Pros
No pros available
Cons
I installed it on my system and my computer barely boot. Then after 3 min of booting it was working like crazy...the fan speed was very fast, computer was hot, it was freezing and showing me Blue Screen that says DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. It took me two days to figure out how to clean my system from the leftovers after the uninstall. I talked to Zone Alarm customer support for the ZAAR.exe and Patrick told me how to remove it but it did not work. Then I contacted somebody else for Check Point endpoint process and did not work too. Meanwhile the antivirus that i installed after ZoneAlarm could not stop crashing and could not update as it is suppose to (Bitdefender). Today I was so pissed that I just stopped all their processes.
Summary
I told you!
Pros
- It works well
- It's been around for a long time; good reputation
- It can either run in the background or allow you full control, as you choose
Cons
- Free version has popup ads
- Can't buy it; have to pay yearly "rental" fee
Summary
I've been using ZoneAlarm's free firewall since the Windows 2000 days, when it was produced by Zone Labs (now it's owned by a company named Check Point). In and of itself, it's a very good product. I haven't used the anti-virus feature much, but can vouch for the firewall. It allows you as much or as little granular control as you want; it can run in the background or alert you every time a program tries to make a connection. I would otherwise give it 5 stars, except...
Except that you can't opt out of the pop-up ads that it displays every time you boot into Windows. (These seem to be a recent addition to ZoneAlarm.) In order not to see them, you have to pay for the product, which is understandable, except that you can't just buy it. You have to pay a yearly fee for it.
On general principle, I try not to view popup ads from software, and I try not to pay what amounts to a yearly rental fee for software. So my rating goes down to 3 stars, and I've uninstalled it in order to try another free firewall that doesn't pester me with ads.
Pros
Don't have to do anything except for scanning when I want to.
Cons
Can't see any.
Only problem ever had was when I ran Avast and ZA (Firewall from one, AV from the other - don't remember which) and then an update slowed everything down.
The household had successfully run both on three computers for several years and it only became a problem for me. But once I discovered it was best not to combine these things I stuck with ZA.
The other two computers still work fine with both just as they always did.
Summary
Puzzled by other reviews. NEVER been forced into installing anything other than ZA updates.
Pros
I m using Zonealarm firewall if can remember correctly almost 10 yrs back & i ve been using for so long the free version w/o any problems. It was the best and easy to use.
Also we can see how many years it has been in Top 3 Most Popular Download.com
I even has chance to trust to use its inception of AntiVirus program last time compared to earlier years of Avast at that time.
Cons
Now it is really bloated. Plus the worst come with a lot of toolbar and other things we do not need.
Company can say need to survive with those stuffs. BUt how other smaller company can survive even let's see Avast, slowly from last time now slowly going to beat it for Firewall easily.
Summary
Have no idea what s happening with this company. Who is the CEO that driving this company to this state ?
Read reply (1)
Reply by ChoiceVoice on November 22, 2015
avast doesn't have a free firewall, you have to pay for that.
Pros
Pros used to be many, but even for free it isn't worth it anymore.
Cons
Kept nagging me to update firewall... Tried to update multiple times but it always hangs at ~20% completion on configuring sttings. Won't install. If I have to do a complete uninstall just to re-install (without) my original settings I might as well try something else. Besides, I DO NOT like the "default only" install feature. Sorry Zone Alarm I recommended you for years, but alas you have taken a nose dive. Good-bye.
Pros
There are none.
Cons
There are many.
Summary
It's a company with a product that installs without your permission. Think about it--it's a security program that the manufacturer has to *trick* you into installing.
I have about as much faith in the software as the company apparently does.
Bonus: employees are incredibly arrogant and condescending.
Read reply (1)
Reply by ChoiceVoice on November 22, 2015
i don't understand ... how did it trick you into installing the firewall?
Pros
None anymore. That is why I am getting rid of it.
Cons
Forces you to install unwanted software, browser toolbar which are extremely difficult to remove. It slows down your browsing speed immensley. You will lose a lpt of speed. It slows down your pc as well. It makes some programs hang. It infringes on windows updates and will not allow some to be installed.
Summary
Basically a great program that has now become a has been in internet security. Forcing unwanted softare, thier own spy version of a toolbar will spell doom to this company. I started with ZA almost since its inception many years ago. I was invloved with online safety education etc and this was always the first product we recommended. Now all the good work ZA has done is the past has gone to the dogs. I was so impressed witht the free version I subscribed to the pro versions. ZA has become bloatware, and the paid versions are no better. This is feedback I sent direct to Zonelabs. I have unsubscribed from ZA Extreme Security. I am searching elsewhere for a firewall, probably just use windows firewall.
Pros
Download is only 3 Mb to find out they want to force you to install bloatware. At least it's better on this side compared to Comodo, which took 216 Mb to find out they hid an antivirus in their Firewall-only download that freezes your whole sistem, conflicting with AVG, for example.
Cons
In a few words, they want to take over your browser, just like the ask toolbar and craps alike. Nothing good comes from companies that do this.
Summary
I didn't even get the chance to install it since it wanted me to accept they would take over search and other things from my browser. Remember Ask, saying Google is down to force you to use Ask? This is exactly the same. No, thanks.
Pros
- Umm... used to be good?
Cons
- Forces search and toolbar install (will not install without you agreeing to bloatware).
Summary
Whoever made the decision to change install requirements at ZoneAlarm should be fired. They are going to lose A LOT of marketshare on this silly decision. I've sung nothing but praise for this product for years, and even I as a loyal user have changed tact. Good luck getting those 'trying' ZoneAlarm for the first time to commit with these types of permission requirements. Bye!!!
Pros
In the present SPAM condition: NOTHING!
Cons
It imposes itself on your Firefox "new tab" in very annoying blinking advertizes and impossible to get rid of it, even when you uninstall ZoneAlarm, even when you uninstall/reinstall Firefox
Read reply (1)
Reply by ChoiceVoice on November 22, 2015
i think your system is infected. you'd best do a scan. that doesn't sound like zonealarm.
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