Publisher's Description
From ZoneAlarm:
Get multilayered security to keep your PC, identity and everything you do online safe. Antivirus plus behavioral and cloud technologies protect your PC. Further protection comes with anti-phishing, anti-spam, parental controls, online backup, and identity protection services. Easy and automatic for all levels of users.
What's new in this version:
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All versions:
3.5 starsout of 737 votes
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Current version:
2.4 starsout of 17 votes
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My rating:
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"Complex, Poor Tech Support"
Version: ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2012
Pros
Generally catches viruses
Not horribly expensiveCons
Resource hog
Doesn't always catch viruses
Doesn't directly support Thunderbird
Controls don't always function as advertised or are non-intuitive
Uninstall is a disaster
Tech support is difficult to use (Live Chat only); often frustrating
NO Tech Support phone number
Typical Tech answer is "Uninstall/Re-install" (NOT for novices)Summary
ZA used to be a great security program, but no longer. We've had to uninstall/reinstall several times this year. Latest issue: if the virus scanner finds a virus in an email, it deletes the Thunderbird inbox! (??). Yes -- several times.
Customer service from ZA used to be tops, but it's sunk to no better than anyone else out there. Their forum is packed full of users having to do complete uninstall/reinstalls, miss a step and you're done. -
"Hogs resources and slows down the computer"
Version: ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2012
Pros
It seems to work
Cons
Very noticeably slows down programs such as Photoshop. With no other applications running apart from Zonealarm, memory usage is 50%. Switching off the Zonealarm anti-virus component and installing A.N.Other free anti-virus halves memory usage and returns Photoshop speeds to quick.
Summary
Only consider if you have a powerful PC.
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"Its Great!"
Version: ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2012
Pros
It has my Back when Im not looking.
Cons
I cant think of anything.
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"I dumped 10x and reinstalled the latest version of 9x."
Version: ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2012
Pros
hard to say, as soon as i started using 10x and saw the degree to which za has removed user control over individual programs i dumped it and reinstalled the last decent version of za - namely 9x.
Cons
za has taken away user control over individual programs - gone poof!
degraded user interface
could be other problems but i didn't stick with 10x long enough to say.Summary
i have been a long time and loyal zone alarm user. Don't you just want to yell when a wonderful product is 'upgraded' to a place where you have less control and less ability to customize the product? where the new interface is more cumbersone and less intuitive? i appreciate change but change works both ways and an 'upgrade' is sometimes nothing more than a euphemism for a major downgrade. Sadly ZA went in the wrong direction and what was once a product i gladly renewed i would not now purchase. stay away unless they fix their 'fix'.
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"They've degraded what was once a good product"
Version: ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2012
Pros
Some degree of computer protection
Cons
As others have already noted, a poor interface and less user control over what and when any programs are permitted to access the internet.
Summary
After years of using ZA, it's disappointing to find the 2012 version has seemingly been released without much heed being paid to user feedback.
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"Porous Firewall"
Version: ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2012
Pros
You know, if an application is basically OK but the firewall is useless then, ipso facto, the entire app is useless. You cannot point to the 5000 viruses etc Zonealarm may have kept out to justify the one or two that got in and screwed your system. The free firewall seems to work better. Fortunately I got this on sale so it's not a major loss. I'm going to reinstall this "dreck" and try something else.
Cons
I'm using the paid version of Zonealarm Firewall plus Antivirus. I've dickered with the settings ad nasium and some application just always seem to get around the firewall.
Summary
Try something else.
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"version 2012 is disappointing, after many great years"
Version: ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2012
Pros
Quick to load, but that's it.
Cons
Setting scan targets does not work. Specifically, the software completely ignores manually specified exclusions from scan targets. Scan keeps getting stuck on dll files.
Online chat pointed me to the latest software version 101_056_000, but the scan still gets stuck on the same dll files. What's worse, the scan cannot be turned off and just hangs there. The only reset is to reboot the computer.Summary
Bad software. Cannot complete a scan. Is it 64-bit compatible? The older versions were better. I'm going back to the older software version until another firewall/security option can be found.
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"If u want ur softwre installed only it'll crash Windows"
Version: ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2012
Pros
Must not be selfish that ur software will only be installed in individual's computer. Not only your Anti-virus/Anti-spyware installed in the computer. That's why it crashes. Besides. We all individual users must have strategies of installing other anti-virus and anti-spywares. So that we all know who is good or bad company/product. Bcoz each product have different strategies of catching viruses/spywares and how bad viruses/spywares are programmed to unable to detect or sleeping or hidden or programmed in going in circles that unable to detect or it's locked/password/archived, backdoor threats, and many more. Each anti-virus/anti-spyware soft-wares have different strategies of catching bad/threat softwares. If the other software didn't find it, the other software will find it. If it still did not find it, another type of software will find it. That's why don't be selfish that ur product be only installed in individual computer/users.
Cons
Don't be selfish that your product be only installed in each individual computer/users. Make other anti-virus/anti-spywares be compatible to share to the battle of finding bad softwares and be joined in a guardian of individual computer/users.
Summary
It's business not only your product should be installed in individual computer/users. If u want only your product be installed, then other users will be deter/discouraged the quality of your product. You must balance it that make sure other anti-virus/anti-spywares softwares be compatible to each other. Let other softwares shares the guardian of the gate for each n individual computer/users.
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"Does too many things to effectively live up to all."
Version: ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2012
Pros
Covers a wide range of potential problems on your pc from parental controls to anti-virus protection.
Cons
Had problems with it crashing, and slowed down some of my programs.
Summary
Great Potential, but hooks into too many areas of your pc. They make a great product for anti-virus and phishing so why do things like parental controls.
Leave that to BlockSmart or Net Nanny. -
"Same protection, minus some user control options"
Version: ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2012
Pros
It does the same job as previous versions. There are no annoying pop-ups, even if you choose less secure settings.
Cons
As of the 2012 version, the user no longer has as many options to control the program. The previous versions were more user friendly.
Summary
It's perfectly acceptable and doesn't bog down your system if you disable certain precautions (like its virtual browser). It can be a highly affordable choice if you do enough leg work to avoid the full asking price (and that is still buying it directly from the manufacturer's website).
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