BleepingComputer.com: Guide On Fixing Connectivity Problems For Users Running Zonealarm

How to fix connectivity problems for users of ZoneAlarm

Problem:

ZoneAlarm users have intermittent problems connecting to the Internet.


Cause:

This problem is caused by a conflict between ZoneAlarm and the new Microsoft Security Update, KB951748.


Solution:

There are three ways to resolve this issue.

Option 1: This is the recommended solution

Download the latest updates for ZoneAlarm. Links to the update can be found on this ZoneAlarm page.

The current updates are:

• ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite
  
  
  
• ZoneAlarm Pro
  
  
  
• ZoneAlarm Antivirus
  
  
  
• ZoneAlarm Anti-Spyware
  
  
  
• ZoneAlarm Basic Firewall

I suggest you go the link above to check for the latest updates.


Option 2: Not recommended

This option entails changing the security settings in ZoneAlarm. This is not advised as it may make your computer vulnerable to attacks from outside your network.

• Open ZoneAlarm
  
  
  
• Go to the ZoneAlarm Firewall panel.
  
  
  
• Click on the Firewall tab.
  
  
  
• Change the Internet Zone slider to Medium.

Option 3: Definitely not recommended
Note: Microsoft Security Updates should never be removed as it could cause your computer to be vulnerable to remote attacks.

If you still wish to remove the Microsoft update, you can follow the instructions in the tutorials below to uninstall the

• Click on the Start button.
  
  
  
• Click on the Control Panel option.
  
  
  
• Double-click on the Add or Remove Programs icon.
  
  
  
• Put a checkmark in the checkbox labeled Show updates.
  
  
  
• Scroll through the list till you see the entry for Security update for Windows (KB951748).
  
  
  
• Click once on the entry to select it.
  
  
  
• Click on the Remove button and follow the prompts.

As always, if these steps do not resolve your issues, feel free to post your problem in the forums.

Thank you Grinler for the update. I have down loaded Z/A update is it okay to down load KB951748 at this time.

Yes. Once you download the updates for ZoneAlarm, the Microsoft Update wont affect it. It is important to have the update installed as it fixes vulnerabilities in microsoft's DNS services.

Thank you. I will down load KB FROM M/S.

Things are working as they should be.Thank you again for keeping on top of these types of things

Hey,what about NOD32?
Because I have one and it cannot connect to the internet while the laptop connecting to the same modem can connect.

Different problem..i would ask about this in forums, but as far as I know it's not related.

Hi Grinler,
I don't have ZoneAlarm. I have Webroot Spy Sweeper, AVG 7.5 and Windows Firewall. Could a recent renewal/download of Webroot Spy Sweeper cause my problem? And possibly a Microsoft update? Mine updates automatically, so I'm not sure when or if it updated, but my problems started about 2 weeks ago.

I don't think it is related.

Actually, for me, It corrupted a few files in ZoneAlarm making things EXTREMELY slow... So here's what I did:
1. Download the FULL installer(not 3-400 Kb, several MB!)
2. I disconnected my computer from the Internet.
3. Rebooted into Safe Mode.
4. Uninstalled ZoneAlarm.
5. Reboot into normal mode.
6. Reinstall ZoneAlarm.

Just want to make sure this has nothing to do with the need to renew the program.

Not realted...as long as you are at the newest patch level for ZA you are ok.

If you have ZoneAlarm and a microsoft built in firewall is it best to turn microsoft firewall off?

Yes and some third party firewalls do that as part of the installation. You should check to see if Zone Alarm does that.

ZA: Firewall panel, Main tab, click the Advanced button, then on the Security tab, General settings, click Disable Windows firewall.
ZA gives it as an option during installation, reinstallation, resetting the databases.