Rating: 
Summary: Repeated requests to approve access to the Net.
Review: I upgraded Zone Alarm repeatedly, up to and including Version 4.5.
It got worse and worse. The most infuriating problem is the endless,
repeated questions about allowing the same program to access the internet."Do you allow Outlook Express to access the net?" Eight times in one day,
even with the "remember this reply" enabled. Same thing next day. "Do you allow Adsubtract 3.0 to access the net?" Eight times in one day and
repeated daily. And others. All of them stupid repetitions for approval of the same thing. It got so bad that I scrubbed Version 4.5 ($39.95 down the drain), and
reverted to Version 3.7. Same results. I deleted that and returned to
Version 3.1. Not as bad, but still stupidly asking the same questions. Also of course, Zone Alarm shows unacceptable delays in responding to
commands such as Find. Trouble is, McAfee has its own problems, such as an unacceptable delay in
everything, plus an occasional freezing of the mouse. Where to turn now? BTW: I agree with another reviewer about the difficulty in deleting Zone
Alarm, even using their own Erase program. I had to go into the registry
and delete another 25 unwanted appearances of the program after using ZA's
Erase program. If I didn't, Zone Alarm refused to install an older version.
It insisted that Version 4.5 was still installed, even though I had
followed their own procedure to delete it. Peter Vaughan
Rating:
Summary: A decent firewall until the latest release...
Review: I would have to say this is one of the better firewalls out there*. I've done some research between ZA (ZoneAlarm), Norton, BlackIce, Tiny, and Sygate. ZA seemed to be the most stable, had the highest user ratings, and good set of features for the money. They even have a free version (trimmed down somewhat of course). *The caveat to this review is that the latest version -v5.0.590.015, is the most unstable version of software I've ever used. It caused all sorts of problems on my system and a lot of wasted time. I've been up to their support forum and there are TONS of other users with all different types of problems with the latest version. I'm pretty disappointed with the QA that went into that version - seems like there wasn't any. I've had ZA since its 3.x release (about a year or so) and up to this point have been pretty pleased. Rating up to the latest release - solid "A"
Rating for the latest release - "D-" and that might be generous. If you're planning on picking up ZA, just wait for the next release.
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Good, Low-Cost Firewall
Review: I've been running ZoneAlarmPro 4 for about four months, now. It has worked very well for me, and is highly configurable. I believe this is a great choice for people who want a simple and reliable firewall solution, but don't want to spend a lot of time figuring out how to get that done. ZoneAlarm is largely self-configuring, and offers many, many options, ranging from how many notices you want to see, to how tightly you want to lock down your desktop. I think this will be attractive to a lot of prospective buyers. Zone Alarm correctly figured out how to configure itself around my simple home network, which is something that BlackIce (my previous firewall) couldn't do. BlackIce was a decent firewall, with great information, but ZoneAlarm is a lot less prone to cause problems. And, while BlackIce offered better tech support, I haven't needed any with Zone Alarm. The only real problem I've had is that regardless of the security setting I choose, some web sites spit back pages telling me to allow cookies; shutting down the firewall is the only way that I can seem to get around that problem. To summarize, I'd recommend Zone Alarm Pro equally for users looking for an easy solution, as well as those needing a robust one. The configuration options it provides should allow almost anyone to set it up to work for their situation. As a bonus, it seems to have some success controlling popup ads, as well. Overall, a very good product at an attractive price.
Rating: 
Summary: ZoneAlarm Pro "User"
Review: I've had ZoneAlarm Pro for about 18 months on my home computer. Unfortunately, some of the recent upgrades to the product now block me from accessing my HP printer. I checked on the internet and quite a few other people are having the same problem. I put ZoneAlarm Pro on my work computer and it caused connectivity problems and the IT folks at work needed to remove the application. I can no longer use the product because of the problems it causes.
Rating: 
Summary: Recommended, without reservation.
Review: I've used several versions of Zone Alarm. I've also used Norton Personal firewall and McAffee Firewall. McAfee would hang sometimes, and I found it let a lot of traffic through. Norton Personal firewall also came up wanting. Hands down, Zone Alarm is the best personal firewall software package available. Note, if you share directories on your network, or have your PCs organized in a workgroup (or domain), you will have to tweak the settings to allow your PC to respond to netbios packets on your network. This is a good thing, considering I found that I am constantly probed from the internet by script kiddies looking for easy targets. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: It's not the best if your can't buy it or install it.
Review: I've used Zonealarm for years, but now that's its sucessful the marketing pinheads and online commerce monkeys are killing it.
First, since I have been using the product and had it installed, all I wanted to do was purchased a update and support renewal.
Can't do that. The online transaction company they have turned that over to won't validate my card. Same card I use online with a company called Amazon.com to purchase thousands of dollars of stuff every year. Call Zonelabs, they can't handle direct sales, must go through their online transaction site. Can't do it.
OK, I figure if I buy a copy of the software online at Amazon and with it the twelve months of updates its the same thing. So I do. And then the software won't install. Turns out that Zonelabs turned the retail CD sales over to Broderbund, if you need support you must go to them. But you can't call them, (unless you agree to pay a high fee to actually talk to their support), the virtual support web page is what I expect Hell to be like and still Zonelabs won't help you.
So I'm writing off the forty bucks and had to buy and install McAfee. At least its a good weekend for frezbe.
Rating:
Summary: You're on your own!
Review: If you are the average PC user, you don't know enough about applications and executables to use zonealarm effectively. If you are a sophisticated PC user, you won't have a huge problem. If you need tech support from Zonealarm, good luck! They were of no use to me. Like other users, I ran into enormously frustrating problems with the registration process. Because of this, I could not get zonealarm updates (for the legal copy that I bought in a store). Without security updates, a firewall is of questionable effectiveness.
Rating:
Summary: PRESENT USERS DO NOT BUY THIS!!!!
Review: If you are using Zone Alarm's latest release you WILL not be able to use this boxed version to extend your update access; nor will you be able to bring your version up to the current one after installing this boxed version--both of which happened to me. (The current version is 4.5.594.000; which fixed a bug discovered by certain nitwits trying to use a Consumer product to protect commercial email servers; DO NOT USE ZA TO PROTECT YOUR SERVERS; GET A NAT OR PROXY SERVER) The version number of the boxed release is 4.0 something and if you try to install it--even AFTER you uninstalled the NEWER version, wait, it gets sillier--you won't be able to access ZoneAlarm's update servers. Not only that, after I tried to update it with my previous version, it refused to install (and this was tried on multiple computers with the same result). So not only does this boxed version deny you access to ZA's updates but also is unable to be updated--and this was after I used WinDelete to make sure all of the NEWER version had been removed from registry and the myriad Windows subfolders XP likes to put files in. (Unlike some reviewers, I didn't even get to the mess with the activation code!) So, in sum, if you have a version newer than 4.1, you'll not be able to use the prog in this box. Perhaps it would work on a clean machine but I don't know. This leaves you without current protection making you vulnerable to hacks designed to work around ZoneAlarm. Which defeats the whole purpose of shelling out the cash in the first place. Bottom line: ZoneAlarm software: FIVE STARS
Broderbund boxed version: MINUS FIVE STARS, since that's not an option: ONE STAR. After a little trouble with Amazon's customer service I convinced them that they had sold me a useless product (something akin to selling me a carbeurator for my '04 Mercedes). I was able to get a full refund without the credit card company rigamarole. So, another gold star for Amazon's reasonableness. But forget this product. Got to ZoneAlarm.com and buy the download/subscription version. You'll receive the latest version in a small executable (less than five MB so even Dial-Up people can download it in a reasonable amount of time; as always use a good download manager with your dialup connection) and/or a CD if you wish. Fifty bucks may seem a little pricey, but ZoneAlarm has repelled literally hundreds of hacker probes (up to ten a day)in the years I've used it. It's also stopped dozens of programs from trying to send unknown information for unknown purposes. Certain companies are worse than others about this; you'll see it once you've got a current version running. No prog can access the net without your permission. Even if you've never used ZoneAlarm, avoid this box. Broderbund's Customer Service (since ZA itself only does tech support, CSR on downloadable subscriptions) is almost universally detested as even a casual reading of most of these reviews will show. I saw a "4.5" version of the Broderbund box at BestBuy this weekend, but I still would go directly to this source. Why go around the mountain to go next door? Finally, Zone Labs/Intermute is a great company that makes great software which I've been using (starting with Ad-Subtract, most of whose functions have been incorporated in ZoneAlarm Pro) for nearly seven years know. And, in that time, I've found their email tech support to be fairly quick and helpful. Having done tech support I can tell you that selecting the proper number of support staff is essentially impossible. Therefore, a spike in need for Support's services can cause delays. Just be patient; they've always gotten around to my issues. And please, be polite. The poor schlub making $10 bucks an hour on the phone or who's routed your email has no control over anything. Tech Support reps are the serfs of the IT industry and they never cease reminding you of your lowly condition. So keep that in mind the next you feel like going off on the poor 19 year old in Arkansas who's undertrained, underpaid, over-bossed with supervisors' constant reminders of dispensibility ringing in the ear. Sorry, that was off topic. Call it my pro-Tech Support Rep rant and my respect for those still doing this thankless, worthless job!!!
Rating:
Summary: OK SO FAR
Review: My tech person installed Pro 4 two months ago. He did not report any problems except one conflict which Zone tech responded to and was a very simple fix. It does require you to tell it what to allow and what not to. So each time you access a program which wants to access the internet you get a pop-up authorization message. You can opt to make that decision (to allow net access or no) permanent and not be bothered by it again when that program requests access. Its amazing to me how many programs have built-it automatic net access functions and thereby present security vulnerabilities: for example RealPlayer, MS Messenger, etc. ZoneAlarm does block these once you tell it to. I ran Sysmantec security check through Norton Systemworks and it found that Zone did not block UPnP (Universal Plug and Play - not the same as Plug and Play)access, but everything else. I used a 3rd party "Unplug and Pray" (yes pray)to plug that hole. So far so good. My record security threat attempt on my machine rated a high 58100. Threats start at 1000. Pop-ups are a thing of the past, including those pesky pop-ups telling me my machine was vulerable so I should buy that company's software.
Rating:
Summary: I've never been this emotional about software before!
Review: Ok maybe in college with a program due the next morning. But that was over 15 years and two computer science degrees ago.
Used Zone Alarm for about 8 months. Like it said, "Its yappy at first then settles down." Seemed to work ok. The help is weak and, as other posters point out, tech support is laughable. It will prompt you to allow this, that, and the other program access to the internet. Which is fine if you know things like onij.exe need access to the internet or not. I found that their meager database recognized the program perhaps 1 out of ten times when the additional help button was clicked. So a fair amount of expermentation is called for.
That's the good part. Late last week it got a wild hair and shut down my internet access. Could still get e-mail and access to my local net (ether and wireless), but just presented a bs message in my browser. The message included an estimate of how long it would take to "fix" my system. Their guess: 5-15 minutes. Actual elapsed time: 84 hours! Total man hours approached 15. This is after following all the crap in their html page, then !!!FAXING!!!! them my problem and waiting for a response. Wasn't faxing banned in the 20th Century? This was followed by an e-mail directing me to hand delete no less than 19 of their files in various subdirectories. (I tried to get it off of my system using Add/Remove Programs, but their uninstall failed. Interesting that throughout this process they never mentioned that I try their uninstall.) Of course, we have the 50 reboots that are required for anything done on a windows box. Sprinkled in booting in safe mode a few times to delete more files that were locked and undeleteable with a full windows load. Its times like this that I wish I would have gotten that law degree. Please, DO NOT BUY THIS SOFTWARE. I have never felt compelled to post an online review of anything until this piece of ... crossed my path. If you work for ZoneLabs, please go find another McJob. This is the most user-hostile program I've ever had the misfortune to come across. I mean no disrespect, but I can only concur with malenor that reviewers with positive ratings may not have used the program long or are somehow associated with the company. I still wince every time I bring up my browser, waiting to see that my internet access is blocked by zone alarm. Thanks for reading, hope it helps.
| 
