Microsoft Anti-Spyware Deleting Norton Anti-Virus

[SVT Cobra]

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Microsoft Anti-Spyware Deleting Norton Anti-Virus

Microsoft's Anti-Spyware program is causing troubles for people who also use Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus software; apparently, a recent update to Microsoft's anti-spyware application flags Norton as a password-stealing program and prompts users to remove it.

According to several different support threads over at Microsoft's user groups forum, the latest definitions file from Microsoft "(version 5805, 5807) detects Symantec Antivirus files as PWS.Bancos.A (Password Stealer)."

When Microsoft Anti-Spyware users remove the flagged Norton file as prompted, Symantec's product gets corrupted and no longer protects the user's machine. The Norton user then has to go through the Windows registry and delete multiple entries (registry editing is always a dicey affair that can quickly hose a system if the user doesn't know what he or she is doing) so that the program can be completely removed and re-installed.

I put in calls to Microsoft and to Symantec on this issue, but am still waiting to hear back from both companies.

Microsoft said it is shipping updates that fix this problem, but judging from the growing number of other threads on this in that forum, this is shaping up to be a pretty big issue for companies that have deployed Microsoft's free anti-spyware product inside their networks. It's a good idea to keep in mind that Microsoft's Anti-Spyware product is in beta mode: The company's product page explicitly says that Microsoft Anti-Spyware should not be deployed in production systems. I'm not apologizing for Redmond in any way; it just seems like too many people ignore warnings about beta products.

While it is a beta, I somehow wonder how this "mistake" was let slip by, by the microsoft developers? Hopefully when Microsoft releases its security pack, stuff like this will not happen.

 

[jlee]

Heh - convenient.. 😛

 

[EagleKeeper]

Maybe NAV has a backdoor that they have kept hidden? 😛

 

[JoPh]

havent had any problems with nortons corporate editions

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: JoPh
havent had any problems with nortons corporate editions

 

[Eli]

LMAO

:laugh:

That's fscking hilarious.

 

[techs]

Windows Antispy is an excellent program for home use. It is perhaps the best beta I have ever seen.
That said, Norton has screwed up their own software big time lately. They are deceptively getting people to buy Norton Internet Security when they just want to get a subscription renewal for Norton AntiVirus. Norton Internet Security is huge, bloated and prone to failure. I see many machines in my shop due to Norton software issues.
With MS bringing out OneCareLive soon they will be competing with Norton.
So Norton has included a completly different security center than Windows XP. When you install Norton good luck trying to get Windows Security Center to work again if you uninstall Norton.
I used to recommend Norton Antivirus to my customers. Now I recommend AVG and Windows Antispy. Two free programs that together seem to do a great job on protecting the home user.
As to MS software interfering with thier competitors software? Why thats illegal if done intentionally.
And MS has pled guilty to doing it a number of times. So I am certainly not surprised and believe this "error" was intentional.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[EndGame]

Wow, MS Antispyware is smarter than I thought it would be....might have to take a look at it! 😉