Zonealarm

[imported_Lucifer]

Is it reputable? Is it any good?

Thanks.

 

[PsharkJF]

Zonealarm is the firewall I would use provided that I wasn't using NAT

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Thanks for your reply.

I was told that Zonealarm firewall gives out false warnings. Is this true?

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
Is it reputable? Is it any good?

Thanks.

No, don't use it. Most people here seem to use Sygate and it's free. I tried ZA, it was installed for all of one hour before I got fed up with it.

 

[Spydermag68]

ZoneAlarm monitors both in-coming and out-going traffic. As use Zonealarm you train it allow only the programs that you want access the internet from your computer.

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Thanks for the replies.

My cousin keeps telling me its so great, saying its the best. He said PC Magazine gave Zonealarm Suite 5 stars and recommended it over Norton. He also said that it doesnt slow down your system.

I have used Norton on all my PC's and it worked great. I just want to see if Zonealarm is worth bragging about. I dont think it is.

Malak: Why did you get fed up with Zonealarm? Just curious.

 

[warcrow]

Zone Alarm, in my opinion, has the best interface but Kiero was the most practical of the three I tried. I just recently was kinda in the same "whats free and good?" firewall market and tried Sygate, Zone Alarm, and Kiero. Kiero actually turned out to be the one I used.

 

[Rip the Jacker]

I tried Sygate and it had a crappy interface. Zone alarm has a nice one and it doesn't take alot of memory either ; it's the best IMO.

 

[Blayze]

I've used Zone Alarm before and it worked ok.

Personally I like Kerio the best. I still have the older version 2.1.5 on one machine and I've recently started using the latest version 4 on the other. Both work fine.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
Malak: Why did you get fed up with Zonealarm? Just curious.

Constantly being asked if I wanted to let a program access the net or not, instead of it being smart enough like other firewalls to simply block the bad stuff. Overprotective if you ask me. Of course, I don't know why an average user needs a firewall anyway. I only used one when I had a server running.

 

[TheNiceGuy]

I have used ZA for the last year and a half, and really like it. I've tried Norton and WindowsXP as well. I originaly got ZA because it was the only one that would work well with bittorent software. But I grew to really like it. The config stage lasts a few days, but its the best way to control whats going on. After that, I never had to fool with it unless I installed a new program, and even then, all I did was click 'yes' when it asked me once. ZA saved me from about half a dozen attacks that would have goten through if I was using the other firewalls I tried.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: TheNiceGuy
ZA saved me from about half a dozen attacks that would have goten through if I was using the other firewalls I tried.

There's no way you could know that.

 

[PsharkJF]

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
Thanks for your reply.

I was told that Zonealarm firewall gives out false warnings. Is this true?

All (software) firewalls will give out false warnings. It's just telling you it's working, and leaving you to interpret the rest. Information not delivered to the user is information the user cannot act upon.

 

[TheNiceGuy]

There's no way you could know that.

Yes, there is, actualy!
ZA logs all hack/probe attempts. While I was using bittorrent software with ZA (frequently), I had several "high danger rated" probes intercepted by my ZA firewall. Using the other firewalls, I basicaly had to turn them off to get bittorrent to work properly. So there, it did in deed save my PC from trouble. I also visited some sites while using BT that had tons of spyware, and ZA blocked it.
It MAY have been possible to config ports, etc with those other firewalls (I still don't know as they were so complicated). But I, like most computer users, are 'newbie' types when it comes to advanced or expert configuring, so I would have ended up probably running no firewall at all. I realize that is hard for an expert like you to understand, but thats the reality. Of the dozen or so of my friends that have computers, only 2 would even know what a port is...

So anyway, I found ZoneAlarm really easy to setup and run, and it gave me zero problems for a year and a half with no viruses or other junk. TNG out.

 

[Rottie]

long time user of zonealarm version 3 now verison 5 no complain or slow down.

 

[Coquito]

For simplicity, go with windows fw. For total control, go with zone alarm. You'll have to teach it what to allow, but it's beter then your fw just ignoring traffic.

 

[KoolDrew]

I prefer Outpost.

 

[PCHPlayer]

I just started using ZA to trap outgoing internet access. I have a hardware firewall that takes care of the incoming, but you definitely want something to block malware that is trying to phone home. Windows firewall does not do this. Yes it is a bit of a pain at first, but it was amazing to find out just how many programs try to access the internet.

 

[Blain]

I've used ZoneAlarm for the last 2 or 3 years... GradeA product. :laugh:

 

[warcrow]

Originally posted by: malak

Originally posted by: TheNiceGuy
ZA saved me from about half a dozen attacks that would have goten through if I was using the other firewalls I tried.

There's no way you could know that.

LMAO!!

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Thanks for your replies guys.

Looks like a lot of you like Zonealarm! I have another question. From your experiences, how does Zonealarm Firewall compare to Norton Internet Security? I have Norton Internet Security on the PC that I am on, as I am typing this up! It works well, actually. Is Zonealarm better? I am actually considering the Zonealarm Suite, which comes with the Firewall, Antivirus, etc.

Thanks again!

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Good night bump.

 

[Malak]

Ask yourself why you even need it Liz. If you already have Norton, then why bother switching? What is "better" to an average user that probably doesn't need a firewall? Aren't you behind a router anyway? The router has a built-in firewall that will block most stuff. And you are on a mac aren't ya?

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Originally posted by: malak
Ask yourself why you even need it Liz. If you already have Norton, then why bother switching? What is "better" to an average user that probably doesn't need a firewall? Aren't you behind a router anyway? The router has a built-in firewall that will block most stuff. And you are on a mac aren't ya?

I have Norton on my PC. My brother happens to like the PC to be very protected. In fact, our PC is actually over protected. (My brother put the Norton Internet Security on the highest level of protection.) Yes, we do have a router. The Zonealarm was for our PC, not for the Mac. Norton works great, so there is really no need to purchase Zonealarm, I guess. Havent had a single virus on our PC ever since we installed it. Its just my brother likes the computers to be over protected, so I was considering Zonealarm for a while. I dont find it necessary anymore. I'll stick with Norton.

Thanks for all your replies everyone!

 

[anthony88guy]

Check this

33257 Intrusions have been blocked since install
2146 of those have been high-rated