DISQUS

Misanthropyst · 4 years ago

PS -- ZoneAlarm is incompatible with Windows XP after SP2 has been installed. Uninstall Zonealarm before installing SP2 (I know, it's mostly too late). The Windows firewall in SP2 is mostly good enough.

Richard Bennett · 4 years ago

Aha - good to know.

Ara · 4 years ago

Wow.

I haven't had any of the problems you've had, but then again, I've never uninstalled ZoneAlarm. Also, I probably have an older version of it (I've heard bad things about the newer ones). Firefox works fine on three machines that I use -- 2-WinME (there's a product that sucks!) and Win2K.

Just curious -- what firewall solution do you use?

Sigivald · 4 years ago

It's perfectly distinguishable from a virus.

It doesn't spread by itself, or install itself without you telling it to.

It's even perfectly distinguishable from a trojan, in that it keeps running when you uninstall because of a bug in the uninstall process, rather than by intent (I'm assuming - certainly the GRC people think ZoneAlarm is good, and they're Very Serious computer security people, and it seems stunningly unlikely that the Zone people would intentionally do something so annoying. It can't help their business plans, after all, to peeve users of their free product.)

Casey Tompkins · 4 years ago

It's amazing how concentrated the BS can be.

I'm currently running XP Pro w/SP2 installed. Am running ZA with no problems at all. I've been using Mozilla/Windows for nearly two years with no problems, and have encountered no problems while trying out Firefox as well.

I've also un-installed and re-installed ZA several times, and never had to muck around with the registry.

Sounds like someone is blaming their problems on someone else's software...

Richard Bennett · 4 years ago

Wrong, Casey Tompkins - go check the Firefox BBS I linked in the orginal post and you'll see dozens of messages confirming the fact that some versions of Zone Alarm will prevent new browsers from running and continue to do so after they've allegedly been de-installed. One comment I found over there: "Anyway the current version 5.5.062.000 of ZA suite is no longer conflicting with FF (although the previous two ZA releases did.)"

And I can confirm that the new version, which I just installed a couple days ago, will not install until all traces of the older version are removed by hand.

You're welcome to worship the ground that Steve Gibson walks on if you wish, but don't bullshit me.

John Van Laer · 4 years ago

I can't comment on Mozilla, Stopzilla or any *zilla whatsoever, nor on Firefox, but the allegation that ZoneAlarm is incompatible with XPsp2 or plain-vanilla IEX 6 is not only ludicrous but defamatory. I would be a little careful about defaming widely-used and highly useful software if I were commenting on or running a website. Intentionally damaging other people's business is [choose your own completion].

Casey Tompkins · 4 years ago

I see I owe Richard a bit of an apology; I wasn't aware of the "older versions did work, but the latest doesn't" twist.

You see, I still use ZA Pro 3.0.082. It works quite well with my XP Pro w/SP2.

My apologies, Mr. Bennett. While I don't worship Steve Gibson {g}, I'll be happy to retract my statement that you are full of it. I was wrong.

I should be able to get this foot out of my mouth any minute now...

That said, has anyone determined whether any of this relates to SP2's improved firewall? I made sure that thing was off, but my ISP tech support remarked that sometimes even that won't do it, and some folks need to download some sort of patch from MS to really kill it, if desired.

Richard Bennett · 4 years ago

Thank you Casey, that's very gracious of you. People are telling me that the latest version of ZA works with SP2, and seems to have also corrected the un-install bug. I can't comment on any of this from experience.

Tam · 4 years ago

I have zone alarm security suite 5.5.062. I just got a cable modem put in and now, over half the time, ZA will not let me open up internet explorer. I have to manually shut down ZA,-which I do not like having to do-, open i.e., just to get on the internet. Then I can go back and turn on zone alarm which leaves me exposed for a few seconds which is a few seconds too many for me. I'd love to hear how to fix this.

Tam · 4 years ago

Here's another public enemy: System Mechanic (Iolo Technologies), they insert keyloggers into their 30 free trials. Luckily, as sucky as zone alarm has been lately, it found it, and identified the file, which was system mechanic 5. Pass it on.

T · 4 years ago

1. Install Zone Alarm
2. Engage Internet Lock
3. Open Zone Alarm, go to Program Control and give Generic Host, and Sevices 'Pass Lock Permission'
4. Start FireFox and try to browse
5. Open Zone Alarm, go to Program Control and give FireFox 'Pass Lock Permission'
6. Always run Zone Alarm with the Internet Lock ON
7. Yay, you learned how to setup Zone Alarm the right way

Richard Bennett · 4 years ago

Zone Alarm's de-install didn't work correctly for me, so I won't be using it again, but thanks for playing.

Jeffers · 4 years ago

To get Firefox working with Zone Alarm:

1) Select Zone Alarm's 'program control' tab

2) Right click on the FireFox entry, and selcet 'options'

3) UN-TICK, the box next to 'Enable Privacy for this program'

Done.

Richard Bennett · 4 years ago

Nobody should install Zone Alarm.

Oakley · 4 years ago

Agree re suckiness of ZA. Installed free version and can't uninstall; says vsmon.exe file can't be found and so can't be deleted; still can't connect to internet. IE is hijaced to ZA "fix-it" page saying it'll take 5 to 15 minutes to fix. Ha Ha Ha. More like 5 to 15 hours and still not fixed! All ZA "fixes" are totally useless. Uninstall program totally useless, as is this company.