Outlook 03 can´t send messages (SMTP) / Cisco VPN Client fails to

Hi there !

i have not installed SP 2 yet because i am afraid of trouble... Anyhow i did
update my Windows XP Home SP1 with all the other updates available.

Since my last update last thursday or so (GDI+ and NET, MediaPlayer 10) i am
having the following problems:

All of a sudden my MS Office Outlook is not able to send messages via the
SMTP protocol. Apparently the issue is not my mail provider but the security
protocol.

Also Cisco VPN Client gives the Reason 403 that it cannot connect to the
security gateway.

I also have Zone Alarm Pro running. I tried turning it off which didnt
change a thing...

I am clueless on how to fix this... Does anyone have an idea ?

Thanks a lot !
Chris