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Subject: Re: Comments on ZoneAlarm?
From: Phonix (phonixMOOCOW.ORG)
Date: Wed Aug 16 2000 - 16:29:27 CDT

> Can anyone comment on the relative value of using ZoneAlarm? Is it
> better than nothing? Does it in itself introduce other issues of
> concern?

Zonealarm, if set on the highest security setting, is better than
nothing. For most non-technical people, who are only using a few standard
apps (web browser, mail reader, chat program, ftp), it won't really be a
problem. Getting it set up isn't all that difficult, and if you don't use
a whole lot of programs or update your programs regularly, it won't bitch
much.

For people who are more used to dealing with standard firewalls, any of
the "personal" firewalls are very limiting. They gloss over the
"difficult" issues of creating a good ruleset, and do everything based on
applications. There's not a whole lot that can be configured to give you
fine-grain control over your net access.

So the answer is it depends -- on how many different things you use, your
skill level/knowledge base of other firewalling products, and your
tolerance for annoying apps. Noone ever claimed that ZoneAlarm was quiet.

.phonix.