328992 - Zone Alarm while running does not allow me to download extensions similar to the URL above

Status: RESOLVED INVALID

(mozilla.org :: FTP: Mirrors, task)

Description

[Houston Staton]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.1) Gecko/20060111 Firefox/1.5.0.1
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.1) Gecko/20060111 Firefox/1.5.0.1

After hitting the "Install Now" button for any extension, the download appears to take place and the extensions page shows that the download was succesful.  Immediately after this, a grey warning box appears with a text that reads as follows:Firefox could not install the file at http://....because: not a valid install package.  After hitting the OK button of the warning box, the file is lifted out of the extension page.
This problem is eliminated if Zone Alarms is not allowed to opertate while installing extensions.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1.ZoneAlarm Security Suite version:6.1.737.000
2.Firefox/1.5.0.1
3.Tools - Extensions - Get More Extensions
4.Select any extension
5.Hit "Install Now" button
6.Once software installation window displays the "Install" button hit it.
7.A wait text is displayed on the Extension Page
8.The download of the extension is displayed is later presented as having been succesful (No bar graph as to the amount of downloadis ever presented here).


Actual Results:  
The text as indicated in "details" of this report is presented and the extension is thus not downloaded


When Zone Alarm is shut down, the behaviour of the extension download is as expected i.e., the extension actually downloads.

At Program Control (left tab) and Programs (top tab) Trust level is set at three bars, all boxes for "Access" and "Server" are checked (i.e. no question marks or x's). Send mail is set to question marks.

Aside from this setting, I have no other idea what could negatively impact the ability to download extensions while Zone Alarms is operating

Comment 1

[Robert Strong (they/them - no direct email)]

This works for me with other extensions from http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/extensions/ with ZoneAlarm 6.1.737.000 and
Main tab - Program Control set to Med., Automatic Lock Off
Programs tab - Firefox | Access: Trusted checked - Internet checked | Server: Trusted question mark - Internet question mark

It would appear that the gmail_skins extension has a problem.

Comment 2

[Robert Strong (they/them - no direct email)]

Specifically, the gmail skins extension gave me the download error and other extensions on that site did not. This is not a problem with ZoneAlarm or with the Extension Manager. The gmail skins extension may be corrupted on one or more of the servers or something to that affect since other extensions loaded fine. I also got the download error when trying to install gmail skins without ZoneAlarm loaded.

Comment 3

[Robert Strong (they/them - no direct email)]

I was also able to go to another mirror and have the install succeed. Changing product / component to the closest match for problems with mirrors

Comment 4

[Houston Staton]

On the gmail skins extension, I just picked an extension at random.  The point I wanted to articulate is that basically any extension is behaving under those conditions and I reiterate that Zone Alarms is the problem.  I have replicated that problem many times over.

Comment 5

[Houston Staton]

On comments #3 I reterate that there must be a significant difference in how the software may be configured that it is allowing an install with Zone Alarms operating in the background.  AS for me, unfortunately I don't know what settings are allowing for succesful extension installs.

Comment 6

[Houston Staton]

In response to Comment 1, I verified my settings which appeared to be more lax but nevertheless insured that I paired up to enable compliance with the suggested modifications and still no change in an attempt to add a randomly chosen extension.

Comment 7

[Robert Strong (they/them - no direct email)]

Not sure what exactly is causing the problem for you but I was able to reliably reproduce that the gmail skin extension from the url in this bug is corrupt on at least one mirror. What ever the case, extension download errors occur before the extension manager gets the extension for install so this bug isn't an extension manager bug and I am unable to reproduce using the settings as stated in comment #1 except in regards to gmail skins with and without ZoneAlarm loaded and I know there haven't been any extension manager related bugs when using ZoneAlarm. I do recall there being a bug with how ZoneAlarm handles pipelining and downloads in that they would be corrupted during the download. If you have turned on pipelining (e.g. either in about:config or via fasterfox if it sets that setting or any other extension that sets that setting). You can try a new profile to see if it is a setting made in your profile. Additional help on profiles, pipelining settings can be found in the forums:
http://forums.mozillazine.org/

Comment 8

[Houston Staton]

Resolved two problems by applying one fix found at: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Object_has_been_blocked
and applying a fix for Zone Alarms.  Firefox now works as it was intended:  as a charm.