Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREEZoneAlarm 5.5.062 User Reviews
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"YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DOWNLOAD TOOLBARS OR CHANGE ANYTHING"
Version: ZoneAlarm 110.000.504
Pros
Simple and easy interface
Cons
None that I have discovered yet
Summary
Simply select custom install, then at the bottom on the left choose to skip all offers. That takes you past the toolbar and search offers to a clean install. Most freeware tries to get you to download those offers, the concept is nothing new.
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"No longer worth the (free) price"
Version: ZoneAlarm 110.000.504
Pros
I used to trust this product, but trust has evaporated.
Cons
Mandatory installation of toolbars that have a pretext of protection, but actually allow Zone Alarm to monitor you. This is spyware, pure and simple.
Until ZoneAlarm fesses up and works to regain user trust, we cannot feel comfortable with their privacy policies or their security "monitoring."
Shame on Zone Alarm for veering off the path. Stay away from Zone Alarm.Summary
Good product turned toxic.
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"Malicious spyware?"
Version: ZoneAlarm 110.000.504
Pros
No more pros anymore. I don't like software that takes over my toolbars!
Cons
I thought I'd let it take over my search bar ... but when I got a message that said "this may be malicious spyware taking over your computer, are you sure you want to proceed?" (paraphrased) ... I got suspicious and cancelled.
Summary
Make that zero stars
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"Impossibly bad."
Version: ZoneAlarm 110.000.504
Pros
The firewall itself is excellent.
Cons
In order to get the firewall it is necessary to accept a change of home page, and a tool bar. If you don't accept them, you cannot download the application.
Summary
As a result I was forced to use Comodo.
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"Used to be great--now comes with packed with crapware."
Version: ZoneAlarm 110.000.504
Pros
Easy to configure and use. Zonealarm had a great reputation for a long time.
Cons
The mandatory crapware installation (browser "toolbar" and compulsory reconfiguration of the default search engine) makes this a real loser.
Summary
The Windows 7 and 8 firewalls (included in those versions of windows) are robust enough for the average user. If you want a free firewall that allows more detailed configuration options, go with Comodo, instead. The learning curve on that one is little steeper (but easy enough to master for the average user), but it also has a pretty good reputation for security and reliability, and it doesn't hijack your computer when you install it.
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"Good firewall, but now behaves like spyware??"
Version: ZoneAlarm 110.000.504
Pros
Good firewall
Cons
Like the other reviewers I'm very annoyed by the hijacking of my browser by Zone Alarm. It's a BIG con.
Summary
Used to be ZoneAlarm was great but this latest install, when I was given no option but to install the junky ZoneAlarm toolbar etc has been very irritating. It's possible to uninstall it - just search for "ZoneAlarm hijacked my browser" to find solutions but it's a mega pain. ZoneAlarm if you want your reputation back as a great free firewall I think some fast backpeddling is in order... but hurry. We won't stick around with your product if you continue to treat us this way.
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"Used to use it, but now they force you to install crap."
Version: ZoneAlarm 110.000.504
Pros
Easy to set up, protects stuff goin in and out.
Cons
Install crap toolbar and use their search? Nope. Won't do it.
Summary
That's it. They lost ol Tater.
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"Requires you to CHANGE your whole computer!"
Version: ZoneAlarm 110.000.504
Pros
Keeps spyware out.
Cons
Forces:
Changes to your computer system
takes over internet explorer
changes your search engines
Forces the install of explorer ad-ons
installs spyware to monitor your web browsing.Summary
It forces you to change your internet explorer settings. it forces you to change your internet settings to use Zonealarm as the default search provider. They force you to have Internet explorer ad-ons that you don't need. it's spyware at it's best!
This is where I draw the line. What was once a good product has not taken advantage of all the users and is forcing them to use an inferior product. They are creating the exact same problem they are trying to stop! It's not tolerated and I will uninstall. -
"Forced to install unwanted trash"
Version: ZoneAlarm 110.000.504
Pros
I've been a long time user of Zone Alarm Firewall's and I've recommended their product to others. Used to be great...
Cons
Can't even get through the install without being forced to agree to unwanted installation of garbage.
Summary
I may return to Zone Alarm if the installation becomes customizable again. Otherwise this is a customer they lost.
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"New versions force you to install spyware"
Version: ZoneAlarm 110.000.504
Pros
I've used ZoneAlarm for over a decade. It was versatile, easy to configure, and worked so well I bought a Pro version for my last computer. Now they've lost me as a customer.
Cons
The new free version (or update to your current version) requires you to install their toolbar or set them as default home page in your browser. When I contacted support, they were cagey about it, trying to end the chat before they even answered me regarding this. Finally I was told to just install ZoneAlarm with the toolbar then manually remove it later. That is unacceptable.
Summary
I don't recommend ZoneAlarm at this point. They have always had a significant amount of pop-ups advertising their Pro version, enough to be a little irritating anyway. To add this toolbar-search page idiocy and then be reluctant to even admit it when asking on their help chat? That's suspicious to me, and I don't want a firewall or antivirus from a company that would act this way.
I wanted to also add that a few months ago, I had another problem with ZA customer support. On my old computer with the older pro version, a pop-up appeared with a ton of typos and misspellings which purported to be from ZoneAlarm. I dismissed it, thinking it was spam or something more malicious -- those fake pop-ups you get from viruses are always full of typos just like this was. When a scan didn't find anything on my computer, I asked on their forums, and the support person laughed at me and called me stupid for not recognizing that it was a legit ZoneAlarm pop-up, saying I was just a "grammar Nazi." When I pointed out that an antivirus product should probably go to significant effort NOT to look like a fake virus pop-up, the thread was closed and deleted. That was my first sign that something was wrong.
Updated on Apr 22, 2013
As I said before, I've been a ZA user for nearly a decade. Something has changed, and not for the better.
Updated on May 1, 2013Good news and bad news! Good news: ZA listened and on around April 22, 2013, removed the requirement to install the toolbar or search. I went ahead and updated. The bad news is that about five days later I got the warning box on my taskbar and a pop-up, both saying that I needed to update ZoneAlarm. The thing is, I have tried multiple times, but the program says it's already the most recent version. So I'm getting this popup every few hours, but apparently for no reason, and I can't turn it off.
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