CB

Regardless of what ZoneAlarm tells you, it is not Vista compatible. I used
ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite for many years on my XP computer. I had no
problems with the software and it did exactly as advertised. I felt naked
without it.

However, I have tried (yesterday) to download and install the ZoneAlarm
Firewall (advertised as Vista compatible) and the new ZoneAlarm Internet
Security Suite, trial version (advertised as Vista compatible). Both of
these programs downloaded flawlessly but when it came to the installation
process it was a nightmare. Once installed I had nothing but major problems.
During the installation process and after the installation process I had to
do many hard shutdowns just to unlock my computer. The programs never did
actually function.

Of course, I can't contact ZoneAlarm about this because I do not have a
subscription number, since the firewall is free and the Security Suite is the
trial version.

I do not have any incompatible software causing these problems with
ZoneAlarm products. I haven't been denied permission and I did not have to
elevate any priveleges. Nothing was blocked or altered by my antivirus, which
is NOD32. Nothing was blocked by my firewall. The applications were unblocked
prior to installing. I uninstalled my NOD32 prior to downloading ZoneAlarm. I
disabled my firewall during the downloading and installation of ZoneAlarm.

I know how to download and install software. I don't have these problems
with any other software applications. As a matter of fact my Vista OS has
performed quite well with very few problems, those problems for the most part
being of my own making. I attempted the installation process of the ZoneAlarm
products in normal mode, safe mode and as an administrator.

I finally decided that ZoneAlarm has gone the way of McAfee and
Norton/Symantec. By that I mean to say that today's ZoneAlarm products are
nothing but trouble. I would suggest that people looking for security
software should use NOD32, Avast or Kaspersky. Actually, I would recommend
NOD32 over all of them. NOD32 loads quickly, performs in the background with
no performance problems and has a small footprint.

By the way, after you uninstall any ZoneAlarm product you will have to go
into the registry and delete the remaining ten or fifteen entries left on
your system, just like McAfee and Norton/Symantec. I have no faith in a
company that cannot even remove all the aspects of their own software. If
they cannot write an uninstall program successfully how can I expect them to
write a proper security application?

I am not trashing ZoneAlarm, McAfee and Norton/Symantec. I am only relating
my experiences with the applications based upon years of personal use. To sum
it up quickly: garbage in is garbage out. If these companies do not wish to
have their products criticized based upon facts they should offer products
that work properly without bloating your OS.

Have a nice day.

C.B.