Firewall Clashing with internet connection?

so After installing the July update for Windows XP, i restart my computer and internet stops working.

My lights on the modem were all fine (comcast triple package) so i just kept restarting the modem, and trying to directly connect the modem to my computer, but still no internet. I could not access my router page for some reason, so I eventually realize that zonealarm pro is blocking me from my router (somehow) and i shut it off. i was allowed to access my router page, but still no internet.

Sometime during the night i got the internet back. When i woke up the internet did not work again, and i tried shutting off zonealarm again and this time i got the internet back (i also reseted the modem). Now my internet only works without zonealarm.

I am about to switch to Comodo Firewall Pro but i am wondering why is zonealarm blocking my internet access and whether Comodo Firewall Pro will do the same thing?

 

Go here,

http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/free/pressReleases/2008/LossOfInternetAccessIssue.html

I installed the new version 7.0.483.000 over the old and all is working fine. I did not do the options 1 and 2.

 

so should i just forget about ZA completely and use comodo or does it not matter? because ive always used ZA and never had much of a problem with it, and it did do some good work

 

I switched from free Zonealarm to the free Comodo Pro firewall about a month ago and had not problems with the recent MS update. I like Comodo's Firewall much better than the Zonealarm.

 

Pav7300, you have always used ZA and like it, then keep it.

 

what are the advantages of comodo?

 

Read about the free Comodo Pro in this link: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2240712,00.asp There may be more info on it when you google, but the info in the above link is quite extensive.

Also see this link: http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/firewalls/

 

I use Zone Alarm and love it, especially since I can set it to manual and have complete control over what can and can't connect to the net. The only time I have trouble with ZA is when somehow Windows Firewall gets turned on for some reason. Two firewalls do not a stable pc make. So shutoff Windows Firewall instead of Zone Alarm and you should be a-ok.

 

When I suggested to Pav7300 to stick with ZA, it was only because he liked and probably felt comfortable with it. I also use Free ZA and have no complaints. A good friend of mine has Commodo's Free Firewall and it is nice, lots of great features. A little itimidating for me, but maybe one day I'll give it try. I'm confident that if I do there will be plenty of good people here to help me along.
Please no more bickering, peace to all.

 

You may find this article from MS helpful.

 

More info here,

MS08-037 - Important

- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms08-037.mspx
- Reason for Revision: V2.0 (July 10, 2008): Bulletin revised to
inform users of ZoneAlarm and Check Point Endpoint Security
of an Internet connectivity issue detailed in the section,
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to this Security
Update. The revision did not change the security update files
in this bulletin, but users of ZoneAlarm and Check Point
Endpoint Security should read the FAQ entries for guidance.
- Originally posted: July 8, 2008
- Updated: July 10, 2008
- Bulletin Severity Rating: Important
- Version: 2.0

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms08-037.mspx