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 ...
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.)
I switched to a Mac 2 years ago, and rarely use my two Windows PC computers any more. Not a single crash or problem on the Mac, and no virus/firewall software to worry about. I'm pondering whether to renew my Symantec/Norton antivirus subscriptions for the PC's for the next year. The Mac is just worry-free. Plus it's got unix so I get to play with that too (old-time unix admin).
I remember when it was illegal to attach an answering machine, a fax machine or a modem to your telephone line. Ma Bell would have preferred that the Internet never existed.
You must go way back! I remember using my 300baud modem. What were you using, 110?
Microsoft is often criticized for its sloppy and unstable code. However, 99% of all windows issue can be traced back to 3rd party software writers who ignore the standard calls that MS makes available to all developers.
If you install windows and never install anything else, it will run forever and likely never crash or lock up. Not that it would be useful for anything but internet browsing, this should a least give everyone an idea where the problem actually is... 3rd party coders who don't play by the rules.
Zonealarm is and always has been a virus in itself, crappy and bloated code that consumes resources like it paid for them itself.
BULLCRAP!
Microsoft wrote this crap and targeted Zonealarm. It was devised to screw up people using a different firewall.
Zonealarm had nothing to do with it.
Not at all.
Windows + ZA = Internet works.
Windows gets a patch. Internet stops working.
Not sure how you can blame Symantec for ZA being broken. It was working fine until Microsoft changed something.
The ohly question is whether it's an accident or it's intentional.
Considering Microsoft's long and disgusting history of doing this kind of thing I tend to suspect the latter.
I am probably going to start making all of our boxes dual boot with Linux, probably Ubuntu. When XP finally has its day way down the road, I want to be on Mac. But in the meantime with the budget the way it is, Linux is going to see a lot of use here.
There's no such thing. What you call a "hardware" firewall is merely a box that uses software to configure traffic. That's exactly what a "software" firewall does.
XP has a built-in firewall too, doesn’t it? (I have it disabled because I use a hardware firewall/router/switch/kitchen sink.)
Computers were more mechanical than electronic back then. In the payroll department, a computer upgrade consisted of changing the size of a wheel on a fanbelt. That speeded up the rate of the "ker-chunk" sounds, and IBM charged considerably higher rent for the faster speed.
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