Zone Alarm KEEPS forgetting things...

[crazylegs]

hi all,

my copy of Zone Alarm seems to be rather forgetful these days

- what i mean is that when an exception pops up and i click the box for 'Remember to allow this' it asks me again and again and again... eaqch time i run the appplication!

this is very annoying especially as it happens for the game.dat for LOTR BFME2 whenever i want to play online! usually results in the system crashing also as BFME2 does not seem to like going back into windows during the login stage

any ideas what i can do?

thanks all

 

[pontifex]

are you applying patches or is the game being updated previous to this happening?

patching or updating files changes them and you will need to go through the exception thing again. i think there is a way to set it so that it doesn't ask again when you patch. i forget how to do it though.

 

[jjones]

That's a ZA bug and I've had the same problem before. There's a couple of files that need to be deleted or emptied of content. I can't remember what they are or the exact steps you need to do, but it's pretty easy to take care of. Try searching for it; that's how I found the solution.

 

[jjones]

Found this:

Q: ZoneAlarm is not remembering settings!

A: Your database is corrupted


Boot your computer into the Safe Mode

Navigate to the c:\windows\internet logs folder

Delete the backup.rdb and iamdb.rdb files in the folder

Reboot into the normal mode

http://wiki.castlecops.com/Security_Product_FAQ:_ZoneAlarm

 

[Ultralight]

This has been an issue with ZA ever since their 6.0xx version came out. As soon as my account expires I'm ditching it and getting something else. Too bloated in its current form.

 

[professor1942]

Zone Alarm = crappy noobware

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: professor1942
Zone Alarm = crappy noobware

What software firewall would you recommend over ZA?

 

[Ultralight]

Originally posted by: jjones

Originally posted by: professor1942
Zone Alarm = crappy noobware

What software firewall would you recommend over ZA?

Yes, I'd love to get a good suggestion myself. Now I do love their firewall; its everything else that they have that is attached that just makes so much demand on memory that it is a pain to work with.

 

[crazylegs]

Seemed like a great Firewall to me...until it got forgetful! It really is dumb ass now.. EVERY time i run FRAPS, BFME2 etc it pops up!

With that and Peer Guardian running i get no spyware at all...

But your right the bolted on anti-v and spyware programs are pure BS! i have these disabled at ALL times!
- let NOD and Ad-Watch do that for me!

ANyway thanks a lot for the ZA FAQ link jjones! going to give it a try now fingers crossed!

 

[professor1942]

I've always liked Sygate Personal Firewall - not sure if it's still available, but for the most part software firewalls don't really do anything useful anyway.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: professor1942
I've always liked Sygate Personal Firewall - not sure if it's still available, but for the most part software firewalls don't really do anything useful anyway.

From what I've always read when researching firewall effectiveness, most security experts recommend both a hardware and software firewall.

Here's a decent article to give a heads up on software firewall performances within the past year although there's nothing from 2006. You'll see Zone Alarm ranks consistently high or highest.

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/firewalls/reviews.html

 

[13Gigatons]

Originally posted by: professor1942
Zone Alarm = crappy noobware

ZoneAlarm tested as one of the best outbound firewalls in the market. The problem is that it's tighter then a frogs butt level of protection is annoying for many users. I've tested many firewalls and most of the others in the market that "elite" people think are great have more holes then swiss cheese.

PS: I've had very little trouble with ZoneAlarm Security Suite version: 6.1.744.000

 

[crazylegs]

Originally posted by: 13Gigatons


PS: I've had very little trouble with ZoneAlarm Security Suite version: 6.1.744.000

Thats the same version as i am running!

Have done the fix where u boot in Safe Mode and remove couple of files from c:/windows/internet logs

BUT Zone Alarm is still being forgetful

Starting to get really annoying! lol

Tempted to turn it of and just use SP2 Firewall...is this good enough?

 

[Ultralight]

crazylegs, I have been researchig this issue this week myself. Someone I know who professionally builds, programs and repairs computers (he has been doing it for years) says a good anti-virus, a good spyware (Webroot is absolutely great), a router and Windows firewall will more than give you the protection you need.

I'm ditching ZoneAlarm as soon as the account expires. As I said earlier, I do love ZA's firewall, but the other stuff is a major pain.

 

[dunkster]

I've been using Trend Micro IS2006 Firewall + AV combo for several months, and it's excellent.

Very tight monitoring of outbound_connection_attempts_by apps. Exceptions list is easy to edit, and no memory lapses.

Memory burden is a bit high, but overall protection is excellent.

Hope this hleps!

 

[crazylegs]

the thing is i do not have a hardware router... just a DSL modem plugged into pc!

think i can get a router from a mate though so might take the time (2 mins...) to set it up then i could just have the hardware router/ firewall and win sp2 firewall...

 

[Ultralight]

Originally posted by: crazylegs
the thing is i do not have a hardware router... just a DSL modem plugged into pc!

think i can get a router from a mate though so might take the time (2 mins...) to set it up then i could just have the hardware router/ firewall and win sp2 firewall...

I think that a router would be very wise with Windows firewall. However you still need anti-virus and a spyware program. Lok into Webroot. I love it and my updates come at least 2 a week (sometimes only once).

 

[crazylegs]

Yeh used to have Webroot it was pretty awesome...

Am running Ad-Watch and its real time thingy now... seems pretty good!

Also got NOD for anti-v but nothing has troubled it so far...touch wood!

thanks again