Product Lifecycle Announcement: End of Life (EOL) Notice
EOL Notice
As previously announced, IBM Internet Security Systems will discontinue support for BlackICE PC Protection and BlackICE Server Protection on September 29, 2008.
| Product Name Milestone | Date |
| End of Life (EOL) for BlackICE PC Protection and BlackICE Server Protection | September 29, 2008 |
BlackICE PC Protection and BlackICE Server Protection Milestones Effective Date
- End of Sale for BlackICE PC Protection and BlackICE Server Protection for resellers 08/01/07
- End of Sale for BlackICE PC Protection and BlackICE Server Protection New Licenses and Service and Support-IBM Internet Security Systems Online store 09/19/07
- End of Life (EOL) for BlackICE PC Protection and BlackICE Server Protection 09/29/08
BlackICE PC Protection & BlackICE Server Protection EOL FAQs
We have prepared an FAQ for you regarding this notice.
NOTE: These FAQs apply only to IBM Internet Security System's BlackICE consumer products (BlackICE PC Protection & BlackICE Server Protection, formerly known as NetworkICE BlackICE Defender & BlackICE Defender for Server, respectively).
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Question: Does this End of Life announcement apply to other IBM Internet Security Systems products?
Answer: No, the EOL applies only to IBM Internet Security System's BlackICE consumer products. The End of Life for the BlackICE products aligns with IBM's strategic plans to invest more heavily in the development and support of enterprise-class security solutions, including both hardware and software based products such as Proventia Desktop and Proventia Server. IBM Internet Security Systems continues its commitment and investments in its complete portfolio of desktop and server solutions designed to assist businesses in protecting core assets and the data they house.
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Question: What does End of Life (EOL) mean?
Answer: End of Life means IBM Internet Security Systems is discontinuing BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection.
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Question: What does End of Sale (EOS) mean?
Answer: IBM Internet Security Systems BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection will no longer be for sale and are being discontinued.
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Question: Will IBM Internet Security Systems continue updating BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection after the end of life announcement?
Answer: Yes, IBM Internet Security Systems will continue updating BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection until support ends on September 29, 2008.
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Question: How long after IBM Internet Security Systems has ended sales of BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection will technical support be provided?
Answer: IBM will continue to provide technical support for BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection until September 29, 2008.
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Question: When will the last BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection update be released?
Answer: IBM Internet Security Systems will continue to release security updates until September 29, 2008, to protect your system against new exploits and vulnerabilities as they are discovered. There were be no further updates after September 29, 2008.
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Question: What does IBM suggest as a replacement product for BlackICE PC Protection or BlackICE Server Protection?
Answer: Although IBM Internet Security Systems will no longer be offering a desktop or server protection solution to the consumer market, we do develop and support corporate solutions that may be suitable for small business use. The corporate solution works in conjunction with a central management solution for command and control, updating and reporting. To investigate if the corporate solutions meet the needs of your business, please contact sales@iss.net. For consumer customers, the following research sites offer insights into selecting another consumer security application.
http://www.cnet.com/4244-5_1-0.html?query=firewall&tag=srch&target=nw
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/firewalls/
index.html
http://www.cnet.com/4244-5_1-0.html?query=firewall&tag=srch&target=nw
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Question: My license key says it is perpetual. What does that mean for the End of Life?
Answer: The use of the product itself is perpetual, but the service and support are not. Service and support contracts are in one year increments which must be renewed annually. They can be purchased up to September 19, 2007. IBM Internet Security Systems will continue to support the product until September 29, 2008. End users may use the licensed software forever, but just in the state it is at End of Life.
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Question: How long after IBM quits selling/supporting the product will BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection continue to protect my computer?
Answer: BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection will continue protecting your computer against known vulnerabilities after IBM Internet Security Systems stops releasing BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection updates and support has ended. However, BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection will not protect you against new vulnerabilities discovered after the last BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection update has been released, which will be the update released closest to September 29, 2008. For this reason, IBM recommends you find another security product to protect your computer.
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Question: What happens after the service and support expires September 29, 2008?
Answer: BlackICE PC Protection and BlackICE Server Protection will continue to run as installed on September 29, 2008. However, there will not be any service and support available, and the product(s) will no longer be updated. For this reason, IBM Internet Security Systems recommends you find another security product to protect your computer.
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Question: What if my service and support expired before the End of Life and I did not renew before the End of Sale date. Can I still renew my service and support for another year?
Answer: No. Service and Support may only be purchased up to September 19, 2007.
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Question: Why wasn?t I notified that IBM Internet Security Systems was Ending Life for BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection?
Answer: Please accept our apologies that you did not receive the BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection End of Life announcement. There are a number of reasons why you did not receive the End of Life announcement.
a) When you purchased BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection, you choose not to receive emails from IBM Internet Security Systems.
b) You are no longer using the email address used when you purchased BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection.
c) Your email program mistakenly identified the End of Life announcement as Spam and it was not delivered to your email Inbox.
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Question: How do I uninstall BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection?
Answer: Uninstall BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection using the Add/Remove Programs located in the Windows Control Panel. When the program asks if you would like to remove all components, click on "Yes".
Or
Uninstall using the BlackICE uninstall utility, called BIRemove, located at the link below. Download and save the file to your desktop. The file will be called BIRemove.exe. Double click on the BIRemove.exe file to start the uninstall. When the uninstall is finished, you will see two files created called Agent Remove. You do not need to open these files; you can simply right click and delete them.
NOTE: BIRemove.exe will delete all files and folders in the BlackICE directory. If any other non-BlackICE programs or files are stored in this folder, they will be deleted, too. If you installed BlackICE into any folder other than its default folder, your safest option for uninstalling it would be through Add/Remove Programs.
http://blackice.iss.net/update_center/BI_uninstall_exe.php
Empty the recycle bin, clear all temporary folders, and reboot.
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Question: Is my BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection license key perpetual?
Answer: Your BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection license key is perpetual. It will continue to run as long as it is installed on your computer. However, if you uninstall BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection after the service and support associated with the license key has expired and attempt to reinstall it at a later time, you will not be able to. BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection will run perpetually only if you do not uninstall the software.
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Question: I purchased an extended download warranty. What if I need it in the next year?
Answer: Please note that the extended download warranty will allow you to get a copy of your order but will not allow you to re-download your software if the service and support have expired. You can still use this service by contacting Digital River:
1-800-656-5443
1-952-253-8300
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
e-mail: service@digitalriver.com
Or
www.findmyorder.com (You will need to know your order number and password you used when you placed the order or your email address and the last 5 digits of the credit card number you used when you placed the order.)
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Question: Will the Knowledge Base be available after BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection's End of Life?
Answer: No. However, these research sites can help you find another security application.
http://www.cnet.com/4244-5_1-0.html?query=firewall&tag=srch&target=nw
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/firewalls/
index.html
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Question: Where do I go for support after BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection's End of Life on September 29th, 2008?
Answer: IBM Internet Security Systems will no longer offer customer or technical support for BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection after September 29th 2008. IBM Internet Security Systems urges you to purchase another security application. Uninstall BlackICE PC Protection/Server Protection and install the new program. The following research sites will help you find another security application.
http://www.cnet.com/4244-5_1-0.html?query=firewall&tag=srch&target=nw
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/firewalls/
index.html