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story category Zone Labs Anti-Virus?
Company bundling additional services
(old news - 07:52PM Monday Apr 12 2004)
tags: security · software
Zone Labs, the creators of the popular Zone Alarm firewall, have decided to get into the anti-virus industry, according to users in our Security Forum. One of the company's Team Z members points to the beta of the Zone Labs security bundle, which will feature AV protection from Computer Associates. Many users were concerned about the future of Zone Alarm when Zone Labs was purchased by Checkpoint Software last December. That same worry will likely surface again, as users wonder if they'll be party to "forced bundling" or the elimination of the free firewall offering (so far there's no indication of that).

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Forums » Zone Labs Anti-Virus?
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Post a:

Dude
What Happens When I Do This
Premium
join:2000-11-20
Chicago, IL
clubs:

idea

download the firewall know and archive the disk for future use
w2co

join:2003-07-16
Longmont, CO

Re: idea

"download the firewall know (now?) and archive the disk for future use"
The problem with this is that in the future, if you install one of the older versions, it will not protect you from the latest threats at the time, therefore it's useless.
Hackers generally don't use methods that are outdated.

stevensr
Premium
join:2001-01-22
Amarillo, TX


1 edit

ZoneAlarm Troubleshooting

I've always been a fan of Zone Alarm until recently. For the past 2 or so months I noticed I was constantly timing out to my IRC server (thinking it was my ISP), then recently after I tried the new game Far Cry I was getting disconnected about every 5 minutes.

I remote into linux servers quite often and never seem to lose the connection there, this made me doubt if it was in fact my ISP.

After quite a bit of messing around to eliminate the problem, it was ZoneAlarm causing my time outs with IRC, FarCry, and my Outlook Exchange server.

I've since switched to the Sygate firewall and took some time to configure it as I wanted. Now all is running very smooth again (OL Exchange and IRC up 4+ days now).

Hopefully it'll be fixed by ZA, but if other ZA users are experiencing these problems I hope this post may shed some light.

SR

jap
Premium
join:2003-08-10
038xx

1 edit

Re: ZoneAlarm Troubleshooting

I dropped ZA 3 years ago for, first, Kerio and now Sygate's free offerings. Both are superior, IMO, to anything ZA ever offered.

blah0987

@dynamic.cov

Same things happened to me, not just for IRC and games but even all my messengers, which was quite annoying because they would often show me as still connected until I actually tried to message someone and learned that I was offline the entire time. Truthfully I still like ZA's interface and the way it handles new programs the most, but the connection issues are killer. In the end, I also moved to Sygate after trying a couple others out.

I'm willing to bet this AV move is due in part to the press reviews (and the masses that they brainwash), which I've seen multiple times lowering ZA's rating just because they wanted to see a full security program rather than a firewall.

72276539
Premium
join:2001-01-19
Atlanta, GA

Zone Alarm sucks, it is buggy... it will block access for no apparent reason if you allowed internet access to an application. Then if you shut down the program you don't shut it down, it still runs in resident memory and you can't get rid of it. Then un-installing is a pain in the ass... just not a good program frankly. I have expieranced problems on 3 different installations, 2 98's and an XP. Never again.
--
some people believe in astrology others believe in technology some people believe in all those -ologies but i believe in swordfish

annony jack

@adelphia.net


thumbs down from:
72276539 See Profile

Re: ZoneAlarm Troubleshooting

Well then in that case... it has to be you and what you are doing. I can think of no other explination, just for the simple fact that I've installed many versions of ZA on many diffrent versions of windows and had no problems.

ZA has been in use on all 3 of my windows computers for the past 4 years. I've only had one problem, it was my mistake for messing with the config too much. ZA is a great program. Too bad some people have problems with it, but it's like that with any program really.

I don't know of any program that everyone can say they had a great time useing and working with. There will always be someone saying "oh this program sucks and you should never use it! They put a button in there that says MESS UP MY COMPUTER and guess what, it really does I hate this program cause it made me feel stupid! grr"

72276539
Premium
join:2001-01-19
Atlanta, GA

Re: ZoneAlarm Troubleshooting

said by annony jack:
Well then in that case... it has to be you and what you are doing. I can think of no other explination, just for the simple fact that I've installed many versions of ZA on many diffrent versions of windows and had no problems.

ZA has been in use on all 3 of my windows computers for the past 4 years. I've only had one problem, it was my mistake for messing with the config too much. ZA is a great program. Too bad some people have problems with it, but it's like that with any program really.

I don't know of any program that everyone can say they had a great time useing and working with. There will always be someone saying "oh this program sucks and you should never use it! They put a button in there that says MESS UP MY COMPUTER and guess what, it really does I hate this program cause it made me feel stupid! grr"

Quiet troll, i know what I am doing with computers so run along.
--
some people believe in astrology others believe in technology some people believe in all those -ologies but i believe in swordfish
Frank Grimes

join:2004-02-08
Charlottetown, PE

I had the same server disconnection and intermittent phantom blocking of applications on my approved list with ZA Free, SReynolds. Then I read about possible exploits with ZA.
Someone on here recommended Sygate Personal Firewall a couple of months ago.
I researched a bit, gave it a try and after some tweeking I have been satisfied ever since.

Rxdoxx
Premium,Mod
join:2000-11-03
Middle River, MD
clubs:

And Computer Associates

If memory serves me correctly, Computer Associates had a free Anti-Virus called Innoculate that is no longer freely available. Hopefully Zone Labs is not walking that path.
--
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold

scarney
Bbr Team Discovery - Bbr Team Rc5
Premium
join:2001-02-18
Madison, WI
clubs:

CA's AV is excellent!

i use CA's AV software and think its the best i have ever used. on the other hand CA's FW is ZA. so its only fitting ZA will be using CA's AV..did that make sense? lol

reaver221

join:2003-05-08
Cincinnati, OH

Oh joy, more features!

Zone Labs Anti-Virus?
Company adding additional bloat

maxwell2112
Stays Crunchy

join:2002-02-10
Ferndale, WA
clubs:

Re: Oh joy, more features!

Yes........Joy

redxii
too big to fail
Premium,Mod
join:2001-02-26
Austin, TX

1 edit
No difference than with nav 2004. Lotsa bloat, unless you cna explain 150MB of missing physical memory with it installed.

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus

join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
·Qwest.net

Pick what works

From my point of view, having used Zone Alarm, PC Cillin,
Kerio, Norton, etc it seem to me it is more important that whatever you are using is kept up to date. To be sure their are issue such as are discussed here. I am going to stay with McAfee for now. The Department of Veterans Affairs have hundreds of thousands of PC's and they use McAfee. the only trouble the VA has is idiot IRM departments who don't keep the software up to date. I have taken out McAfee, and use Pc Cillin's house call once a week and whenever I have a suspicion there might be a problem. I don't do any e-mail and I have it fixed so I can take my PC out of LAN whenever I want and I do so for long periods of time. When the system get nailed by some Virus which it has more then once. I am Merrily clicking along doing my work while I watch everyone else running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
--
"Remember when hacking a loogy it comes not so much from the lungs but from the soul."

AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
join:2001-05-12
ß

Re: Pick what works

I work for the USDoIS, the DoVA does NOT have hundreds of thousands of PC's, not even close.
All total they have less than 60 total nodes...of which near half are WYSE style terminals.

XBL2009
------

join:2001-01-03
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Midwest

Smart Move

One product fits all may not be liked by the hardcore users but it's a smart business move.

I downloaded the 12 meg file which isn't that big for full suite. It installs fine except you need to reboot now to finish the installation. The new features look pretty good and the firewall works as well as ever.

AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
join:2001-05-12
ß

Re: Smart Move

"the firewall works as well as ever".....

1. not a firewall
2. So you are sayign it sucks, right?

XBL2009
------

join:2001-01-03
Chicago, IL
1. It's an application firewall
2. It has it's strengths and weaknesses just like any other software firewall.

AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
join:2001-05-12
ß

If it's as bloated and full of crap

as their "firewall" No freaking way.

Clue for the Zone Labs people... before going off and making more crappy products, fix the one you do make.

Reminder for the n000bs: It ain't a firewall if it's on the machine that it's protecting...I don't care what the "security experts" say...most of them are trying to sell you something.

cork1958
Cork

join:2000-02-26
Fruitport, MI
·Verizon Online DSL
·Charter Pipeline

ZA "used" to rock?

I have ZA Pro on all 5 of my machines. Have NEVER had an issue. I HATE bundled BS though, so this might change my mind about it. How can they even consider themselves experts at security and then bundle it with something they know nothing about? Just like any other company that bundles/improves crap. It becomes a new, improved, POS!! usually. Here's hoping.

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

Re: ZA "used" to rock?

ZA should stick to what they know. [firewalls]. yet another company trying to be a 'do all but do nothing well' product.
--
You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth

Portmonkey
scurvy
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Southern IL

Comfort Zone

I started out with the free ZA & liked it so much I went to ZA Pro two weeks later and been there since. Currently running version (4.5.538.001), and feel comfortable with it. I also feel comfortable with NAV 2004 Pro, and like the bloat that checks for spyware, adware, dialers, joke programs, remote access, hack tools, and I even like the wipe info tool. If ZA can offer an equal or better anti-virus then I'll cough up the dough and give it a try when my current licences expire, but so far it doesn't sound all that great. If ZA Pro continues to be offered without my being forced to use their anti-virus with it, then I will continue to be a return customer, otherwise maybe not.

IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL


2 edits

Comments

Many users were concerned about the future of Zone Alarm when Zone Labs was purchased by Checkpoint Software last December. That same worry will likely surface again, as users wonder if they'll be party to "forced bundling" or the elimination of the free firewall offering (so far there's no indication of that).

I made a direct comment in relation to that here

»Re: ZoneLabs now does AntiVirus

I also think this users comments Daniel See Profile
are worth a look »Re: ZoneLabs now does AntiVirus

"Then I read about possible exploits with ZA."

Care to share this information? Your current choice of product has had just as many - actually more issues in regards to exploits. But I'll save my breath since I'll just be seen as shilling. I do agree with some comments made above. And do feel the company could focus even harder on addressing them. But I don't agree that the program is easily exploited. If that were the case we would see widespread infections of users using there products.

"Zone Labs Anti-Virus? Company adding additional bloat"

Me thinks one should read beta testers comments in relation to resource usage before making such comments. But again what do I know.

For the record I'm not a big fan of suites either. I also won't be using the antivirus in the new beta suite. But a suite if coded right can be effective.
--
Test Your Security
Team Z Member
Cable Modem Diagnostics

XBL2009
------

join:2001-01-03
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Midwest


1 edit

Your all wrong

Zone Alarm is great for noobs and even advanced users. The suite is a great idea cause it saves from running yet more software.

Zone Alarm Sweet :D:D:D:D:D

1. Firewall
2. antivirus,
3. IM encryption,
4. Cookies handler,
5. Cache cleaner,
6. Web filter.
Forums » Zone Labs Anti-Virus?


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