London (England) - ZD Net is reporting that a patch from earlier this week to Kaspersky Lab's anti-virus software deemed Microsoft Windows Explorer a virus, and quarantined the explorer.exe file.  Windows Explorer is one of the most crucial components of the Microsoft Windows operating system.

The errant patch was released for approximately two hours, until users began noticing the problem.  There was a type of signature that Kaspersky identified in explorer.exe, one which made it think that file was a virus.  Kaspersky adds approximately 3,000 signatures per week to its database.  According to David Emm, a senior technology consultant at Kaspersky Lab, they are still trying to find out how this "slipped through the net".

Read more ... ZD Net.

Can't help remembering there were 2 kinds of jokes ...

Dec 22, 2007 01:16     

Can't help remembering there were 2 kinds of jokes circulating some time ago: 10 reasons why your Windows IS a Virus; and: 10 reasons why a Virus is better than Windows.
Virtualban report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

there's a typo in the title

Dec 22, 2007 04:35     

it should read "Eplorer's" instead of "Explore's"
chewbie report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Norton did the same thing

Dec 22, 2007 07:31     

in the late 90's I had Norton do the same thing. I haven't used an anti-virus since. Great firewall and common sence -thats all I need!
N report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Huh.

Dec 22, 2007 23:55     

I have Kaspersky, and it scans each and every night while I sleep, and mine didn't do that, weird.
Revrant report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

I don't know what's worse...

Dec 25, 2007 13:11     

I don't know what is worse, the viruses, or the anti-viruses. Both slow your system down and can throw havoc into your computer's files and data. I'm starting to like Vista more and more with it's "whitelist" methods rather than standard anti-virus "Blacklist" methods for controlling what runs and what doesn't. Just makes sense if you ask me.
Narg report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

You were right the first time!

Dec 27, 2007 12:47     

Internet Explorer is a virus. It drains the life out of resources and causes major bogging. Viva La Firefox!!!
Brent report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

my questions is:

Dec 29, 2007 06:39     

what took them so long...
KevinLS report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Good! Someone had to do it

Jan 24, 2008 12:49     

It was about time someone tagged explorer as a virus. Lol! No secret MS really has lousy coding.
Lo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0