Symantec (NASDAQ: SYMC) has fixed an anti-virus software bug that triggered Blue Screens of Death (system crashes) on Windows XP PCs and laptops. For channel partners, the Symantec bug is a healthy reminder to test patches on lab systems or in a controlled workgroup before rolling them out universally to customers.
Symantec disclosed the problem in a July 12 support alert, stating:
"On July 11th, 2012 at approximately 22:30 PST, Symantec started receiving reports of customers experiencing blue screens after applying Proactive Threat Protection definition version July 11, 2012 rev 11. Machines may continue to blue screen after they reboot. This problem appears to occur only on Windows XP machines running SEP 12.1."...