XP update breaks Zonealarm

[SpongeBob]

You may already know this, as it happened a few days ago, but if you're like me and don't install MS updates and reboot immediately (I usually put my PC into hibernate) then you might still not have found this problem yet.

Basically - one minute you have a PC that works, then you reboot (during which it installs the latest Windows update) then you find that you can no longer access the Internet.

It turned out to be Zonealarm blocking everything, but by setting the Internet Zone Security setting to 'Medium' instead of 'High' everything worked again.

Having looked around it appears that it's caused by the Windows update, which breaks Zonealarm.

So - if you find that after you reboot you can't access the Internet, move ZoneAlarm's Internet Zone Security setting down to Medium, in the Firewall section.

[gunneradt]

apparently MS didnt tell zone alarm about this not that that would have made them react any quicker

[davidcragg]

Zonealarm are suggesting you remove the MS patch rather than reduce the level of protection.

See: Re: ZoneAlarm is investigating the issue with Microsoft update KB951748 - ZoneAlarm Configuration - ZoneAlarm User Forum

regards,
David

edit: ZoneAlarm Instant Support explains how to remove the update.

[purple]

meant to post about this but I could not get back online at home!!!! also forgot to tell the wife so she could not use PC earlier.

the instructions i got was to uninstall the latest windows update i did that last night and it worked ok, but seems windows must have reinstalled it this morning!!!

hopefully zonealarm will issue patch or maybe even windows

reducing security to medium does not sound ideal

[davidcragg]

Looks like Zonealarm have a new version out, see:

ZoneAlarm SmartDefense Research Center

Not tried it yet, but I'm sure it works.

regards,
David

[SpongeBob]

Originally Posted by davidcragg Looks like Zonealarm have a new version out, see: ZoneAlarm SmartDefense Research Center Not tried it yet, but I'm sure it works. regards, David

Yes, I was just about to post that link too. I'm about to install it and will see if that works.

If you don't want to install the new version yet, then it does list moving your setting down to Medium as the first option, then uninstalling the MS patch as the 2nd option. Neither are ideal, though.

[DioBach]

Wasted a couple of hours yesterday ****ing around with this issue before I spotted what was going on. Very poor. On my Mac I ended up uninstalling ZA and putting Kaspersky on instead, and did the slider on my laptop. Will have to try this new version as lowering security sort of defeats the point. The update is an important one as well, so taking it off is also very poor advice.

[gunneradt]

agreed

zone alarm suggested that cos they coudnt move fast enough.

[SpongeBob]

I just installed the new version and have put the security back up to high and it still works, so the upgrade's worth doing.

[John Jupp]

To to tune of the Halifax ads:

Wake up in the morning feeling fine
My DNS connection it has gone offline
Check the updates, address, remove and restart
about as effective as a smelly fart

Oh something tells me it is one of those days (something tells me it is one of those)

Cos my ISP has had a strop
Decided to give 2 of my sites the chop
Now can't get in to my WHM
Having a final requiem

Oh something tells me it is one of those days (something tells me it is one of those)

Now my database it is off track
Cos I just cannot get it back
What have I ever done to you
To be treated like poo

Oh something tells me it is one of those days (something tells me it is one of those)

Not everything is as bad as it seems
My DPanel works so my CPanel screens
I can check my stats
I just cant upload a thing

Oh something tells me it is one of those days (something tells me it is one of those)

[John Jupp]

The server had been updated with the same updates and corrupted the DNS, all fixed now.