Posted on 07/12/2008 4:16:45 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
A software update for the Windows operating system has left hundreds and thousands of computer users unable to access the internet.The update, known as a "patch", conflicts with another piece of software, the Zone Alarms firewall, that many people use to protect their computers from hackers and viruses.
The patch, codenamed MS08-037, was designed to fix a security loophole in the way Windows handles website addresses. It was discovered that there was a weakness with the operating system that could allow hackers to re-route legitimate web pages to malicious websites instead, and leave internet users open to fraud and viruses.
But the fix proved incompatible with the ZoneAlarm firewall, and within hours of downloading the software update, users were reporting problems with their internet connections. The problem affected thousands of computer users who use the free Zone Alarms firewall to protect their machines.
..........................
ZoneLabs, the company that makes ZoneAlarms, was last night recommending that computer users affected by the technical glitch uninstall the conflicting software update until a more permanent solution could be found. Computer users will be able to identify the rogue patch by its serial number, KB951748.
.......................
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I have had two computers affected by this hot fix. After removing the hot fix, I turned off automatic updates, because it will recognize that this update is not applied and will suggest that you install it.
These jerks at Zone recently removed bridge from there gaming network, this latest move certainly doesn’t surprise me!
These jerks at Zone recently removed bridge from their gaming network, this latest move certainly doesn’t surprise me!
Zone Alarm sucks, I use Vista’s built in firewall and my router’s, works perfectly fine.
This happened to me. I shut off ZoneAlarm, downloaded an updated version of it, installed it, and all was back to normal. What I’d like to know is if Microsoft knew about this problem before they released the update and didn’t bother to let us know. It’s hard to believe that they wouldn’t have tested it with a popular firewall like ZoneAlarm.
That’s interesting. My Firefox browser stopped connecting to the internet so I switched back to Netscape 9, which seems to work fine. I am using Zone Alarm Pro and I went into the control panel to check to see if ZA was blocking Firefox but didn’t see any evidence of it.
I thought I had the automatic updates blocked; they always seem to cause problems for me. How can I find his update and get rid of it, if it is in fact installed?
Zonelabs fixed this the day after it happened.
http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp
http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/free/pressReleases/2008/LossOfInternetAccessIssue.html
Yea, that's going to work really well for folks with XP.
Which for the "mundane" may have been impossible to download since they couldn't get online... ;-)
I stopped using Zone Alarm some time ago.
I have Windows Vista and I haven’t had any problems getting on the internet. I think the system installed updates just yesterday, so I don’t know if this update was included in it or not. I’m not that computer savvy to know what you all are talking about, so I hope that they’ve fixed the problem.
Uninstall the hotfix
1. Click the “Start Menu”
2. Click “Control Panel”, or click “Settings” then “Control Panel”
3. Click on “Add or Remove Programs”
4. On the top of the add/remove programs dialog box, you should see a checkbox that says “show updates”. Select this checkbox
5. Scroll down until you see “Security update for Windows (KB951748)”
6. Click “Remove” to uninstall the hotfix
Don’t want to be affected by Microsoft updates? Wait for the problems to appear!
On the bright side, those who can’t go online are super secure from virii and malware.
Irony ping.
This is a crappy Zone Alarm problem! Get rid of that and use a real hardware firewall!
Yup.
bttt
Or, uninstall Zonealarm.
Should you ever manage to get back on line ping.
That depends on whether Microsoft allows ZoneAlarm to have early access to patches for testing purposes before the public release. And for popular software like ZoneAlarm, it's arguable that Microsoft should test all of their patches for compatibility.
We do agree that the hardware firewall is a better solution.
[Zone Alarm sucks,]
I dumped ZA years ago as it seemed to grab my computer and turn into a virus, almost as bad as the famous Norton Virus.
[Well, I’ll be switched - 18 posts already, and no Linux purists have jumped into the fray yet. Amazing. ]
And no MAC attackers. I guess they are all busy justifying the horrible fouled up IPODII Phone.
This is MS’ new security feature. If you can’t get to the net, you can’t get a virus, trojan or any other MTD (Microsoft Transmitted Disease) on your system.
Is it?
Actually we don't have have to spend our Saturdays fixing Windows problems. I just got back from the river, myself.
Micosoft Update KB951748 (WinXP) kills ZoneAlarm Firewall
ZoneAlarm forum ^ | July 9, 2008 | ZoneAlarm forum moderator
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2043045/posts Posted on 7/9/2008 12:29:36 PM by Constitutionalist Conservative
No, that would just be rewarding Microsoft for their malfeasance.
>>Which for the “mundane” may have been impossible to download since they couldn’t get online... ;-)
Yes, good point. I was in the same boat but I had the luxury of having other computers on my network that I verified were able to get on the net. So I knew it was my PC. And I also knew that it was right after “Patch Tuesday” when it happened, so I was pretty sure that it was the MS patch that broke it.
I looked in the ZoneAlarm logs and watched it blocking my attempts at hitting the net, so I knew pretty quickly what it was. I uninstalled ZoneAlarm and was back on the net in a few minutes.
Aren't you familiar with the old slogan, "DOS isn't done until Lotus won't run".
Looks like you weren’t the only one this happened to.
Plus Windows 2000 does not have a built in firewall. There are plenty of perfectly good computers that have Windows 2000 installed but don't have enough computing power to run XP. Zone Alarm runs on Windows 2000 and has a free version available.
It took me about a week to get rid of ZA a couple of years ago. Never will I install it on my PC again.
Well, I’ve installed my last Windows update, and this is my last Windows-based computer. I’ve read and seen enough about Vista, XP service pack 3, and the damage caused to working systems by various “critical” updates to know that Microsoft at the very least doesn’t care about serving their customers, or possibly actively wishes to harm them.
I’m not sure whether my next computer will be Apple or Linux, but I know it won’t have Windows on it.
Well, NSDT!
While downloading Windows Updates several days ago, my PC suddenly died—have been unable to start it again.
Here’s my chance to help the economy again—my pc was all of 30 months old—buying a new one is the least I can do!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I don’t have Zone Alarm, but something sure has been wrong the last two days—either the I cannot connect to the internet, or I get booted off repeatedly.
Does Zaspersky have the same issues with the firewall?
Make that Kaspersky...little dislexic there.
I can’t read this article—I can’t get online.
Otherwise Zone Alarm is a damned good firewall program.
With the way Windoze work you never know what conflicts your going to have as everything is so top secret.
I don’t use Windows firewall...I use AVG 8.0. I used Zone Alarm with XP on my desk top computer then I started using Vista when I bought my laptop...I couldn’t load Zone Alarm. So I bought AVG 8.0 and I like it a lot. It is a virus and firewall program.
I’ve been online, via my APPLE MINI!!!!!!!!
Going to get another windoze system, or have you finally learned?
MAC is the only way to go!
I am using Vista Home Premium, and I need some help with a few problems my Dell Note Book is having.
My computer is having difficulties shutting down properly after the Updates finish downloading.
What can I do to prevent this from happening?
And another issue is that is driving us crazy is: The arrow/ cursor jumps all over the place when typing on this screen or an e-mail, how can we stop this as well?
Thanking You In Advance For Your Help.
Simcha7...(I have been away from FR for a Long time due to severe health issues.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.