Possible defect update process

[md usa spybot fan]

If I intentionally block SDUpdate.exe from accessing the internet, I no longer get a "Socket Error # xxxxx" message as updates using SpybotSD.exe would issue in the past. Instead the update process just issues a "No newer updates available" message after a 30 second delay.

In addition the Update downloads.log appears to indicate that the spybotsd.ini file was actually downloaded even if no internet connection was ever established. The only way to determine that the spybotsd.ini file was never downloaded is that the online.ini is empty after the update attempt.

By issuing a "No newer updates available" message rather than an indication of a failure to download the spybotsd.ini file, users can be mislead and may not realize that there is a problem such as SDUpdate.exe not having access to the internet through their firewall.

[Corday]

If I intentionally block SDUpdate.exe from accessing the internet, I no longer get a "Socket Error # xxxxx" message as updates using SpybotSD.exe would issue in the past. Instead the update process just issues a "No newer updates available" message after a 30 second delay.

In addition the Update downloads.log appears to indicate that the spybotsd.ini file was actually downloaded even if no internet connection was ever established. The only way to determine that the spybotsd.ini file was never downloaded is that the online.ini is empty after the update attempt.

By issuing a "No newer updates available" message rather than an indication of a failure to download the spybotsd.ini file, users can be mislead and may not realize that there is a problem such as SDUpdate.exe not having access to the internet through their firewall.

On the automated settings, if a user checks immunize on program start and the numbers are still the same, then an update hasn't really occured. Probably an easier way for a typical user to spot the problem.

[md usa spybot fan]

Would someone from Team Spybot please look into this problem?

[Zenobia]

I had a problem with that,md.On downloading the newest Spybot when it was released,I couldn't get updates,and used the manual updates,instead.On looking in my firewall,I noticed that the updater for Spybot was blocked.The only reason I thought to look was because my firewall often blocks Apps after they've updated or changed without notifying me.

[kbz1960]

Is this only a problem with outgoing firewalls?

[PepiMK]

How about this one?

[kbz1960]

Sounds good to me. I was just wondering if I was missing updates and not knowing due to the problem. I don't have an outbound firewall. Just use the one in my router.

[md usa spybot fan]

kbz1960:

I would assume that problem of receiving "No newer updates available" instead of a notification such as a "Socket Error # xxxxx" or even a message like "Unable to contact the download server" would not be limited to just setup problems with firewalls. It could also include problems with the setup of routers as well as proxy server parameters (if required).

In addition transient errors such as DNS server errors, blocked routes to the download server or the download server itself being down could and probably would result in the message "No newer updates available".

In any of the above circumstances the message "No newer updates available" is actually technically correct because there are "No newer updates available" for the user. However, under those circumstances the "No newer updates available" does not reflect the true availability of the updates from a Spybot maintenance standpoint nor reflect that the user never actually contacted the download server to get the true status of update availability.

________________

One way of telling if there is a problem, did you receive the most recent update?

• F/P Fixes - Minor updates to avoid possible F/Ps (2 KB) - 2008-02-11

[kbz1960]

Thanks again for a prompt reply!

Yes I did receive that update but no others so wasn't sure if there were anymore or not.

[md usa spybot fan]

PepiMK:

How about this one?

Thank you for responding and assuring me that this is recognized as a problem.

I personally only discovered the problem while experimenting after fielding several queries from users concerning the inability to retrieve updates.

I never realized that there was an outstanding Feature issue (Improve error message on update connection problems) that related to the problem. Perhaps that was because the issue is listed under Features as opposed to Bugs.

I hope this problem is addressed soon because of Spybot 1.5 updates being done from a different program (SDUpdate.exe with Spybot 1.5 in instead of SpybotSD.exe with prior releases) coupled with the fact that apparently some firewalls do not notify users that a new program now requires access to the internet, is only going to cause more problems.

Regards,
md usa spybot fan