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PLEASE PRINT THESE OUT TO REFER TO IF NEEDED!

THE WINDOWS UPDATE FIASCO

On July 8th, 2008, Microsoft issued a Windows XP Security Update through the automatic Windows Update service number KB951748.  This update (a description for those of you who know how to read it can be found here) is rated only as 'important' rather than 'critical' and combined with the popular ZoneAlarm firewall, will shut down your Internet connection.

If you're reading this, you're obviously back online.  But if you had ZoneAlarm and were encouraged to turn it off (or set your settings to Medium) in order to get back online, you are at an EXTREMELY HIGH RISK for being hacked.   Contrary to what you may have been told by your Internet Service Provider's Tech Support, the Windows Firewall is NOT considered adequate protection from hackers.  As time goes on and news of this problem spreads, more and more hackers out there in the World Wide Web will be on the lookout for computers with only the Windows Firewall protecting it.  You MUST have better protection.

Based on this imperative situation, and based on the fact ZoneAlarm is far more important than this particular Windows security update, PCT Computer Services recommends you uninstall the security update rather than ZoneAlarm.  

To uninstall the update:

Click Start

Click Settings (or Control Panel)  Open the Control Panel.

Double Click Add or Remove Programs

Wait for the list to populate.  

At the top of the Add or Remove window is a check box with Show Updates next to it.  When the list is populated, click the check box so there is a check in it.  If there is already a check in it, go to the next step.

Scroll down to near the bottom.  Look for Security Update for Windows XP  (KB951748).  It should be installed on July of 2008 - the date may vary.  Click on it.

Click Remove

Click Next.

Click Finish.  (The computer should restart)

(NOTE: There may be a message pop up regarding Adobe Acrobat.  Simply click Yes and reinstall Adobe Acrobat if necessary)

This will restore your ability to connect to the Internet and retain your firewall and security settings.  The Security Update is NOT critical and you can live comfortably without it, or until you install the update from ZoneAlarm.

IMPORTANT ALERT: ZoneAlarm has FIXED the issue.  Click HERE to read about it.  Click HERE to download the new ZoneAlarm Basic firewall. 

Once you have finished downloading the file, it will need to be installed.  

Click or double-click on the file just downloaded.

UN-check the option to "Include ZoneAlarm Spy Blocker" and click Next

UN-check the "I want to register..." option.

UN-check the "Inform me about important..." option.

Click Next

The "Upgrade" option should be selected, leave it alone and click Next.

Click on "I accept the terms of the..." acknowledgement and click Install.

It will take several minutes to install.  Wait until it finishes.

When the ZoneAlarm Registration Survey window comes up, just click Finish.

When it asks you if you want to start Zone Alarm now, click Yes.

On the Special Offer window, click "No thanks"    

On the Configuration Wizard window, click Next.  

Then click Finish.

Finally click OK to restart your computer.

If you happen to see an offer from ZoneAlarm when you  start up your computer, always click "No thanks".  It only happens a couple of times, usually right after an update such as this.  Installing this ZoneAlarm version will fix the issue and no further steps will be necessary.

Now that there IS a fix for ZoneAlarm, we recommend updating your ZoneAlarm program, then allowing the KB951748 update to be reinstalled.

To do this:

Click Start go to Programs

Click Windows Update 

Click on Express 

Where it says:

"You've hidden important updates
You've asked us not to show you one or more high-priority updates but your computer might be at risk until they are installed. Restore them now", 

Click on the "Restore them now" link in the Windows Update webpage to allow them to be installed. 

If the hidden updates are already checked, UNCHECK EVERYTHING EXCEPT the KB951748 update (In case you have other updates you didn't want installed).  Otherwise make sure only the KB951748 update is selected.  If necessary, after unchecking, click on the Do not show me these updates again box to hide them again.

Click on the "Restore and check again" button.

Click the "Install Updates" button

The update should be reinstalled.  Follow any prompts to facilitate the update (Next, OK, I accept, Finish, etc.).  You may be prompted to restart your computer.  

Remember do this only AFTER updating Zone Alarm.

Otherwise, follow the steps below to prevent the update from installing again.

The first step is to ensure you are not being updated with complete automation.

Click Start

Click Settings (or Control Panel)  Open the Control Panel.

Double Click Automatic Updates

Make sure the option that says "Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them" is selected by clicking on it.

Click OK.

About 5 or 10 minutes later, a small yellow shield with an exclamation point in it should appear on the lower, right corner of your screen saying, "Updates are ready for your computer, click here to install these updates".  If no balloon pops up, but the yellow shield appears, click on the yellow shield.  If no yellow shield appears, skip the next instructions until it does.

Click on that message balloon.

On the Automatic Updates window that appears, click on the Custom Install (advanced) radio button option so that button has a black mark instead of Express Install.

Click the Next button.

In the Choose updates to install area, under Update Title, click on the check-mark in front of Security Update for Windows XP (KB951748) so it is un-checked.

Click Close (or Install if there are other updates to install)

Click the checkbox that says "Don't notify me about these updates again." so that there is a check-mark in it.

Click OK

If you have other updates, they will install, but the one you don't want to have installed will not be installed again.  These instructions will prevent you from having this update installed accidentally again.

Sometimes the shield will NOT show up spontaneously right away.  If you go to shut down, it may say to "click here to turn off without installing updates".  Be sure to NOT use the Shut Down button if it will install updates as it shuts down your computer.  The next round of updates will be on or after the second Tuesday in August of 2008, so any updates you need to install will be AFTER that day.  Be sure to use the "Click here to turn off without installing updates." option in the meantime.  At some point, the shield WILL show up, and you should follow the above instructions to remedy the problem.  Be sure to ONLY uncheck the (KB951748) update and no others when you do.

ZoneAlarm will eventually prompt you to update ZoneAlarm again.  Once you have updated it to the latest version, you can follow the instructions for reinstalling the KB951748 update to ensure the security of your computer is compliant with Microsoft's expectations.  It is advised that all high priority Windows updates be installed provided doing so doesn't leave you without a firewall or other, more important, security feature.

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Last modified: July 30th, 2008