Windows Thinks Google Chrome Is A Virus, Removes It From Your Computer

According to a tipster (and to an onslaught of angry tweeters), Microsoft Windows's Security Essentials software is alerting users to a virus this morning inside Chrome.exe or "PWS:Win32/Zbot." If you click "remove" like Windows begs you to, your computer restarts and Google Chrome is gone. If you try to re-install Google Chrome, Windows won't let you. It appears that Microsoft's Security Essentials software was updated overnight, and something in Chrome is setting off the "Win32/Zbot" virus alarm. According to Microsoft,"Win32/Zbot" is a family of password stealers and remote access trojans. Based on initial reports we've heard, it appears that not all Windows users are effected by this "false positive," as it's being called on message boards. If you are determined to get Chrome back up and running on your computer ASAP, downloading and installing the Chrome Beta seems to work. There is a five-page Google Chrome help forums page about the issue, where a Googler known as Jacky H says that Google is looking into it. UPDATE: Microsoft responds: “On September 30th, 2011, an incorrect detection for PWS:Win32/Zbot was identified and as a result, Google Chrome was inadvertently blocked and in some cases removed from customers PCs. We have already fixed the issue — we released an updated signature (1.113.672.0) at 9:57 am PDT — but approximately 3,000 customers were impacted. Affected customers should manually update Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) with the latest signatures. To do this, simply launch MSE, go to the update tab and click the Update button, and then reinstall Google Chrome. We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused our customers.” Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/windows--google-chrome-virus-2011-9#ixzz1ZOZ1nXIg