Microsoft Anti-Spyware Deleting Norton Anti-Virus

Problem:
Microsoft's Anti-Spyware program is causing troubles for people who also use Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus software; apparently, a recent update to Microsoft's anti-spyware application flags Norton as a password-stealing program and prompts users to remove it.

Discussion:
According to several different support threads over at Microsoft's user groups forum, the latest definitions file from Microsoft "(version 5805) detects Symantec Antivirus files as PWS.Bancos.A (Password Stealer)."
When Microsoft Anti-Spyware users remove the flagged Norton file as prompted, Symantec's product gets corrupted and no longer protects the user's machine

Resolution:
Microsoft Anti-Spyware update 5807 resolves the issue (you can check the version by going to the grey bar menu at the top of the Microsoft Anti-Spyware Window. Click: Help, About Microsoft Windows Anti-Spyware ... , and Click the Diagnostics button. Look for "Definitions Increment Version: 160/160" near the bottom of the Window. If it reads "Definitions Increment Version: 160/158" then run the update from the grey bar menu (Click File, Check for Updates) & complete the update.
If the damage has already been done, attempt a system restore to before the change was made & see if Norton is restored. If not, attempt a clean removal of Norton using Nortons Removal tools: www.symantec.com/autotools
As a last resort, you can remove all symantec/norton key entries (about an hour long preocess) then reinstall Norton.


- srikanth dhanwada
_________________
SD
Hardwaredude.com Team