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I just read a review here which gave this product a thumbsdown with little or no details provided. So, I thought I should give it a thumbsup! I have used ZoneAlarm for many years and this version is familiar to me, even though I have not used it before, Version 6.

I am running this on a Windows XP Pro SP2, fully updated and well-maintained, with 512 MB RAM. I am a user which spurns most extras. I like a good basic firewall without stuff that popsup to bother me. If I am concerned about any probes from the Internet then I can look at the logs whenever I wish. So, when ZA presented me with the first UDP probe popup, I checked Do not show this window again, and no more probe popups. You do have a choice.

Another way to see what applications want to access the Internet is to check the Program Control list. If you know that you do not want a program to have access you can block it here. Simply left-click on the panels beside the name and highlight X block.

In the Program Control list I made sure to block alg.exe at all points as it is the Windows Firewall which I had disabled. Never run two firewalls together or they cancel each other out.

ZA provides two monitors with the free version; one for your AntiVirus and one for POP3 email. These extras could slow things down? If you keep your AV updated regularly and are careful with email, you won't need them.

I am very pleased with this free version of ZoneAlarm. My Internet experience has benefitted. It's much faster than the Windows Firewall and far more secure. I recommend it to anyone who needs good, basic and dependable firewall protection.

Added: March 24th 2006

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NOTE: Product reviews are independently written by our members and do not necessarily express the opinions or views of CastleCops.