ZA ForceField 1.0.253.0 Beta released

[fax]

ZA ForceField 1.0.253.0 Beta

Feature summary:

• Virtual surfing creates a duplicate, disposable “you” which receives all of the Web attacks, leaving you safe to visit any website and click on any link.
  
• Bank & Shop security – Multiple layers of protection safeguard the information you enter online.
  
• Two-way protection not only protects your PC from Internet attacks, but also your Web session from threats already on your PC like spyware and keyloggers.
  
• Private Browser lets you surf anywhere and type anything without leaving a single trace on the computer.
  
• Dangerous download detector checks every file download form the Internet to make sure it’s clean.
  
• Advanced anti-phishing utilizes sophisticated heuristics and the best signature system available to prevent you from visiting fraudulent websites that try to trick you into revealing personal data.
  
• Anti-keylogger/screengrabber discovers and blocks silent spyware programs that try to steal your identity by recording what you type and view.
  
• Website auditor checks credentials on every website to see if it’s safer to enter data or download files.
  
• Spyware scanner searches for spyware on your computers.
  
• Spy site blocking finds and blocks spyware distribution sites as you surf the Web.
  
• Temp file encryption encrypts the temporary files that are automatically created on your PC as they type information on the Web, so you cannot be compromised by spyware on your PCs.
  
• Browser exploit immunity inoculates your computer from automatic downloads and other threats that occur through the numerous browser exploits that arise each year.
  
• Security Services subscription offers access to Instant ZoneAlarm ForceField along with computer backup, real-world identity theft protection, customer support and new services that are added over time.
  
• Seamless – Connect and communicate the way you already do – ZoneAlarm ForceField stays out of your way.

Known Issues

* Anti-phishing heuristics may slow browsing at some sites. The phishing characteristics detection (heuristics) that ForceField performs at Web sites may slow the speed at which some Web sites load.
* Anti-phishing heuristics may display some false positive findings (please report any false positives)
* Clearing virtual data clears new settings. Setting changes that you make to your web browser occur inside the ForceField virtual file system.
* Game protection software (nProtect) conflict. The ForceField anti-keylogger uses a low-level system technology that may conflict with other low-level technologies, such as software that is often used for protecting computer games from debugging and malicious access to game code.
* Some applications may launch unprotected (no ForceField) browser windows. Some programs, including some instant messengers, may have Web page links that open a browser window without ForceField.
* Files in virtual file system may become corrupted due to some reason and as a result browser may fail to start.

Fixed Issues

* Compatibility: Windows Update from web page
* Compatibility: FireFox 3 support
* Compatibility: Printing from local printers
* Compatibility: Opening WMA files in Windows Media Player on Vista
* Compatibility: Compatibility with Adobe Acrobat 8.1
* Compatibility: Opening links from third-party applications
* Compatibility: FireFox startup
* Compatibility: Improved support for FireFox addons
* Other: Many performance and stability improvements

Testing Details Required for testing:
Do not install this beta unless you have the following configuration:

* Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista
* Internet Explorer 6/7 or Firefox 2.0 ONLY

Don't shoot the messenger....

Cheers,
Fax

[arran]

If this had a configuration for Opera I would try it.

[Dieselman]

Thanks for the heads up. Last time I tried it added 5 processes. Hopefully thats isn't the case anymore.

[fax]

Originally Posted by Dieselman

Thanks for the heads up. Last time I tried it added 5 processes. Hopefully thats isn't the case anymore.

Uuuhm.. that depends on the number of IE/FF windows/tabs you have opened...
(but I haven't check it lately)

Cheers,
Fax

[Dieselman]

Ok cool. I usually have around 6 -8 tabs open in FF.

[Chuck57]

I've been attracted to ZA Forcefield from day one. Ran it in an earlier beta and I liked it. I've downloaded the latest, removed Returnil for the moment, and will play with ZAF for a while.

I don't know if it's as secure as Returnil. I haven't read anything one way or the other. I can say this. MSIE 6 which I use, is a Lot faster with ZAF installed, almost on a par with Kmeleon 1.1.3 (which apparently doesn't run under ZAF). Then, I can't get FF 2.xx to load with ZAF either and can't find where to select the browser. No matter, I can live with MSIE for the time being.

If somebody has run any malware tests on ZAF, I'm hoping they post the results.

*edit* I have discovered that I'll either have to run Sandboxie or ZAF. When I engage Sandboxie, ZAF doesn't run.

[Dieselman]

Installed it. Tried it. Uninstalled it. Normally it takes Firefox about 5 seconds to open. With Forcefield it takes 30 seconds. Entire pc is actually slower. Guess thats why they call it beta.

[Kees1958]

Hi,

I have not tried it, but I like the concept (at least of what I understand about it).

Normal modus (sort of Policy Sandbox Plus):
- anti fishing
- anti keylogger
- starts browser with limited user rights

Private browser modus
- virtual sandbox (like SandBoxie and SafeSpacePersonal).

I will be watching this ap.

Regards Kees

[fax]

Originally Posted by Kees1958

Hi,

I have not tried it, but I like the concept (at least of what I understand about it).

Normal modus (sort of Policy Sandbox Plus):
- anti fishing
- anti keylogger
- starts browser with limited user rights

Private browser modus
- virtual sandbox (like SandBoxie and SafeSpacePersonal).

I will be watching this ap.

Regards Kees

Hi!
I think the 'virtual sandbox' is both active in normal and private mode.

The only difference between the two is that the virtual data in private browsing mode is erased as soon as the windows is closed. While in normal mode virtual data is kept up to when is cleared manually via the FF interface.

I don't know about memory usage of other sandbox applications but FF seems light on my system or at least I cannot notice any slowdown.
I see between 5 to 6 processes in the task manager (VISTA with 4Giga of RAM). With a total use of 113MB memory footprint with three IE7 tabs opened. Seems a lot but you have to discount the IE process that is replaced by FF. i.e. on balance between 35-45MB memory usage overall (depending on tabs/windows opened).

How is the memory usage of other sandboxing utilities?? I would be courious to know.

Cheers,
Fax

[Kees1958]

Not on the box with GeSWall and HauteSecure, but DefenseWall is between 10K and 25K

[fax]

Originally Posted by Kees1958

Not on the box with GeSWall and HauteSecure, but DefenseWall is between 10K and 25K

Ok.. thanks
Anyone on Sanboxie and SafeSpace?

Fax

[muf]

With Firefox open, Sandboxie is using five processes totalling 16mb of memory useage. If not running anything sandboxed then there are two processes running using about 8mb.

Please consider this is on my pc and on others the useage may vary. I'm running it on Windows XP SP2.

muf

[fax]

Thanks...
Fax

[SystemJunkie]

Installed it. Tried it. Uninstalled it. Normally it takes Firefox about 5 seconds to open. With Forcefield it takes 30 seconds. Entire pc is actually slower. Guess thats why they call it beta.

Agree, it slow downs everything to the max.

[fax]

Originally Posted by SystemJunkie

Agree, it slow downs everything to the max.

No slow down on VISTA or XP machine here...
But both machine are clean of multiple security tools. Only a main AV/AS

Still a bit unstable on VISTA.
An my password utility does not work anymore correctly even if I shutdown the anti-keylogging...

Cheers,
Fax

[aigle]

Originally Posted by fax

How is the memory usage of other sandboxing utilities?? I would be courious to know.

GesWall is here.

For SafeSpace see:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=199167

[fax]

Originally Posted by aigle

For SafeSpace see:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=199167

Thanks aigle...
Does SafeSpace replace IE with its own process or on top of SafeSpace memory footprint you have to add IE memory?

In other words: is IE process still in task manager when using SafeSpace?

Fax

[Dieselman]

Originally Posted by fax

Thanks aigle...
Does SafeSpace replace IE with its own process or on top of SafeSpace memory footprint you have to add IE memory?

In other words: is IE process still in task manager when using SafeSpace?

Fax

I tried safespace it its slower then Force Field.

[Chuck57]

Well, so much for ZA Forcefield. Had to remove it. It ran fine for a day or so and then started locking up my browser (MSIE6). It would freeze for as much as a half a minute after clicking a button before working.

I noticed no slowdown when it worked. It's a Beta program. Maybe I'll try the next version, or wait until it's released. I'm back to Returnil.

[aigle]

Originally Posted by fax

Thanks aigle...
Does SafeSpace replace IE with its own process or on top of SafeSpace memory footprint you have to add IE memory?

In other words: is IE process still in task manager when using SafeSpace?

Fax

Yes, IE is there as well.

[fax]

Originally Posted by aigle

Yes, IE is there as well.

Ah, OK... thanks for the add-on info!

Cheers,
Fax