Rating: 
Summary: THE BEST SOFTWARE FIREWALL- yes, but novices beware
Review: Product under review: Zone Alarm Pro 4.0 (ZAP 4, retail boxed version)PROS: 1) It is the BEST firewall software currently available. 2) The program is small, stable, very user configurable, efficient and effective. 3) The latest versions are packed with features that go beyond just a software based firewall solution to include mail safety, password protection, cookie control, popup ad blocker, cache cleaning, and extensive privacy features. 4) Coupled with good Antivirus software such as McAfee AV, Norton AV, Kaspersky AV, etc. , Zone Alarm Pro 4 enhances PC security and privacy to the highest levels. 5) Also works great for privacy and firewall protection on small to medium sized business networks, public wireless access networks such as airports, or for remote internet dialup connections. 6) Frequent updates (if accessible) keep Zone Alarm firewall secure against the latest hacker, virus and worm attacks. 7) More easily customizable than "hardware only" based firewall solutions while still retaining the most advanced firewall features. CONS: 1) The software can be confusing for the pure novice computer user to set up and use if the right options are not chosen during installation. 2) ZAP 4 requires interaction of the computer user during the "learning phase" of configuration to enable friendly programs access through the firewall to the internet. Not allowing the correct degree of access to these programs may prevent those programs from working properly. 3) Retail version of the ZAP 4 CD comes with a crippled activation code that works fine for the older version on the CD you just purchased but you are required to register for a new code which is sent to you by email before your are able to download the newest versions of ZAP. If you do not receive a code by email you will have to go through customer service. 4) The customer service seems not to be very responsive and it will require a great deal of time and patience to get any productive help out of them if you do need help. They would rather run you through a number of canned email responses before allowing you to access their "real people" help. 5) As with any software based program there is always a possibility that it can be "shut down" either accidently or due to faulty loading during the computer's startup phase. This would leave your computer vulnerable as if there were no firewall at all. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1) Ask for the help of an experienced computer user for both the setup and the after-install configuration of the ZAP software. This is especially true for anyones computer on a LAN (local area network) where others require access to your computer from other computers on the same network. 2) Users of an "always on connection" to the internet such as broadband DSL or Cable should consider ALSO using one of the simple hardware based firewall routers using NAT (network address translation) such as the Linksys or NetGear brands along with the Zone Alarm Pro and Antivirus software. 3) Be very careful during the sign up and activation phase of installing ZAP 4 so that you actually do receive an activation code at your valid email address for new and future updates of the software. Users with anti-spam filters should be especially careful that ZAP 4 update activation key code email is not rejected by their filters on the email server. 4) If you have an always on broadband internet connection such as DSL or Cable OR if you are connected to a larger public or private LAN or a corporate computer network you should consider enabling ZAP's automatic internet lock feature which prevents any inbound or outbound network activity when you are away from the computer for an extended period of time. CONCLUSION: When Zone Alarm Pro has its update activation code by email problems fixed and customer service becomes more helpful I will be happy to award it a perfect five out of five stars but for now it gets 4.9 stars from me (rounded up to five stars as displayed). Regardless of it having a few annoyances, as of right now Zone Alarm Pro 4.x is the best software firewall you can use on a Windows based PC.
Rating: 
Summary: Good product for advanced users
Review: This is a good product for advanced users who want detailed control over what access to grant each application. The setup can be intimidating for novice users. Norton Personal Firewall is a better choice for casual users because the setup and use is much more automatic. ZoneAlarm gives those who want to tinker with the advanced settings easy access to do so. One downside: the included "12 months of free updates" does not equal one year of updates. You get 11 full months plus the remainder of the current month. Therefore, if you register your product on the 28th of a month, you get 11 full months + 3 days of the current month. I imagine you could wait until the first of a month to register your product to ensure you receive twelve full months, but I did not figure out ZoneAlarm's definition of "twelve months" until after I registered.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect
Review: This is by far the best firewall on the market. Simple yet powerfull. A must have for any computer user especially broadband!!! absolutely perfect!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent product--take responsibility for your security!
Review: This is hands down the best firewall product on the market for SOHO (Small Office/Home) users. If you don't believe me, test it with www.grc.com 's "Shields Up" test which checks all of the major ports and ZA blocks all of them. It also prevents programs such as Real Player or Eudora or MS Office from secretly contacting their maker's servers and sending God knows what information to them. It is a ridiculous criticism that Zone Labs is somehow at fault for not compiling a database of EVERY prog that EVERY user could possibly have on their system. The reports provided on hack attacks is very detailed and only once in the several months I've been using the Pro version was it unable to ID the IP number. If you like to know what-or who-are knocking at or trying get thru your computer's "back door" this software gives you the chance, depending on your preferences, to grant or deny it on a session basis or permanently. It is also helpful in blocking ad only sites such as "adclick" and other ad servers. It thus incorporates quite a number of the very useful functions that Adsubtract does in keeping our ads, pop-ups and those increasingly ubiquitous "Shockwave" ads designed to defeat ad-blocking software. ... ...When I had customer support issues with another InterMute product, AdSubtract, Zone Labs' had excellent email support. I have a feeling that most of the people encountering major problems already HAD major system issues. ZoneAlarm has a small footprint (in the XP environment), is very stable, rarely crashes and while the Free Version is more than adequate to protect your system against attacks, the Pro version provides a wealth a features that allow you to do what it would normally take four or five programs to do. ...P>This product is absolutely essential for broadband users. Dial up users can and probably should stick to the free version, since it's difficult to run most attacks with the tiny bandwidth. Plus, since dial ups automatically reassign IP addresses with each log-in, unlike the broadband IP addresses which may remain with you for months. All I know, is I miss all the freedom I had when I was one of the very first broadband users back in '97 and had twenty people in my nod. 300-400 kbps was the average! And you had a permanent address, could run websites, VPNs, in short, it was actually useful for more than personal service and NO bandwidth collars all for $50/month. But now, they can charge you $700/month if you want to do all that. ZA product has garnered nearly universal praise from experts and ordinary users alike. It completely stealths your computer; any portscanner will simply ignore the protect IP address because, to the scanner, there's nothing there. As "Shield's Up" will show you-turn off ZA and run the test and, then run the test with ZA running and you'll be amazed at how it hermetically seals your system from in/outbound access without your permission. The ability to customize each site means that you can eliminate download problems from sites that you pop-ups or other functions you've blocked globally. Its features allowing customization of website activity as well as program activity; includes a virus scanner for attachments--since I'm running McAfee I can't comment on this function; a "data safe" for bank site passwords, etc; a "net filter" for "adult" content which is configurable (functionality not present in the Free Version). It also allows access control for components of programs and also includes a comprehensive temp file cleaner that actually works, completing several deletion tasks with one click. I use the cable modem and Zone Alarm Pro blocks 2-5 hack attempts. Their web database also presents you with a comprehensive report on the hacker's IP address, ISP, and a complete Whosis report. This product is simply indispensable to the SOHO environment, especially those 13 million (and growing) number of broadband users. One of the most crucial functions all version of Zone Alarm (Free, Plus, Pro) has is the "internet Lock" which allows, again, most critically for the broadband user, you to completely shut your computer from the next without physically pulling the Ethernet cable. It can also be programmed to shut down net access--in both directions--when the screen saver comes up, thus allowing you to know that, should you walk away from the machine for a while--especially those of us with little ones--in a few minutes your computer will be completely safe from any attack whatsoever, or any spyware's attempt to contact it's deployers. It can also show you which programs are doing so. I tried the firewall offering that came bundled as a trial feature is made by one of the leading--at least in sales--anti-virus vendors in the world; its protection was definitely sub-ZA's performance; it failed several key "Shield's Up" tests. I've also heard and read reviews about significant flaws in every other consumer firewall--not the massive hardware firewalls Fortune 1000 company's use--currently available. Zone Alarm has none of these problems. I mention no other products by name because this isn't an attempt to dis anyone else, only to tout one of the best pieces of software in the "Windo-verse."
Rating:
Summary: Does its job
Review: To start off, no software firewall is perfect, including Zonealarm. There are just too many programs to keep track of for any firewall to be foolproof. This is where user decisions can make or break the usefulness of Zonealarm. Any program that tries to connect to the local network or internet will be flagged by Zonealarm, and the user will be asked to allow/deny the connection. Hence, you need to feel relatively comfortable with knowing whether or not a particular program "should" be allowed to connect. This scares a lot of people, but common sense is often all you need to make a decision. For example, if you start Quicken and you get a flag from Zonealarm about allowing Quicken to access the Internet, you can feel reasonably comfortable that it's ok. However, if you get a flag about something like "g67867899" out of the blue, you know that you should be a little more suspicious. No permanent damage will be done if you allow or deny access - if a program doesn't work and you think it's because you denied access in Zonealarm, you can always go to Zonealarm and change your setting for that program. Zonealarm does have the problem of sometimes being too restrictive, especially if you have a home network or connect to your workplace through a VPN (virtual private network). It takes a little finagling to make it work in such cases, and it doesn't always succeed. Also, I have also had problems with certain web sites kicking me out due to "cookie" errors. At times I'll turn off Zonealarm when I encounter such sites and turn it back on later. The only serious danger with something like Zonealarm is if you think it will prevent all dangers from getting through to your computer. IT IS NOT an antivirus program - it is meant to be complementary to an antivirus program. Also, if you just allow access to any program that requests it for convenience's sake, that is defeating the purpose of using Zonealarm and you will not be protected adequately. Zonealarm is not perfect but it serves its purpose well and is superior to most other firewalls on the market.
Rating:
Summary: As good as ever
Review: Various versions of Zone Alarm have been protecting my desktop for a couple of years now, and I see no reason to change my choice of firewall software in the foreseeable future. As a frequenter of Internet security websites (such as the excellent www.grc.com), I was first introduced to the powerful, yet simple firewall known for its ease of configuration, and rock solid protection. I am not an employee of Zone Labs, nor do I receive any compensation for my endorsement. I am simply a satisfied customer who truly believes in the product. Zone alarm was the first firewall software on the market to offer true "internet stealth." or a close as one can reasonably hope to achieve in cyberspace. Nothing short of disconnecting your pc from the net offers total protection, but Zone Alarm offers your best defense. Firewalls in general have been notorious for they're hard to configure nature. Most novice users find that the software seems to do its job too well, blocking things that they may wish to use. For most of these users, choosing the "medium" security setting seems to offer the best balance of security vs. freedom. I've always kept mine on the highest settings without incident, but other reviewers here have voiced concerns that doing so hindered such things as online games. For the most part, Zone Alarm is easy to use, but like any other software, a little investigation on your part will go a long way. The tutorial is great for walking first timers through the paces, and I still take the time to look it over with each new release of the product. In addition to offering protection from break-ins, Zone Alarm has a couple other nice features such as built in ad blocking, and email file attachment protection for added piece of mind. In all, the product is excellent in all respects, and does what it is supposed to do... protect your computer. I give it the game boi's highest recommendation. "alankelly_the_game_boi"
Rating:
Summary: Don't let the turkeys get you down
Review: While others here would appear to not know how to use their computers, I would like to indicate my overwhelming satisfaction with ZAP4. Yes, you need to tell it what software is accessing the net (you should know, since it's a cruel world out there). The setup is painless and intuitive and a few minutes spent with the tutorial explains each of the messages provided by ZAP and what to do with them. ZAP4 autorecognizes IE, so no time spent on that one. It also quickly recognizes your home network. Spending just a few minutes bringing up each of your known net tools (Outlook, Napster, iTunes, your corporate VPN, FrontPage, Win Media Player, etc.) will allow you to permanently dispense with nearly every message you'll ever get. Tell ZAP to work silently, and you're there. Also, ZAP4 fixes the UPnP issue described. Symantec's online checker showed no open holes. What more could a girl want!
Rating:
Summary: The best of the lot
Review: ZA Pro 4 is very easy to use, and really protects my Windows 2000 Pro system, which is exposed to the Internet via satellite 24 hours a day. ZA Pro logs data on probes from the outside so I know that my machine (pre ZA Pro) was collapsing from massive intrusions, sometimes amounting to _thousands_ of attempts to invade per 24 hours. Now that does not happen, and my home net runs stably again. And that's another thing; ZA Pro allows easy access to internet connection sharing via W2000, and also did not interfere with my satellite modems (and other firewalls failed one or both ways). If you peek under the hood, you find that the default settings that allow you to start ZA Pro 4 up without effort hide a deep capability to customize everything. This is cleverly designed, useful software, worth every $.
Rating: 
Summary: Registration process exasperating!
Review: Zone Alarm 4 after installation is not fully functional, you are running with a purposely crippled program. A large number of features do not work, including not being able to apply the updates for which you get messages of availability. Worst, the built-in link to support does not function, a real detriment for a new installation. As a surprise, when finally finagling to reach support, you learn one must wait several days after registration to get the real registration from Broderbund. If you don't know of this "feature", you may spent hours to fix unfixable problems. Zone Alarm people have no access to help with registration. Of course the link to Broderbund they send, does not work! The following is an excerp from the 3rd support msg I received: Important: This copy ships with an expired license key. ONLY after you register with Broderbund will you receive your personal license key, allowing you access to free upgrades and tech support for one year.
For customers that purchased the Broderbund boxed CD version, all license keys, purchase, and customer service issues are handled directly by Broderbund (we do not have license key information in our database at all). You can reach them through their Customer Support page at: http://support.learningco.com/contact_cs.asp
Rating:
Summary: Great Firewall
Review: Zone Alarm is about the best fire wall out there to me. I have been using the free version for the past couple of years and have never had a problem. I am very happy I upgraded to the Pro version as it does a little more than the free version. It's easy to install and use.
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