Disconnected by Microsoft?

[Road Runner]

On Tuesday night my computer downloaded a 'security' update to Windows XP.
Wednesday morning the internet was running so slow that a dead snail would have got my e-mails quicker.

Tried all the usual things like deleting temporary files etc.  Still no change!      
So I did a re-start.   After it eventually re-booted.......   it would not connect to the internet.  

To cut a VERY! long story short I managed to get back on around mid-day today  -  Friday  -  by doing a system restore.
What did I find?   That the latest 'security?' patch by Microsoft conflicts with my firewall  -  Zone Alarm.
I'm guessing that this problem must have affected several million internet users.

I sent an e-mail this afternoon to MS customer support asking them how much compensation I (and all the other people affected) can expect.
I guess they won't bother to reply.

RR.

[bigmick22]

one of the reasons I bought a mac (also, lightening fast startup and shutdown and less worry about viruses)

[stogie bear]

I have disconnected Windows updates and the firewall on my computer. I did this several months ago knowing that any 'update' from Windows is liable to damage my computer.

Windows Service Pack 2 is all a computer needs.

Macs are a close second and then Linux. The latest XP version is a distant fourth and Vista is not even a consideration unless you buy it pre-installed on a new PC and don't know how to 'roll back' to XP.

The OS systems war seems to be deliberately lost by Microsoft as they move further and further away from what people want.

It's becuase of Microsoft that we can't use computers in many ways that they could actually be useful. their horrible and clunky OS is so full of 'legacy support' and other useless filler that it can't handle the simple tasks of today and tomorrow.

I'm no Mac fan but at least they actually re-wrote their OS from scratch when it was useless and out of date.

OS system makers are all way behind the times and very out of touch with other software makers and actual computer users.

It's frustrating. It's 2008 and I still have to click the 'Start' button to stop my computer! This in itself tells me all I need to know about Microsoft!

[Monkey]

I had this too..

...a quick trip over to Zonelabs website on Tuesday provided some answers.

A work-around was to remove the offending update (KB951748) whilst they worked on a fix.

The new zonealarm has no issues with this update so once you've downloaded and installed the latest version you can safely re-install Hotfix KB951748

More here: http://download.zonealarm.com/bin....ue.html


I was going to post this before in the Technical forum but forgot (been busy as hell this week and this wasted half my day).

Sorry for tardiness guys.




@ RR - I guess as you've only just managed to get online it wouldn't have helped you much anyway.

p.s. this post didn't read as it was meant (must have been the wine) so has been editted

[Looker]

I just hate Bill Gates, don't ask my why..same as I hate Starsucks and all many other corporations as well. Coincidentally are both from Seattle?

[PigDogg]

On my old desktop it would take a longtime to boot up. I thought Zone Alarm was trying to open simultaneously with Norton or Avira.

I disconnected Zone Alarm and the bootup went much quicker.
In place of Zone Alarm I put a condom on my computer.

[BAM]

(stogie bear @ Jul. 12 2008,11:47) I have disconnected Windows updates and the firewall on my computer. I did this several months ago knowing that any 'update' from Windows is liable to damage my computer.

You can't be serious can you? Do you have any idea what the last few months of XP security patches do? Without them and a firewall your computer is now easy to exploit.

And for you people that thinks Mac's are so much more secure well they're not... they are just less of a target because they are only used by 11% or the market but as they grow in popularity they will become more of a target and this is starting to happen now.

[BAM]

BTW Stogie.... Since I know your IP I just scanned your PC and it's totally visible to me. Better fix that firewall dude!

[stogie bear]

My computer cannot be updated.

I get "Access Denied" halfway through the update.

Which is fine. It runs just fine without it.

As it can't be updated there's no point in having 'updates' turned on!

[PigDogg]

(stogie bear @ Jul. 12 2008,09:33) Errrr.... moved. Guess why!

Wouldn't want your buddy VanGough to know this top secret info?

[stogie bear]

Well, I've done some knob twiddling and I've managed to update my computer...

...no thanks to Microsoft, though! Useless idiots.

[Road Runner]

Get yourself a decent firewall!  

Click on the link Monkey listed above and on that page go down about 14-15 lines to where it says Zonealarm Basic Firewall.
It's free and is about 95-97% proof against hackers.  It updates every few months and warns you when an update is available.
Plus you can have it running at the same time as the nearly useless Windows firewall though I don't know if that provides any better security.

The other good freebee is Grisoft AVG  -  it's an anti-virus package. Again it regularly updates and will do it automatically if you choose.

RR.

[stogie bear]

I have AVG... It works just fine.

I don't need a third party firewall.

[bigmick22]

(BAM @ Jul. 12 2008,10:04) And for you people that thinks Mac's are so much more secure well they're not... they are just less of a target because they are only used by 11% or the market

but, for now, that means they are safer to play with

the question is at what point the bad guys ouy there decide that Macs are a worthwhile target

[donnnnnny]

i got a mac also
much better for photos movies and music. and very little virus trouble(at the moment)