AVIRA Update Issue

Avira has sent out a defective antivirus update that is causing paid versions of its product to block critical Windows processes and third-party software, effectively rendering millions of PCs unusable. Avira has stopped distributing the buggy update and is offering instructions for how to manually fix the process-blocking issue. A current product update will now fix this issue; http://www.avira.com/en/support-for-home-knowledgebase-detail?kbid=1257

Users who can't get their PCs to boot are advised to start Windows in Safe Mode and disable ProActiv .

The inadvertent blocking impacted Avira Professional Security, Avira Internet Security 2012 and Avira Antivirus Premium 2012, paid products priced between $30 and $60. Avira's free antivirus software, which has limited functionality and does not include ProActiv, was not affected.

Read more:

http://www.pcmag.com/article/print/297944
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/avira-antivirus-update-cripples-millions-of-windows-pcs/12129
http://www.neowin.net/news/avira-fixes-antivirus-update-that-crippled-many-pcs
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/software/3357887/avira-antivirus-upgrade-wreaks-catastrophic-havoc-on-windows-pcs/#ixzz1v2CyP1UK

FREE computer security programs, we previously featured:
http://www.wnycomsoc.org/community/index.php/topic,1112.0.html