Can't go online after Microsoft patch?

Users of popular firewall software, ZoneAlarm, found that they could not go online after installing an update from Microsoft last Tuesday. The KB951748 patch was released to close a security loophole in the internet's Domain Name System (DNS). The flaw would have allowed high-tech criminals to redirect users to phishing or fake websites, even if they typed the correct address.

The issue only apply to ZoneAlarm users on Windows XP/2000. Windows Vista users are not affected. You will noticed that ZoneAlarm had no activity being logged & after disabling it, you can go online again.

Checkpoint software, which owns ZoneAlarm, has since released an update on Thursday to resolve the conflict. Users have reported that installing the 7.0.483 update for ZoneAlarm restored their internet access.

To resolve this, download and install the latest versions of ZoneAlarm which solve the loss of internet access problem @ http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/free/pressReleases/2008/LossOfInternetAccessIssue.html

Other workaround available are :
[1] Move Internet Zone slider to Medium
• Navigate to the "ZoneAlarm Firewall" panel
• Click on the "Firewall" tab
• Move the "Internet Zone" slider to medium

[2] Uninstall the hotfix
• Click the "Start Menu"
• Click "Control Panel", or click "Settings" then "Control Panel"
• Click on "Add or Remove Programs"
• On the top of the add/remove programs dialog box, you should see a checkbox that says "show updates". Select this checkbox
• Scroll down until you see "Security update for Windows (KB951748)"
• Click "Remove" to uninstall the hotfix