Sad to say, there are all manner of folks out there who delight in what I call digital vandalism.  Daily, we are assaulted (electronically speaking) by viruses, worms, and hackers.  And, let's not forget the spy programs that periodically try to report where each of us goes on the Web, what sorts of things we buy, how much we spend, etc. to their distributors.  I hope these same spy programs aren't actually reporting my credit card number to their masters, but I choose to protect myself as if they were.

All of us have a virus checker installed - DON'T WE?  But it seems many of us don't know about the need for a firewall.  A firewall blocks access to your computer from uninvited pests on the Internet, like hackers, and blocks access from spyware programs hidden on your hard drives.

ZoneAlarm is one of my favorite firewall programs.  I recommend it to all my clients, and to all the folks whose computers we service at the Tampa Bay Computer Society's diagnostic clinics.  It performs this essential function flawlessly and invisibly.  And, for those of us still using dial-up Internet access, it is necessary.  It is even more critical for those of you using a cable modem or DSL, where your computer is always connected to the Internet, whether you are using the Web or just playing Solitaire.

The price is right - it's free!  Admittedly, I chose ZoneAlarm because it was free, but its value is priceless.  Within minutes of installing and enabling ZoneAlarm, a notification popped up that reported the IP address of a hacker who was trying to access my computer.  It continued to do so every few minutes until I disabled the pop-up notification.  However, even when the notification is disabled, the program continues to protect my data from prying eyes - it just does it more discreetly now.

Installation is a snap:

1. Click on the ZoneAlarm icon above.  Save the installation program to your desktop, then double-click on it to start the installation.
   • If you're running Windows 95, 98, or ME, click here instead to download an older version from my website - the newer versions of ZoneAlarm won't even load in the older versions of Windows.
2. If updating an earlier version of ZoneAlarm, the Company field cannot be left blank.  Press the Space bar once while Company is highlighted; this seems to satisfy the installation program.
   • Or, if you're loading the older version, just un-check the "I want to register ZoneAlarm" button.  That will suppress the requirement for you to input an email address - you can't use any updates with Win 9x, so why go check for them?
3. Accept the suggested defaults for the fastest installation.

Each time ZoneAlarm starts, it displays a large window telling you it has started, and that your computer is now protected.  While my initial inclination was to click on the 'splash screen' to make it go away faster, this is not the correct action.  Clicking on the sign-on message opens ZoneAlarm's Web site, where you can purchase ZoneAlarm Pro.  I am sure ZoneAlarm Pro is a wonderful program, but the freeware version does everything I need it to do, so No, thank you.

Once ZoneAlarm is running, a window pops up to warn you every time access to your computer is attempted from the Internet.  Once assured that your PC is thoroughly protected, you can disable this feature.  To suppress further notifications of uninvited access, click on the Don't Show This Dialog Again box on the Firewall Alert screen.

Each time a program on your computer tries to access the Internet, ZoneAlarm intercepts the attempt and checks to see if the program was previously given permission to surf the Web.  If it was, and was set up to always have access, the interception is transparent.  If this is the first time the program is accessing the Internet, or if it was allowed Web access before, but was not set up to always have access, a pop-up window asks whether it is okay this time.  You can respond Yes or No, and you can click on a box that tells ZoneAlarm to remember this choice and use it every time the same program tries for Internet access.  If you change your mind later, click the Programs button in the ZoneAlarm Control Center, and change your previous settings.


The only problem I encountered with ZoneAlarm, wasn't really a problem - just a lack of network education on my part.  If you have trouble with a cable modem or DSL connection and the support technician asks you to do a Release and Renew (don't worry if you don't understand the term - the technician talks you through it), ZoneAlarm has to be shutdown to do it.  Just remember to restart ZoneAlarm immediately once the connection is repaired.

Recommendation:
I strongly recommend ZoneAlarm, one of the most valuable free programs you can acquire.  It is fast and easy to install and update, especially when you accept the suggested default settings.  And, even when you choose to disable the access-attempt notifications, it keeps on working.