Spyware, viruses, & security forum: Problems With Zone Alarm

I went to Shields Up after installing the trial version of Zone Alarm Pro and it failed the Stealth Test (Open Ports: 25(SMTP) 118(POP3) 143(IMAP). It also failed the Leak Test.
When I installed the Sunbelt Keiro Firewall last year it passed both tests. Any comment on this????

My ZoneAlarm software has NEVER failed a Stealth Test in all the years I have been using it (since ZoneAlarm 2.0).

Moreover, the only time it failed a Leak Test was when I upgraded to ZoneAlarm Security Suite 7 and opted for the "Learning Mode" during installation. While your firewall is in the Learning Mode, you won't get as many notifications pop-ups - if any. But as ZA's configuration wizard clearly states, this relative "silence" comes at the expense of slightly lower firewall protection. ZoneAlarm's learning period can be anywhere from a week to several weeks, but you can always open ZA's console and change the Internet Security Settings to high.

In any case, ZoneAlarm Security Suite 7 has some major bugs and it wouldn't surprise me if the components shared with ZA Pro might be responsible for some of the issues you have experienced. It might be a good idea to stick to version 6.5 until Zone Labs/CheckPoint releases the next ZA upgrade.

Zone Alarm still has the same problems as it did when I stopped using it last year(computer boots up slow,screen saver freezes and the program is using almost 100 percent of the systems resources when the computer is idle).

Thanks for the link!!!! I don't think I ever tried that program before!!!!

I installed the Comodo firewall that you recommended and I really love it!!!! Hopefully I will have no problems with it in the future.
I passed both the Port and Leak test at Shields Up.
THANKS AGAIN!!!!

I recently purchased Zone Alarm Pro. After starting to use it, I found that about half of my online accounts would not work properly, preventing me from purchasing supplies from long established accounts. Today, after reading the problems with zone alarm, I downloaded Comodo. I immediately went to the websites that I haven't been able to use and low and behold! They all work perfectly! Zone Alarm had been preventing the sites from working properly with my computer. Thanks for the heads up!

I have also been using Zone alarm for years but the free version and I have had a few problems with it in the past but never anything serious it passes all the tests and touch wood I have not had any access or intrusion problems whilst using it'
it is a little slow on loading at times on start up but apart from that its ok so maybe it is a conflict issue try a clean instal rather than an upgrade that is what I did to cure my problem with it

After a trial period with Bullguard I wanted to install ZoneAlarm - tried 2 times but could not make it function, perhaps because I use Gmail. I then turned to McAfee firewall free edition - it worked right from the start and together with AVG antivirus there has been no problems since January 07.

Although Zone Alarm is the 2nd best AV/Firewall on the market, remember a few things.
If you have problems, contact them and give them a chance. I'm not sure how bad their tech support is, but if no one takes the time to try to solve the problem, they will never know.

Never mix software that do the same thing (like 2 AV PGM's)in the auto mode.

Make sure you read any warnings or notes when you run any scans... Some malware prigrams have been known to remove parts of AV/Firewall software (this is true of some of the lesser effective malware and AV pgm's.)

You get what you pay (or don't pay) for..... I've been using Norton NIS for years (at least 8)and never have had a virus. True their tech support is so-so and the site is HUGE, but it's the best out there and while I've never had any viruses, I know many that run McAfee, AVG, et'al, that have been plagued off and on for years..... BTW, I wouldn't give you a plug nickle for any of Symantecs other crap.

When you run malware PPM's do so in manual and look at the area that says what is being removed......

And one last hint..... DO NOT RUN CLEAN-UP TOOLS!!! I did a comparison check a while back on several of these so called 'Clean up tools (or utilities)..... Every one of the top 4 utilities removed either critical OS files or removed files from Norton and ZoneAlarm
(as well as Music Match, Roxio's EZ DVD Creator and other major pgm's)

Watch what is being removed no matter what you are running and if there is any doubt or you are kind of leery of a suspicious 'Process', spring the few bucks for a little program called "Winpatrol". The paid version allows you to go to the web site and look any process you find running and it tells you if it's safe to remove it or not, what it is and does...... At least this program works

And lastly for gods sake...... Don't click on any of these pop-ups you find while surfing..... Especially the ones that pop-up and say "WARNING: Your system is or may be under attack" Or unsecure....
If you do ...IT WILL BE

I use the latest version of Zone Alarm Pro and had never heard of the Shields Up tests until reading this forum. My system passes all of their tests with a Total Stealth rating. No problems here and very happy with Zone Alarm Pro. I switched from Norton which I hated!

Agree with 16 and 17
I have used Grisoft AVG for years, even while I was connected through the telephone. Never had a problem with it. No glitch, nothing, not even a hiccup. People have to watch how they are installing any software. Matter of fact I DO NOT let it use the default location to install. I actually try to use my second drive to install the software. Two reasons:
1. I install at the root of second drives directory.
2. For good reason if I have to delete from the directory directly, I know where it is located and can see it.

My sister just installed Grisoft AVG on her brand new home built computer (she actually built it her self, no special knowledge), WindowsXP operating system. She not had a problem yet.

What most people want is software to be automatic and that my friend means BLOATWARE. Sure it can be done all for a person, but the programming that goes into it!!!!

Nuff said

P.S.

Below is the Gibson Research Labs URL's for software and the SheildsUP and the Sheildsup Leaktest:


Gibson Research Corporation Software Page (for the most part free)
http://www.grc.com/default.htm

SheildsUP:
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

SheildsUP Leaktest:
http://www.grc.com/lt/leaktest.htm

Two firewalls, and you encountered problems with both.

And judging by your description of the issues with ZA, it sounds as if you don't have enough memory in your computer for all of the programs and processes you normally run. Spyware is a possibility, too.

Of course, without specific information about your computer (CPU, memory) and what you are doing when you encounter the issues, it's hard to pinpoint a culprit. But something tells me you will run into the same "issues" with your new firewall, too...

Regardless of what firewall one is using it is only as good as the person setting it up. For one, if you want to secure your computer you certainly do not do it by auto. Learn the firewall and set it up according to instructions, not by selecting the auto everything. Learn what the pop-ups mean.
As usual I find that most people just download and install a firewall and seem to forget that you also must uninstall the one you are currently using or you will create conflicts. If you are using XPPro you must disable the XP firewall or there will be conflicts. I am not pushing Zone Alarm as I feel the user should utilize the one they are most comfortable with as long as the firewall provides adequate security.
Most problems users have with Zone Alarm is in the set up mainly because no one reads instructions any more and feel the program should just auto set up. Well that would be impossible for a firewall because it has to learn your allowed programs and protect you from malware and threats. Remember this your Window Operating System is suppose to close any port a program is using when you close the program. Unless you set rules within the firewall it does not know to close the port because you allowed the program. Also there are certain TCP and UDP ports that one should always list in the rules as blocked. Learn how to use a firewall and it will protect you from about anything they can throw at you without causing any crashes or problems.
The main item to always look at is conflicts specially if for some inane reason you choose to run 2, 3, 4 or even 5 different firewalls aqnd you need to watch AV's as they are now including firewalls in the AV suites which will cause conflicts.

I was using Zone Alarm Pro for over 10 years until last year when an update screwed up my computer. My other people had the same problem and all that tech support told us to do was go to the free version. Why would I want to do that???? I paid for the Pro version and they tell me to use the FREE one?