Security Center Problems

[NikkJ]

My Xppro(SP2) system has suddenly developed a problem with the security
center monitors. It has started to report (with those annoying balloons)
that I have no active firewall or antivirus protection.

I have used Zone Alarm and AVG on this system for over 18 months and they
both seem to be working in that they load up in the system toolbar, generate
reports and automatically up date properly. If it wasn't for the warnings I
would be confident that they are OK.

I also run Ad-aware and Sbybot S&R regularly and they do not report any
problems.

I have switched off the SC monitoring for now but would like some advice:

Is this is a new bug in XP, (this only seems to have happened after the last
MS sucirty fix)?

If not, how can I check Zone Alarm and AVG to be sure that they are working
as intended?

One other (related?) point. My machine has taken to freezing occasionally
for a up to 15 seconds or so - no longer than that. Zone alarm does not show
an internet activity during this time.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

After you run Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta), you have network-related problems, or you receive an error message:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892350



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[NikkJ]

Thanks for the pointers.

I haven't installed MSAntiSpyware (should I ?) because I presumed that I was
already covered with my regime.

I followed the link and rebuilt the Winsock LSP chain as per instructions.
There were no messages after doing this and on re-booting no change in the
Security Center problem.

Re-installing Zone Alarm had an interesting effect though. When I rebooted
my machine SC reported that I did not have an antivirus. On opening the SC
it showed my firewall was on and then - as I watched - this changed to off
and the balloon warning appeared on the system tray informing me that I had
no firewall.

I have also installed a S&D fix referred to in one of your links and
rescanned. No problems show.

My key issue is whether I am protected, the warnings do not bother me as
such - I can always switch them off.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Third party apps are known to have problems updating to the demands of the new security center. I don't know about ZA or AVG, but I
have seen issues with Norton like that.

Why does the Windows Security Center say that the status of my Norton security product is unknown.:
http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/sp2/faq.html#9


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[NikkJ]

Thanks for the help.

I tried everything I could think of (including a Nortons removal tool, even
though I don't use Nortons ) but made no difference.

Both Zone alarm and AVG websites say their products interact with the
Security Center even with SP2. I am hoping that a windows update has screwed
this up and that a fix will eventually install itself in a future update.