Zonk on from the err-oops-pay-no-attention-to-your-OS dept.

SJ2000 writes "Windows Explorer was quarantined last week by Kaspersky Lab's antivirus software after being falsely identified as malicious code. The security company's systems had decided that a virus called Huhk-C was present in the explorer.exe file, leading to its confinement or, in some cases, deletion. The bug was only live in the wild for two hours, and ended up affecting just one corporate customer and a handful of home users."

19 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. I don't get it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Windows identified as malware... why is this a bug?

    1. Re:I don't get it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      > Windows identified as malware... why is this a bug?

      Because it only identified the explorer component.

    2. Re:I don't get it... by iamacat · · Score: 4, Funny

      Here is an explanation why it is a bug

    3. Re:I don't get it... by dolo724 · · Score: 4, Funny

      In the late 90s and into the early 00s a few MS components and some legitimate DLLs were identified as virus laden. I solved the problem on my work machine by formatting the HD and installing RH-7, then VMWare for the only windows-dependent executable I couldn't get to run on wine. I had the fastest software package in-house and it made a kick-ass Quake server.

      maybe that's why I got laid off...

      --
      But you just gotta have another sigarette
    4. Re:I don't get it... by AmyRose1024 · · Score: 3, Funny

      The actual patch is here: http://www.kubuntu.org/

  2. Obligatory fixed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Anti-Virus Bug "Correctly" Identified Windows Explorer as Malware

  3. Windows Is Not A Virus! by filesiteguy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Viruses are small and efficient.

    --
    The Kai's Semi-Updated Website Thingy
  4. jk by wizardforce · · Score: 3, Funny

    that's not a bug, it's a feature

    --
    Sigs are too short to say anything truly profound so read the above post instead.
  5. Re:um, don't they test these things before releasi by ubrgeek · · Score: 5, Funny

    You're right. But sometimes MS is in a hurry to get their product out.

    Oh, you mean Kaspersky Labs ...

    --
    Bark less. Wag more.
  6. Re:um, don't they test these things before releasi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Shouldn't this have been caught by even the simplest test before releasing?

    [X] In Soviet Russia, IE tests YOU!
    [X] Only old Koreans bother with testing!
    [X] "But it IS malware, boss!"
    [X] Netcraft confirms it - testing is dead!
    [X] I don't run IE, you ignorant clod!
    [X] "We tried to test it on Vista, and we will, as soon as its finished booting ..."

  7. O rly? by Dunbal · · Score: 5, Funny

    The bug was only live in the wild for two hours, and ended up affecting just one corporate customer and a handful of home users.

          And yet it still made the front page of Slashdot.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    1. Re:O rly? by atraintocry · · Score: 2, Funny

      So what does that make people who are stupid enough to mistake Internet Explorer for Windows Explorer?

      The Windows Team, circa 1998.

  8. Where is the Obligatory Gay Male Coprophilia Porn by NeverVotedBush · · Score: 3, Funny

    Any story that puts MS in a bad light or makes fun of them almost always gets the story about some guy enjoying another's feces.

    I guess it's just too early still in Seattle... Maybe they will post it later.

    Merry Christmas Bill!

  9. Have you even used windows lately? by pcgabe · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Windows Explorer was quarantined last week by Kaspersky Lab's antivirus software after being
    falsely identified as malicious code.
    "Falsely?"

    It's not a virus, sure. Viruses tend to mature, become more efficient...

    But Explorer sure feels like malicious code...
    --
    Don't put advice in your sig.
  10. Dumb article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    From TFA:

    As Windows Explorer is the graphical user interface for Windows' file system, this made it difficult to perform many common tasks within the operating system, such as finding files.

    Gee, makes it sound like losing explorer.exe is only mildly inconvenient.

  11. HUHK = Hamburger University of Hong King by SlappyBastard · · Score: 2, Funny

    http://www.huhk.com/intro_background.html Hmmm... Truly viral marketing.

    --
    I scream. You scream. I assume that means we're both acquainted with the problem. We proceed.
  12. Anti-Virus Bug Briefly Identified Windows Explorer by tristian_was_here · · Score: 2, Funny

    So what does that mean? are we all fucked?

  13. Re:Anti-Virus Bug Briefly Identified Windows Explo by realdodgeman · · Score: 5, Funny

    So what does that mean? are we all fucked?
    No, just you. We run Mac, Linux and BSD.
  14. Re:Anti-Virus Bug Briefly Identified Windows Explo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    So what does that mean? are we all fucked? No, just you. We run Mac, Linux and BSD. Quite right. Mac, Linux and BSD users are rarely if ever fucked. ;)