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ZoneAlarm, a name familiar to many. In its many years of service, ZoneAlarm has already protected many against malicious programs and hacking attempted on our computers. Saviour to many, it has defended bravely in the face of the ever-growing strength of hacking attempts. Protecting its clients is what ZoneAlarm does best.

Still wondering what ZoneAlarm is, it is actually a firewall which protects the user's computer from invasion of malicious softwares and hacking attempts. Security levels can be set at a level suitable for the users themselves, from simple program access to the computer to assaults from programs to the network, ZoneAlarm is effective in preventing such programs from gaining access to your computers and networks.

To put it simple, ZoneAlarm protects the computer by putting it behind a firewall. Ever heard of the term "Prevention is better than cure"? Simply, ZoneAlarm prevents such issues from happening. For those who wants more from ZoneAlarm besides the standard firewall function, it also provides other services such as Anti-Viruses and Anti-Spyware detection programs. Hence, the ZoneAlarm security suite provides an all-rounded protection from malicious programs.

Even the most common programs would have to ask for permission in order to function. If permission isn't granted, the programs would not run and would simply freeze in the boot-up scene. Allowing time for the user to consider whether to allow it or not. If any unknown programs want to gain access to the computer, the user has the choice to deny access first and go online to check the security of such programs. Then, if the program is found to be safe for usage, users could access the firewall and allow such programs to function.

However, there's this tiny drawback. When the security level of the firewall is shifted up to maximum, issues like cookies and other tiny background programs also have to go through the system, making running programs take much longer as security alerts and asking of permission for access to the computer would make many pissed with the constant permission alerts and confirmation alerts.

ZoneAlarm is a very good substitute for the Windows Firewall. Personally, I never actually bothered about the Windows Firewall when i used ZoneAlarm. I just feel that there's no need to have both on at the same time and the firewall that Windows provide is pretty vulnerable to attacks and doesn't seem to have much freedom for the user to control the programs' eligibility to have access to the computer/network. It also doesn't show which programs are blocked and which are not. Moreover, Windows Firewall doesn't seem to have the ability to allow programs to function properly behind the firewall but in the case of ZoneAlarm, it allows programs to work properly behind it as long as the individual details of the programs are set up properly to do so.

All in all, for those who are in desperate need for a firewall or a security system that is guaranteed to work, ZoneAlarm is the choice for you. Best of all, Zone Labs (the developers of ZoneAlarm) provides a free edition of the firewall for personal usage. So, ZoneAlarm is not only effective, but also pretty much a full-coverage firewall which takes care of almost all program access.

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