ZoneAlarm Free Firewall

This post was written by admin on June 15, 2009
Posted Under: Free Firewall, Free PC Security, Free Program

ZoneAlarm is a basic no frills firewall and is popular with many users, but it is also one of the least effective firewalls, see the results on the firewall challenge at Matousec at the end of this article.

I first covered this around two years ago when it was very popular, but it is declining in the protection it offers and is not a firewall that I would recommend.

It is very simple to install and is designed to protect your computer from hackers. Once installed it will scan your computer for your modem or router settings to automatically give them permission to connect to the internet.

After installation it is necessary to reboot so that ZoneAlarm can configure itself and there will be a series of popups with programs requesting access to the internet. Users have the option of 'Allow' or 'Deny' and also place a checkmark in the 'Remember this setting' box, the program then learns.

The firewall is the door to your computer and allows only traffic that you understand and give permission to, so take care when clicking 'Allow' or 'Deny'.

In the main user interface there are four sections, Overview, Firewall, Program Control and Alerts & Logs and there are sub-sections under each of these.

The program will automatically check for updates, is set to load at startup and also has protection for the ZoneAlarm client. Under 'Options' users can enter their proxy details if using a proxy server.

The firewall has two zones, Internet Zone and Trusted Zone. The Internet Zone is ideal for those that connect to wi-fi hotspots and other public networks and by setting it to 'High' it will prevent other computers from connecting to yours.

The 'Trusted Zone' should be used for home or office networks and if set on Medium will allow users to share printers and other devices over the network. If set on 'High' it will allow users to connect to a network but not to share other devices.

It also has an Internet Lock which can be enabled if the computer is going to be left unattended and this can be activated automatically with your PC's screensaver or setting a predefined period of time. This can block all internet traffic to and from your computer or allow only pass-lock programs to access the internet.

This is an easy to use free firewall but is also classed as 'adware' as it has the 'ZoneAlarm Spy Blocker Toolbar' which is powered by Ask.com but this option can be cancelled on installation.

System Requirements:
Windows 2000 / XP / Vista 32-bit or 64-bit
Download ZoneAlarm Free here
Click here for the Matousec ProActive Security Challenge Results