Free EZArmor

[Nick FitzGerald]

I had an existing login at CA (because I own EZ-AV) and if you hit the link
for an existing customer it scarfs up all your current info etc. and then
let me download it and install it...

Yes, but have they simply "upgraded" your current installation, such that
your existing free updates run out whenever your current paid-for period
ends and then they'll want an upgrade fee for the AV _and_ PFW, or have
they given you a "free for a year from now" version as it appears new
users should get?

 

[Roy]

To totally uninstall Zone Alarm, print out the instructions that you
find on this part of the website and ensure that you remove all the
files that are on there. I do this every time I change versions or
upgrade Zone Alarm.

Why put yourself through all that tedious stuff Heather?

I did it once, and that was enough, when I dumped ZA for Kerio. I've
never regretted that move. Kerio's rules require a little more setting
up, but they're much more flexible and adaptable to the user's needs.

The removal instructions on ZA's site are certainly good and
comprehensive, but it's as bad as removing persistent malware. :-(

Cheers,

Roy

 

[Bart Bailey]

In Message-ID:<[email protected]> posted on

I did it once, and that was enough, when I dumped ZA for Kerio. I've
never regretted that move.

Curious why you think Kerio better than ZA?
I went back to ZA after trying Kerio.
Both were the free versions,
ZA 3.7.211 versus Kerio v2.1.5
ZA is ranked a bit higher than Kerio in PCFlank's tests.
http://www.pcflank.com/art41c.htm
see: standings at bottom of the page

 

[Roy]

Curious why you think Kerio better than ZA?

I used ZA from very shortly after it became available. I was using W95
at the time, and it worked fine for me, although I frequently heard
of/from others with very similar set-ups to mine who had big problems
with Internet connection failures immediately solved by its removal.

I was so impressed by it, that I went for the paid for version. Shortly
after that, ZA withdrew support and updates for W95, without
warning.....

By chance, shortly after that I got a new PC with XP installed. So I
continued using ZA pro on that. OK for a time, then the Internet
connection problems started, each time cured by disabling ZA, as I found
by trial and error. Oh yes, I went through all its settings without
finding a cure.

So I went back to the free version. That too was OK for a time, then the
previous problems restarted. Same cure. So I dumped it, installed Kerio,
no more problems, and it does an excellent job.

I've largely turned off all alerts, but they're logged, and I look at my
logs from time to time. On the basis of that, I sometimes tweak my
rules. It can be a bit of a steep learning curve at first, but the free
version of ZA is brain dead, and I didn't find the paid for version as
flexible as Kerio. But I accept that it's a case of each to his own.

Cheers,

Roy

 

[Heather]

(e-mail address removed) says...


Why put yourself through all that tedious stuff Heather?

I did it once, and that was enough, when I dumped ZA for Kerio. I've
never regretted that move. Kerio's rules require a little more setting
up, but they're much more flexible and adaptable to the user's needs.

The removal instructions on ZA's site are certainly good and
comprehensive, but it's as bad as removing persistent malware. :-(

Hi Roy......

I have no problems with ZAPro now that I stick with the 2.xxx versions
on WinME. Did you ever have Restore Point problems on XP with it? I
don't think it was affected.

And as far as being a firewall is concerned, I don't think the free one
is any different than the pay one......having used both. I don't have
the Alert on and I don't log the intrusions.....I just let it quietly do
its thing.

I don't want to try Kerio.....sounds a bit 'daunting' to use a Brit
word, grin. All thru the Swen crapola, ZA worked fine. Found out that
500 hits was the limit and then it stopped counting, grin.

Best.....Heather

 

[Bart Bailey]

I used ZA from very shortly after it became available. I was using W95
at the time, and it worked fine for me, although I frequently heard
of/from others with very similar set-ups to mine who had big problems
with Internet connection failures immediately solved by its removal.

I hear of some people having problems, and others not, regarding any
number of applications. Unless it's "my" problem, I don't discredit
something.

I was so impressed by it, that I went for the paid for version. Shortly
after that, ZA withdrew support and updates for W95, without
warning.....

I'm using the latest ZA Free v3.7.211 on w95b as I type.
you just have to extract the files manually and make a program folder if
you don't already have one.

By chance, shortly after that I got a new PC with XP installed. So I
continued using ZA pro on that. OK for a time, then the Internet
connection problems started, each time cured by disabling ZA, as I found
by trial and error. Oh yes, I went through all its settings without
finding a cure.

Interesting that what once worked OK would deteriorate over time, yet
you make no mention of other introductions or alterations to the system.

So I went back to the free version. That too was OK for a time, then the
previous problems restarted. Same cure. So I dumped it, installed Kerio,
no more problems, and it does an excellent job.

Same response as above,
with the observation that tenure appears to be a factor.

I've largely turned off all alerts, but they're logged, and I look at my
logs from time to time. On the basis of that, I sometimes tweak my
rules. It can be a bit of a steep learning curve at first, but the free
version of ZA is brain dead, and I didn't find the paid for version as
flexible as Kerio. But I accept that it's a case of each to his own.

Kerio, at first, had a major conflict with my DSL modem driver protocol,
and once corrected, showed some promise, especially with its fond
reminiscence of the old ATGuard GUI, but there were lingering issues
related to the winsock interface and some mutex annoyances, so I
reverted to ZA Free.

FWIW: I tried ZA Pro and ZA Plus, but they only offered more useless
clutter and no advantages to offset it.

 

[Clay]

I have no problems with ZAPro now that I stick with the 2.xxx versions
on WinME. Did you ever have Restore Point problems on XP with it? I
don't think it was affected.

2.xxx, Yikes! I'm running ZAP 4.5.530 on a WinMe system here with no
problems. I just use it to remain familiar with it since the machine
is behind a router though...

And as far as being a firewall is concerned, I don't think the free one
is any different than the pay one......having used both.

Actually, I'd say they are quite different especially if you need to
customize settings for a network installation (expert rules, custom
settings and whatnot). Here's a very *basic* comparison chart.
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/comparison.jsp

 

[Roy]

Same response as above,
with the observation that tenure appears to be a factor.

That's perfectly true, but I can't understand why. It just seems to
happen, on some systems. I come across others reporting similar
problems.

I'm afraid I can't now recall exactly what applications I was
installing, or uninstalling during the events described. You'll
appreciate that with a new machine there was a deal of swapping in stuff
from the old one, as well as installing new applications too.

I had one other application in occasional use at that time which also
seemed produced similar problems. It was a DUN manager, optimised to run
on XP too. Obviously I experimented with running both with the other
disabled. I no longer run that either. From my observations at the time,
I was 90% sure that ZA was my main problem, plus similar reports I'd
heard, but I agree that it doesn't amount to 100% certainty.

Cheers,

Roy

 

[Roy]

I have no problems with ZAPro now that I stick with the 2.xxx versions
on WinME. Did you ever have Restore Point problems on XP with it? I
don't think it was affected.

I've only used System Restore about twice I think, to correct an
installation which had misfired, and it worked perfectly. ZA was not
involved.

I don't want to try Kerio.....sounds a bit 'daunting' to use a Brit
word, grin. All thru the Swen crapola, ZA worked fine. Found out that
500 hits was the limit and then it stopped counting, grin.

I do agree that setting up Kerio properly takes a bit more thought than
ZA, particularly the free version, but its default settings seem like a
good starting point, especially when you have it in 'learn mode'.

But, as they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And if you're happy
with what you've got, stick with it. I couldn't resist twitting you a
little though.

Best.....Heather

All the best,

Roy

 

[Heather]

2.xxx, Yikes! I'm running ZAP 4.5.530 on a WinMe system here with no
problems. I just use it to remain familiar with it since the machine
is behind a router though...

BUT......did you run any of the 3.xxx versions on WinME??? Heirloom and
I discovered that it was not allowing enough 'idle time' for auto
restore points to be made.......we could make manual ones. This was not
corrected until the 4.xxx versions. Heirloom is using the first 4.xxx
one and it works fine.

Actually, I'd say they are quite different especially if you need to
customize settings for a network installation (expert rules, custom
settings and whatnot). Here's a very *basic* comparison chart.
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/comparison.jsp

OK "Enrique"......except I don't have a network and I don't have version
4. From what I have seen of it (putting it on other people's
computers), yes, it is quite different. I meant that there isn't much
difference in the free and pay version 2.6.362.......I have had both on
here.

I just checked out your comparison and there is a lot of difference. I
can upgrade to the 4.xxx version, but as Roy said.....'if it ain't
broke, etc"......grin!!

Oops....forgot to mention, I have Spybot and AdAware as well......and
run one of them daily. (and Hijack This, as I did have a browser
hijacker in May or so).

Heather

 

[Bart Bailey]

In
Message-ID:<[email protected]>

Oops....forgot to mention, I have Spybot and AdAware as well......and
run one of them daily. (and Hijack This, as I did have a browser
hijacker in May or so).

Once you get rid of IE/OE,
you only need to run those applications as a cleanup.
Safe hex with a decent browser/mailer,
and you won't have all the issues that so many others are bemoaning.

 

[Clay]

news:[email protected]...

BUT......did you run any of the 3.xxx versions on WinME???
Yes.

Heirloom and
I discovered that it was not allowing enough 'idle time' for auto
restore points to be made.......we could make manual ones. This was not
corrected until the 4.xxx versions. Heirloom is using the first 4.xxx
one and it works fine.

I have no need for SR and disabled it long ago but that's a whole
other topic.

OK "Enrique"......except I don't have a network and I don't have version
4. From what I have seen of it (putting it on other people's
computers), yes, it is quite different. I meant that there isn't much
difference in the free and pay version 2.6.362.......I have had both on
here.

Hmmm... I don't think I'd even consider using such an outdated
version...

I just checked out your comparison and there is a lot of difference. I
can upgrade to the 4.xxx version, but as Roy said.....'if it ain't
broke, etc"......grin!!

Okay but there might be more to consider... for example... known zone
alarm vulnerabilities (bugtraq archives) that have been "fixed" in
newer versions.

Oops....forgot to mention, I have Spybot and AdAware as well......and
run one of them daily. (and Hijack This, as I did have a browser
hijacker in May or so).

I have Spybot and AdAware too and also just run them on occasion for
fun. Nothing is ever found. I usually end up using those kinds of
things just so I learn how they work and how to work them.

 

[Heather]

In

Once you get rid of IE/OE,
you only need to run those applications as a cleanup.
Safe hex with a decent browser/mailer,
and you won't have all the issues that so many others are bemoaning.

BUT, pussycat......I don't have *issues* with IE and OE.......and I like
them. I tried Agent......hated it. And didn't like Netscape at all
(version 3 or so)......so why change?

Cheers....Heather

 

[Heather]

I have no need for SR and disabled it long ago but that's a whole
other topic.

Then of course you would not have the auto point problem......and I am
not going to ask why no SR....you are too far ahead of me.

Hmmm... I don't think I'd even consider using such an outdated
version...

Why not? It stops incoming pings and probes and I never have anything
land on here that wants to phone home.......so what else would version 4
do that this doesn't?? I tried out 3.xxx remember......and I disabled a
lot of the frills.....I just want a basic firewall.

Okay but there might be more to consider... for example... known zone
alarm vulnerabilities (bugtraq archives) that have been "fixed" in
newer versions.

Wouldn't know a 'bugtraq' if I fell over it. (G)

I have Spybot and AdAware too and also just run them on occasion for
fun. Nothing is ever found. I usually end up using those kinds of
things just so I learn how they work and how to work them.

I suppose I could jack the IE6 security up for cookies and then not get
any.....maybe I will.

Heather

 

[Bill]

I tried Agent......hated it.

Hard to believe. I too prefer IE and OE, but for newsgroups nothing
beats Agent.