ZoneAlarm Security Suite 7.0: New AV Engine

ZoneAlarm 7.0 has been released and is available for download. One of the major improvements for 7.0 is the new AV engine. I wanted to provide some extra details about why this improvement is so important.

The Extended Database:
The new AV scanner will scan not just for Viruses, but also Trojans, Keyloggers, Remote access tools (in case someone attempts to install VNC server on your system without your knowledge). This is all done in the AV scan itself and also extends to the on-access scanning. Most other AV scanners limit the on-access scanning to virus-only -- they don't provide on-access scanning for trojans, keyloggers, etc.

This means that if a keylogger (or other malware that isn't specifically a virus) gets loaded on your system and attempts to start, the on-access scanning can catch and quarantine it. After you conduct a scan, in the scan results window, you may see malware with "not-a-virus" pre-pended to the virus name. This usually means it was detected by the Extended Database.

If you have installed a remote access tool like VNC, and it's getting picked up by the scanner (remember, bad guys use these tools on compromised machines as well), you can use "Ignore Always" in the scan result window. This adds that program to the "Exception list" and the scanner will ignore it during subsequent AV scans.

To enable or disable the Extended Database entirely, go to Anti-virus | Main and select Advanced Options. In Advanced Options, go to Scan Options and deselect the check box that says "Enable extended database".

ZoneAlarm products also provide the Anti-spyware scanner which still operates as it did before -- this new function of the Extended Database expands coverage and adds on-access protection for spyware contained in the Extended Database. It's almost like having two independent spyware scanners on your system -- these two powerful, complimentary anti-spyware technologies provide the best protection possible.

Read more about other significant changes in ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 7.0.

 

Comments

[Robert Marx]

I have used ZA for over 10 years and been a loyal and enthusiastic customer; until now.
ZA security suite forcd me to uninstall my CA suite and then I was virused, but unfortunately after the warranty period expired. I asked ZA to to downgrade my 2 year upgrade back to Pro and they refused. Bad luck! After the lost data and the cost of a new hard drive to try and retrieve whatever data is left after ZA SS failed and to be insulted with "we dont transfer or give warranties after 30 days" well Zone Alarm can have the good old Aussie salute, up yours and thanks for nothing, because I will never recommend them ever again because they have forgotten that they are only successful when their customers are happy with their product and customer service, which failed badly in both cases.

[Manmeet Singh]

Hi Friends

My license key for Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite has expired, and recently tried to renew it.

After entering the key it displays

LICENSE KEY WAS SUCCESFULLY INSTALLED

after clicking the OK button, the same old key is displayed.

Please anyone can find a solution for this.

[Shayne Hunter]

Any suggestions as to what product to go with as an alternative to Zone Alarm? always ignore not working, system performance now affected to the point where I find things too slow to use at times, vsmon crashes..we are all having the same problems and for too long. I want a change.

[C L]

I've done as ZoneAlarm tech had asked to correct the problem with it and Windows Vista, but to no avail.
After the manual uninstall process, I attempted to reinstall the
product from its DVD. NOW, IT WILL NOT ALLOW ZONEALARM TO INSTALL!!

I've checked the details of the DVD and its states that the version
is 6 and NOT THE LATEST VERSION FOR WINDOWS VISTA.

Again, when I purchased the product on December 3, 2006, the box
states "ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2007," "easy to set up and use,"
"free upgrades for 1 year," and "Windows Vista Ready." Apparently this
is NOT THE CASE AT ALL!!!

I am infuriated at this point to say the least about your product and
its affect on my PC operation!!!!!

To the entire PC user community, ZoneAlarm should be dumped before you encounter the same problem!!

[Nelson Schroth]

I do not understand why Zone Alarm cannot fix its problem with releasing the OUTLOOK process when you sht dwn Outlook. Anybody in software development understands that it is a clear programming error.

I just renewed my v7 subscribtion hoping that this BUG would be fixed. The only post I have seen was another person saying they were giving up on your company.

Seems like he was correct in his assumptions.

[Bernice]

I have habitual problem of VSMON shutting down on me esp if I have AIM window open.
I either have to reboot, or shut down ZA entirely and then restart it...then it seems to work.
Any one else with this problem?
Could it be simply the usage of the CPU?
Suggestions?

[Ben]

vsmon and scanning process are chewing up processing power and ram usage, make a update that minimizes these usages.

[Delbert]

Had the same problems as above. ZA has been flawless in the past but upgrade to Security Suite caused my PC to crawl. vsmon was hogging the CPU bigtime. Turned off ZA for a few days and now reinstalled. FWIW, the last 10 minutes of use have seen no CPU hogging. I'll keep you informed if things change.

[fredrick brennan]

Zone Alarm has been great IN THE PAST.
Alas, now i am running Vista. Purchased not one but two zone alarm suites. The first one came with a rebate and was for XP. The second one said it was for Vista and earlier and came with 3 licenses. Okay, so now i am in both for over a $100.

After FULL compliance with the rebate baloney zone alarm finally told me that i didn't qualify for a rebate because i didn't send in some "stuff".

i sent in all the "stuff".

i suspect that Zone Alarm lost some key help and is SOON going out of business and that is why Vista issues may not have been fully addressed. sad.

Even sadder still was when they stopped supporting win98se. I caught a nasty virus that zapped almost the entire hard drive and even some floppy track zeros. I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to torpedo Zone alarm but the rebate baloney and other issues lead me to think that this is a zone alarm problem and not sourced in Microsoft.

I sincerely hope that zone alarm freshens up and put out a top performing product like they did of old. Don't really want to flush $100 bills down the toilet too often.

[Brian]

Can someone tell me do the previous versions (pre 7) have the issues that 7 has. I use to run the free version for internet and McAfee virus scan, then I heard all about ZA7 and decided not to renew my Virus Scan and upgrade. Installation went well but performace was so bad. 100% cpu if I enabled Visus Scan. So now it's paid for and I am not using it. So back to my initial question, do previous versions of ZA Security Suite run OK? if so can someone steer me in to the best one.
Thank You,
Brian

[Pamela Wang]

I have Win XP Media edition and also have problems with start up after installing the updated Ver 7.X Microsoft article 322205 was helpful in getting the system running again. Nothing I tried worked the first time though... great article to print and have handy at times like these!

At start up - press F8 - and several times if needed - then select last known good configuration. It took my system (HP Media Center m7590n) some time to get to the Windows desktop. I then started Zone Alarm and went to the Preferences tab - deselected start ZA at start up.

However, I haven't turned the system off yet so I'm hoping that will do the job.

I have always used the freebie and paid versions of Ad Aware SE (and plus) along with Zone Alarm on my various systems and it has worked fine. It catches the other stuff that ZA misses.

I wish that ZA was smart enough to sense prior to install - an incompatible OS!

[Bill N]

Total agree with Mark above
I have been a faithful user of ZA products since 2000.
The Security security suite V7 has completely "buggered up" my work flow - my computer has almost slows to a stop when using the internet - email sometimes come and sometimes do not and I get constant error messages.
I have emailed ZA tech support and only got the usual automated replies.

Performance is now disgusting and their product is completely unusable - and I am paying for this.

ZONE ALARM GET YOU ACT TOGETHER _ your product is not "fit for use"

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yay
i
can
count
to
ten
!

are
we
having
fun
yet
?

[Ed (please don't turn ZA into a lemon like Norton)]

I have been using ZA pro for the last 5 years and absolutely loved it, most of the time you didn't even know it was there, but it could take everything GRC could throw at it.

I took the "free" upgrade to security suite V7, when my subscription came up. After a complete nightmare of an installation and much tech support help, I have to say I wish I hadn't bothered. My PC feels like it has been throttled, start up time, program starts, internet and particularly e-mail, now seem pedestrian, if I wanted this kind of performance I would go back to using a 486 on a dial-up connection or install Norton.

Sort it out ZA or you will end up like Norton, only able to sell your product bundled or to nooby mugs.

[Mark]

I am also dogged with being unable to Ignore RealVNC in Zone Alarm Suite. If this will not be fixed soon I will not be purchasing the Zone Alarm Suite. Is there any ETA on the fix?

[Ross]

I'm having difficulty with the concept that the new vista version doesn't support checking attachments on incoming email messages. This seems like the most likely vector for an attack and one that needs to be protected? Is there an ETA for this feature under Vista?

[Chris (very unhappy with product and service)]

I was offered a "free" upgrade to the security suite when my Zone Alarm Pro came up for renewal. It wouldn't work properly with Outlook and after lots of emails between myself and the tech guys I am still waiting for a fix. I found that slowed down connecting to the Internet and generally slowed down Outlook. I am back to the free zone alarm now having paid for something I cannot use. I wont be bothering to renew next year because they don't seem to care about problems at all and are quite happy to take your money and do little in return.

[djfkc]

You can go into Safe Mode and rename srescan.sys then rebott. This works around the problem on my W2000 machines.

[Jason]

Ive joined the VNC pop-up club and its driving me nuts :(

You guys at zonelabs have always made a dam good product with this firewall but if you dont sort this problem out I will end up ditching it. But thats the last thing I want to do as imho there isnt anything better than zonealarm.

[Chris]

The Microsoft Vista Upgrade Advisor provided no warnings regarding in the ZA 7 incompatibility. As a result, I continued with the Vista upgrade unaware of the fatal BSOD which prevents any upgrade, repair, or recovery. Now, I'm faced with manual removal of ZA files/drivers. I'm really sick of this WIntel crap.

[Ray]

Is there any chance that someone from Zone Labs could at least provide an indication that the VNC [significant] annoyance is being looked at and provide feedback as to if and when it might be fixed.

Surely this should be a simple fix?

[SruliTheGrate]

I am having the same problem with VNC - the always ignore simply doesn't work. This is VERY annoying the 30th or 40th time I have to deal with this each week.

Is there a workaround? Does disabling the extended database stop this from happening? That wouldn't be a good solution but it's better than nothing.

[Dan Rubinsky]

I hava problems with ZoneAlarm Security Suite 7. I have now no access to my hotmail, and other mail accounts. How can I configure this? Thanks for your help.
Dan

[Drew]

The VNC posts are adding up so here's mine.

Why does ingnore always not work? On second thought I don't care why I just want it fixed!

I've been using Zone Alarm for many years but if this is not fixed I will have to reassign my loyalty somewhere else.

[MisterNetwork]

Ditto Bob's Message.
I'd hate to remove RealVNC. I only use it on my local net, not via internet.

But this is ridiculous...
Pop-up
RealVNC
Ignore Always
Done

Pop-up
RealVNC
Ignore Always
Done

Pop-up
RealVNC
Ignore Always
Done

Are We Having Fun Yet?