ALERT: If you're using Malwarebytes, you might want to double-check your "updates" settings.

[eppur_se_muova]

Two computers in our house had problems recently -- one resulted in MalWareBytes vanishing completely. Microsoft Security Essentials was also turned off, and couldn't be opened. I rebooted in Safe Mood, reinstalled MWB, scanned, and ran the ScanDisk utility in Windows. MWB's background updater seems to have been one of the files corrupted. Weirdly, MWB seemed to be able to find my account info (correctly listed the other computer as having MWB installed and didn't require a password), so not all the files were erased/corrupted.

The other Wintel box, which hardly ever connects to any Web sites, has not had any MWB updates in 30 days, which led to an alert. When I tried to check the settings, I needed to login with my MWB password, which I didn't have on hand. I don't remember MWB requiring an actual login previously.

All this makes me suspect some new MWB-targeting malware is out there, and may be having some success. Stay safe.

Post if you know anything more. (Well, anything relevant.)

[Attilatheblond]

1. Thank you for the heads up. There are a LOT of hinkey things going on as election day nears

And I hope people don't respond to the multitudes of random texts to phone stating that if you donate NOW, it will be matched 500 times by so and so famous person. ONLY donate thru campaign sites that generally take you to Act Blue, Act Blue its self. I fear many people are gonna find their credit/debit cards are gonna show some weird chargers and I hope we all keep a close eye on charges to our accounts.

[Arne]

2. Quit Malwarebytes some time ago.

It reported things as PUP and was only useful to do a scan
and then uninstall.
Other free software keeps things running smoothly.
Glary and some of the Iobit tools help.

[jmbar2]

3. My computer did an odd reboot this morning

When I powered up, I got a bluescreen, momentarily, that looked different from MS. The message said "Your device ran into an error and must be restarted. We are collecting data" and showed a frowny face and a QR code.

When I finally go back on, it does look like there was a Windows upgrade, but the reboot page looked different. My Windows Defender said everything was OK.

I used to have MWB, but don't see it now.

Do I need to worry?

Thanks!

[eppur_se_muova]

4. I sure would. Is Microsoft Security Essentials turned on ? Or is that only older Windows releases ?

I'd reinstall MWB, if that's what you normally use. You can d/l a free trial version and use long enough to install and reboot.

I scheduled a ScanDisk check and then Safe Mode reboot and found corrupted files, and supposedly "bad clusters reassigned". I think LibreOffice needs to be reinstalled; it's hardly ever used on that computer, though.

Not a Windows guy. BTW, this happened on O L D installations -- Win7 and Win8.1

[jmbar2]

5. Thanks for the response

It is an old computer. I did a google search on the message and saw that it is a legit notice. Just don't see it very often.