User Rating: 0.5 stars
out of 12 user reviews
Not good for "Windows Vista"by Reviewer11_ - June 4, 2009
Pros: Works fine with Windows XP
Cons: Causes web browsers like Internet Explorer and Firefox to stop working unexpectedly with Windows Vista.
Review: "Zone Alarm" works fine so far for Windows XP, but not for Windows Vista. It causes Internet Explorer and FIrefox Web browsers to stop working unexpectedly to the point where one has to restart their computer. It's downright irritating!
If you are using Windows Vista and have Zone Alarm installed and have problems with your web browser, uninstall Zone Alarm and use a different Firewall instead or Windows Firewall.
User Rating: 5.0 stars
out of 12 user reviews
The standard in Internet securityby razorsandroses97 - May 5, 2009
Pros: Very easy to use, self explanatory, versatile, and very "paranoid" when it comes to the safety of your computer....all for free!
Cons: There are none
Review: I've been using ZoneAlarm for the past 3 years, and I would not trust any other name than this one. It lets you know EVERYTHING that is going on with your computer, and that is what is most important.
User Rating: 4.5 stars
out of 12 user reviews
Great free productby fred64ha - March 17, 2009
Pros: It works with little confusion, need to set it up just a little, to turn off chatter.
Cons: Lost the current network traffic visibility in the new version. Old ZoneAlarm control center had a flashing icon as each app communicated on the network and a mouse over showed details
Review: You need a firewall, if for anything else, to know what apps are talking on the network and to control which you to let talk.
User Rating: 4.5 stars
out of 12 user reviews
Good protection!by BR_guy - February 10, 2009
Pros: Let you see and choose if you will allow access to applications to the internet;
Easy interface;
Panic button that stops all Internet connection in a emergency
Cons: Annoying popups windows
Few updates
Review: Besides the popups windows every time you have a new application, the protection given worth. ( and also is free)....:)
User Rating: 5.0 stars
out of 12 user reviews
PROOF it works!by Greywethr - January 3, 2008
Pros: It WORKS! What else matters?
Cons: Who cares, it WORKS!
Review: A friend was dating a woman who hacked his PC, then after they broke up & he was with someone else, she sent this new g/f MUCH info in the form of emails, IM chats, pix, etc., that she stole w/o him knowing. I had chatted & emailed her too because we became friends through him, and he gave me her IP address so I can check my firewall. Zone Alarm (FREE version) had blocked her dozens & dozens of times. I upgraded to the firewall/anti-virus and have been a proud paying customer for over 2 years now. They EARNED my business, and I'm a HUGE fan a freeware. This is one of the few programs I recommend to anyone.
User Rating: 2.5 stars
out of 12 user reviews
Wait until ZA has a ZA removal tool.by pstein43 - June 6, 2007
Pros: Clean install. Nice interface.
Cons: Difficult to uninstall and reinstall.
Review: With Norton about to expire, I tried the ZA firewall, with the intent of adding the ZA suite. I also tried the Kaspersky free trial. I had some access problems, and not knowing if it was ZA or Kapersky, decided to uninstall/reinstall ZA. Also uninstalled Kaspersky easily. The ZA uninstall went badly. I then googled ZA uninstall and found reviews that uninstalling ZA, even to upgrade, can be a nightmare. I couldn't reinstall, because of error messages, "must shut down true vector," and "need system administrator rights." It is a single home computer and I am listed as the admin. After much wasted time, fragments remain, I went back to Norton for all my security. I'd like to try ZA again, but not until ZA has a ZA removal tool (in addition to the add/remove), like Norton and Mcafee. Don't touch a program that doesn't uninstall cleanly, no matter how good it may be. Read the ZA uninstall reviews, before you try it. It's a shame, because based on reader reviews, I really wanted to switch to ZA.
User Rating: 4.0 stars
out of 12 user reviews
Best one so farby ras0389 - January 4, 2007
Pros: easy of use and install
Cons: Can't work with Live messenger
Review: I really like the software, the firewall can easy be set-up to yr specific need, for both internet and local network access to/from other computers. I have only one problem with ZA 6.5. and that is:
IT DOES NOT WORK WITH lve messenger. big problems in signing in. Older version of messenger and Yahoo, no problems at all.
User Rating: 5.0 stars
out of 12 user reviews
Free Version is a true "Plug & Play" for non-expertsby dllfo - November 25, 2006
Pros: Install and run it. It monitors incoming AND outgoing transmissions. I decide what happens.
Cons: None for me. Instruction manual would be great, but it IS free, so who cares?
Review: Free version a 10, the Anti-Virus a zero due to it being inop so much of the time. I try to reach them and have had NO luck resolving it. I used the pro version in the late 90s, it got a minus ten at that time. See below.
I have been a computer user for 21 years. I still am NOT an expert and don't want to be.
Like most people, I want to turn it on and use it. Zone Alarm (free) allows that.
I used Zone Alarm Pro in the late 90s and it was a NIGHTMARE. I filed a complaint with the Calif. Attorney General to make them call me to get it OFF my business computer. It locked up all the time. Zone Alarm said it was my problem, the AG said different. It took their guy, on the phone, over an hour to get it off my hard drive.
The free version is flawless and I love it, but the Pro version still scares me.
Hard to reach them. I bought their anti-virous jan 21 of 2005. It quit working, my option seems to be calling their expensive tech support line. Next option for me is that I won't renew with them. TOO HARD TO REACH FOR WARRANTY HELP.
User Rating: 1.0 stars
out of 12 user reviews
Buggy Programby scaphil - September 17, 2006
Pros: Easier Interface than Norton
Cons: Freezes computer while it does it thing
Review: I was having a particular problem with Norton Internet Secutiry 2003with one web site. Decided based on CNET to purchase ZoneAlarm Internet Security. Fully uninstalled Norton and installed ZoneAlarm and updated to version 6.5 (performed another full install).
Started to have more problems than the older version of Norton (the problem with Norton went away with ZoneAlarm). Computer would freeze and using Task Manager, I noticed it was running 100% CPU in the backgroud, slowing everything down till the laptop froze. When on batteries, ZoneAlarm would run down the batteries as the CPU was running at 100% all the time.
I plan to go back to Norton, but to the most recent version (regardless of the CNET review).
User Rating: 4.5 stars
out of 12 user reviews
The best, period.by ericocean - September 15, 2006
Pros: Free, effective, easy to use.
Cons: No spyware protection included.
Review: Highly effective, easy to install and update. And it keeps you posted: as of today, "8119 intrusions blocked, 85 of those have been high-rated." Meaning, very dangerous to the health of your machine. However, no free spyware/adware protection. What you are getting here is a very good firewall, pure and simple. It is the first free software I ever downloaded, and it is the first I downloaded when I bought a new machine. Would not want to be without it.
User Rating: 4.5 stars
out of 12 user reviews
Excellent productby mlimtiaco - August 30, 2006
Pros: Pain-free installation and configuration
Cons: Unsure/Unproven anti-virus
Review: This was a god-send after my whole Norton Internet Security 2006 debacle. I have never had any problems with this or previous versions of this product. I really like that it has integrated everything into one product. I have used other firewall and anti-virus products in the past, and this was by far the most pain-free. The fact that they have integrated a complete security suite is even better. My only hang up is with the antivirus part of the suite. I'm just unsure if it's a really proven AV product.
User Rating: 5.0 stars
out of 12 user reviews
Best Free Firewallby MattLee0416 - August 19, 2006
Pros: Best Free Firewall
Cons: Not As Many Features As Pro
Review: this is the best free firewall by leaps and bounds, ive not had any probs since i started using this product. hell this might even make norton av look semi good, well thats wishful thinking =P
