Symantec has broken every computer running IE!!!!

[Suff]

and Norton/Symantec security products.

If you know anyone who is impacted, there are several workarounds, but if you only have one browser, it's going to be difficult.

Frist and easiest.

If you have a 64 bit operating system. Start->right click on Computer (My Computer, or the name it was given), select properties. It will tell you in the dialog what version of the operating system you are running.

Under System, mine says System Type: 64 bit Operating system, x64-based processor

In this case. Open the control panel.

Open Network and Internet
Open Internet Options

You now see the Internet Explorer properties dialog.

Click on the Advanced Tab
Scroll down to security.

Make sure these two check boxes are enabled

Enable 64-bit processes for Enhanced protected Mode*
Enable enhanced Protected Mode*

Explorer will now work. I know that because I had to do it.

Alternatives.

System restore to before 21/02/2015
go to http://www.getfirefox.com and download it immediately and install it.
Use Firefox until Symantec get this mess sorted out and fix their intrusion prevention update

Uninstall your Norton/Symantec security software. Not recommended. Although if you don't have a system restore point then you can do this, download Firefox, or chrome if you prefer and use that until Symantec sort the mess out. Which they will have to do as soon as the US wakes up because they have just broken tens of millions of people using IE.

BTW, if you have a 32 bit system, then system restore/uninstall re-install, and downloading another browser is going to be your only way.

This is the reason I never have less than two browsers on my PC and normally 3 or more.

Now that I've warned you guys, I need to:

Fix my home machines
Fix my netbook
Critically, Fix Mrs S' laptop...

All remotely.

As I always recommend Norton 360 as one of the best non techie AV tools out there, I feel duty bound to help as many as I can.

[cruiser2]

Suff,
Thank you.
I use Firefox as my browser.
I also have AVG and Malware.
Will I have to do anything. I am the only one who uses this PC
Many thanks

[Diflower]

No Cruiser, if you only use firefox you'll be fine - I do too.

If you have Symantec (but only use firefox), I'm also assuming you need do nothing - they will soon do another update which will fix any problems.
Suff will tell us if I'm wrong

[Suff]

Hi Cruiser,

No this is only for people who use either Symantec or Norton security products.

Symantec pushed out an update which broke IE for all their products. What I have identified above is a way to fix it for 64 bit machines and a way to work around it if you have 32 bit machines.

Nothing to do if you don't use Symantec and/or don't use IE.

Di, you are exactly right. Glad I was able to communicate that but you are interested and have learned a lot about it.

[Suff]

I just checked and there is another solution to getting Firefox.

Open cmd. winkey+r type cmd.exe in the box and press enter

type cd desktop and press enter
type ftp ftp.mozilla.org and press enter
when prompted for User (ftp.mozilla.org:(none)):
Type anonymous and press enter
when prompted with 331 Please specify the password.
Just press enter

now type

cd /pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/36.0b10/win32/en-GB and press enter this is case sensitive, it has to be as typed.

type bin and press enter
type get "Firefox Setup 36.0b10.exe" and press enter. Exactly as there including the quotes.
type by and press enter

You only type what is in bold.

You will find an icon on the desktop saying Firefox Setup 36.0b10. Double click on it and Firefox will install...

[Suff]

OK problem over.

Symantec has fixed it. Which probably means they just backed out the change. There is a huge thread on this on the Symantec forum. I hope they listen to the users who are talking about TESTING....

[Suff]

BTW, you can always use the FTP script above to download firefox if your preferred browser is borked. As it's pure command line/FTP client and not browser based it will always work whether your browser is working or not.

[jenniren]

This is interesting, my IE wouldn't work this morning so I couldn't get in here to see the solution Suff kindly posted. Luckily I just decided to system restore and it seems okay now.

[Kaz]

You are right Suff, the first thing Mick said when I told him was "Well maybe next time they'll test it properly!!" Honestly, I expect someone's head will roll over this

[Suff]

I'm told that the reason the RBS transaction payments system crashed so badly was twofold.

1. A new manager was pushing for promotion and wanted to be seen as proactive and "go ahead" so he forced the new system into production even though the team complained that it was not tested enough to ensure it was OK

2. The brand new Indian outsourcing staff screwed up the roll back and corrupted the system.

That cost them 50 million in fines and probably lost them thousands if not millions of customers.

I wonder how that whole "career" thing is going????? I wonder how the Symantec release management team is feeling about pay, bonus and career prospects today???