A new update by German anti virus company Avira has brought millions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 PCs down better than a virus does. The update which has been downloaded millions of times around the world is falsely identifying important Windows processes and preventing them from running which also is keeping them from booting.

The update brings the software to version 8.2.10.64 and the anti virus definitions to version 7.11.30.24. This problem is only occurring for users of the paid version of Avira due to the fact that ProActiv isn't included in the free version and it is what is creating all of this mayhem. AntiVirProActiv now detects the following and more as malware:

• windows/system32/dllhost.exe
• windows/system32/explorer.exe
• windows/system32/iexplorer.exe
• windows/system32/notepad.exe
• windows/system32/regedit.exe
• windows/system32/rundll32.exe
• windows/system32/taskeng.exe
• windows/system32/wuauclt.exe

The update is also blocking other Microsoft software and components along with third party applications. This poses a major issue for the numerous corporate users of Avira, along with home users. Avira has posted an update which should fix the issue, but this is quite the embarrassment. I imagine that many people will reconsider their use of Avira after this catastrophy.