Zone Alarm's workaround for loss of Internet connectivity after applying the DNS Update from KB95174

[Cindy]

Since I took Zone alarm off because of the problem they were having and it
is now fixed and back in working order, would you suggest I reinstall Zone
Alarm.
I am running XP and I am using Microsoft Windows Security Center. The
Firewall, automatic updates and virus protection are all ON. Would it be a
good thing to be using both?
Thank you,
Cindy in AR

 

[Cindy]

Thank you Thee Chicago, you answered the question I just posted. You are
saying you only need 1 firewall and using Microsoft's is plenty to have.
Strange though I have used Zone Alarm and Microsoft's firewall for years and
there never seemed to be any kind of a conflict.
I am not as computer savvy as some of you, maybe I just lucked out never
having any problems with running both of the programs.
Cindy in AR

 

[Unknown]

There is no logical reason to reinstall Zone Alarm.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Since I took Zone alarm off because of the problem they were having and it
is now fixed and back in working order, would you suggest I reinstall Zone
Alarm.
I am running XP and I am using Microsoft Windows Security Center. The
Firewall, automatic updates and virus protection are all ON. Would it be a
good thing to be using both?

Do not use two software firewalls. You incur needless extra overhead
and you run the risk of conflicts between them.

You can either leave the Windows firewall in place or reinstall ZA.
They both do pretty much the same thing. Personally I would just keep
the Windows firewall and forget about ZA; although I used to use ZA, I
no longer do.

 

[Cindy]

Thank you. You guys are the best!!!!!! Really appreciate your help, it
is so great to know there are these groups that really care and will help
with any problems that come up.
Cindy in AR

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Thank you Thee Chicago, you answered the question I just posted. You are

saying you only need 1 firewall and using Microsoft's is plenty to have.
Strange though I have used Zone Alarm and Microsoft's firewall for years and
there never seemed to be any kind of a conflict.
I am not as computer savvy as some of you, maybe I just lucked out never
having any problems with running both of the programs.
Cindy in AR

Zone Labs has updated Zone Alarm to remedy the DNS patch issue so you
can just update it and go merrily on your way. Or, save some system
resources and ditch Zone Alarm.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thank you. You guys are the best!!!!!! Really appreciate your help, it
is so great to know there are these groups that really care and will help
with any problems that come up.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[db.·.. >]

the remaining issue is
if you know how to
configure windows
firewall.

if you had zasterous installed
and it was functioning or you
perceived it to be functioning
then it is likely windows firewall
was not.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

Thank you. You guys are the best!!!!!! Really appreciate your help, it is
so great to know there are these groups that really care and will help with
any problems that come up.
Cindy in AR

 

[Jeff]

Do not use two software firewalls. You incur needless extra overhead
and you run the risk of conflicts between them.

You can either leave the Windows firewall in place or reinstall ZA.
They both do pretty much the same thing. Personally I would just keep
the Windows firewall and forget about ZA; although I used to use ZA, I
no longer do.

Why do you no longer use ZA Ken? Do you think it is unnecessary or do you
prefer a different firewall?

Thanks.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Why do you no longer use ZA Ken? Do you think it is unnecessary or do you
prefer a different firewall?

Although I used to recommend ZA because of its outward protection,
I've more recently become convinced that outward protection is an
illusion. Once one of the nasties gets into your computer, it can
essentially do whatever it wants, including circumventing the
firewall. So the extra protection that a firewall that monitors
outbound traffic provides is more apparent than real.

 

[Kayman]

Thank you. You guys are the best!!!!!! Really appreciate your help, it
is so great to know there are these groups that really care and will help
with any problems that come up.
Cindy in AR

Yes, I echo, the Win XP built-in Firewall is the *best* option; Uncheck
*all* Programs and Services under the Exception tab.
Read through:

Understanding Windows Firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wfintro.mspx

Using Windows Firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/security/winfirewall.mspx

Consider using Windows Firewall in conjunction with:
Seconfig XP 1.0
http://seconfig.sytes.net/
Seconfig XP is able configure Windows not to use TCP/IP as transport
protocol for NetBIOS, SMB and RPC, thus leaving TCP/UDP ports 135, 137-139
and 445 (the most exploited Windows networking weak point) closed.)

Good luck

 

[Jeff]

Although I used to recommend ZA because of its outward protection,

I've more recently become convinced that outward protection is an
illusion. Once one of the nasties gets into your computer, it can
essentially do whatever it wants, including circumventing the
firewall. So the extra protection that a firewall that monitors
outbound traffic provides is more apparent than real.

Thank you for replying.

How do the consumption of RAM and system resources compare between ZA
(basic, free) and Windows own firewall? Does ZA consume much more memory
and resources than using Windows' one-way firewall?

Is that what you do on your PC?

Jeff

 

[H. S.]

There is no logical reason to reinstall Zone Alarm.

To an average Joe, it shouldn't matter much. To me though, it does
matter if various programs and applications start calling home for no
apparent reason. Case in point, whenever I start MS Office or some other
Windows applications, they all try to contact Microsoft. Since it is not
clear to me what they are trying to contact MS for, I don't like it.
Zone Alarm reports this immediately and I can make a decision to deny
that access. That is one of the main advantages I have in Zone Alarm
(using the free version, the version that one has to buy has other bells
and whistles too).

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thank you for replying.

How do the consumption of RAM and system resources compare between ZA
(basic, free) and Windows own firewall? Does ZA consume much more memory
and resources than using Windows' one-way firewall?

Sorry, I have no statistics to quote.

 

[H. S.]

How do the consumption of RAM and system resources compare between ZA
(basic, free) and Windows own firewall? Does ZA consume much more memory
and resources than using Windows' one-way firewall?

I am going to chime in here. I have ZA (basic, free version) installed
here and on a few other machine. As far as I can tell, it does consume
RAM resources that I can notice. The only little thing is that when one
logs into his/her computer, networking does not work till ZA is fully up
and running, and this takes a few seconds.

Also, right now, vsmon and ZA Client processes are using up 24M and 7M
respectively, in case this helps.

->HS

 

[Jeff]

I am going to chime in here. I have ZA (basic, free version) installed
here and on a few other machine. As far as I can tell, it does consume
RAM resources that I can notice. The only little thing is that when
one logs into his/her computer, networking does not work till ZA is
fully up and running, and this takes a few seconds.

Also, right now, vsmon and ZA Client processes are using up 24M and 7M
respectively, in case this helps.

->HS

Thank you.

 

[Unknown]

What do you mean trying to contact MS? Can you explain? I don't see that
problem.