Anyone have ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite?

[twopu]

My Trend PC Chillin expired so I picked up ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite today at Best Buy for $10. I haven't installed it yet because I've read that it can slow down your computer. Should I just renew my Trend ($50) or stick with the ZoneAlarm? Oh, my knowledge of computers is very limited so please don't get to technical with me.
Thanks!!!

[paul34]

Zone Alarm is one the best firewalls out there... it does indeed eat up system resources but what are you going to do

There are lighter alternatives out there. I'm not exactly sure of the name, but I believe there's one called "Kerio Personal Firewall." I think it might even be free, but I also believe it was discontinued (but should still work with XP).

Personally, I don't run a software firewall other than XP's excuse for one. My actual firewall comes courtesy of my USR5461 router... a hardware firewall, which is better than software firewalls (except for outgoing protection), and doesn't use up your system resources. Of course, there are cons with hardware firewalls as well, but yea.

Do you have a router, such as a wireless router? It may already have a built-in hardware firewall.

Let us know if you have more questions

[twopu]

Paul thanks for the help. I was just really concerned that it was going to slow my system down. For whatever reason it runs pretty slow now and I didn't want it to be any slower. I guess for $10 I can run it and if I don't like it I can uninstall it and purchase PC Chillin. I also hoped that it's antivirus capabilities were on par with PC Chillin.

I don't have a router so I'm guessing I don't have any built in firewall. Thanks again for your help!

[paul34]

Hmm... do you scan regularly for spyware? That may explain some of the "slow down" you are experiencing on your system

If not, search for "Ad-Aware" and "Spybot"... two excellent anti-spyware programs

Also, I believe Microsoft has their own anti-spyware software that actually works pretty well. "Defender" is the name, if I'm not mistaken.

All three should be free too!

[wytstang]

Originally Posted by paul34

Zone Alarm is one the best firewalls out there... it does indeed eat up system resources but what are you going to do

There are lighter alternatives out there. I'm not exactly sure of the name, but I believe there's one called "Kerio Personal Firewall." I think it might even be free, but I also believe it was discontinued (but should still work with XP).

Personally, I don't run a software firewall other than XP's excuse for one. My actual firewall comes courtesy of my USR5461 router... a hardware firewall, which is better than software firewalls (except for outgoing protection), and doesn't use up your system resources. Of course, there are cons with hardware firewalls as well, but yea.

Do you have a router, such as a wireless router? It may already have a built-in hardware firewall.

Let us know if you have more questions

I run Kerio Personal Firewall and love it and it's free. Here is a site that tested all the free firewalls and you can judge which is good for you *Note I tried Jetico and it frooze my puter so i wouldn't sugest using it unless you are computer savy*
Firewall Leak Tester

[wytstang]

If you want you can test your firewall here https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 and see if it passes (True Stealth) or fails. Kerio passes all test and Free