ZoneAlarm Free 7.0.462.0

Zone Alarm Free has now been updated to the latest version. Still has the long boot up with the Welcome screen but overall not a bad product. Dont know how it will do against Comodo and Online Armor since both of them have HIPS and Zone does not. Any takers? Here is the link.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/ZoneAlarm_Free_d388.html

 

Does it try to insatll BHO ? see http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=54667301&posted=1#post54667301

Will Comodo free operate in stealth mode

 

Hmm! I looked up the CLSID for that BHO, I didn't get a hit so I suspect it relates to the SpyBlocker toolbar - there's something on that here:-

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=1078465

You don't have to install it if you don't want it - you are offered it on install.

 

As TopperId mentioned and according to the change log info at the Check Point site it installs the Spyblocker toolbar if that option is selected.

http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/information/znalm/zaReleaseHistory.html#7.0.462.000

 

Do you know if Comodo free has stealth. As far as I can see from their site it hasn't. Since the toolbar is optional will probably stay with ZA

 

Yes Comodo free is fully stealthed by default.

 

Anyone thinking of installing the Spyblocker feature may care to look at this thread:-

http://forums.zonelabs.com/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=inst&message.id=74483

I must have mistyped the CLSID at first, 'cos it appears the Ask.com search facility is bundled up with Spyblocker and you may not want that.

 

Yeah, the Toolbar is powered by Ask.com

http://support.bluemedicine.be/images/zaptoolbar2.gif

It's also a pity that no EULA is displayed where you can uncheck the Toolbar during install. All it says there is that this toolbar provides "extra security" and the optional is pre-checked.
Result > it will be installed, since people will leave it checked.

http://support.bluemedicine.be/images/zaptoolbar.gif

 

I just tried to download the above version and Nod popped up that it was a virus. Is that really the latest version as the one I installed and tried from the Zonealarm site on the 11th was version 7.1.78.0 (vista)? Sadly I had problems with it as it slowed my internet and wouldn't let Firefox open sometimes.

 

ZDnet ran an article about ZA + the toolbar, http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=759

 

I'm new, what's stealthed mean when applied to firewalls?

 

A firewall which stealths ports does not allow your operating system to
reply to unsolicited inbound packets. In other words, the packet may be
sent to you, but since you don't reply, the sender does not know you
are there. You are invisible to any computer with which you have not
established a connection. Unsolicited packets are automatically rejected
without notification to the sender.

 

You can check if your firewall is stealthed by taking the Shields Up test at www.grc.com

 

Thanks for the replies. Sorry to jump in on the thread.

 

You're welcome

No problem

 

Anyone else get a virus warning when downloading from the above link? Is it because of the toolbar? Is this version newer than the 7.1.78.0? Thanks

 

I got a warning from NOD when I tried to download another program which included the Ask toolbar (spysweeper). NOD just quarantined it.

 

One thing that annoys the hell outta me, is that ZA has started to automatically add programs that never even asked for permission to access the internet/lan. It makes a huge mess when you're trying to keep at least some order in the application list. If you delete them to get an overview of the application list, all you have to do is work on your pc for a few minutes and they pop right back in there.

Extremely annoying if you ask me.

 

What i don't understand is what exactly Checkpoint thinks by pushing Ask Toolbar prechecked during installation. Have they lost every contact with the pubblic?

Instead of trying to make better their firewall (which for example is notorious since ages for the inability to properly open UDP ports for EMule, so every Emuler avoids ZAF), they add the toolbar?

Why would anyone at this point bother with ZAF when free competition gives OA and Comodo, which are far superior in the heavyweight category and others like AShampoo, Kerio 2, Sygate or even Comodo w/o HIPS in the lightweight category?

There are sooo many free firewalls out there, each of which is at LEAST on par with ZAF in leak tests and most are above it in usability (Emule is an example or port chosing in others) and all Checkpoint tries to do is sneak-install a toolbar? Have they lost completely their minds? Do they think it helps their reputation? This is a firewall, for God' sake, it's supposed to be something 100% clean. Specially since it is installed also by people that aren't fluent in english and certainly don't read EULAs or expect a "foreign object" prechecked in their "secure" firewall installer.

If someone makes a list of the free firewalls right now and tries to find a reason of why ZAF would be a better choice than them, it would be very interesting to hear the reason...

 

Anyone if free to decide what firewall to install... there are user who likes ZAF for whatever reason other that don't ... and leak test is not the only criteria users adopt to choose one... there is also interface and colors , semplicity, impact on system, etc.

Anyway, I don't use the free version of ZA so I don't have to worry about it

Fax

 

True. From the above reasons, apart colours and maybe simplicity, ZAF has better competitors. With best in simplicity being questionable...

I used to use ZAF...once. It's a shame how it has ended nowdays. Fortunately, nowdays, i too, don't have to worry about it. Much better options out there.

Checkpoint, doesn't grasp the simplest market rule. When they will, it maybe too late.

Even the user that likes colours (orange is beautiful) or simplicity, will probably get scared if his antivirus pops up or when he will find himself with a toolbar he wasn't expecting in his PC... The average non native english speaking home user, who is accustomed for years to ZA or its name, won't be expecting any such surprises during installation, he will simply click "next". I think this is a new low for a "security application". I can understand if DivX wants to bundle a toolbar. I could understand when Webshots Desktop in early versions had Gator (!) prechecked. But a firewall? Gee! Security apps are supposed to be "SAFE & CLEAN"! They could have at least prefered to OPT IN instead of prechecking it!


Anyway, Fax, since you are from the ZA Team, you could warn them before it's too late. Ok, maybe they don't care, because it's the free version. But this is bad for their brand name and some of those free users who could one day buy the "pro" (or AV/ZASS), will think about it twice. Because as you say, everyone is free to install the firewall they like. But many people, want exactly that, a FIREWALL, not a firewall+ toolbar. Do you know how many will panic thinking that they got spyware or something? And i repeat, Checkpoint, should think that not all people speak english well. There are people that know to click to their "trusted" firewall and only read the program names. They don't get to read all windows when installing their "trusted" firewall that have known for years. This is the highway to LOSING their trust.

But, i guess, this wouldn't be the first blunder Checkpoint does since the day they took over ZA, would it?

 

What is the purpose of the Ask toolbar? Does the Spy Site blocking feature block sites that give negative reports about ZA? (like ZA Pro did with PC Flank's site)

 

You people seem to be forgetting something. Dont just click next,next,next. It gives you the option to uncheck the install for the toolbar. You dont need to install it. I have ZAAS which I got on patch Tuesday for free and I love it. Much easier then Comodo and or Online Armor.

 

ZA staff? No...no I am not ZA staff. Just helping out for fun in the forum.

I don't really see a big problem adding a toolbar to ZAfree... I found more 'pathetic' (without offense) that everybody focus on a harmless toolbar (pushing ads like Google or Yahoo) and forget that ZAfree install non functional and unwanted add-ons (there is no uncheck box) such as the antispam or the Kaspersky engine!

Toolbars are not new to security software, see webroot...
And many other tools... flash player/google or ccleaner/yahoo.

Cheers,
Fax

 

You forgot to mentioned that any traces of Comodo firewall will also trigger an istant to crash to your system

Fax