Microsoft pushed out a bad update to its Security Essentials software, crashing Windows XP machines and underscoring the fragility of the Windows XP ecosystem. An update to Microsoft Security Essentials, the software company's free anti-malware software, crashed Windows XP computers last week, causing business disruptions to customers still relying on the outdated—and, in many cases, now-unsupported—operating system.

The update caused a variety of Microsoft operating systems to restart and then fail to reboot, displaying an arcane "MsMpEng.exe application error" message, according to online posts by affected users.

More here

Cute. Real cute, Microsoft.

???

"Fixed" link?

http://www.eweek.com/security/bug-in-microsoft-security-essentials-downs-windows-xp-machines.html

Oh, and "seemingly" related -

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/171498-need-microsoft-security-essentials-grab-it-now/

Edited April 27, 201412 yr by submix8c

Thanks submix8c for "cross referencing" the two threads ... I was hoping the two would be linked somehow.

I will post here and then follow the other thread under XP also.

Referring to the one article link you posted ... this is near the end of the article.

"On April 15, 2014, Microsoft released an Antimalware Engine update that may have caused interrupted service for customers using affected Microsoft security products," the company stated in an April 21 email to eWEEK. "Microsoft corrected the issue via signature update, which automatically resolved the issue, and customers do not need to take any action." While business customers have long been urged to end their reliance on Windows XP, many cost-conscious firms are trying to avoid upgrading. "One can say the customers got what they paid for, as MS Essentials has no charge and is bundled with the operating systems," the New England technology provider said."

That last part ... "One can say the customers got what they paid for, as MS Essentials has no charge and is bundled with the operating systems," the New England technology provider said."

How cold ... no one expects or deserves to have their computer "messed up" by an update from a "reputable company", be it MS or any other "top line company" ... and what does it really matter if the program is "free" ... free or not free, an update should do what it is expected to do ... update and not destroy someone's computer. People have a right to expect the best from a "top dog" company, maybe not so much from a newer upstart company with no track record ... but to say ... "customers got what they paid for" ... I don't agree with that statement at all.