Yesterday, on no less than three different computers at three different places, I found myself with no web access. So did (I suspect) millions of other pc users who use the free version of ZoneAlarm. Turns out the latest security updates from Windows Update are not compatible with ZoneAlarm. Thanks a fuckin' lot, Microsoft.
Anyway, the following is not likely to be of use to anyone who's experiencing this problem right now (because there's no way for them to read it), but if you know anyone who's suddenly found themselves without internet access, you might pass it on to them. There's no permanent fix yet, but there are two temporary ones:
1)Back your ZoneAlarm internet settings down from maximum to medium (probably not recommended for more than a few minutes, but it will get you back online right away--or so they say).
2)Delete the offending update. It's pretty easy, actually: Start-->Control Panel-->Add/Delete Programs-->Make sure to check the box at the top of the page for "show updates" (or something like that--my OS is in Japanese!)-->scroll down until you find "Security Update KB951748"-->delete the motherfucker. Reboot at the prompt. Voila!
I, in fact, got online by a more roundabout method. Windows XP has a handy little program that allows you to roll back your settings when you suspect some problem is the result of some alteration due to new software, etc. (three computers that had just received updates from Windows Update was a dead giveaway for me). Go to Control Panel-->Performance and Maintenance-->System and you'll find the option. More info here. Note: for obvious reasons this is not the preferred method for solving problems on your pc (for one thing, if you roll back you'll lose *all* recent settings changes). I was desperate, though...
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