If you're religious about letting Microsoft update your PC -- and you use ZoneAlarm -- your system might not let you access the Internet.
Update: There are two official ZoneAlarm work-arounds. Read them here and here. (Thanks, Tab!)
Tuesday's update from Microsoft included KB951748, a fix for a Domain Name System (DNS) security flaw in Windows XP. (Read about the DNS bug here).
Using ZoneAlarm? Don't install the KB951748 update.
What's The Problem?
The update conflicts with both the free and paid versions of ZoneAlarm, so if you install the update, the next time you boot the system, you won't have Internet access.
There's a simple enough work-around -- uninstall the update. Some users have changed ZoneAlarm's settings from high to medium in order to resolve the problem. That's easy, sure, but not if you're locked out of the Internet and can't read this blog.
If you have a buddy that you know uses ZA, do something you haven't done since discovering e-mail: Give him or her a call (they'll undoubtedly be surprised and probably won't recognize your voice).
I am running a full version of zone alarm, and had the same problem. I did not try to change settings, since I was aware that za had been affected. I uninstallled all the updates and waited to watch for fixes. If it comes down to a decision between za and microjoke, I will always keep za.
Zone Alarm has posted an Update on their web site - fixed the problem on my XP MCE (SP2) desktop system. Haven't tried yet on XP Pro system, but would expect same results...
Thanks Reidk and PCW. I wasn't aware that the Update cause the problem i experienced yesterday as my internet quit working. I "fixed" it by setting ZA tu medium. I just downloaded the ZA update and yes Reidk it works on WinXP Pro as well.
Same thing happened on my home computers with the Paid version of ZA internet security suite. I had to move the internet safety level to medium to access anything that wasn't email
I have fixed this problem on 6 machines by simply doing a clean install of the latest ZoneAlarm software from the website. It works every time and is the easiest way to resolve the problem.
I updated to the 7.0.483.000 Version of the free Zone Alarm, and that fixed the problem. I had previously lowered my Internet Security Zone setting on the firewall to medium as one of their work-arounds suggested, but with this new version I was able to reset it at the recommended high setting.
SharonN
I also updated to 7.0.483.000 of Zone Alarm and that fixed the problem with 951748 and Zone Alarm.
However, it seems that 951748 and Threatfire are now in conflict as each time I start my Windows XP Media Centre edition laptop, I get a message saying that Threatfire has encountered an error and must shutdown. I have allowed the error report to be sent to MS and we'll see what comes of it.
For three-plus days last week, I kept getting the "Cannot find server" message every time I tried to get on the Internet. Then, over the weekend, I found out about the Microsoft/ZoneAlarm conflict while listening to, as I do every weekend, to Kim Komando's radio program and I followed her instructions. Turned out all I had to do was change my ZoneAlarm setting from "High" to "Medium," and, VOILA!, I got back on the 'Net. If it weren't for Kim, I might very well STILL not be able to get back on the 'Net, although I've heard others who found out about this problem from their ISP, which is something I was going to do myself, but, thanks to Kim, didn't need to.
Friends had the lockout problem... I shutdown ZoneAlarm, and they could access the 'net with no problem (they're behind a router anyway)... so we re-downloaded and re-installed ZoneAlarm... then 'net access worked fine... and we never knew about the MS Update conflict. When in doubt, uninstall and re-install... which cleans up any other little glitches usually, too. Uninstalling the MS update isn't the best solution, neither is blaming Microsoft... the update fixes a vulnerability, period
Yep, I did the uninstall update also. Although I always blame microsoft for everything, the customer service rep gave me the fix, ( download the new ZA version) in a timely manner. Now I'm, obviously all good to go.
I'll do an uninstall and reinstall ONLY as a last resort . Uninstalling and reinstalling is a hassle, and if I don't HAVE to do it, I won't. If I can correct a little glitch without going that route, it's preferable.
I had the same problem. I just had a feeling it was the Mickysoft update. I shutdown ZA & was able to access the internet. I downloaded ZA again uninstalled & reinstalled. I still couldn't access the internet. I uninstalled ZA & installed an old version of Sygate personal firewall. I've been running Sygate since then even though Sygate was bought out by Norton & the version I have is no longer supported. I'm happy to know ZA has fixed the problem & I will go back to ZA.