Free ZoneAlarm problem

[GomJabbar]

In every version of free ZoneAlarm after (but not including) version 51.033.000 I've had problems with the program shutting itself down, or causing errors or hangs. The last few days I have been using the latest version 6.0.631.003. I've noticed when I switch users, if I open ZoneAlarm it says: System Error please reboot - or something like that. Unfortunately, the icon in the system tray does not display any problem. If I'm not careful, I might think ZoneAlarm is doing it's job, when it's really not.

If I shut-down ZoneAlarm before logging off, then back on as a different user, ZoneAlarm shows up in the system tray again, and no error is displayed if I open the program. But if I forget to do this, the error will be there when I open it.

In the past, I don't recall having problems except when using my software (3 different programs used over a period of time) for a cell connection - either via a tethered phone or a PC card cell modem.

Has anyone else run across this problem?

[Toe]

Have you changed your boot-screen? Or any system files? I use stylexp to change what WinXP looks like, and that caused the newer verisons of ZoneAlarm to crash for me.

Try:
http://www.oldversion.com/

Grab and test different verisons to see which one works for you.

-Toe

[GomJabbar]

Have you changed your boot-screen? Or any system files? I use stylexp to change what WinXP looks like, and that caused the newer verisons of ZoneAlarm to crash for me.

Try:
http://www.oldversion.com/

Grab and test different verisons to see which one works for you.

-Toe

No, I haven't changed the boot-screen or any system files that I am aware of.

In addition, I was using free ZoneAlarm on my 600E (W2K), until Jan. of this year, and I had the same problems on that laptop as well. I have XP Pro on my T42. I haven't done much tweeking, other than keep everything up to date, and install a few programs. When I first got my T42, I installed the newest version of free ZoneAlarm available then, which I believe was 55.062.004. I had problems as soon as I began using my cell phone with it.

BTW that's a cool link. I've got it bookmarked now.

[beerak]

Try Kerio, it is stable firewall, free for personal usage.

http://www.kerio.com/

http://www.kerio.com/kpf_home.html

It has better configuration interface than ZoneAlarm and it is stable. I use it for a couple of years.

[GomJabbar]

I finally decided to uninstall free ZoneAlarm and try out Kerio. I don't seem to have the 'switching users' problem with it that I had with ZoneAlarm.

I've only been using it a couple of days, but I have been trying it out both on my T42 with XP Pro, and on my daughter's 600E with W2K. I like it so far. Thanks for the heads up.

[Vindicated]

Kerio is okay, but the last time I had it installed it failed a leak test. Hopefully it improved over the last 2 months, but just incase I'd run some tests to make sure. You want to do port scan tests (which I'm pretty sure it will pass all of them) and "leak" tests which only the good firelwalls do.

The best alternative to ZoneAlarm that I've come across that still offers equal protection is Sysgate's firewall which is also free for personal use (like ZA they have a Pro version for sale too). Another benifit to Sygate is that it's very lite on system resources.

As always, test out a few different firewalls and do independant tests to see which one is the best to rely on.