Friday, December 3rd 2010
AVG Update Cripples Windows
Yesterday an update to the popular antivirus suite AVG left many users computers unable to boot. After rebooting, as requested by the AVG updater, Windows crashes while trying to load certain AVG drivers. The error message reads "STOP: c0000135 The program cannot start because %hs is missing from your computer". Since the culprit drivers load even during safe mode there is no way to boot Windows. AVG recommends using the AVG rescue disc located here. After booting from the disc users should use midnight commander to rename their AVG folder, usually located at C:\program files (x86)\AVG, to any other name and then booting windows normally. However, any bootable flash drive or CD with an OS that can access NTFS file systems can be used to accomplish this task. I used a bootable Ubuntu flash drive.
79 Comments on AVG Update Cripples Windows
i'm curious though, how does anyone truly know for a fact what a false positive is or is not? The best an AV can do is detect 98%, they can never detect 100%, the constant cat and mouse game thing and some AV's catch some that others don't.
its easy to say, oh thats just false positive and is prevalent in P2P,torrents stuff , but malware or not, it must have some shady or poor coding to mimic as such and those kinds of apps i can do without.
I also find it odd that legit applications like CCleaner or FireFox, dl'ed from proper sites are never detected as false positive...doesn't that alone tell people anything? :rolleyes:
Thats what i like about using a Linux VM or partition online...i never have to worry about even a suspicion, especially since i pay bills and do banking online...its never worth the risk imo. Not to say that linux is 100%, but its just far more rare
i will be back to my linux system once i get a few things sold and then will run windows 7 as a vm when WINE does not cut it.
Virus protection is not a cat and mouse thing as the cat wins that fight 99.9% of the time. It is more of a Spy vs. Spy thing. All and I mean all virus protection software systems are reactive programs. When a new virus or security issue that can be addressed by their system is released, the company integrates detection, quarantine, and remove into their software. This is why Virus protection software is the hands down most updated software ever. As such, no can or will offer 100% protection until A.I. is created.
As such, it doesn't really matter what software you use. The real important factors are cost, update efficiency, system resource usage, interface, and additional features. Since NOD32, Avast, AVG, etc. are all free, update 2 or 3 times a week, and are all user friendly, they can only be seperated by resource usage and additional features. I will admit AVG is a bit of a resource hog compared to leaner software like NOD32 and ClamWin, but I pay that price for the additional features and easier interface.
I personally thing a what, 1 day response and fix is damn good for any company. AVG has done a great job isolating the issue and resolving it as quickly as possible. For those who had to use another PC to create a boot disc or thumb drive, sorry for the inconvenience but such is life.
Now Linux is not any more or less secure with your data than Windows. We all know that people don't create viruses for Linux because they are after the largest audience possible. It is not safer because it lives in a better neighborhood so to speak. You want to know why? Banking data, personal information, etc. are not stolen from your computer. It is almost always stolen when being transported from your computer to the server you are sending it. Tricks like phishing, false logon screens, and wireless packet stealing are by far the most used and most effective means to jack someone's personal data. A simple SSL and common sense is a thousand times more effective than "I use Linux cause I am leet". To you I say, you are crazy and you need to learn to spell.
I could go into details about the actually security built into Linux which amounts to some good and some "Windows does the same thing, but it is optional while Linux forces the issue" (Like minimum password requirements) stuff. Linux also has a user base that actually helps with exploit detection and correction.
Avast! is free, so maybe they care about quality bit more. :) (free for personal use only ofc, but even that mean something) Btw. if I remember correctly, AVG used to be free too, but its looong time since then.
Free AVG Security 2011
Kids, just say NO!
Phishing scams ..etc are prevented from common sense..thats a human exploit, not an OS exploit. malware like "blue pill" is a good example of why you can't rely completely on your AV product and adding Windows OS on top of it all only adds insult to the injury due to its massive userbase.
You really should get some AV. Lets just say not all viruses are out to break your system. That is a myth.