Possible problems with latest MS security updates

Noreen · Jul 09, 2008, 10:33:15

As mentioned before I belong to an American forum and I saw these two posts this morning

QuoteI just updated my WinXP Pro SP3 computer with today's Microsoft Updates. When I booted back up, I lost all use of Internet browsers and POP3 Email. It didn't matter which browser (IE7, FF3, and Opera 9.2) or POP3 (Thunderbird and OE6). None of them worked. I uninstalled the new updates, one by one. After uninstalling KB951748, Internet returned. I re-installed all the updates except KB951748. Internet was still working. I then re-installed KB951748. The Internet stopped again. On a hunch, I shutdown ZoneAlarm Free 6.5.737. The Internet was suddenly working again. I ran ZA again. The Internet stopped again. I shutdown ZA again. The Internet worked again.

So, KB951748 doesn't like ZA Free 6.5.737 (and maybe newer versions too). I am not sure which to deactivate or uninstall, ZA or the MS update.

QuoteIt doesn't like other things either. I downloaded the lastest updates (KB951748 and malicious software tool) and rebooted. I went to the pub, came back and no connectivity. As the only thing I'd changed was the update I did a system restore and everything was back to normal. MS now wants to do an update of course - I'll ignore it until they get a fix. I hope this helps others.

I don't have ZA, I've got NOD32 ESS but is that really the problem?

Rik · Jul 09, 2008, 10:35:38

Odd, I've done two XP machines this morning and they've both been fine, Noreen.

somanyholes · Jul 09, 2008, 10:38:42

http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=cfg&message.id=52727

and

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20759839-MS-update-KB951748-and-ZoneAlarm-PROBLEM

Gary · Jul 09, 2008, 10:40:12

I really dislike Zonealarm

Simon · Jul 09, 2008, 10:41:35

Only used it once, and didn't like it either, Gary.

somanyholes · Jul 09, 2008, 10:42:29

have to agree kill, the force field product is clever though

Gary · Jul 09, 2008, 10:46:07

Quote from: somanyholes on Jul 09, 2008, 10:42:29
have to agree kill, the force field product is clever though

Clever indeed, but I would still never have zonealarm on my pc, did it once.....

never again

Noreen · Jul 09, 2008, 11:01:27

Quote from: somanyholes on Jul 09, 2008, 10:38:42
http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=cfg&message.id=52727

and

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20759839-MS-update-KB951748-and-ZoneAlarm-PROBLEM

Thanks, So. I've now posted those links.

Ray · Jul 09, 2008, 12:23:36

Quote from: Rik on Jul 09, 2008, 10:35:38
Odd, I've done two XP machines this morning and they've both been fine, Noreen.

Same here, Rik, I've done my main PC this morning with no problems.

merlin · Jul 09, 2008, 12:28:45

done mine ,no probs today

john · Jul 09, 2008, 12:32:13

Not tried it yet Noreen but thanks for the warning.

QuoteI went to the pub, came back and no connectivity.

I know the feeling

Rik · Jul 09, 2008, 13:43:19

Sebby · Jul 09, 2008, 19:44:57

Updated here and no problems.

Simon · Jul 09, 2008, 21:12:03

Updated here too, no problems.

Rik · Jul 10, 2008, 12:22:45

More on the Zone Alarm problem:

For those of you using ZoneAlarm who installed the windows updates today, you probably already know that your internet connection has died. It appears that KB951748 made changes to the networking files that ZA doesn't see/recognize.

This update applies to Windows XP users and users who have ZoneAlarm installed.

Vista is NOT affected by this problem, because it is more secure and doesn't require this update

There are 2 options to rectify the problem :

----- Option 1: Move Internet Zone slider to Medium -----

Navigate to the "ZoneAlarm Firewall" panel
Click on the "Firewall" tab
Move the "Internet Zone" slider to medium

----- Option 2: Uninstall the hotfix -----

Click the "Start Menu"
Click "Control Panel", or click "Settings" then "Control Panel"
Click on "Add or Remove Programs"
On the top of the add/remove programs dialog box, you should see a checkbox that says "show updates". Select this checkbox
Scroll down until you see "Security update for Windows (KB951748)"
Click "Remove" to uninstall the hotfix

More information can be found at the following link :

http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/free/pressReleases/2008/LossOfInternetAccessIssue.html

LesD · Jul 10, 2008, 20:38:21

Quote from: Simon on Jul 09, 2008, 21:12:03
Updated here too, no problems.

Ditto I have done three machines but none have Zone Alarm.

Incidentally I used ZA for years in combination with other protective programs for years but it was a while ago During that era I never had any issues with it especially when I found the option to tell it to just get on with the job and not to keep on bothering me!

vitriol · Jul 11, 2008, 09:51:14

My sister in law fell foul of this last night, sure enough the MS patch had been installed and she was using ZA. I'm glad I read this thread

Noreen

Noreen · Jul 11, 2008, 10:42:11

jackmalanak · Jul 11, 2008, 17:15:00

Zone Alarm released an updated version yesterday which works hand in hand with the MS Patch.
Installed it on a spare machine I have and I can confirm it works.

Used to use Zone Alarm years ago when it was nice and small and fast much prefer Comodo now.

Rik · Jul 11, 2008, 17:16:36

Thanks for that, Jack.

Simon · Jul 11, 2008, 20:48:54

And here's a link to the latest (patched) version, if anyone uses it:

http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/free/pressReleases/2008/LossOfInternetAccessIssue.html

Sebby · Jul 11, 2008, 21:23:42

What's ZoneAlarm like these days, out of interest? I remember it being a bit like Norton.

Simon · Jul 11, 2008, 21:54:52

Last time I tried the suite, it was OK, but the firewall was annoying with too many pop ups, and for some reason, it didn't like MailWasher. Well, there's plenty of security suites to choose from, but only one MailWasher, so ZA had to go.

Sebby · Jul 11, 2008, 22:40:12

Thanks, Simon.

Lona · Jul 11, 2008, 23:13:00

I've just installed Avast on my XP pc as it didn't seem to like avg8.

Everytime I rebooted avg8 kept updating itself. I could see it was the same files it downloaded everytime the machine was switched on.

I have avg8 on my vista pc without any problems.

drummer · Jul 11, 2008, 23:47:54

I've been using ZoneAlarm Free firewall without a problem for some years now, even though I decided to dump the paid-for version once it became bloatware. The only reason I install it is so I can keep an eye on outgoing connections and the only resource it uses is RAM; it doesn't even register on CPU activity.

Tried Comodo free firewall as so many people on this forum recommended it, but it just became a pedantic irritant of which I couldn't wait to get rid.

Anyhoo, if anyone else is running ZA Free, the trick is to install the latest version from Simon's link and when you've rebooted, install the MS patch and reboot again. Working fine on this (and another) XP box.

As an heretical aside, I disabled Windows automatic updates when SP2 was released for XP Pro and only download stuff I regard as essential. Thus far it's been the latest Windows Installer and...nothing else! Only installed this patch to experiment as I use ZA Free.