Zone Alarm Headaches? - Users note new version has issues...

Zone Alarm Headaches?
Users note new version has issues...
(old news - 11:50AM Tuesday May 25 2004)
tags: security

When Zone Labs was purchased by Checkpoint software and subsequently decided to bundle antivirus software, many openly wondered if the quality of products like Zone Alarm would diminish. Significant problems with the latest public beta version of the software firewall aren't exactly cooling those worries, as users in our security forum explore. Users both here and in the official Zone Labs forum report the new version is far from stable for many users. Some users are even reporting the version is forcing them to uninstall competing antivirus programs.

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Forums » Zone Alarm Headaches?


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Hall Premium,MVM join:2000-04-28 Dayton, OH	Don't "upgrade" (yet) I learned a long time ago to let others be the "public" beta testers when products are released.... It doesn't always pay to have the latest and greatest.
	permalink · 2004-05-25 11:47:10 ·

Zunger join:2003-08-24 Fayetteville, AR	Re: Don't "upgrade" (yet) if everyone had that opinion, then there would be no point in beta testing, now would there?
	permalink · 2004-05-25 11:54:58 ·

Steve I'm a PC, so shut up Consultant join:2001-03-10 Yorba Linda, CA	Re: Don't "upgrade" (yet) said by Zunger : if everyone had that opinion, then there would be no point in beta testing, now would there? Yah, so? That's one of those silly "if" questions that provides zero useful information. If everybody stuck with typewriters, we wouldn't have word processors, would we? -- Stephen J. Friedl * Security Consultant * Tustin, California USA * my web site
	permalink · 2004-05-25 11:57:53 · Print ·

Zunger join:2003-08-24 Fayetteville, AR	Re: Don't "upgrade" (yet) we have brains, do we not?
	permalink · 2004-05-25 11:58:46 ·

Trel Good Evening Premium join:2002-10-08 Hillsborough, NJ	Re: Don't "upgrade" (yet) said by Zunger : we have brains, do we not? If everyone used their brain, we would have these pointless arguments
	permalink · 2004-05-25 12:12:02 ·

Hall Premium,MVM join:2000-04-28 Dayton, OH ·EarthLink ·AT&T Midwest ·Earthlink Cable Mo..	said by Zunger : if everyone had that opinion, then there would be no point in beta testing, now would there? And then maybe the software companies would consider making a better product and more testing internally vs releasing a product not when sales/marketing say "ship it".
	permalink · 2004-05-25 12:54:09 ·

MWR2NY

join:2002-02-06
Edgewood, MD

I Run Microsoft XP SP2 with SAV and ZA 4.0.146.029. I don't believe in putting all my eggs in one basket. XP SP2 is worthless as long as you run a firewall and Anti-Virus. We all know trusting any Microsoft product is putting the Internet in jeopardy. My AV calls in for an update every night and I trust ZA to block out the bad guys. I stopped upgrade ZA when my shut downs hung on newer ZA builds. Don't trust all in ones and don't patronize only one software manufacturer.

permalink · 2004-05-25 13:37:18 ·

TESTER34 @midco.net	If you have zonealarm 4.5 just download the new zonealarm 5 free and do the option to upgrade i did and everthing is running fine on my xp system with mcafee 8. note backup your security setting file just to be ok.
	permalink · 2004-05-25 18:06:54 ·

Hall Premium,MVM join:2000-04-28 Dayton, OH	Re: Don't "upgrade" (yet) No thanks... ZA 4.xx is working just fine for me.
	permalink · 2004-05-25 21:33:08 ·

DHRacer
Fire Survivor

join:2000-10-10
Lake Arrowhead, CA

·Charter Pipeline

·Verizon west (ex G..

Pro only?

This seems to be a problem with Pro only?

I run ZA Free, and I just went and did the upgrade last night, and it didn't care what AV I had.

Its logic is probably that you don't need more than one AV program running at the same time and so it prefers its AV over your own. I wouldn't buy ZA Pro now, since I am happy with my AV as it is.

It's SAV 8.0, Small Biz Edition.
--
"The three most dangerous things are a programmer with a soldering iron, a manager who codes, and a user who gets ideas." - Unknown
"A computer is like an Old Testament god, with a lot of rules and no mercy." - Joseph Campbell

permalink · 2004-05-25 11:59:35 · Print ·

Zunger join:2003-08-24 Fayetteville, AR	Re: Pro only? it looks like the majority of people are having problems with macafee.
	permalink · 2004-05-25 12:02:39 ·

stevek1949 We're not in Kansas anymore join:2002-11-13 Virginia Beach, VA ·Verizon FIOS ·Verizon Online DSL	I use the free version and PC-Cillin. I had the prompt during the upgrade that it was incompatible and I needed to uninstall PCC. I didn'd do the install and checked the ZA user forums. It is full of comments about BSD errors and such. I stayed with version 4.5. I am not going uninstall my AV for theirs. :huh
	permalink · 2004-05-25 12:30:12 ·

dapoohda Kompani Linge Premium join:2000-11-09 Fargo, ND clubs: ·CableOne	I, too, am using Zone Alarm Free Version. I have not noted any significant problems yet.. But, I have noticed on one machine ZAF does not recognize AVG as anti-virus software. -- You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough. ~William Blake 3135mhz
	permalink · 2004-05-25 12:50:31 ·

RavenTKR join:2003-05-12 Cleveland, OH	I have XP Home, and ZA PRO 5 installed just fine with no problems so far. It did not ask me to remove Norton Antivirus. So far so good.
	permalink · 2004-05-25 16:59:20 ·

ghostpainter I Write for the Apocalypse Premium,MVM join:2002-05-25 Rancho Cucamonga, CA clubs:	Re: Pro only? said by RavenTKR : I have XP Home, and ZA PRO 5 installed just fine with no problems so far. It did not ask me to remove Norton Antivirus. So far so good. Most of our user group (22 different PCs) run XP pro or Home editions and none of us have ever had any luck with Zone Alarm...We have all switched to other security software programs....
	permalink · 2004-05-25 20:23:53 · Print ·

p51d007 Naa-P51d Mustang join:2002-06-07 Springfield, MO	When it was beta, I tried it, and it didn't like NOD32 antivirus on XP SP1 with all updates. Sometimes it would work, sometimes it would take out my broadband. Uninstalled and went back to 4.5x seems to work better. Has anyone installed 5.x using NOD32? Other than the "suite" features, I don't see any reason to upgrade from 4.5x to 5.0x
	permalink · 2004-05-25 19:20:57 ·

cork1958 Cork join:2000-02-26 Fruitport, MI	been watching Been watching the various sites and listening to the rants about this one. I hate companies that have to bungle (bundle) things they have no knowledge of.
	permalink · 2004-05-25 12:05:13 ·

Matt Take me down to the paradise city Premium join:2003-07-20 Jamestown, NC ·North State Commun..	Tried it.... I recently gave ZA another shot since my router died. After struggling with it for 3 days on XP Pro with an RDP disconnect issue, I gave up and went back to the XP SP2 Firewall. -- TripOnThis.net Administrator "Security by obscurity is no security at all. Don't believe the hype." (c) MntlCase
	permalink · 2004-05-25 12:14:37 ·

Flizesh Premium join:2003-08-16 Staten Island, NY clubs:	they should have stuck to just being a firewall ^
	permalink · 2004-05-25 12:23:55 ·

Anon43 @mchsi.com	Re: they should have stuck to just being a firewal I had used ZAP+ (registered version) and the reg info was still in the registry (I guess) because the new suite registered with the same key. Just saved $60
	permalink · 2004-05-25 12:34:15 ·

mrherzog join:2001-05-06 Coquitlam, BC	Re: they should have stuck to just being a firewal BWAHAHA...now thats funny
	permalink · 2004-05-25 12:47:22 ·

richk_1957 If ..Then..Else Premium join:2001-04-11 Minas Tirith	I upgraded last night I run ZA pro with Norton Corporate Anti Virus. I did a upgrade, not a fresh install to save time. Had no problems last or night or this morning. Will check again when I get home.
	permalink · 2004-05-25 13:09:24 ·

TechieZero Tools Are Using Me Premium join:2002-01-25 Wesley Chapel, FL	Firewalls are useless anyway. Why put up a brick wall; just to knock the bricks out of it so that you can look in and out of your wall? The best firewall is to get a router and to make it not respond to outside pings. Then get some sort of AV software.
	permalink · 2004-05-25 14:13:23 ·

exocet_cm In memory of dadkins Premium join:2003-03-23 New Orleans, LA clubs: ·Cox HSI ·Suddenlink ·Cingular Wireless ·AT&T Southeast ·Charter Pipeline	Re: Firewalls are useless anyway. mubles......outgoing connections...... -- He that feeds a disease, feeds an enemy. Some diseases are starved. Starve your sins by fasting and humiliation. Either kill your sin, or your sin will kill you. - Thomas Watson Harmless as doves 131
	permalink · 2004-05-25 14:27:52 ·

Navo

join:2004-05-25
Atlanta, GA

Yes that may be true...hence 2 walls are thicker than 1. A hardware firewall for those "outside pings" your talking about. But a software (operative word "software") firewall can provide protection against outbound connections. I.e Photoshop.exe, Word.exe and just about any executable installed (software) will connect if there is nothing preventing them. Software firewalls like ZoneAlarm can even prevent *Specific* .dll's and system files from intervention. A router cannot do that.

And the power of having 2 walls pursuant to the post:

If my hardware (router) brickwall falls then at least I have holes to shoot/fire through to disable my enemy before they knock down the softwall. You can have NO WALL without holes without letting common port 80 through...otherwise there's no need for the Internet Service other than donating a monthly bill for the hell of it. Routers, Firewalls and Blocklists have proven to be very useful. But a firewall can only be useful if you actually know how to use and configure it for optimal protection.

permalink · 2004-05-25 15:50:37 · Print ·

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

4 edits

said by TechieZero :
Why put up a brick wall; just to knock the bricks out of it so that you can look in and out of your wall?

The best firewall is to get a router and to make it not respond to outside pings.

Then get some sort of AV software.

This has been debated before. And in my opinion proved wrong. »Re: Will a firewall stop Sasser?

As for any antivirus conflicts with this new version. I ran the beta suite with the ZAP antivirus disabled with no problems. I use Kaspersky as my antivirus. KEEP IN MIND users will only have ZAP / ZA antivirus if they pay for the ZAP suite or the ZA free with antivirus. The regular ZAP that most users would be updating to now - DOES NOT include an antivirus solution. Only an antivirus monitor. Which is there to make sure your antivirus product keeps up to date.

When installing the ZAP 5.0.590.015 ( not suite - just ZAP ). I only had 1 issue. That was when trying to restore settings using a previous .XML - my machine rebooted during the process. This is something that shouldn't have occurred. Other than that this latest version is working just fine for me. The monitor doesn't recognize my Kaspersky as being installed. But I don't think Kaspersky was included in the list of vendors ZAP looks for when the antivirus monitor is in use.

I'm running XP Pro with SP2 technical release. 1.24 GHz Celeron with 256 MB of RAM.

As to upgrading to the latest and greatest. This has been debated before as well. »Re: ZoneAlarm Update -- version 3.7.211.

The beta testers that I know are very good people. And they try there best to find bugs. Myself I tend to just run the beta product as I normally would with a gold build. To see if any problems occur during normal usage. I did not test the regular ZAP beta. I just ran the beta suite. Limited time prevented me from switching over to run the other build. I ran into no issues during testing.

"I had used ZAP+ (registered version) and the reg info was still in the registry (I guess) because the new suite registered with the same key.

Just saved $60"

Care to do some screen shots of your new suite? I'd bet that you just got the ZAP update - not the whole suite with antivirus. I think many users are confusing the antivirus monitor and the suite included antivirus software. These are 2 completely different items.

I should have mentioned above. I did a complete uninstall of my previous build - rebooted - then started installing the new build - then rebooted. I did this because this was a major code update in my opinion - not just a minor update. I normally do an upgrade ( layover the top of the previous build ) with minor updates.

In the link John2g

originally provided in the original thread. One of my points is clearly made for me.

»news.com.com/New+Zone+Alarm+to+w···nefd.top

"The company will sell the basic firewall software with antivirus for $19.95 and bundles its advanced version of the firewall with antivirus, instant messaging security and Web site blocking features in a new product, Zone Alarm Security Suite for $69.95.

The company will still sell its standalone advanced firewall software, Zone Alarm Pro, for $49.95."

--
Test Your Security
Team Z Member
Cable Modem Diagnostics

permalink · 2004-05-25 17:28:45 · Print ·

Anon43

@mchsi.com

Re: Firewalls are useless anyway.

OK I used ZAP 4.5 (registered version) for about a week.

That was a month ago or so...

Today I downloaded the new *suite* and it never asked for a serial or warned that it's shareware program.

See for yourself

permalink · 2004-05-25 22:58:59 · Print ·

IGGY No Guru Just Here To Help Premium,MVM join:2001-03-30 Chatham, IL 1 edit	Re: Firewalls are useless anyway. Well that is interesting now isn't it. lol.:D Me thinks that someone should maybe fix that. Good find. Goes to show you had no user confusion.:o I really don't want to have to uninstall the ZAP 5 to test this. But I just may do so myself.
	permalink · 2004-05-25 23:04:37 ·

Anon43 @mchsi.com	Re: Firewalls are useless anyway. I guess someone should let them know (on ZL forum ?) I hope my licence won't get revoked or something And I should definitely register...:D
	permalink · 2004-05-25 23:31:26 ·

XBL2009 ------ join:2001-01-03 Chicago, IL ·AT&T Midwest	No problems here Installed a clean version and it's working great. People who have the problems are usually the ones that upgrade from older versions. 5.590.015 works great
	permalink · 2004-05-25 17:55:17 ·

richk_1957 If ..Then..Else Premium join:2001-04-11 Minas Tirith	Well, I said I'd be back And I am Zone Alarm pro version 5.0.590.015 works great with no problems with Windows 2000. It even identified my anti-virus & it's status So it looks like a winner to me. :):D:):D:)
	permalink · 2004-05-25 20:18:38 ·

Sniper3142
Slapsho3142

join:2002-01-25
Tustin, CA

Dumbed ZAP last week!!!

Sorry to say I had to remove ZAP ver. 4.5.594 last week because it caused my Win XP Pro PC to freeze and finally crash hard.

I had to use the XP recovery console to restore my system.

I've used ZAP for several years now with no problem. My recent issues seem to be with ZAP and XP Pro (which I recently upgraded to).

Looks like I'll be looking for another good software firewall.

permalink · 2004-05-25 22:25:08 · Print ·

devin1955 Premium join:2003-12-26 Mira Loma, CA	Re: Dumbed ZAP last week!!! Take a look at Kerio Personal Firewall, that's what I've been using for a while now. It comes with extra features that time out after 30 days if you don't pay, but what's left is a perfectly functional firewall, and if that's all you need, it's free. »www.kerio.com/kerio.html
	permalink · 2004-05-25 22:59:31 ·

Mad Clown join:2004-01-25	This version sucks balls I thought this version was flawless. I kept thinking "what bugs are these guys talking about?". Well after I tested it more I found that it causes my pc games to stop responding. I just got done reinstalling zone alarm pro 4.5 and it works great. Zone Labs need to fire their beta testers.
	permalink · 2004-05-25 22:58:39 ·

RXDOC You want what? Premium,MVM join:2002-03-13 Palatine, IL clubs:	Problems here I installed the new version today and it asked me again for my serial...I inputed it and it says invalid although I still have over a year left. Uninstalled and went back to the last 4.X version and all is OK...I will wait a while before upgrading. -- Join Team Discovery TSC! \| Join The Health & Fitness Forum
	permalink · 2004-05-26 00:16:39 ·

w2co join:2003-07-16 Longmont, CO	All OK with WIN2kPro/NAV Been running latest version of ZA free with NAV on WIN2K Pro with absolutely no problems. These problems seem to be system dependent like with XP/ XP Pro etc. But also Mcaffee software seems to have a problem with it too. Good thing I stopped using that last year when it brought my system to a crawl.
	permalink · 2004-05-26 12:38:14 ·

B Premium,MVM join:2000-10-28	Strange Conditioning Goes to show how brand exposure can be strange -- when I saw the Front Page link and red-and-yellow ZoneLabs icon, my first thought was not "oh a ZoneAlarm article" but rather "hmmm, why is there a Front Page article about IGGY " ! -- B -- In a realm outside causality and function
	permalink · 2004-05-26 13:28:23 ·

Tabula Rasa join:2004-03-30 Gatineau, QC	. just use sygate
	permalink · 2004-05-26 17:03:05 ·

wyrd @xs4all.nl	problem with version 5 Had problems with 5.590.015 with xp home + IIS (tweak). ZA disconnects html get request with sc-win32-status 22. No messages from ZA in the logs at all. Stopping ZA did not even help, only uninstalling did the trick... back to version 4.5 here.
	permalink · 2004-06-06 23:47:53 ·

mrquinn join:2004-06-09 Melrose, NY	Switched to Linux, Astaro Firewall There will always be problems. I am in the process of making a switch to Linux and will probably go with the Astaro Firewall. It's an all-in-one package that includes firewall, virus protection, intrusion protection, content filtering and spam protection. And it's free to home users. Their site is »astaro.com
	permalink · 2004-06-09 14:39:13 ·

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Don't "upgrade" (yet)

Re: Don't "upgrade" (yet)

Re: Don't "upgrade" (yet)

Re: Don't "upgrade" (yet)

Re: Don't "upgrade" (yet)

Re: Don't "upgrade" (yet)

Pro only?

Re: Pro only?

Re: Pro only?

been watching

Tried it....

they should have stuck to just being a firewall

Re: they should have stuck to just being a firewal

Re: they should have stuck to just being a firewal

I upgraded last night

Firewalls are useless anyway.

Re: Firewalls are useless anyway.

Re: Firewalls are useless anyway.

Re: Firewalls are useless anyway.

Re: Firewalls are useless anyway.

No problems here

Well, I said I'd be back

Dumbed ZAP last week!!!

Re: Dumbed ZAP last week!!!

This version sucks balls

Problems here

All OK with WIN2kPro/NAV

Strange Conditioning

.

problem with version 5

Switched to Linux, Astaro Firewall