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An effective and easy-to-use firewall program, ZoneAlarm does a great job of keeping your PC safe from a variety of threats. ZoneAlarm makes configuring a firewall, which sounds like a daunting task to the majority of computer users, incredibly easy with a wizard. Maintaining and updating settings also is a snap when you're using the stylish interface and its simple slider controls. The program's Zones feature also allows you to assign different security levels for a local network and for the Internet. We found ZoneAlarm very good at recognizing and automatically including settings for our local network. In all our tests, the firewall guarded against all external and internal threats it encountered. Therefore, we think ZoneAlarm is an excellent firewall choice for just about any average user. Zonealarm Free Firewall - Protect your PC from online threats - Download Video Previews:Publisher's Description
From ZoneAlarm:
ZoneAlarm is designed to protect your DSL- or cable-connected PC from hackers. This program includes four interlocking security services: a firewall, an application control, an Internet lock, and Zones. The firewall controls the door to your computer and allows only traffic you understand and initiate. The application control allows you to decide which applications can and cannot use the Internet. The Internet lock blocks Internet traffic while your computer is unattended or while you're not using the Internet, and it can be activated automatically with your computer's screensaver or after a set period of inactivity. Zones monitor all activity on your computer and alert you when a new application attempts to access the Internet.
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All versions:
3.4 starsout of 3,402 votes
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Current version:
3.4 starsout of 58 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Best program on market!"
Version: ZoneAlarm 6.0.631.003
Pros
Because of its great engineering, Zone Alarm offers your computer a GREAT deal of security. Coupled with a very good antispyware program, you can't beat it!!
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"Still functional - but STICK WITH 5.5"
Version: ZoneAlarm 6.0.631.003
Pros
It still pretty much works.
Cons
In comparison to version 5.5 (which in my opinion is the supreme firewall) it is a lot slower, more resource hungry, more prone to crashes and freezes, more cluttered with useless things, and just generally a big annoying pain.
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"Good"
Version: ZoneAlarm 6.0.631.003
Pros
This is a very good free firewall. It has a job of keeping bad things out of your PC and it does it's job well.
Cons
It takes more ram then the previos versions
( 10 MB ) so if you don't have much ram you will notice slowdown but overall it is a very good firewall
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"avoid version 6, stick with version 5.5"
Version: ZoneAlarm 6.0.631.003
Pros
works fine
Cons
version 6 has diabled some functionalities of version 5.5, revert back to 5.5.
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"THE BEST PERSONAL FIREWALL I'VE SEEN"
Version: ZoneAlarm 6.0.631.003
Pros
One of the best personal firewalls out there. I used the Prof. Ver for years. It works like a charm on Windows 2000 SP4 .................
I like the new PROGRAM PERMITION Feature, you can fine-tune program access, it is hard to understand at first, but once learned you can keep close tab on your programs access.
Cons
With more protection comes more complexity
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Ver 6 is not user friendly when it is first installed especially if you installed on top of the old ver 5
............................. You are better off to un-install previous version, then install ver 6 from scratch, OTHERWISE you are BOMBARDED with tons of alerts from every program you could think of.
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"It's okay in a sense It tells you what programs are trying to log in as a server"
Version: ZoneAlarm 6.0.631.003
Pros
I liked how it tells you what programs are trying to log in a server and if you want it to work as a server or not.
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"STRONG AND RELIABLE FIREWALL"
Version: ZoneAlarm 6.0.631.003
Pros
Great Firewall with perfect internet access control panel. Log Viewer shows all inbound and outbound items. (Works Great with Avast! Antivirus)
Cons
Version 6.0 causes computer to shut down more slowly.[Win2000Pro+SP4+RU#1] (Version 5.5 didn't). Maybe a glitch for repair in the next version?
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"Stay with version 5, this is not an improvement"
Version: ZoneAlarm 6.0.631.003
Pros
None - my subscription has 21 months to run. I was so impressed with this version I uninstalled it and reinstalled version 5.5
Cons
Hard to like a product that noticablely slows all internet and email functions. Annoys you with constant popups and requires constant input. I have used Zone Alarm Pro since version 2 but would not recommend vesion 6 until the kinks are resolved. The program control in this vesion is annoying, is too detailed and not as good as previous versions. Spyware monitoring, who needs it I use Spybot, SpyBlaster and Adaware - much better products. Zone Labs should go back to the drawing board and do what they do best - firewalls. Leave other functions to companies that do those products well.
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"I wish that I could be one of the crowd that love this product, but..."
Version: ZoneAlarm 6.0.631.003
Pros
It is free (but you may have to pay dearly in terms of time and frustration).
Cons
I think that I must have a jinx for this program. Four times during my computing lifetime (over 20 years) I have tried to use this evidently popular and successful firewall, and EVERY time it has screwed up my Internet connection in one way or another - the first three times requiring re-installation of my OS. I had thought that the first three failures might have been caused by my own errors in using the program, and so, with a new dual boot, Win98/XP, system, with Win98 needing firewall protection, I decided to give ZoneAlarm yet another try (a triumph of hope over experience).
Whereas before my problems had begun sometime after starting to use ZoneAlarm, this time they were there from the start. I was unable to access any web site properly, and eventually my browser crashed. This was on default settings, and no amount of tinkering with them could get the program to work properly. Luckily I now use Ashampoo Uninstaller when installing programs, so this time I was able to remove ZoneAlarm and completely reverse any changes that it had made to the system (and thus avoid an OS re-install).
I was getting paranoid about my experiences with this program (can it be all my fault?), but seeing that other people here have had problems with it has helped. To them, and to anyone else whom ZoneAlarm takes a dislike to, may I suggest two words: Sygate and Kerio (Google :-)).
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"easy to use, but could be better programed"
Version: ZoneAlarm 6.0.631.003
Pros
modern & colorful user interface, stabil firewall, free for personal use
Cons
need 7MB free disc space at least,
change some Windows internal settings and you don't know which
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