Lost Access to Subscriber Downloads

[PhCrypto]

I am an MSDN Universal subscriber since Feb. 2004. I set up my account for
MSDN subscriber downloads on my original WinXP SP1a computer. Recently I
received a new WinXP SP1a desktop computer and have observed the following
problems.
Using IE Version 6.0.2800.1106.xpsp2.030422-1633 128bit Cipher, when I
attempt to "Sign In" to my MSDN subscriber downloads account, I persistently
receive the following error:


.NET Passport Unavailable at This Site

The .NET Passport service is currently unavailable at this Web site
for one of these reasons:

a.. The site may contain an error or be experiencing a problem that
affects the .NET Passport service.
b.. The .NET Passport service may be experiencing a temporary
problem.
c.. The site may not be an official .NET Passport-participating
site.


Please return to this site later to try again.



I can no longer access my .NET Passport account or MSDN subscriber downloads
using IE. This only happens with IE. When I use Netscape or Firefox or any
other web browser I can access my .Net Passport account without difficulty.

Any idea what's going on ?
PhCrypto

 

[PA Bear]

Are you using this entry page?...
http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/downloads/

Are your date, time and time *zone* settings correct?

Have you posted to this MSDN-specific newsgroup?
news://msnews.microft.com/microsoft.public.msdn.general

Your headers tell me you're missing several recent critical security
updates, PhC. Can you access Windows Update? Do you have Automatic Updates
enabled? CrystalBall© tells me you can't connect at Windows Update either
so you need to check your system for the "hijackware" which is causing your
problems:

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm

CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Run these tools in the following order with nothing else running in
background:

1. CWShredder (fix all found)

2. Ad-Aware (fix all found)

3. Spybot (RTFM but generally fix everything in red)

Important: You *must* seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before each
and every use, even "right out of the box". But even they can't catch
everything, 24/7. When all else fails, HijackThis
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe) is the preferred
tool to use. It will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware. **Post your files to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**

[Alternate download pages for many of the above tools may be found at
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.]

Also:

1. Download and run Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/); then...

2. Update your virus definitions, enable Show Hidden Files
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339)
and then run a full system scan in Safe Mode
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406)
with nothing else running in background. Note the files identified and
removed then find the corresponding page for the file at your AV maker's
online support pages (e.g.,
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/adware.winfavorites.html)
and follow all Removal steps.

WinXP Only (WinME similar): If this scan finds anything, create a new
Restore Point then Disk Cleanup > More options > Delete all but the most
recent Restore Point.

3. Check in at Windows Update.

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=windowsxpsp2

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

 

[PhCrypto]

Hi,
Thank you for all the info. Yes, I am accessing the link you specified
below. The PC is brand new from IBM. It came with Symantec's AV and I've
updated the virus definitions. We also have a server version of Symantec's
AV on our PDC that verifies all our boxes. My box has been checked for
viruses and spyware. According to Symantec's AV, CWShredder and Spybot, the
box is clean.
Date, time and time zone are all ok. That's controlled by our PDC.
I can access Windows Update just fine, in fact that's the first course of
action I took.
Company policy prohibits me from installing SP2 for WinXP. Based on what
I've read, that will not solve the problem anyway.
Thanks again for all the info, I'll post to msdn.general as well.
PhCrypto

Are you using this entry page?...
http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/downloads/

Are your date, time and time *zone* settings correct?

Have you posted to this MSDN-specific newsgroup?
news://msnews.microft.com/microsoft.public.msdn.general

Your headers tell me you're missing several recent critical security
updates, PhC. Can you access Windows Update? Do you have Automatic Updates
enabled? CrystalBall© tells me you can't connect at Windows Update either
so you need to check your system for the "hijackware" which is causing your
problems:

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm

CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Run these tools in the following order with nothing else running in
background:

1. CWShredder (fix all found)

2. Ad-Aware (fix all found)

3. Spybot (RTFM but generally fix everything in red)

Important: You *must* seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before each
and every use, even "right out of the box". But even they can't catch
everything, 24/7. When all else fails, HijackThis
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe) is the preferred
tool to use. It will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware. **Post your files to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**

[Alternate download pages for many of the above tools may be found at
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.]

Also:

1. Download and run Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/); then...

2. Update your virus definitions, enable Show Hidden Files
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339)
and then run a full system scan in Safe Mode
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406)
with nothing else running in background. Note the files identified and
removed then find the corresponding page for the file at your AV maker's
online support pages (e.g.,
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/adware.winfavorites.html)
and follow all Removal steps.

WinXP Only (WinME similar): If this scan finds anything, create a new
Restore Point then Disk Cleanup > More options > Delete all but the most
recent Restore Point.

3. Check in at Windows Update.

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=windowsxpsp2

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

I am an MSDN Universal subscriber since Feb. 2004. I set up my account for
MSDN subscriber downloads on my original WinXP SP1a computer. Recently I
received a new WinXP SP1a desktop computer and have observed the following
problems.
Using IE Version 6.0.2800.1106.xpsp2.030422-1633 128bit Cipher, when I
attempt to "Sign In" to my MSDN subscriber downloads account, I
persistently receive the following error:


.NET Passport Unavailable at This Site

The .NET Passport service is currently unavailable at this Web site
for one of these reasons:

a.. The site may contain an error or be experiencing a problem that
affects the .NET Passport service.
b.. The .NET Passport service may be experiencing a temporary
problem.
c.. The site may not be an official .NET Passport-participating
site.


Please return to this site later to try again.



I can no longer access my .NET Passport account or MSDN subscriber
downloads using IE. This only happens with IE. When I use Netscape or
Firefox or any other web browser I can access my .Net Passport account
without difficulty.

Any idea what's going on ?
PhCrypto

 

[PA Bear]

I can access Windows Update just fine, in fact that's the first course of

action I took.

Oh? From headers of your first post here: "Microsoft Outlook Express
6.00.2800.1409"

From you second post: "Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1437"

Assuming you posted from the same machine both times, you installed updates
sometime after 10:00 AM (ET) on Wednesday. <eg>

FWIW I had no problem accessing Downloads last night or tonight. The
Passport Sign On is working fine here.

<lightbulb> Try disabling NAV's Script Blocker tool.
--
~PA Bear

Hi,
Thank you for all the info. Yes, I am accessing the link you specified
below. The PC is brand new from IBM. It came with Symantec's AV and I've
updated the virus definitions. We also have a server version of Symantec's
AV on our PDC that verifies all our boxes. My box has been checked for
viruses and spyware. According to Symantec's AV, CWShredder and Spybot,
the box is clean.
Date, time and time zone are all ok. That's controlled by our PDC.
I can access Windows Update just fine, in fact that's the first course of
action I took.
Company policy prohibits me from installing SP2 for WinXP. Based on what
I've read, that will not solve the problem anyway.
Thanks again for all the info, I'll post to msdn.general as well.
PhCrypto

Are you using this entry page?...
http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/downloads/

Are your date, time and time *zone* settings correct?

Have you posted to this MSDN-specific newsgroup?
news://msnews.microft.com/microsoft.public.msdn.general

Your headers tell me you're missing several recent critical security
updates, PhC. Can you access Windows Update? Do you have Automatic
Updates enabled? CrystalBall© tells me you can't connect at Windows
Update either so you need to check your system for the "hijackware"
which is causing your problems:

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm

CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Run these tools in the following order with nothing else running in
background:

1. CWShredder (fix all found)

2. Ad-Aware (fix all found)

3. Spybot (RTFM but generally fix everything in red)

Important: You *must* seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before
each and every use, even "right out of the box". But even they can't
catch everything, 24/7. When all else fails, HijackThis
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe) is the
preferred tool to use. It will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware. **Post your files to
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not
here.**

[Alternate download pages for many of the above tools may be found at
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.]

Also:

1. Download and run Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/); then...

2. Update your virus definitions, enable Show Hidden Files
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339)
and then run a full system scan in Safe Mode
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406)
with nothing else running in background. Note the files identified and
removed then find the corresponding page for the file at your AV maker's
online support pages (e.g.,
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/adware.winfavorites.html)
and follow all Removal steps.

WinXP Only (WinME similar): If this scan finds anything, create a new
Restore Point then Disk Cleanup > More options > Delete all but the most
recent Restore Point.

3. Check in at Windows Update.

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=windowsxpsp2

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

I am an MSDN Universal subscriber since Feb. 2004. I set up my
account for MSDN subscriber downloads on my original WinXP SP1a
computer. Recently I received a new WinXP SP1a desktop computer and
have observed the following problems.
Using IE Version 6.0.2800.1106.xpsp2.030422-1633 128bit Cipher, when I
attempt to "Sign In" to my MSDN subscriber downloads account, I
persistently receive the following error:


.NET Passport Unavailable at This Site

The .NET Passport service is currently unavailable at this Web
site for one of these reasons:

a.. The site may contain an error or be experiencing a problem
that affects the .NET Passport service.
b.. The .NET Passport service may be experiencing a temporary
problem.
c.. The site may not be an official .NET Passport-participating
site.

Please return to this site later to try again.

I can no longer access my .NET Passport account or MSDN subscriber
downloads using IE. This only happens with IE. When I use Netscape or
Firefox or any other web browser I can access my .Net Passport account
without difficulty.

 

[PA Bear]

And try placing http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/downloads/ (if not
microsoft.com) in Trusted Sites zone.

 

[PA Bear]

PhCrypto's thread in IE6 Browser: http://snipurl.com/8epb