Way to go, Microsoft (RL)

[thistlechaser]

If you cannot connect to the Internet then how are you reading this? and you use Zone Alarm, see these links:

One
Two

Microsoft's update overnight made it so anyone using Zone Alarm can't access the net. 9.9

Zone Alarm people recommend you uninstall the Windows patch, but for me lowering Zone Alarm's internet security from high to medium fixed it. (I don't like leaving it lower than high, but for now I'll leave it that way...)

Comcast (who I mistakenly called first) recommended leaving Zone Alarm totally off, but gah. No fire wall protection? Thanks, but no.

Comments

[veloxe.livejournal.com]

Pffft, hardware firewall > software firewall! I also found this line funny:

"ZoneLabs advises users of ZoneAlarm to remove the Microsoft update as a workaround until it has created a more satisfactory solution to the problem. The company has set up a forum to help keep users informed."

Please, goto our forums to find the solution, but remember, you don't have internet access because of the update. GL!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

*snickers* That amused me, too. :P

[firebyrd.livejournal.com]

*facepalms* That's probably what happened with my husband's computer, then. Thanks for the head's up!

[citizenbleys.livejournal.com]

Seconded. Software firewalls--especially Zone Alarm--tend to cut off people's access to the internet, either selectively or entirely, with alarming regularity. Furthermore, a computer behind a router with no firewall is safer than a computer with no router protected by the most secure firewall on Earth*

*Talking about Zone Alarm again. It's an excellent program--for a software firewall--if you know exactly what you're doing. With versatility inevitably comes complexity, however, and the vast majority of people using Zone Alarm are end users--people who are told they need a firewall, but don't understand why or how a firewall works.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yay, I'm glad it helped!

And for once, Comcast was really helpful about this. It wasn't even the company's issue and he gave me tons of info!