Symantec Screwup is "Worse than any virus"

[~pcwiz]

A routine update from Symantec Security Response wreaked havoc on a California company's clientele this week when it inadvertently tagged a program produced by Solid Oak Software as a virus and cut off the Internet access of Solid Oak customers. Symantec on Monday released a virus definition update that incorrectly identified Solid Oak's CyberSitter filtering program as a virus. Depending on the version of Symantec's Norton Antivirus product that Solid Oak customers were running, CyberSitter files were either deleted or banned from use by Norton, according to Solid Oak.

 

On Friday, a Symantec spokesman said that the company had issued a fix.

 

Before that, however, Solid Oak customers including schools, libraries and personal accounts, were not provided with a recovery mechanism and subsequently lost Internet access. Solid Oak did not have an exact number of those affected, but it likely numbers in the tens of thousands, according to a spokeswoman.

 

Customers have had to re-install entire operating systems and software, she said.

 

 

Full Story

[scj312]

I suppose this is why you don't run Norton.

[apowerr]

I suppose this is why you don't run Norton.

That's why I don't run Norton.

[Tetrasoft]

Dont run Norton Full stop.

 

Had it for 2 hours, bugged be constantly that something that wasnt wrong was wrong. It found the Eicar Test Virus, I told it to Ignore it, 5 minutes later "Virus Found". That Constantly.

 

I Use ClamXav (http://www.clamxav.com/) for Scanning, I dont need real time Protection.

[Hagar]

Apparently Norton 360 has addressed most of the criticisms levelled at Norton antivirus products in the past, but the only person I know who bought & installed it had so much trouble that he formatted & reinstalled.

 

This story just confirms my position of "don't use any symantec product" which is the advice I give to all my clients.

[U.C.]

I started using AVIRA. Buts too damn hard to find good cracks for it. Personally I have neevr had problem with Symantec Corp

[Robert Davies]

I've long told everyone who'll listen that having Norton installed is as bad as having a virus - sometimes worse! - this little fiasco hasn't made me want to change that advice.

 

-Rob

[Forceman]

Symantic should be in the same room of doom as Microsoft, what ever next, WGA disabling your OS, oh wait it will.

[~pcwiz]

There were HUGE problems with the Mac versions of Norton when they were there. It created MONSTROUS log files on your computer and some tools like DiskDoctor screw your computer up, not fix it.

[chris2k]

Thats why I don't run any virus scanner at all. And honestly I have never had a virus.

I would not install anything that slows down my system.

[hecker]

I can't imaging a worse antivirus app than norton. It's slow, it's buggy, it will not leave your computer unless you perform an exorcism. Yup, it sucks.

[~pcwiz]

Thats why I don't run any virus scanner at all. And honestly I have never had a virus.

I would not install anything that slows down my system.

 

Do you mean on OS X or on Windows?

[(MoC)]

On both mac and windows I use NAV Corp. Works good and is not a resource hog like Kaspersky.

 

I really haven't had any problems, except when I messed around with some RAT's!

[Dainas]

Thats why I don't run any virus scanner at all. And honestly I have never had a virus.

I would not install anything that slows down my system.

 

 

Same here, have not had a virus or spyware in over 5 years on XP or vista. 5 years ago being when I moved out and no longer had to share my computer with the dolts in my family. Yes I said it, if you get spyware or a virus on your computer running anything M$ these days you did something blatantly stupid along the line to allow it. Without you (or someone) on the computer physically dropping your firewall on a iffy network, installing a shady program from god knows where or entering information into a iffy site, your not going to get a virus or spyware, period. They do not magically appear on PCs like Mac people like to dream.

 

[fatshitcat]

The only good app I've ever used by Symantec was Norton 360. But it was still a memory hog.

I use ESET Smart Security now, and it's working great!

[InorganicMatter]

Symantec is "Worse than any virus"

 

Is that what you meant?

[Alessandro17]

I haven't used Norton Antivirus for years now. Since I build my own computers I have one more reason for doing so.

I use either AVG or Avast, whatever works better for me at the time (AVG seems better right now).

Occasionally I have also used AntiVir, but I don't like it very much.

[Zealot]

Apparently Norton 360 has addressed most of the criticisms levelled at Norton antivirus products in the past, but the only person I know who bought & installed it had so much trouble that he formatted & reinstalled.

 

This story just confirms my position of "don't use any symantec product" which is the advice I give to all my clients.

 

 

I can't imaging a worse antivirus app than norton. It's slow, it's buggy, it will not leave your computer unless you perform an exorcism. Yup, it sucks.

 

X2 ,Symantec is {censored} .

[InorganicMatter]

I haven't used Norton Antivirus for years now. Since I build my own computers I have one more reason for doing so.

I use either AVG or Avast, whatever works better for me at the time (AVG seems better right now).

Occasionally I have also used AntiVir, but I don't like it very much.

 

I don't use ANY virus software on my local system. Server-side network coverage FTW!!!

[~pcwiz]

Is that what you meant?

 

Yeah I guess

 

I hate Norton.

[realfolkblues]

AVG 4 the Win

[chris2k]

Do you mean on OS X or on Windows?

 

Windows, from win95 to xp. I don't use vista.

If you don't execute everything you can find and use open source alternatives first, then nothing will happen to you. If you need something that is not open source and not from a big company, then you can still reverse engineer a little. A quick "strings" does the trick quite well at the first try.

 

Also the virus writers got a bit tired I think. Back in the 90s there was a lot more action. Now more scriptkiddies are around using standard stuff (trojan/backdoors). Easy to remove anyways in case you get something on your computer.

 

But to be fair, I have to say I'm a computer scientist. If I see my cousin (no clue about computers) downloading and executing everything, then I guess theres a reason for virus scanners.

[Neonkoala]

I have been a Norton Internet Security user for a number of years on both my XP and Vista machines. I'll admit some older versions (04 and 06) were pretty resource hogging but 2007 has been fine for me, the only thing it bugs me with at the moment is renewing my subscription.

 

McAfee is by far the worst I have tried, annoying and caused a full format. Just my experiences as a user that shall probably stay with them depending on special offers over NY

[~pcwiz]

Windows, from win95 to xp. I don't use vista.

If you don't execute everything you can find and use open source alternatives first, then nothing will happen to you. If you need something that is not open source and not from a big company, then you can still reverse engineer a little. A quick "strings" does the trick quite well at the first try.

 

Also the virus writers got a bit tired I think. Back in the 90s there was a lot more action. Now more scriptkiddies are around using standard stuff (trojan/backdoors). Easy to remove anyways in case you get something on your computer.

 

But to be fair, I have to say I'm a computer scientist. If I see my cousin (no clue about computers) downloading and executing everything, then I guess theres a reason for virus scanners.

 

Aha..well how do you know that you don't have viruses if you don't use virus scanners? Nowadays you don't have to executre ANYTHING to get a virus on your computer. In fact, it was funny. I reformatted an old computer and installed Windows XP. I didn't have copies of security software on CD so I went ahead and plugged in the ethernet cord to go on the internet and download the security software. Minutes after I connected the computer to the internet, there were about 3 viruses and I had to reformat AGAIN. Eventually after serveral reinstalls I found out that the only way to stop it from happening was to go to a different computer, burn the security software onto a disc and install it on the old computer BEFORE connecting it to the net.

 

Just goes to show you how easy it is to get a virus no matter how computer smart you are

[chris2k]

Aha..well how do you know that you don't have viruses if you don't use virus scanners? Nowadays you don't have to executre ANYTHING to get a virus on your computer. In fact, it was funny. I reformatted an old computer and installed Windows XP. I didn't have copies of security software on CD so I went ahead and plugged in the ethernet cord to go on the internet and download the security software. Minutes after I connected the computer to the internet, there were about 3 viruses and I had to reformat AGAIN. Eventually after serveral reinstalls I found out that the only way to stop it from happening was to go to a different computer, burn the security software onto a disc and install it on the old computer BEFORE connecting it to the net.

 

Just goes to show you how easy it is to get a virus no matter how computer smart you are

 

Indeed, you don't have to "doubleclick" to execute something. Software like browsers for example can execute stuff as well. It's called "buffer overflows" that makes this possible. However, if you use Firefox, which is open source, overflow techniques are quickly exposed. There's still alot of other software, which can be exploited. Of course also windows itself. If you just don't run everything as administrator and update windows regulary, then there's only a small chance to get something. 0-day exploits are not used in masses anyways, only for specific targets and thats not home computers.

About your story, I know how it is. Some people at my work tried it that way. Even with broadband it takes too long to update a windows XP from 2001 to be on the safe side. That's because people/bots/worms scan the internet 24/7.

So how am I sure I got no viruses/trojans? I monitor my systems background processes, keep md5 hashes of important files and compare them from time to time, have important data encrypted and backupped. Also I check with security advisories regulary.

 

At last, I didn't mean to say virus scanners are for dumb users. They probably help you saving time and make you feel safe. But I just don't need them and I haven't regret it.