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.
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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.
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(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
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?
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