AvanQuest ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2006

Zone Labs ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite

ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2006 Review, by Narasu Rebbapragada May 20, 2006

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• Latest User Reviews 7 reviews
• Reviewed by: Peterzen21

  Duration of ownership: 2 Months

  Strengths: Easy to setup and manage settings, solid protection against spyware (got none in a year where before I was inundated with it)

  Weaknesses: Poor customer service, slows down the system to a crawl, constant hangups. No custom settings for individual users.

  Overall: I used the software over the last year with good results, although lack of individual setting was a great drawback (we have children using the computer so we had to put up with kids setting for internet protection - very irritating!). This year I tried to renew the subscription and ran into a ton of trouble. The software installation kept on coming back with strange statements (files missing, "vector" cannot be activated, etc.) and eventually that we need to pay again for the software. After going back and forth with with the customer service (not very swift!) finally got it up only to discover that it practically that it slowed donw the computer to a crawl (CPU was running 80-100% even during idle times (2.0 MHZ, 1GB memory)). All it all were very disappointed in the software. I would not recommend it until Zone improves its customer service (assuming the program is OK and needs special settings) or the product itself.

• Reviewed by: treker1028

  Duration of ownership: 2 Days

  Strengths: Easy to install; even lets you keep preferences for other Zone Labs products already installed

  Weaknesses: User interface failed to initialize after 2 installations to allow review and changes of factory default settings; call to Zone Labs yielded probable cause and solution, but results yielded no change

  Overall: Zone Labs provides excellent protection with its Firewall app, ZoneAlarm, available in both a free and registered version. Unfortunately, I am very disappointed with its Internet Security Suite which adds AntiSpyware, Antivirus, and Spamkiller apps to its arsenal of personal computer protection. Installation is easy, but the configuration interface failed twice to initialize for my review so I could make changes and enable the suite's basic file protection capabilities. Overall, it's user-friendly and easy to install, but it does not live up to its creator's purpose of providin full-time security when a user goes online.

• Reviewed by: windbite

  Duration of ownership: 1 Month

  Strengths: A good firewall - minus the fact nothing will work the same again when you load the program. Pretty box.

  Weaknesses: NO customer service! You have to wait DAYS to get help with all the viral infections this coaster of a program lets in!

  Overall: I purchased ZONE Internet Security Suite 2007 after reading PCWorld reviews... Needless to say, BOTH of my computers were so overtaken with rootware, malware, trojans, keygens and more hidden processes than the Bush Administration. An AOL CD has more value than this! They DO NOT have customer support and they WILL NOT show concern on resolving the problems. I was told that it was a "glitch" in their "vector" service and needed to reload and enter in some codes to get it working - this is AFTER having to REINSTALL both computers. Also, they are owned by CA(Computer Associates) now.. This was the BIGGEST mistake in software I have ever made - I am surprosed PCW would risk its name on such poop!

• Reviewed by: jamesfedwards

  Duration of ownership: 1 Year

  Strengths: Good Fire Wall

  Weaknesses: Terrible Anti-Virus - Updates Don't Work!

  Overall: Having been a long user of ZA Firewall, I decided to do away with my Symantec Antivirus and use the ZA Security Suite. It has been terrible - more often than not, the anti-virus updates don't work, and I have had to go weeks at times with old virus definitions. This is well documented on the Zone Alarms user forums, although I've noticed that they delete many of the postings where pepole complain about their problems with ZA. This has been a problem regularly for the last six months and ZA has shown no interest or progress in addressing it. If you haven't already purchased it, I would stay away from this program!

• Reviewed by: brainpup

  Duration of ownership: 5 Months

  Strengths: Best Firewall there is, very easy to configure interface. Anti virus/antispyware has improved and updates quickly.

  Weaknesses: Program Control gets badly bloated with everything you've ever installed and each program you've every had has to be manualy removed one at a time. (needs a reset option). Only has antispam for Outlook.

  Overall: Last Year I Bought Zone Alarm Internet Suite 5.5 and I had no problem upgrading to 6.5 (which is a better overall package). I've tested almost every antivirus, firewall, antispyware and antispam program out there, (all of them that PCWorld, PC mag, Cnet, ZDnet and Microsoft have to offer). I've found that ZoneAlarm has the best Firewall, thats a "Given", I do feel that (as I pointed out above) the Program Control Option Page gets really bloated (I had 320 Programs listed this morning) by programs that have asked for permission. And I'm probably only running about 60. This Option definetly needs a reset button or once you delete a Program from your computer it should autmatically be removed from the list. Even though I didn't like Computer Associates Antivirus program when I tested it and it comes bundled with ZA's Suite I've never gotten a VIRUS while using this product (and I've been known to surf some disreputable sites). I guess they've gotten better. Antispyware is pretty good now in version 6.5, even though I still use 3 other (Spysweeper,Adaware,Spydoctor) just to be sure. AntiSpam is null for me as I use Hotmail, Yahoo and Gmail. I have over 150 email contacts Business and Friends and only 6 use Outlook???. ZA needs to allow protection for other Email clients for sure. Even though this Suite is a bit of a resource hog on RAM (most internet Suites are) I believe its a very good product. Now if System Mechanic would get rid of Kapersky's antivirus/antispyware and team up with Zone Alarm it would be an invincible Suite. I use System Mechanic Pro 6 with the antivirus/antispyware turned off and use ZoneAlarm's Internet Suite for Protection.

• Reviewed by: ElliotST

  Duration of ownership: 3 Weeks

  Strengths: Easy to use interface, great firewall (even the FREE one)

  Weaknesses: Interface needs updating, Virus and Spyware scanner needs improvments

  Overall: I like this program, but it needs just a little more. The included software is great, and the firewall could not be any better (but the smart-defense, could be better)!

• Reviewed by: Gunny4421

  Duration of ownership: 2 Months

  Strengths: ease of installation and updates

  Weaknesses: No refund after 30 days. Email tech support is automated and takes a couple of days. It's been 30 days and it's still not working.

  Overall: Don't waste your money on this software. I had problems with the license key after 60 days and they told me to uninstall/reinstall which I already did. They they asked me to go into the system registry and delete a file which my pc said I could not delete. I got another email today asking me to do the first thing I did. Don't waste your money here. What made me upset was the fact that they do not refund your money after 30 days.

• Reviewed by: Q1DS

  Strengths: Easy to usefast efficient

  Weaknesses: Too many warning messages when installing new software

  Overall: I tried Zone Alarm few months back because I was unhappy with Norton subscription renewal system. I was so pleased with Zone Alarm performance, user friendliness -including automatic software upgrade that keeps me up to date at all time!- that Zone Alarm replaced Norton on all my computers, laptop and UMPC! I strongly recommend that Security Suite!

• Reviewed by: rozfineart

  Strengths: How can there be any strengths if you can't install it?

  Weaknesses: Support, installation, uninstallation, upgrades

  Overall: How can you write a program that doesn't recognize other version on the same computer? And worse yet, email a solution that would gag an elephant. I've really never come across anything like in 20 years of computer use. It just boggles my mind.

• Reviewed by: marindavid

  Strengths: Good program.... does what it says it does!

  Weaknesses: Impossible to upgrade without being a technician!!... deliberately so, I suspect.

  Overall: Back in April 2004, I wrote a very positive review for the Version 4.o of this suite. Since then, I have been quite pleased and it has worked, quite thoroughly, as advertised. However (I know you could hear that coming) I recently had an experience which, were I not already prepaid for another year, would cause me to shift my business to a different suite. I am currently running Version 6.1.744.Browsing around online, I discovered (No, I was nevernotified by ZA) that a new version (6.5) had been released. I emailed them to ask about it. They sent a link to the new version. Three attempts to install it resulted in systems catastrophies, including the loss of my internet connection! These attempts required the use of my Restore It program to save me. I emailed ZA, explained what had happened, and asked how to go about updating the software that I had paid for without the complications. Needless to say, the auto-update feature on my version does not seem to know about the newer version I found on ZA's website!This was the reply I received (verbatim):Hello,Thank you for contacting Zone Labs Technical Support.I understand that you are having troubles installing Zone Alarm. Iapologize for the inconvenience.I want to make sure everything is gone from your computer as far as ZA isconcerned.01.) Restart your computer02.) When you see the screen go black and it starts booting back up keeptapping the "F8" key (at the top of your keyboard)03.) This should bring up a menu. Choose Safe Mode off the menu byusing the arrow keys on the keyboard to highlight Safe Mode and pressEnter04.) If you get a message asking to go to Safe Mode, choose Yes. If youget a help and support window, close this.05.) Once you are at the desktop, Click Start, My Computer06.) Click Tools, Folder Options, View Tab07.) Place a dot next to "Show Hidden Files and Folders"08.) Remove the check from "Hide Protected Operating System Files(Recommended)"09.) Choose Yes to the warning10.) Click OK11.) Double click C:Note: In the future steps if you do not see any files or folders, please clickthe "Show Files" link to view them.12.) Double Click the Program Files Folder13.) Right Click the Zone Labs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes14.) Close this window15.) Click Start, My Computer16.) Double Click the C:17.) Double Click the Windows Folder (It may also be WinNT)18.) Right Click the Internet Logs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes19.) Double Click the System32 Folder20.) Right Click the Zone Labs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes21.) Locate and delete the following files in this folder- vsconfig.xml- vsxml.dll- vsregexp.dll- vsdata.dll- vsdata95.vxd- vsdatant.sys- vsmonapi.dll- vspubapi.dll- vsinit.dll- vsutil.dll- zlcommdb.dll- zlcomm.dll- zllictbl.dat22.) Clear your Temp Directory per the instructions below.- Go to Start -> Run- Type %temp% and click OK- Select all of these files and delete them23.) Clear the Prefetch folder per the instructions below.- Go to Start -> Run- Type Prefetch and click OK- Select all of these files and delete them24.) Remove the following registry entries by going to Start -> Run andtyping in regedit. Use the folders on the left side of the window to navigateto the specified directories.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareZone LabsHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServicesvsmonHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServicesvsdatant*Important Advisory: Deleting registry entries incorrectly may causeserious problems to your operating system, which may necessitate theneed to reinstall it. Please make sure you are able to perform thesedeletions correctly before you decide to edit the entries. If you are notsure, you should seek help from someone who is familiar with editing theregistry.For information about how to edit the registry in Windows, from yourdesktop, click Start >> Run >> and type regedit. Click on Help >> HelpTopics. Under the Contents tab, click Change Keys and Values (this maybe found under the How to... section).Also, you should always make a backup of the registry before editing it.You can find this in the same section of the Help files.25.) Close this window, then empty your recycle bin.26.) Restart the computer.27.) Try to install the latest version again.If my answer did not resolve your issue, or you would like furtherassistance on this issue, please reply to this email. By replying, andleaving the subject line intact, your response will come directly to me. Ifyou have a separate issue you would like assistance with, please submit anew request using the website at http://www.zonelabs.com/tsform .Thank you for choosing Zone Labs Security!Several more emails were exchanged. Mine expressed the view that updates should be easy if not automatic. Theirs repeated the 'company line.' If I were not prepaid, I would switch now.A word to the wise ...