ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2006 | 
| From: Avanquest
List Price: $69.99
Buy New: $20.00
You Save: $49.99 (71%)
New (2) Used (1) from $15.98
Rating:  113 reviews
Sales Rank: 2467
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows Me, Windows Xp, Windows 2000
Media: CD-ROM
Operating System: Windows XP
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 9.6 x 7.9 x 2.1
MPN: 4840
Model: 8300
UPC: 018059048409
EAN: 0018059048409
ASIN: B000B5I0O2
Release Date: September 6, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Brand new in sealed retail packaging. UPC intact.
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| Features:
| • | Comprehensive protection against hackers, spyware, worms, spam, and more | | • | Triple-defense firewall protects entire PC; anti-spyware and antivirus | | • | Real-time security updates and new attack-protection capabilities | | • | Advanced identity and privacy protection; IM protection and parental control | | • | Essential email security; phishing and spam blocker; wireless PC protection |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite is an easy-to-use, comprehensive security solution. ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite includes antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, parental control, privacy protection, instant messaging security, and more. Block pop-up ads Simple setup and control Technical support
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| Customer Reviews: Read 108 more reviews...
 Caveat Emptor; be careful, be very careful! October 2, 2005
M. Luttrell
237 out of 272 found this review helpful
Before you buy this product, check the comments from users on the ZoneAlarm User Forum.
For the past 6 years, I used McAfee and then Norton, but became increasingly irritated by the way they would beat me up for renewals and intrude to sell me more, over and over. Also, I was miffed because it was near impossible to reach a human being for help when needed.
I used the free version of ZoneAlarm (firewall only) for a couple of years and liked it, a lot.
First, I downloaded and installed ZAISS on my wife's VAIO computer, running, XP, and had some problems. I assumed it was me, the computer, or the previous Norton. Between me, a neighbor computer consultant and a few CSRs at our ISP and Sony (no help from ZA!) and $ 200 in fees, I got it running fine.
So, assuming the problem was mine, and ready to dump Norton, I bought ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite for my VAIO computer, running W2K, and at their recommendation, Steganos Security Suite, with a year download option, total $ 96.85, download direct from ZA. BIG mistake.
It made a huge mess, blocked access, ran at painfull slow speed, ran processor to 100% load, and did everything to keep me from fixing it. This time, I called ZA, and you CAN reach someone, for, as I recall, 3.95 per minute, but they insisted I did something wrong and could only suggest I wipe the drive and reinstall everything. OK, maybe it was me, so I wiped every trace of any security program from my backup computer, clean up everything, and installed ZAISS. Disaster. Again, no help from ZA. Finally went to the User Forum on the ZA website and found that hundreds of users had similar problems and got NO help from ZA. I finally, after at least 50 hours of work, stripped all remnants of ZAISS from my backup computer, went back to McAfee and am back on line.
For most people and most computers, it works fine. But for some, it's a major disaster, ZA is absolutely no help, and they disavow any problems or responsibility. They will NOT help and they will not refund. BEWARE.
By the way, I've been using computers extensively since 1984; I'm not an expert, but certainly not a novice either. Before you buy, check the ZA user forum or google for "ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite" + problems. Good luck.
Michael
As good as the rest.... maybe a little better. December 18, 2005
Benjamin Britton (Colorado, USA)
133 out of 136 found this review helpful
I've used them all... McAfee, Norton, Trend Micro and Zone Alarm. McAfee and Norton are expensive (now zone alarm is too), with little to no real customer support. They all (except Trend Micro which has excellent customer support) charge a fee for calling support.
A Caveat with ZA, If YOU don't read the begining tutorial, then when your PC doesn't connect to the internet don't blame ZA!!! There's a brief 3 minute tutorial that lets ZA know your level of computer experteise. If you're a novice, ZA will self-configure the firewall. If you're an expert, you get to control program access yourself.
Zone Alarm's Firewall is the best on the market. It is the only firewall to give you an alert WITH a recommended suggestion on what to do based upon it's knowledge of the program thats trying to access the internet, or trying to receive information from the internet for the first time.
ZA's firewall is also PC specific. It will alert you if a program is acting suspiciously on your PC and lets you know what to do. Sometimes it doesn't have a suggestion, so here's where some common sense comes in, as well as some PC experteise.
If you're installing a program, or uninstalling, or running a program, and ZA pops up, then it probably is something you want to allow, or it will block what you're trying to do.
McAfee is effective but slow, Norton doesn't pick up everything and sometimes can't delete things and you have to do it manually, Trend Micro also has failed in automatic deletion and has many 'manual' removal messages for various viruses and trojans (and we're paying for what?).
Zone Labs is one of the few that have caught, and automatically deleted most test viruses and trojans (and real) that I've run on my PC.
It wins out over the other 3 in that it gives the user super control over the PC. You get automatic deletion and/or quarantene You get to say what program gets access, which program does not, and how often. You can approve every attempt to access the internet by a program, or every time something from the internet tries to access your PC. So, its great for the intermediate and the expert user alike.
Cons: Its spyware isn't up to par with any other program. Ad-aware, spybot search and destroy and pest patrol are far supeior.
It takes a little PC adeptness to correctly use this program. If you block the wrong program, or deny the wrond network connection, you'll be blocked from accessing the internet, or sharing files or something you don't want. Hence the many people who complain about it. This is by far the best program on the market for your money, but you need to be adept and familir with networking, windows, ports that programs use to access the net, what every program is and why it is accessing the net, ETC. If you don't know, then get a different program. McAfee and Norton are effective but you don't get the control and ease of use. Trend Micro is the easiest of all, but you don't get firewall controll over outbound connections.
So, this is not a novice program, and should be used by the more experienced.
Overall, the speed and firewall coupled with an antivirus program that actually works led me to keep ZoneLabs my internet security suite for over 2 years now. (though I do run McAfee, AVG, Norton, and trend on other pc's), on my personal PC that I use the most, I trust ZA for the best security.
PC Geek tested and approved! A.
They only get 4 stars because they charge you for customer support (BOO 70 dollars isn't enough for the program AND support?). Otherwise, this is a must have for anyone truly concerned about PC and internet security.
 Makes security a pain... May 17, 2006
Matthieu P. Raillard (Portland, OR USA)
30 out of 32 found this review helpful
I've owned/tried just about all of the major antivirus and security suites out there: Norton, Trend Micro, McAfee, and I chose Zone Alarm this year because it had consistently scored very well in comparison tests, especially the firewall. Here are the three factors that I look for in a security suite: 1)Low footpring and memory requirements. This is one of the reasons Norton has been off my hard-drive for a couple of years. An antivirus/firewall/secuity suite should not gobble up system resources. 2)Seamless integration and smooth interface. The program should be easy to use and unobtrusive. This is a security suite, not a game I play for fun. 3)Performance. Obviously, your software should do its job and do it well. So how does Zone Alarm rank?
1)Memory requirements: average. It's better than Norton, but not as good as Trend Micro's PC-Cillin. It's not a hog, but could be slimmer.
2)Interface and integration: Below average. The interface is clunky and rather unintuitive, and while I appreciate the wealth of options, they can be confusing to the inexperienced. While I consider myself an above average user, the novice will be mystified by some of the options and menu questions thrown at them. The BIGGEST annoyance with this suite is that it is very, very sensitive. In a way it's a good thing (it's doing its job), but the downside is that this software requires constant micro-management. Installing a new game? You can expect Zone Alarm to halt your installation at least three times, thinking that the game might be a virus or malicious script. Trying to connect to the internet? Be prepared to again deal with Zone Alarm's internet police for every program that accesses the web. Worst of all is the "Privacy" guard feature in Zone Alarm. The base settings block everything- pictures in web pages don't load up (in the off-chance that they might contain some embedded malicious code), and transactions, even secure ones, routinely fail because ZoneAlarm blocks everything. Sure, you can customize the permission levels for each individual program, but then it becomes an orgy of micromanagement.
3)Performance: Above average. Yes, the suite does its job. It blocks intrusions like a champ, it cleans well and effectively, but all of this comes at a price. Installing this software is like putting bars on your windows: sure, you're safe, but nothing gets in or out without permission from the warden; and that includes you.
 Best of what I've seen November 7, 2005
fuzzy logic (USA)
26 out of 26 found this review helpful
If you want a good security progam that's not a resrouce hog this is the best of what I've seen.
I had a prior version Norton Internet Security and was very pleased with it. I ignored poor reviews and complaints about recent versions of NIS and upgraded when the older version was no longer supported. I should have heeded the reviews as all their problem became mine. It noticeably slows down your computer, your email, your web browsing...and has applicaiton errors when you shutdown/log off windows.
After one month I took a risk and purchased Zone Alarm 2006 and have been extremely pleased. No, it's not "perfect" but it works well, actually seems to catch things NIS didn't and it doesn't slow down the computer (noticeably better performance than NIS).
Like NIS it does occassionaly have some program errors when shutting down or logging off...but **much** fewer than NIS..and I think they only occur after the pc has hibernated (which seems to be a common issue with a lot of software).
The alerts that ZA pop up whenever a program first attempts to access the internet (or ZA when suspects it could compromise security) are probably excessive and somewhat cryptic for the average user....but you can tell ZA to not ask you again. And you get use to the alerts...and these days it's far better to have a security program have a few too many of these alerts than to just assume.
As a web programmer I have to use McAfee at work and it's such a hog I always have to commit the sin of turnning it off whenever I'm doing anything complex (big program builds, installs).
Everybody likes something different for different reasons. I mainly want a product to work..and to not cause grief to my computer, other programs or my work. ZA 2006 definitely meets all these requirements and has won me over.
A Good Product with Some Weaknesses/Warnings March 6, 2006
T. Frye (Athens, Georgia, USA)
26 out of 26 found this review helpful
I started using Zone Labs products dating back to 2003, starting with its free firewall software to the Zone Alarm Pro and eventually updated and upgraded to the Zone Alarm Security Suite this past year. Overall, it is probably the best security suite software on the market, particularly in terms of its ability to detect and protect your computer from viruses. It also provides excellent email, IM, and has at least adequate antispyware capability (you should be advised to have an antispyware backup for any security suite software).
:Weaknesses:
Notwithstanding all of the aforementioned accolades, ZASS has some weaknesses. First, customer service is non-existent. This is not a cheap product, even by the standards of security suite software, and it is disappointing that Zone Labs has no phone number, at least none that I know of, which allows you to talk to a live human being about any problems you might be having with the software (this is something I experienced when ZASS decided to prohibit me from downloading music from iTunes, blocking access, even though I expressly commanded it to permit connection in the Program Control bar). Ultimately, I had to depend on a fellow techie and ZASS user to correct the problem. If you purchase this product and need assistance, you need to refer to the Zone Labs site for help.
Secondly, this product is not for beginners. If you're looking to install an all-encompassing security suite program that will protect everything for you without any effort on your part, this product is not for you. ZASS is only as good as you allow it to be. That means you must configure the product upon installation. If you don't, you're going to be on the receiving end of a lot of warning screens. As a result, ZASS won't be able to apply all of its protections for your computer and software.
:Warnings:
In regards to any warnings before purchasing and using this software, there are basically two. One, you need to uninstall any previous antivirus programs on your computer before installing ZASS. ZASS will do it for you upon its own installation, but some antivirus programs are extremely difficult to uninstall (i.e., Norton), and there can be conflicts if you don't make certain the previous antivirus software is removed. Two, and this is a partial restatement, but it's that important, you absolutely must make sure to go through the tutorial after installation (and that you're on the internet during this process). You must get acquainted with the program, allow it to configure your level of expertise, and by all means go into the ZA on your toolbar and frequently look at its features after the tutorial. The better you are at using this program, the easier it will be.
In the end, ZASS is still a very good product and I would recommend it to others. Indeed, I can personally attest just how much better it is than the competition. About four months prior to writing this review, I deserted ZASS for Norton Internet Security 2006 on my PC (while retaining ZASS on my laptop), and Norton not only crashed my computer, it was nearly impossible to remove (I had to erase my hard drive and reformat my computer), and the good folks at Symantec retained customer service that was just as awful (albeit on a different level) as Zone Labs. Zone Alarm Security Suite may not be perfect, but once you acclimatize to it, and once you learn how to configure and work with it, you're going to be more than satisfied.
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