Customer Reviews

Zonealarm Extreme Security - 3 PCS/1 Year [Old Version]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I've been using ZoneAlarm for years now, but each upgrade makes me more and more nervous as the company appears to be aiming at consumers with less and less technical knowledge. For years ZoneAlarm has been THE BEST firewall, but this type of "dumbing down" trend can only result in an inferior product for the long run. When your product starts using ridiculous packaging, with names like "Extreme Security", I just have to balk at this ridiculous marketing tactic. I expect this type of nonsense with firewalls from McAfee or Norton, but not ZoneAlarm! This will most likely be the last time I upgrade with ZoneAlarm, there are other equally great firewalls gaining popularity, but to be honest I'm still holding out simply because I'm used to this software, and I can be stubborn when it comes to migrating.

First, let's start off with...

The Bad---

My primary complaint is that ZoneAlarm removed the handy cache cleaner, (also known as the privacy feature). ZoneAlarm's makers, Check Point Software, claims it caused problems with the software, but I never had any issues with this feature, ZoneAlarm has always been a very stable program. It was a great feature one could use to quickly and easily remove cookies that don't typically get removed by other programs. ZoneAlarm's answer to this complaint is to use 3rd party software instead. Umm, hello? ZoneAlarm IS 3rd party software! Why would I, (or should I), install another program just for this one feature? This makes no sense on ZoneAlarm's part, and claiming it needed to be removed because of compatibility issues is really an insult to my, (and others), intelligence.

I don't see how a simple cache cleaner can cause problems, so maybe instead of removing features Check Point Software should instead remove the idiot coders that couldn't figure out how to keep such a simple and useful tool from interacting negatively with other parts of the software? If the cache cleaner really was causing problems, then logically another 3rd party software could also cause compatibility issues. This really is a lame and pathetic excuse from Check Point Software, and what is worse is that you don't realize the feature has been removed until AFTER you upgrade. The reality is this isn't an upgrade, it's a DOWNGRADE!

The real irritating issue with Check Point Software is that instead of actually having decent customer service people working on their forums for CUSTOMERS looking for help, (such as wtf happened to the privacy controls), they instead have your typical internet moderating douche bags running their forum. These IT rejects aren't the least bit helpful with getting basic questions answered, and will quickly close a topic if it's on an issue Check Point Software doesn't have a good time explaining, such as why they are removing features in so called "upgrades".

Obviously paying CUSTOMERS are annoyed by Check Point for removing this feature, but not letting us complain on their own forums just ads to the insult and disrespect they have for their paying customers. Clearly Check Point Software does not care what their most loyal customers want in their software, so this is why I will most likely not be returning the next time my subscription comes to an expiration. Why even have a web forum if you aren't going to listen to what people have to say about your product, or offer any realistic help when they need it? Check Point might as well save themselves some bandwidth and just remove the web forum completely and hire staffers from India. I might not be able to understand a thing their support says, but I'd probably still get better help than the artards moderating their web forum!


Now With The Good---

So if I don't like this software, then why 2 stars and not 1? Well, for one, I'm hoping things change for the better. I'm giving them a chance to improve in future editions. Otherwise I probably should be giving them 1 star because the extra star is really just sheer optimism on my part. The other reason is that despite my complaints, this is still, in my opinion, the best software firewall on the market. I love the Identity protection, it's really nice to be able to block your e-mail from being spammed out when you don't want it! I also really like the amount of control ZoneAlarm allows for each program that can connect online. It's nice to know which programs are attempting to go online, especially when I'm not using them! And even though the packaging seems to be targeting a dumber and dumber audience with each new variation, the software has still stayed relatively the same powerful firewall that has made it such a great firewall for so many years.

What makes it so great is not just the amount of control ZoneAlarm gives you, but that it does it without being bloated like so many other Security software suites out there. The anti-virus does not slug your system down like so many other anti-virus programs do, but yet still provides adequate protection. Their anti-spam rarely catches anything, so I'm not sure how useful it is, and the same could probably be said for the anti-virus. Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware seem to be much better in the anti-spam department, but since it uses virtually no resources a little redundancy is never a bad thing, right? Then again, you are paying for this, whereas Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware are both free...but I digress...

Conclusion---

As I mentioned earlier, I can be a bit stubborn. I've been using ZoneAlarm for so many years that I'm really reluctant to change, but I'm afraid I'll have to. It's only a matter of time before ZoneAlarm becomes as bloated and useless as McAfee or Norton, and with other popular suites coming around I'm sure there will be something I can feel comfortable moving towards when this subscription comes to an end. I tried AVG, not bad, but I feel it could use some improvements before I make a commitment. The point I'd like to make is that there are other great firewall/security suites out on the market right now, and considering Check Point Software's lack of respect for their own customers wants and wishes, and the dumbing down trend they appear to be on, I'd recommend trying other firewalls/security suites first.

I have only used ZAE for a year and I DO plan on renewing my subscription. I had been a Norton fan for many years for both my Macs and PC's. I dropped Norton for Mac Years back as it caused more problems than it solved, So at this point I kept it on the PC. Then Norton came out with the Various Version of "360" Which I was sceptical of as you really have little to no control of when and how this program operates. After Version 2.0, I had it. Noton was constanly running processes in the background, you couldnt truly turn it "off", and the the onboard utilites are garbage leaving 2 PC's that would no longer boot after running them (1 XP and 1 Vista). I had to Run restore on both and found that their stupid register cleaner did something to cause this!

I also had a bad experience with Norton's Customer Service - Best Buy issued me a new Notebook as part of an in-store extended warranty, but I could not get my old notebook back - thats a whole other Story.... Basically Norton refused to deactivate the account for my old notebook so I could get Norton on my new notebook. So now I had just renewed my subscription for 3 PC's, but Norton would only secure 2 of them, and someone else could have been enjoying my copy of Norton on my old notebook. I was angry at this ignorance, so I had them refund my new subscription, so I had to find protection somewhere else.

Tried Mcafee, And That was garbage, High CPU consumption.

I Saw a good deal for ZoneAlarm Extreme (ZAE) - and they have a demo, so I figured I would try it. ZAE found Root Kits/Virus/Etc - stuff that Norton and Mcafee NEVER found and had been there for who knows how long. I was hooked. I think some people want the look and feel of Norton 360, but dont know about the false security they are paying for to Norton. I Understand this, though ZoneAlarms interface is not as Pretty as Norton (my minus star), It does a better job and for those who like to have total control over how there AV program works, ZAE is highly customizable.

There is one review here that states that programs where able to send emails without his knowledge - well there are settings under ZAE for every program installed - This can all be customized, you can control how each program is allowed to operate.

I really think the only reason that Norton is so popular is because the average user doesnt know any better, Think about it:

-When you buy a new computer from Best Buy or whoever, They always push a copy of Norton on you, -Or- if you buy a New PC it comes with some sort of AV installed (usually Norton/Mcafee) already as part of its Windows Junkware package. People figure "why should I look for another type of AV?"

I guess it comes down to your preference. Download Demo's and test it out. If you want to get real serious about testing, create a restore point, then install an AV program, run it and see what you come up with. You can then restore your PC back and install a different AV program, run it and compare their findings. Frankly, ZAE is a great suite, and you can find a better price than MSRP if you shop around on the net.

I too have used ZoneAlarm for years and have been satisfied. Now I have ZoneAlarm Extreme. It appeared OK. They offer several optional add-ons. PC tuneup Pro is one I bought. It went through the motions and cleaned up some dead links and junk but I could not see any improvement in boot-up time or reduction in hard drive run-on. I've often wondered what would happen if someone broke in and stole my computer. Almost all of us have account information, etc on our computers. That concern prompted me to purchase their drive encryption program. The program began installation but then terminated, ending with error messages:

Pointsec PC error:
An unexpected problem has occurred and Prot_srv needs to close.
The above message is repeated for all four errors: PstartSr, P95tray, ZLclient. (4 errors total) These errors repeat faithfully upon reboot. The program did install the logon screen which pops up early in the boot process. When I tried to remove the software, a message says "removal is enabled once your drives are encrypted." In my case, the program is in limbo. It has a logon screen but the install did not complete and nothing is encrypted. I tried this in safe mode also. This is a major problem. Zonealarm will not run any more either because of the errors.

I sent detailed messages to ZoneAlarm tech support. No matter what messages or information I sent, they responded with, "we understand you want to remove the software." It was like they could not comprehend anything I was saying. The guy appeared to have no interest in solving anything. I tried contacting the company that actually produced the software but their website is boiler plated so nobody can get a message through to them.

I don't expect that ZoneAlarm staff would be intimately familiar with everything inside a vendor's software but it seems like if someone has a problem like this, they would try and contact the producer to get help. But that never happened. This is the WORST customer support NIGHTMARE I have ever had.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR: AVOID THESE PRODUCTS! Bottom line? I paid about $65 to irreversibly trash my computer. No help in sight. Due to the nature of the encryption software it appears that I will have to replace my hard drive or maybe buy a new computer.

My experience echoes that of some of the other reviews. I have been using ZoneAlarm for a number of years and was very happy with it, which is why two rather than one stars. While I ran into a few glitches in the past, they always seemed to be quickly addressed and the forum community provided great support. However, more recent updates seemed to be increasingly intrusive and to have more compatibility problems. The last major update to ZoneAlarm Extreme Security 2012 was extreme in terms of how disappointed I am with it. On both XP and Windows 7 machines anything beyond a cursory scheduled scan takes hours. Internet Explorer became unusable on both machines to the point that we had to switch to another browser (although we still have to fight through using IE for some interactions). The online forum community seems to have become moderated by people who inevitably respond that you haven't provided sufficient information and that you need to call Customer Service rather than actually offering any help, in fact it seems like they chastise posters and close threads if someone tries to offer any help. Unless there are some major changes at Check Point, I don't see continuing with ZoneAlarm.

ZoneAlarm is in serious need of rethinking their approach to protecting Windows machines. I am not going to get too detailed here. I have not read the other reviews. Those of you who know what I am talking about will immediately nod their heads. Those contemplating this purchase will hopefully come away better informed.

Simply put, this product causes BSODs, and lots of them, particularly in Windows 7 / 64 bit machines. Many of us have pulled out hair trying to get to the root cause, never thinking in a million hears that such a tried, tested (and loved by c n e t ) product (designed to PROTECT your machine no less!) would end up being the culprit and cause of so much angst.

When we finally do realize what causesd the issue, it can be both enlightening and a little disturbing. ZoneAlarm? That staunch ally of the common man trying to protect his data? The very bastion of Firewall Security? --Never! But be warned, dear reader. There are some some serious issues.

I am by no means giving up on ZA or Checkpoint or any of that, so don't get me wrong. Their products protect our company's machines very nicely. But stay away from the personal use firewall until they figure out what's wrong. (Helpful Suggestion: Try "googling" about this and see what you come up with ... try phrases like "zone alarm and bsods", and so forth.}

To the good developers, should they happen to read this, please stand advised. Your product is on the brink of catastrophe if you don't make course corrections immediately.

To the prospective buyer, please do yourself the service of checking out my warning for yourself, independently. I don't think Amazon will allow me to list free alternatives, but I can hint to you that right now Windows 7's own protective firewall facility is quite adequate to every day needs. Thanks for listening, folks!

This is a truly user friendly Security Suite that offers the renowned Zone Alarm Firewall, Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, e-mail protection, identity protection, Parental Control, & most of all Browser Security!

Zonealarm Extreme Security can be set to medium security as it learns the software applications that you regularly use. After about 21 days, you can set it to maximum security.

If you are using IE 9 and Firefox 4,
be aware that ZoneAlarm does NOT support these browsers.
Here is what ZoneAlarm customer service has to say about it.

ZoneAlarm Chat
5/12/2011
Caveat: ZoneAlarm Chat only works in IE.

Welcome to ZoneAlarm Customer Service.

John: Does ZoneAlarm Extreme Security fully support IE 9 and Firefox 4?

ZoneAlarm: I apologize for the inconvenience, but the Browser Security within Extreme Security doesn't support Internet Explorer 9 and Firefox 4 at this time.

ZoneAlarm: Version 10, which is currently available as a public beta, will support Internet Explorer 9 and Firefox 4. We don't have a release date at this time.

John: Why does it not warn buyers about this in the product description web page?

ZoneAlarm: In the System Requirements it doesn't list these browsers as supported versions but can forward the suggestion to my management.

John: There should be a prominent warning on your product description about this because the product is useless without Internet 9 and Firefox 4 full support.

ZoneAlarm: I will pass on the suggestion.

Although the box shown is similar to the 2010 release, the product being sold is actually an earlier version (2009) of Zone Alarm. In the 2010 edition, the year is imprinted on the box. Perhaps this is why some people have experienced an install where key features were removed, etc. To view the difference, check out the Zone Alarm website, and you can see how similar the two products are.

Zone Alarm deserves negative stars. I used Zone Alarm Security Suite for about 7 years, even though every new release caused tremendous problems. Lately my PC had been performing terribly...pictures not coming out correctly...videos not playing...keys not appearing when I type them...downloads being corrupted. I finally discovered Zone Alarm was the likely culprit on at least some of this. If you dare ask for help on their forums, you are immediately told that the forums can't solve any problem...you must contact customer support. Their solution to every bug is to force you to re-install this product. So many things were wrong I decided to get something else, even though I have a year and a half left on my license.

I researched and found Kaspersky to be top rated and users liked it, so I bought Kaspersky Pure through Amazon, at a huge discount to retail. I opted for 5-8 business day free shipping. To my utter shock, it arrived the next afternoon. It took awhile to figure out how to rid my PC of the bug-infested Zone Alarm, but I did it and installed Kaspersky Pure. I noticed immediate improvements...youtube videos all played immediately...my PC seems much faster...keystrokes are not omitted...downloads working fine. Zone Alarm was the culprit on all of it all along. AVOID like the plague.

I have used Zone Alarm for over 5 years! These newest release is the poorest piece of software I have used in my over 35 years of experience of software. The new version does not allow for proper system configuration. My most inexperienced family members need options that Zone Alarm thinks it knows best how to configure. Avoid this software like a computer virus, unless you are willing to turn over total control of your computer with choices you no longer control!