Zone Alarm Security Suite?

[PrntRhd]

See this link: zdnet (http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105_2-5218624.html?tag=zdfd.newsfeed)
Apparently Zone Alarm will license Computer Associates' e-Trust AV to make a commercial security suite to compete with Symantec and McAfee suites.
They will also offer the basic firewall with AV as well.

[pave_spectre]

Why do I get this horrible feeling that it will end up a horribly buggy program that tries to do everything?:rolleyes:

I really wish software makers would stick with one product for one purpose.

[Rick]

They already have started to go the Bloatware path with the last update.
adding blockers and password/ID lock protection.
With luck they will still allow these unwanted features to be disabled.

[PrntRhd]

They just came out with a new update for ZA (Pro and Free) v 5.0.590.015 and are pitching AV already. You can still say no and get the firewall only.

[deddard]

Oh no, I was just getting to like Zone Alarm:(
I don't like integrated packages - norton put me off these, so why anyone would want to go the same route is unbelievable.
ZA pro is a pretty good firewall, having a separate AV and firewall is the way I'm going from now on - if one dies, it doesn't automatically take the other one with it, which is exactly what happens with integrated apps.

ZA Pro has some AV features built in, but it isn't a full suite. As it is, I don't consider it to be anything like a true AV, and don't really like the idea of things getting more integrated.
Why do these people need to get greedy? it's better to make one good thing that people will use, rather than branch out into areas where disaster is waiting to happen, which means your reputaiton goes down the pan.

[jabarnutcase]

Couldn't agree more......There's nothing "sweet" about a "suite". (sorry, couldn't resist). :p
Norton put me off these Boy, you got that right. Norton System Works (and ultimately removing it), turned me off to "cure all suites" forever.

Seems to me the less crap we add to what is already a mind boggling amount of code that we call "Windows", the better off we are.

[PrntRhd]

I think it is more Computer Associate's problems since their accounting scandals driving them to market their product more aggresively, first the MS Security disk with the CA e-trust AV, now ZA with the same AV.

[jlreich]

I have CA EZ AV and FW on my laptop. I like it a lot. It uses about 10% of the system resources that Norton uses. It's very easy to use as well. I sure hope they don't bloat it.

[PrntRhd]

jlreich,
I have CA EZ AV and FW on my laptop.
That is the one they have for free on MS Security CD set. Also free for one year for upgrades.

[Mark Miller]

I really don't use any of the ZA stuff but completly agree about the suites. I have found that with XP a lot of the issues are taken cared of and with much less strain on system resources, which come to think about it is not much of a problem with XP .
Very hard to let go of all the Norton Utilities, but they put so much other crap that it is just too much to play with.
I wish they sold the utilities alone but I guess not anymore.
Sorry for the ramble, been a long day :rolleyes:

[jabarnutcase]

Sorry for the ramble, been a long day
Hehe...you kidding Mark? That's not rambling...heck, you've seen some of my posts. Now that's rambling. :D

Hey, as long as I'm here, I must say that even though I rid myself of NSW a long time ago, I kept the CD packed away and occasionally find a use for it.

The fact that it's a bootable CD and you can also run some of the utilities directly off the CD without installing it has actually come in handy a few times since. (Of course with BartPE which I'm still experimenting with, the NSW Disk will probably get pretty dusty now) ;)

Anyway, when the entire NSW suite was installed on my Computer, it was one of the biggest resource hogs I ever saw. The difference in performance once I was rid of all remnants of the program was amazing.

(Just my two flattened out pennies from the Railroad Tracks of course) :p

Huh?

[Mark Miller]

Hey Jab,
What's BartPe? Never heard of it, and you know I am a sucker for playing with stuff.
Mark:)

[jabarnutcase]

If it's been a long day Mark, you may want to wait until tomorrow to read all about it.....A bit mind boggling at first. It's almost anything you want it to be in the way of a Bootable CD for PC maintenance and a million other possible tasks.

Get some sleep first, then start reading......have fun. :p

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

[jlreich]

Originally posted by PrntRhd
jlreich,

That is the one they have for free on MS Security CD set. Also free for one year for upgrades.

Actually, I have the full version. My ISP gives it out free for one year. The one on the MS Security CD is the LE version.

Some of the computers at work have the LE version on them. I haven't played with them enough to figure out what the difference is yet. But there has to be loss of function of some kind in the LE version.

All I can say for sure is that I have had zero problems with the full version after about 5 months of using it. :) They release AV updates every 1-2 days and the firewall is easy to configure.

Norton firewall on XP machine with 1 GB RAM
CCPXYSVC.EXE = 119,652k of Mem usage :eek:

EZ firewall on 2000 pro machine with 256 MB ram
VSMON.EXE = 4,908k of Mem usage :cool:

That's why I have it on the 2000 pro machine. Huge rise in performance when I got rid of Norton on the 2000 machine and installed EZ. :D

[deddard]

An update for ZA has been released today, which includes the extra bits about antivirus software monitoring.
However, the update seems a bit of a dog - it wouldn't let me access the internet through my router (I keep the router and other parts of my LAN in the internet zone, as I don't share anything with the other systems, and don't want to have to trust them)I uninstalled the update and am now using the previous version.
It didn this before after the last update, and it isn't until you switch the firewall on and off before it goes through the whole configuration again.
I'm getting fed up with it - I configure specific sites to allow or deny certain activities such as active x, but the damn updates don't import any of my settings, and unless I have exported them (which I usually do) I have to go through the procedure again.

Congrats on shooting yourself in the foot ZA, get your act together - there are no excuses for this sort of pathetic upgrade mistake.

edit.........
I just posted over at the ZoneLabs forum about this - I'm not the only one having a pop at it either. It seems like many people are experiencing problems with this latest update.

[en4cer]

I'm having problems since the last update. It took me several trys to get the pc forums to display. Seems every page i go to will not display.
Not sure what to do.. Is it difficult to uninstall the last update?

[deddard]

Uninstalling isn't much of a problem - just make sure you have the previous version to hand. I'm still experiencing some problems with some apps accessing the net (outlook etc) so I'm going to root through things to see what's what.
Just bear in mind that if you uninstall the software, disable your Internet Connection BEFORE you uninstall - otherwise you're vulnerable while it's down.

[Donn]

ZoneLabs just released the advert for their new "Security Suite" $49.95 after mail in rebate--firewall, Av, and secure imstant messaging. They don't mention the name of the "industry leading AV technology" they're using, which is curious...if it's so industry leading

"Announcing new ZoneAlarm Security Suite, the complete Internet security solution. ZoneAlarm Security Suite provides comprehensive PC protection across all major Internet activities.

Now Zone Labs has integrated award-winning ZoneAlarm firewall with industry-leading antivirus technology, powerful identity and privacy protection, secure instant messaging, Web site filtering, essential e-mail security, and more."

I hope that quoting that doesn't violate pcguide rules.

Edit: BTW AVG just updated again as of 4:45pm friday 5-28-04