As a result of two bug-ridden signature updates to McAfee's anti-virus software, some customers have found themselves unable to access the internet. The updates can either disable anti-virus monitoring or result in an unresponsive program console. According to McAfee, the defective signatures, DAT 6807 and 6808, were distributed last weekend.

Private and business customers alike are equally affected by the problem. Large numbers of customers looking for help have turned to the support forum of the Intel subsidiary, including one administrator who has 3000 machines with the problem.

Private customers with this problem can work their way through instructions which provide alternative resolution paths depending on symptoms. It essentially advises users who are able to access the internet to run McAfee Virtual Technician, and users who cannot access the web to reinstall the product. Business customers will find links to hotfixes providing relief for the problem in McAfee's knowledge base.

For users whose computers did not install the bad updates, it's now safe to click the "update" button as McAfee has begun distributing corrected DATs (versions 6809 and later).