Zone Alarm - query
Started by mollywilfred, Jan 13 2006 02:38 AM
9 replies to this topic
#1 OFFLINE
Posted 13 January 2006 - 02:38 AM
Hello the Group - reading through the posts - you seem to cover
topics very well. I have a problem with Zone Alarm at the moment:
keep getting a message box saying "Generic Host Process for Win32
Services is blocked from accepting an Internet Coneection."
Could anyone please give advice on this if I gave more background
details ? - the build up to it is fairly lengthy and a bit complicated.
Many thanks in advance.
mollywilfred
topics very well. I have a problem with Zone Alarm at the moment:
keep getting a message box saying "Generic Host Process for Win32
Services is blocked from accepting an Internet Coneection."
Could anyone please give advice on this if I gave more background
details ? - the build up to it is fairly lengthy and a bit complicated.
Many thanks in advance.
mollywilfred
#2 OFFLINE
Posted 13 January 2006 - 02:51 AM
Open the zone alarm control center.
Click on the program control tab. Then look at what you have blocked. Allow anything that is from microsoft and you should be good. Or did you try this already?
If there is more to the story like you said please tell us.
Click on the program control tab. Then look at what you have blocked. Allow anything that is from microsoft and you should be good. Or did you try this already?
If there is more to the story like you said please tell us.
#3 OFFLINE
Posted 13 January 2006 - 04:44 AM
I have researched this a lot on the Web and this is what I've found:
Generic Host Process for Win32 Services (svchost, svchost.exe) is such a generic term that it is very difficult to identify conclusively what is trying to access the Internet. Legitimate reasons can be accessing a DNS Server, Remote Procedure Call, and many others. Unfortunately, it can sometimes (apparently rarely) be malware, sometimes possibly masquerading as a legitimate service.
The most common recommendation seems to be to block access, and if you experience no problems with the functioning of your PC or your Internet connection, then leave it blocked. This is what I have done on my PC and I have had no bad effects.
This exact issue really bugs me, and it would be nice if either Microsoft or ZoneAlarm would provide more info as to what is actually happening, such as a more detailed description of what is currently using svchost.exe to generate the warning, and the best way to respond to it. Many people asking about this and the many people attempting to respond to this issue have said the same thing.
Of course running updated malware scans and having real time protection are always a good idea and should (usually) alert you if it is malware causing this problem.
However, if you can supply more info as rridgely requested, he is very knowledgeable and may be able to provide a more helpful response.
Generic Host Process for Win32 Services (svchost, svchost.exe) is such a generic term that it is very difficult to identify conclusively what is trying to access the Internet. Legitimate reasons can be accessing a DNS Server, Remote Procedure Call, and many others. Unfortunately, it can sometimes (apparently rarely) be malware, sometimes possibly masquerading as a legitimate service.
The most common recommendation seems to be to block access, and if you experience no problems with the functioning of your PC or your Internet connection, then leave it blocked. This is what I have done on my PC and I have had no bad effects.
This exact issue really bugs me, and it would be nice if either Microsoft or ZoneAlarm would provide more info as to what is actually happening, such as a more detailed description of what is currently using svchost.exe to generate the warning, and the best way to respond to it. Many people asking about this and the many people attempting to respond to this issue have said the same thing.
Of course running updated malware scans and having real time protection are always a good idea and should (usually) alert you if it is malware causing this problem.
However, if you can supply more info as rridgely requested, he is very knowledgeable and may be able to provide a more helpful response.
#4 OFFLINE
Posted 13 January 2006 - 05:22 AM
rridgely, on Jan 13 2006, 02:51 AM, said:
Open the zone alarm control center.
Click on the program control tab. Then look at what you have blocked. Allow anything that is from microsoft and you should be good. Or did you try this already?
If there is more to the story like you said please tell us.
Click on the program control tab. Then look at what you have blocked. Allow anything that is from microsoft and you should be good. Or did you try this already?
If there is more to the story like you said please tell us.
Hello rridgely and Mike Rochip,
Many thanks - will follow this up Friday pm and report back to you.
molly
#5 OFFLINE
Posted 14 January 2006 - 02:53 AM
mollywilfred, on Jan 12 2006, 09:38 PM, said:
Hello the Group - reading through the posts - you seem to cover
topics very well. I have a problem with Zone Alarm at the moment:
keep getting a message box saying "Generic Host Process for Win32
Services is blocked from accepting an Internet Coneection."
Could anyone please give advice on this if I gave more background
details ? - the build up to it is fairly lengthy and a bit complicated.
Many thanks in advance.
mollywilfred
topics very well. I have a problem with Zone Alarm at the moment:
keep getting a message box saying "Generic Host Process for Win32
Services is blocked from accepting an Internet Coneection."
Could anyone please give advice on this if I gave more background
details ? - the build up to it is fairly lengthy and a bit complicated.
Many thanks in advance.
mollywilfred
Here is the setting on my PC- it works for me and should work for you
#6 OFFLINE
Posted 14 January 2006 - 04:17 AM
See that's why I hate ZoneAlarm. You can't control the applications very well. Outpost let's you say exact rules.
#7 OFFLINE
Posted 14 January 2006 - 05:31 AM
Tarun, on Jan 13 2006, 11:17 PM, said:
See that's why I hate ZoneAlarm. You can't control the applications very well. Outpost let's you say exact rules. 
Yeah thats why TF accidentally blocked needed services without knowing what to do. Is that outpost's fault? no but its confusing. ZA is clearly labled and ones you allow a service its done. Outpost is good but once again its not user friendly.
#8 OFFLINE
Posted 15 January 2006 - 01:02 AM
Hello rridegly and all -
Wrote a long, long email Saturday p.m. in Draft form and put it
(I thought) into Save Box until after dinner - it has just simply
disappeared...have checked every file on my computer - no luck.
(The ISP closed down my session part way through...)
I am really disillusioned with this computer business - mail does
not arrive, my efforts get lost, and the only ###### screen that
works 100% is Solitaire.
I really appreciate all your help and offers and will try and get an
email written again in the next few days. Am fast coming to the
conclusion that I will have to close down/uninstall/whatever there
is on my computer and start all over with very few sites/pages -
as not much works anyway, I will not be losing much. Is there a
proven 'dump it' button somewhere in the workings....?
Molly
PS - the Zone Alarm action worked, thanks..
#9 OFFLINE
Posted 15 January 2006 - 01:33 AM
Ok so I thought your only problem was ZoneAlarm. We can try to help sort the rest out but we need more information.
What exactly is wrong?
What exactly is wrong?
#10 OFFLINE
Posted 15 January 2006 - 03:21 AM
rridgely, on Jan 14 2006, 12:31 AM, said:
Yeah thats why TF accidentally blocked needed services without knowing what to do. Is that outpost's fault? no but its confusing. ZA is clearly labled and ones you allow a service its done. Outpost is good but once again its not user friendly.
They have help forums to help you configure advanced rules as well. And Outpost 3.0 and up has an advisor.












