Microsoft Antispyware - Warning, could not connect to the internet!

[babyoh]

 :rose:
when i try to update the definitions for Microsoft Antispyware, i get this message: "Warning, could not connect to the internet!"

funny, i AM connected to the internet at the time.

alot of people have posted to various online forums with the same problem.

i've fiddled with various settings, made sure internet explorer was deselected for "Work Offline" etc etc.

any ideas, anybody?
:gwave: :gwave: :gwave:

[Die Hard]

babyoh  :)

Since you use Norton with all its features, I should start looking in the settings there, just to make sure  MSAS isn´t blocked.

Die Hard :)

[babyoh]

these are my SETTINGS in SYMANTEC FIREWALL   :rose:
:exorcize:
GIANT antispywareMain.exe - PERMIT ALL
microsoft antispyware - AUTOMATIC (one with the ORANGE CIRCLE ICON )
microsoft antispyware - AUTOMATIC ( w/ satelite dish icon)
microsoft antispyware - AUTOMATIC ( w/ satelite dish icon)
microsoft internet explorer - AUTOMATIC
microsfot local security authority shell - automatic
microsoft windows explorer - AUTOMATIC
mozilla firefox - PERMIT ALL
OPERA SOFTWARE INTERNER BROWSER - AUTOMATIC
** DO THEY LOOK RIGHT TO YOU?**   :gah:
WEIRD that i have THREE separate microsoft antispyware SETTINGS...
-- should i set OPERA (and internet explorer) to PERMIT ALL, like FIREFOX?
***
i posted on http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/  , and ALOT of people posted they were having the same problem, not being able to get MS antispyware updates. for all of us, it's only been a problem for the last 2 or so days.
maybe it's on Microsoft's end???

[mitch]

just an idea....
in msas
help
about msas
diagnostics

and cujt and past the list here ok?

[babyoh]

it apparently was a microsoft issue  :rose:
http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=7298287
***
alot of people had the very same problem.
then, someone posted, they thought it was fixed, cuz it started working for him. AND THEN IT WORKED FOR ME TOO!

here are some of the posts -
Same trouble here for two days now. Because of the number of people having the same problem the fault must be with the Microsoft server. Surely they could put out a message to put us all at ease.
***
it was working fine yesterday and i've just got the same error, so it must be their end
***
THEN:
it was working about 30 seconds ago so maybe they've fixed it

:rose: :rose:
by the way, do my firewall settings look good?
i don't know the difference between AUTOMATIC and PERMIT ALL
...it seems like i'd want to PERMIT ALL with FIREFOX and OPERA too (i just about never use internet explorer, but if it's not set up to work, bazooka, ms anti-spyware and some other apps can't "update"...

[Jason]

babyoh,

As I mentioned in an earlier posting, new posts are for example being built up when a new version of a program is installed.
Your settings look okay to me, but personally I would have preferred using automatic instead of permit all, except on e.g. thrusted security programs.

The differences between "Permit All" and "Automatic" are as follows.
Permit all will as the name indicates allow all kinds of access attempts done by that program.
Automatic will configure a program, if it's known by Symantec, according to specific advices that has been transferred to your computer when using LiveUpdate. This is a nice way of dealing with configurations if someone has limited knowledge on specific programs or security issues.

Automatic Program Control automatically configures Internet access settings for programs the first time that they run. Automatic Program Control only configures Internet access for the versions of programs that Symantec has identified as safe.

When Automatic Program Control configures access for a new program, Norton Internet Security displays a message above the Windows toolbar.

If an unknown program or an unknown version of a known program attempts to access the Internet, you receive an alert. You can then choose to allow or block Internet access for the program.

Symantec regularly updates the list of recognized programs. You should run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that your list is up-to-date.

To enable Automatic Program Control

1. In the main window, double-click Personal Firewall.
2. In the Personal Firewall window, on the Programs tab, select the Location you want to customize.
3. Check Turn on Automatic Program Control.
4. Click OK.

Jason ;)

[babyoh]

 :rose:
i changed most of the settings to AUTOMATIC. some wouldn't let me -- filemaker pro only has options for PERMIT ALL, BLOCK and CONFIGURE.
  -- for some reason, FIREFOX in listed THREE times, apparently identical. OK for me to delete two?
i left PERMIT ALL for ms anti-spyware, win media player, and firefox browser.
the only downside i can see, is if malware jumps aboard my drive and re-names itself "windows media player" etc. -- but then, the AUTOMATIC setting would ALREADY allow it to connect online.
(there is a virus that copies & re-names notepad.exe, then CHANGES IT'S OWN NAME to notepad.exe)
***anyway, if there's any additional benefit to changing these to AUTOMATIC, let me know. and i'm BLONDE, so speak slowly :)
:rose:
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYBODY!

[kickers]

Microsoft Antispyware along with its server all along does have hiccups, glitches from time to time. I believe microsoft have a lot more to do in finalising and perfecting this software formerly "GIANT". That's probably why it's still in "Beta".

If it's ascertained the Firewall or HostsFile is clear and no lost of connectivity or even if there's broken connectivity during the course of updating it's not much of a bother, there probably is a glitch with the software somewhere along the line. It could be anything, perhaps even the program's realtime protection (59 checkpoints) triggering a conflict with the internet settings or even the modem for that matter.  :Win73: :chair: :uhm:

Regards.
Lester.