I started getting the emails and calls from friends and clients last week. "Yipes, I can't get on the Internet! I have wasted all day (night) trying but nothing works. What's the problem?"
To be honest I didn't have a clue myself, until one friend called and said that of her 3 computers that had web access (all have ZoneAlarm installed) the one that missing a Windows update still worked. After some research we confirmed that the newest Windows update had "broken" the current version of ZoneAlarm. ZoneAlarm Free (ZA) is arguably one of the most downloaded personal firewall programs on the planet. I use it and personally recommend it to just about everyone I know. So this "glitch" was a huge pain in the tuckus.
Later in the week, the boys at ZoneLabs (the makers of ZA) released a press statement, detailing their workarounds. Seems the update killed all of ZoneLabs product line from their ever popular firewall to their premium security suite.
The press release states, "Microsoft Update KB951748 is known to cause sudden loss of internet access for ZoneAlarm users on Windows XP/2000. Windows Vista users are not affected. Platforms Affected: ZoneAlarm Free, ZoneAlarm Pro, ZoneAlarm AntiVirus, ZoneAlarm Anti-Spyware, and ZoneAlarm Security Suite".
What you need to do now...
As a temporary workaround:
1. Double-click on the "Z" ZoneAlarm icon in the lower right of your screen.
2. After the program opens, click "Firewall" on the menu bar on the left side.
3. You should see the "Internet Zone Security" section. Move the slider from "High" to "Med." (medium)
4.Click on the "X" in the upper right corner to minimize ZoneAlarm.
This will work until you get the time to download and install the newest version of your ZoneAlarm product.
Now when you install the new update make sure you check "Upgrade" not "Clean Install" or you will have to go through the slow process of ZoneAlarm "learning" which programs to let through all over again.
So how did this happen? Is ZoneLabs going belly up? Nah...what went on behind the scenes is that several months ago a computer security researcher accidentally discovered a major, major error in the actual structure of the Internet. Seems he found a way that someone could trick every computer into going to a bogus website, even if you go to a browser and type in the "correct" URL or web address.
This meant that if you opened your web browser and typed in "www.eBay.com", your computer and everyone else's could have been redirected to a fake eBay site.
That's right ALL the computers in the world! Ain't that a kick in the teeth? So the top über-geeks in the world have been working in secret to correct the problem. Most of the major players were involved and released updates this month.
If by chance, you have not installed the latest operating system update, you should. Because now that the "cat is out of the bag" there is no doubt some enterprising young hacker will try and make use this "flaw in the fabric of the web" to lead you to a fake and dangerous website.
Tired of losing money on unnecessary downtime and want to reduce your computer headaches? Click here http://www.fixcomputerproblemsguide.com for free tips. Sick of a S-L-O-W computer? Click here to Blast Spyware Away! From Chancer Reese, your Small Office Tech Diva.
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