ZoneAlarm Antivirus 6.5

CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
Detailed editors' rating
Setup and interface: 8.0
Features: 9.0
Performance: 0.0
Service and support: 8.0
Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 5 reviews
• See all user reviews

Product summary

CNET Editors' ChoiceJun 06

CNET editors' review

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

In addition to providing antivirus protection, Checkpoint ZoneAlarm Antivirus 6.5 provides three layers of firewall 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. ZoneAlarm remains in two-way communication with your firewall whenever you are connected to the Internet. As new threats emerge, ZoneAlarm is able to pass along new firewall rules and, in the case of extremely malicious activity, shut down any program that attempts dangerous activity. For antivirus protection, ZoneAlarm uses CA eTrust EZ Antivirus. Wisely, ZoneAlarm's makers haven't changed the program's clean and intuitive interface. Features such as Firewall, Antivirus, and Firewall Logs run down the left side of the screen. There's a column for advice regarding each feature section, then there's the main screen, including layered tabs for configuration options. Why McAfee and Norton haven't switched to a similar design is beyond us. Gamers will appreciate a new option that quiets the pop-up messages from ZoneAlarm while you are in the midst of playing a full-screen adventure game.

But all is not yet perfect within ZoneAlarm Antivirus 6.5. Pop-ups remain an issue, flashing whenever you restart your computer as various processes and services request control. You can ask ZoneAlarm Antivirus to remember your decision to allow or deny access, but many readers have complained in the past that ZoneAlarm remains "noisy." ZoneAlarm Antivirus 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. And the ZoneAlarm online forums are active, with users worldwide eager and willing to answer your questions--something that Norton and McAfee don't offer.

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User reviews

• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 5 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars Write review

• Showing 3 of 5 user reviewsSee all 5 user reviews

• 4.5 stars

  1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

  "Overall the Best I have ever used."

  by Jerrett75 on January 26, 2007

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• 1.0 stars

  1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

  ""Invalid update contents bug kills AV protection""

  by DaveOCP on January 7, 2007

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• 4.5 stars

  1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

  "So much better than Norton and McAfee for me"

  by SiliconValleyDude on March 16, 2007

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• See all 5 user reviews Write review

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