Defective McAfee update causes worldwide meltdown (2010) of XP PCs

A defective update from McAfee caused a global issue with Windows XP PCs, leading to systems entering a reboot loop and losing network access. The faulty update, DAT file version 5958, mistakenly identified a regular Windows binary as a virus, rendering PCs unusable. McAfee has since replaced the faulty definitions and provided a fix involving manual repairs. Corporate customers affected by the issue may consider switching security software providers due to the significant impact on their systems. This incident is not the first for McAfee, raising concerns about the company's quality control processes. The affected systems require skilled support professionals for repair, as the issue involves critical system files like Svchost.exe. McAfee has released a repair tool for affected users, but the manual process still requires technical expertise. The incident highlights the importance of rigorous testing procedures to prevent such widespread disruptions in the future.