Microsoft apologizes, but you still have to reinstall Google’s browser

Oct 1, 2011 07:50 GMT  ·  By

If Microsoft Security Essentials just picked on your Google Chrome and labeled it as malware (PWS:Win32/Zbot), don’t trust it, it’s a fluke. Google just released a new, unplanned, minor build for Chrome and Microsoft issued a new set of definitions to correct the problem and apology.

Those affected by the issue are either unable to launch Chrome or to load new pages. The steps you have to take in this case are pretty simple and start with updating Microsoft Security Essentials signature. Next, you have to reinstall Chrome.

After all this, the anti-spyware definition for Microsoft Security Essentials should be 1.113.672.0 or higher, and Chrome’s version should be 14.0.835.187.

Some speculate this is a cunning strategy from Microsoft to put at least a temporary halt on Chrome’s increasing adoption rate. But let’s take it for what it is, a fluke and nothing more.