Word of warning to those using Zone Alarm and automatic updates on XP (don't know if its affecting Vista)

Just taken latest updates from Microsoft which includes "KB981748" on reboot my pc wouldn't connect to the internet, caused by Zonealarm blocking all access even though its settings were saying it wasn't doing that !

Had to go to "add and remove programs" click on the little tick box at the top that says "show updates", scroll down to find "KB981748" and remove it. On rebooting you then get access to the internet again.

Don't know any more but I suggest you make a note of this now otherwise you might not be able to get on to read it !

Steve

Did it affect anyone else ?

Zonealarm now have an update to work along with the Microsoft patch so all is well again

Steve

Hi steven

I don't even understand what you are talking about here! We don't do any updates or anything else, unless Kavey tells us to.

Mamta

Hi Mamta ! (small gulp)...

I'm hoping and presuming that the machines you are using are either managed by Kavey or have been set up to automatically install all the relevant updates from the programs that need them ! - ?

ALL Programs that are on the computer need updating from time to time as things change and sometimes they either won't run or may cause conflicts with the other programs.

More importantly when it comes to protecting your computer against virus/hackers/spyware etc those programs need to be constantly updated to keep them on top of the new virus/spyware etc that comes out day by day.

Programs such as AVG (Grisofts anti virus protection) needs to be manually updated if you are using the free version - However is you have the paid for full suite it does is updates automatically (and runs scans at scheduled times)

The same goes for other programs protecting your machine against malicious attacks and intrusion (Zonealarm firewall, Spybot, Ad-Aware, SUPERAntiSpyware, Spywareblaster etc) Most programs that have a fully working free version tend to need more manual intervention on things like checking for updates and running scans.

More recent Microsoft operating systems constantly check for updates for themselves (not the other programs mentioned above)and quite often download and install while you are still using the machine (sometimes it will tell you it needs to do a reboot to complete as it did with the update mentioned in my first post)

As I say often to people "your computer is only protected as well as its last updates and scans, since then anything could have happened"

Hope this makes things a bit clearer !

Steve

Thanks Steve

Yes, our AVG updates automatically. We have to have a good version because of a lot of junk that comes via the website. Occasionally, we ask kavey what to do! Thanks fo explaining :-).

Mamta

Was helping someone with their machine today, turned out their antivirus software package had not been renewed and the license expired back in 2006, so its not had any updates or been any use since then !

Steve