Yadee

So i have this strange problem with ZoneAlarm

At times it just kills my internet, for no aparent reason.

Im happily using my computer, browsing web pages, playing EQ2, not doing anything out of the ordinary. When it happens, all web pages i have visited in that "session" (ie since starting the pc) are still visitable, and i can continue to be logged on in online games, but if i try to visit any other web pages, or log off and on again in EQ then nothing happens. Ie ZA doesnt let me connect to new adresses, for whatever reason
If i right click ZA's systray icon and shut it down i get full internet functionallity back

After doing windows update yesterday the problem escalated to ZA now completely blocking my internet even right from the start, so i need to shut down ZA when the pc has started

Sure, i could just uninstall ZA but i like having a firewall and would rather get a different solution to this problem than removing it
I have the newest ZA

Does anyone know what the problem is ? I tried going on the official forums but gave up after experiencing that horrible forum software and inability to search.

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Niber

Well,

For one, why run a firewall? An Anti-Virus is plenty, firewalls are just headaches. (Unless you're the constant recipient of DoS, which is unlikely.)


Anyway, the reason you stay connected but cannot open new websites is because ZA is not allowing you to open new ports. I haven't used ZA in a long time, is there a throttle on the number of ports you can have open at once? If so, perhaps you should increase it.

Checkout this thread, it's probably what is affecting you:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...8192600AAFNqqI

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gm9

A software firewall won't help you against a DoS, but it can block certain remote or software phoning home (in case that's an issue for you). Why you would need an AntiVirus unless you click on .exe files in emails is beyond me though, their on demand scanners just kill performance for no good reason.

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Yadee

Thanks

I will try to uninstall that windows update (though i cant see any windows update entries in my uninstall list any longer, though i could swear there were pages and pages of them in the past)

The reason i like zone alarm is its ability to stop stuff going OUT :D
I like knowing what programs wants internet access, and i like the ability to deny internet to programs that have no business having it


I have an anti virus too, i suppose i could get rid of that one at least
Not sure why i installed it (a few months ago) i have never used anti virus before that and never had any viruses.

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Niber

Way back when, I used firewall (software) because it gave about 100x more stability during a DoS attack by not sending out replies. It also prevented the attacker from receiving ping responses so they never knew when I was really down. It was a must-have when your cable modem IP became "public" because DoS-kids would hold your cable modem down for weeks at a time.

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aeeron

Yadee

Uninstalling the Windows Update worked like a charm

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