Microsoft yanks update after glitch discovered

The software caused problems with Internet connections

By Stephen Lawson, IDG News Service

May 27, 2003 12:00 PM ET

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IDG News Service - Microsoft Corp. has pulled an update to security software from its Web site after some users who downloaded the code saw their Internet connections go down.

A "handful" of users had problems after installing the update to Microsoft's IPSec (IP Security) software because of the way it interacted with some third-party software, according to a Microsoft statement. The problems caused the update to think it was under attack, so it responded by blocking all traffic. This behavior wasn't a security flaw, the company said.

The update wasn't a patch but additional software designed to detect potential tampering with IPSec virtual private networks, the statement said. Versions of the software were made available May 21 for Windows 2000 and XP, but only users of the XP version had problems, according to Microsoft. The XP version wasn't available after Friday morning, the vendor said.

Microsoft said it's committed to releasing the update and is working with vendors of third-party software to make sure their products can work together.

Users who downloaded the update and have network-connection problems can remove it by using the Add/Remove Programs mechanism in the Windows Control Panel, Microsoft said.

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