Users of this antivirus solution had a nightmare recently when a flawed definitions file (the list of identifying characteristics of each virus) was released causing machines to attack their own files.
http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/virus_aadbbhedeg_ji/McAfee claimed that, after releasing virus definition file 4715.DAT, reports started flooding in about false positives. Seems software, like Excel, Symantec's Ghost and Oracle, was being tagged as the W95/CTX virus, then quarantined, patched, and/or deleted (depending on settings).
A commentor at Broadband Reports spoke for many: "I had 161 files false tagged and quaratined because of this fiasco! Now I've got to go back and restore each one by hand!!!!"
Once they realized the magnitude of the disaster, McAfee engineers quickly rebuilt the DAT file and released 4716 within (McAfee claims) 2-1/2 hours. That wasn't quick enough for some. Randy Spark wrote at CNET: "McAfee's website ... did not at all indicate this was their error!!! I find this to be shameful and neglectful on the part of McAfee, and will discontinue service upon installation of a new virus program!"
And now for the weather...
