Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)If you are using Zone Alarm's latest release you WILL not be able to use this boxed version to extend your update access; nor will you be able to bring your version up to the current one after installing this boxed version--both of which happened to me.
(The current version is 4.5.594.000; which fixed a bug discovered by certain nitwits trying to use a Consumer product to protect commercial email servers; DO NOT USE ZA TO PROTECT YOUR SERVERS; GET A NAT OR PROXY SERVER)
The version number of the boxed release is 4.0 something and if you try to install it--even AFTER you uninstalled the NEWER version, wait, it gets sillier--you won't be able to access ZoneAlarm's update servers. Not only that, after I tried to update it with my previous version, it refused to install (and this was tried on multiple computers with the same result). So not only does this boxed version deny you access to ZA's updates but also is unable to be updated--and this was after I used WinDelete to make sure all of the NEWER version had been removed from registry and the myriad Windows subfolders XP likes to put files in. (Unlike some reviewers, I didn't even get to the mess with the activation code!)
So, in sum, if you have a version newer than 4.1, you'll not be able to use the prog in this box. Perhaps it would work on a clean machine but I don't know.
This leaves you without current protection making you vulnerable to hacks designed to work around ZoneAlarm. Which defeats the whole purpose of shelling out the cash in the first place.
Bottom line: ZoneAlarm software: FIVE STARS
Broderbund boxed version: MINUS FIVE STARS, since that's not an option: ONE STAR.
After a little trouble with Amazon's customer service I convinced them that they had sold me a useless product (something akin to selling me a carbeurator for my '04 Mercedes). I was able to get a full refund without the credit card company rigamarole. So, another gold star for Amazon's reasonableness.
But forget this product. Got to ZoneAlarm.com and buy the download/subscription version. You'll receive the latest version in a small executable (less than five MB so even Dial-Up people can download it in a reasonable amount of time; as always use a good download manager with your dialup connection) and/or a CD if you wish.
Fifty bucks may seem a little pricey, but ZoneAlarm has repelled literally hundreds of hacker probes (up to ten a day)in the years I've used it. It's also stopped dozens of programs from trying to send unknown information for unknown purposes. Certain companies are worse than others about this; you'll see it once you've got a current version running.
No prog can access the net without your permission.
Even if you've never used ZoneAlarm, avoid this box. Broderbund's Customer Service (since ZA itself only does tech support, CSR on downloadable subscriptions) is almost universally detested as even a casual reading of most of these reviews will show.
I saw a "4.5" version of the Broderbund box at BestBuy this weekend, but I still would go directly to this source. Why go around the mountain to go next door?
Finally, Zone Labs/Intermute is a great company that makes great software which I've been using (starting with Ad-Subtract, most of whose functions have been incorporated in ZoneAlarm Pro) for nearly seven years know.
And, in that time, I've found their email tech support to be fairly quick and helpful. Having done tech support I can tell you that selecting the proper number of support staff is essentially impossible. Therefore, a spike in need for Support's services can cause delays. Just be patient; they've always gotten around to my issues.
And please, be polite. The poor schlub making $10 bucks an hour on the phone or who's routed your email has no control over anything. Tech Support reps are the serfs of the IT industry and they never cease reminding you of your lowly condition. So keep that in mind the next you feel like going off on the poor 19 year old in Arkansas who's undertrained, underpaid, over-bossed with supervisors' constant reminders of dispensibility ringing in the ear. Sorry, that was off topic. Call it my pro-Tech Support Rep rant and my respect for those still doing this thankless, worthless job!!!
Click Here to see more reviews about: Zone Alarm Pro 4
0 comments:
Post a Comment