Windows 10: Virus scan bug when file has multiple periods in filename can DOS virus scanner apparently.

Latest update appears to have caused Defender to crash whenever scanning a file with multiple period characters in them.


This appears to be exploitable as a denial of service attack on the scanner. But not sure of impact of service falling over on this.


To reproduce create a file with an extra period in the name For example "test..xml" and provoke a defender scan.


Not sure if this is only format that causes service crash.


To recover from this issue.


Remove extra period character from file names.

Exclude folders with files with this naming convention from being scanned. Cannot exclude exact files as selecting them crashes service


Remember to restart service "WinDefend" Display name "Windows Defender Antivirus Service".

:)

 

Gmail has a virus scanner

Gmail has finally got a virus scanner. It will scan incoming mail and attachments you are trying to send. If the virus scanner can not clean the file it will not let you donwload the file or send the attachment. This also will wonder if Google is going to release a free desktop virus scanner.

Source: MSFN
Source: Tweakers.net (German)

 

Virus - Please solve me how to deal with this virus

Simple. Virus scanners and virus programs are reactive, not proactive. This means the virus will come out infect computers, unfortunately yours, and the the virus scanners will be updated to handle the new threat. It is the nature of the game and applies to all virus scanners.

Fine a Anti-virus program that is updated frequently, does active scans of recently used files, and does some kind of Spyware block (separate program if needed). Its the best you can do.

I recommend AVG, Nod32 is good, and Clam Windows edition. I also agree with Mussels. Restart system in safe mode, run a full system scan using Ccleaner, then your anti-virus program, then your anti-spyware program. Or format away.

 

Virus Scan ONLY tool?

I was using Malwarebytes to run scans on things I downloaded to make sure they're clean before I run them... but now Malwarebytes wants to run constantly and wants to do virus scans all the time, even though I told it not to (I'll scan a single file then it starts another threat scan on its own).

Are there any good tools that do virus scanning only?