ZoneAlarm 6.5

CNET editors' review

• Reviewed by: Robert Vamosi
• Reviewed on: 06/05/2006
• Released on: 06/05/2006

Looking for a free personal firewall for your personal PC? Checkpoint ZoneAlarm 6.5 provides three layers of protection. ZoneAlarm guards at the Internet gateway so that intruders don't get in, on the desktop at the program level so that bogus programs don't connect to the Internet, and inside the operating system kernel where rootkits and other malware can hide. Gamers will appreciate a new option which quiets the pop-up messages from ZoneAlarm while you are in the midst of playing a full-screen adventure game. Wisely, ZoneAlarm's makers haven't changed the program's clean and intuitive interface. Features such as Firewall and Firewall Logs run down the left side of the screen, with premium features such as antivirus and antispyware protection grayed out. But all is not yet perfect within ZoneAlarm. Pop-ups remain an issue, flashing whenever you restart your computer as various processes and services request control. You can ask ZoneAlarm to remember your decision to allow or deny access, but many readers have complained in the past that ZoneAlarm remains "noisy." ZoneAlarm does provide a tutorial; while helpful, it is still more of a marketing tool than one that provides information. However, the built-in help file is excellent, thorough, and very specific, effectively balancing detail and clarity.

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User opinions

WRITE YOUR OWN REVIEW How would you rate this product?

• 9/10 Spectacular August 30, 2006

  by mlimtiaco (see profile)

  "Excellent product" Read more >>

• 10/10 Perfect August 19, 2006

  by MattLee0416 (see profile)

  "Best Free Firewall" Read more >>

• 9/10 Spectacular September 15, 2006

  by ericocean (see profile)

  "The best, period." Read more >>

• WRITE YOUR OWN REVIEWSee all 8 user opinions >>

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Where to buy

ZoneAlarm 6.5

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