ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite - Stop threats even before they get on your PC

1. Does ZoneAlarm antivirus monitoring feature recognize my antivirus software?
2. How often does ZoneAlarm look for virus and spyware updates?
3. Why do other anti-spyware products detect different spyware than ZoneAlarm?
4. I'm running ZoneAlarm and now I'm having trouble accessing the Internet. What should I do?
5. I've installed ZoneAlarm but cannot use other computers or print files on my home network. What should I do?
6. Does ZoneAlarm slow down a computer?
7. What is a Check for Update?
8. I'm having trouble with AOL. What should I do?
9. How does ZoneAlarm affect gaming?
10. How do I block or unblock specific ports?
11. Do I need a PC firewall if I'm already using a hardware firewall?
12. Why am I getting a lot of pop-up alerts?
13. Why do programs (other than Outlook or browsers) require Internet access?
14. What should I do when I receive a New Program alert?
15. What should I do when I receive a Firewall blocked access alert?
16. When should I give a program "server rights" and when should I deny it?

Currently, the Antivirus Monitoring feature will recognize the following antivirus products:

SYMANTEC

• Norton Internet Security 2005
• Norton AntiVirus 2005
• Norton Internet Security Pro 2004
• Norton AntiVirus Pro 2004
• Norton Internet Security 2003
• Norton AntiVirus/AntiVirus Pro 2003
• Norton AntiVirus 2002

MCAFEE

• Internet Security 2005
• VirusScan 2005
• VirusScan ASAP
• Internet Security 2004
• VirusScan/VirusScan Pro 2004
• Internet Security 2003
• VirusScan/VirusScan Pro 7
• VirusScan Pro 6

TREND MICRO

• Pc-cillin Internet Security 2005
• Pc-cillin Internet Security 2004
• Pc-cillin 2003
• Pc-cillin 2002

COMPUTER ASSOCIATES

• eTrust EZ Antivirus 7
• eTrust EZ Antivirus 6.0
• eTrust EZ Antivirus 6.1
• eTrust EZ Antivirus 6.2

The Antivirus Monitoring feature is designed to keep your computer safe by detecting installed antivirus software products and alerting you to lapses in protection. This feature can be considered a second line of defense ?in the event your antivirus auto update feature has been disabled, we will notify you that there is an update for your antivirus program available.

ZoneAlarm looks for virus and spyware updates immediately after installation and on a daily basis after installation.

Anti-spyware products work in a similar manner to antivirus products. They maintain a library of spyware filenames and registry keys, and search for and remove them from your computer. Since there is not an industry standard method for identifying and removing spyware, each anti-spyware product uses their own approach which yields different results.

In addition to detecting and removing spyware, and unlike most other anti-spyware products, ZoneAlarm's anti-spyware can prevent spyware from ever reaching your computer. Prevention is critical for fighting spyware; because once spyware is installed on your computer, damage to the computer, other programs and the user's identity is often already done. In addition, it is much more difficult to remove installed spyware, than to prevent spyware from being installed.

ZoneAlarm is working hard to protect your PC. However, if you've just installed ZoneAlarm and you're unable to connect to any Web sites, there's probably been an error in installation. Here's what to do:

• Open ZoneAlarm, then press F1.
• From the search tab, type Troubleshooting
• Double-click on "I'm having trouble connecting to the Internet"

From there, the comprehensive ZoneAlarm help system will provide a guide to troubleshooting your Internet connection. As part of our widespread user base, we've probably captured most of the issues users are likely to see and have incorporated them into the product's help system.

To share printers and files with other computers on your network, you will need to configure ZoneAlarm to allow access to the computers with which you plan to share resources. To configure ZoneAlarm for file and printer sharing, first make sure that your network is in the Trusted Zone.

To make sure you can connect to your home network and share resources, open the ZoneAlarm user interface > click on Firewall (left-hand column) > and select the Zones tab.

Under the Name column, find your home network (it might be the only listing). Under the Zone column, click one time on Internet.

A little box should appear (as seen in the picture below) that says "Internet" and "Trusted". Click on Trusted.

Close ZoneAlarm.

Next, go to Firewall (left-hand column) > Main tab > and make sure that the Internet Zone setting is on "High" and the Trusted Zone setting is on"Medium".

ZoneAlarm is optimized to deliver a minimal impact on the performance of your PC during normal operations. In most cases, you won't even know your PC is being protected by ZoneAlarm. For users of ZoneAlarm Antivirus or our award-winning ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite, you may notice a reduced response time while ZoneAlarm is conducting a scan of your PC for viruses or other malware. If this is inconvenient, you can always stop the scan and reschedule for a time that the PC is not likely to be running other applications.

Check for Update is a message that alerts you to check for updated versions of ZoneAlarm. These alerts may be sent because of newly discovered threats that could weaken the security of your PC or for feature improvements. You can use the Overview/Preferences tab to adjust your Update settings.

The most recent versions of AOL now offer some security features including a firewall and virus scanning. It is recommended that you disable those features prior to using the same features from ZoneAlarm. If you've recently updated to a new version of AOL, some users with older versions of ZoneAlarm had compatibility issues. Check for updated versions of ZoneAlarm to ensure the best compatibility.

Attending a LAN party or playing a game that is connected online? Although standalone games rarely create issues with ZoneAlarm, the new generation of connected games may attempt to open lines of communications with other PCs on your LAN or on the Internet. Since these connections are similar to the communication that Trojan Horses or other malware often attempt, they may not be allowed by ZoneAlarm. If you're connected to a LAN where you know the other players, you can add that LAN to your "Trusted Zone" and use a lower level of security. Alternately, review the user manual for your game and determine what ports need to be opened. Then, use the "Expert Rules" in paid versions of ZoneAlarm to allow the required communication.

All paid versions of ZoneAlarm provide complete flexibility for customization in the "Expert Rules" tab of the Firewall panel. This feature is not available in the free ZoneAlarm. Using the Expert Rules form, you can block or unblock specific ports, sources, or destinations.

Most home network routers include a built-in hardware firewall that monitors and blocks inbound communications at the network level. By comparison, a PC firewall can monitor and block both inbound and outbound communications at the PC level. For the most complete protection, a PC firewall should be installed on every computer on a network. Combined, a router's firewall and a PC firewall provide multiple layers of protection that a router firewall couldn't provide by itself. And unlike your home network router, a PC firewall can easily go where your computer goes. Only a PC firewall can protect your Internet-connected computer on the road.

Pop-up alerts are designed to advise you on what programs are trying to get in and out of your computer. This allows you to ensure that nothing harmful is getting into your computer, and no malicious programs are sending out your personal information.

This is part of the initial ZoneAlarm security process. When you check the box next to "Remember this setting", you will not see a pop-up for that program again (unless the program changes on your computer).

Many programs use the Internet to look for updates or bug fixes for themselves. When a program such as Adobe Acrobat is opened, it is programmed to contact its "home base" to see if a more updated version is available. Users are then prompted to update the program.

Sometimes, programs on a computer communicate with each other and use the local network to do this. This "local communication" may result in programs such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Excel requesting access to the Internet.

Another reason a program may request Internet access is if it crashes. When programs crash, they often access the Internet to look up the problem and solution. The "fix" is then presented to the user. There is no way this information could be obtained by the program without the program accessing the Internet.

And don't forget that malicious software or spyware may also try to connect to the Internet in order to send your personal information to a hacker.

When you receive a New Program alert, check the Application field to see what the program is. If you recognize the program, click the box next to Remember this setting, and then click Allow.

If you do not recognize the program, you can do one of two things:

1. If you do not recognize the program name, you can click the More Info button which will guide you to the Zone Labs Web site. We provide descriptions for many programs to help our users make safe decisions. 2. If you need more information than what is offered at ZoneLabs.com, search the Microsoft Support site or use a search engine like Google for information on the program in order to determine what the program is and what it is used for. You can then decide to allow or deny access to this program.

You may receive some alerts asking you if a certain program should act as a server and be given "server rights". We recommend that you not give any program server rights unless one of the following is true for you:

• You are hosting a Web site on your computer
• You are sharing files with another person(s)
• You are playing games that require point-to-point connections with other players across the Internet

If any of these situations apply to you, then you should give programs for the activity server rights. If none of the above examples applies to you, it is not recommended that you allow any program to have server rights. Allowing a program to have server rights means that an outside connection can access your computer through that program.

At any time in the future, you can always change the setting of the program to give it "server rights" by going to Program Control (left-hand column) > select the Programs tab > highlight the program you wish to give "server rights" > click on the "X" under "Server" and click "Allow" in the little box that pops up.