Update: For all users running Microsoft Windows operating systems and hit by the faulty BitDefender update. You can go through the remedial procedures to fix your systems by following these steps.

One of the most widely used and revered antivirus programs, BitDefender has apparently struck the systems of millions of users across the globe, that has caused the Microsoft Windows 7 64 bit editions to stop working entirely. The issues has been identified as a faulty update released by BitDefender as part of the virus definition updates. The irony of the situation being that, the same BitDefender used by millions of users to help protect their systems, has now caused a massive outage.

The extent of the damage is clearly visible from the support forums of BitDefender, where angry and frustrated users have swarmed in since the onset of the problem. Some of the users have stated that, the current malfunction has made BitDefender detect almost all Windows .dll files as hostile and has quarantined them, thus making the it impossible to even boot the system. However, BitDefender has been quick to react to the concern and has issued a fix for the problem, that involves the removal of files from quarantine and a manual reboot. Furthermore, those users who might not be able to achieve the above solution, they have been recommended to boot their systems to Windows’ Last Known Good Configuration restore or via System Restore options.

According to BitDefender,

“Due to a recent update it is possible that BitDefender detects several Windows and BitDefender files as infected with Trojan.FakeAlert.5”

Via PC World