Norton vs. Zone Alarm

Robert_R · 04-25-2005, 10:58 AM

Which firewall software is better in your opinion?

**jgvernonco** · 04-25-2005, 11:22 AM

Zone Alarm...hands down.

**koala** · 04-25-2005, 11:38 AM

Definitely Zone Alarm from my experience and reviews I've read, but you might want to look here
http://tooleaky.zensoft.com to see just how secure your firewall is.

There's a small program on this site to test your firewall's outbound filtering. It's beyond my level of understanding but you experts might know something about it.

From the site: "This software is targeted for security professionals. Unless you have a thorough understanding of software firewalls, outbound filtering methods, and the details of this exploit, there is no need to download this program. It's not going to do anything other than frustrate you. However, that said, it can be lots of fun to demonstrate to your friends how you can get right through their firewall if it trusts Internet Explorer."

**JamesO** · 04-25-2005, 06:44 PM

Zone Alarm free firewall!!!

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/conten...eeDownload.jsp

JamesO

**superflysmith** · 04-25-2005, 07:27 PM

Zone Alarm is free and not intrusive like the Norton products.

**waffleweed** · 05-08-2005, 09:45 AM

zone alarm all the way. pair zonealarm up with AVG anti-virus and your good to go. oh yeah that also includes good spyware utilities such as spybot and Adware SE.

**kodi** · 05-08-2005, 01:27 PM

Zone Alarm without a doubt.

**MD_Willington** · 05-10-2005, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgvernonco

Zone Alarm...hands down.

Ditto

Norton is BLOATware, and often causes system conflicts...

MD

CbrMas1 · 12-29-2005, 01:10 PM

Norton hands donw is best

windmail · 12-30-2005, 09:41 PM

I think AVG is better than norton. and the most important is that's free software.

johnwill · 12-31-2005, 09:58 AM

I've removed all thing Norton from my systems as the updates ran out. I got sick of dealing with the configuration issues, and cleaning them off and re-installing whenever they'd get wrapped around their axles. I think Norton's stuff has gotten so bloated, it's not possible to release a product without at least one major bug or two, and I seem to be able to find them at will.

**Resolution** · 12-31-2005, 04:32 PM

I hate Norton as much as the next person, but you can't honestly say that the free version of ZoneAlarm is better (in terms of firewalling capabilities) than Norton Personal Firewall. That's just absurd. The free edition has very little flexibility in terms filtering rules, and it is mostly a "start it and forget it" firewall. If you are going to compare the two, then you should speak with ZoneAlarm Professional in mind.

johnwill · 01-01-2006, 07:32 AM

One has to question if 99% of the users have any need for the extra configuration capbility. A big part of the problem with Norton's products nowadays is they're adding every bell and whistle they can think of, that's why they're so bloated.

**Blitze105** · 01-05-2006, 01:56 PM

zonealarm hands down

so far i've had ONE problem with a zonealarm product (i fix a lot of computers) and norton.. yeah i can't count that high sorry
-blitze

smu122 · 12-26-2007, 07:46 PM

Ive tried both, and Norton takes too much process memory and gets really annoying. It blocks everything, gives a lot of alerts as well. Zonealarm is quiet and does the work well. I'm talking about Zonealarm Security Suite btw, not the free one.

04-25-2005, 10:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Robert_R Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 165 OS: Windows XP Professional	Norton vs. Zone Alarm Which firewall software is better in your opinion?

04-25-2005, 11:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
jgvernonco Old Timer Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Northern Arizona Posts: 7,957 OS: Vista Home Premium, SP 27	Zone Alarm...hands down. __________________ Donations keep TSF moving forward. Please help. http://www.myspace.com/speedbumpthecelt

04-25-2005, 07:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
superflysmith An American Hero and Moderator, The Conversation Pit. Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,575 OS: XP PRO	Zone Alarm is free and not intrusive like the Norton products. __________________ "Some people go their whole life wondering if they ever made a difference. Marines don’t have that problem." Bush made the Packers lose

05-08-2005, 01:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 6,267 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate, XP Professional My System	Zone Alarm without a doubt. __________________ Brian

12-29-2005, 01:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
CbrMas1 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: United States of America Posts: 24 OS: Windows XP SP2	Norton hands down Norton hands donw is best

04-25-2005, 11:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 8,236 OS: XP/UBUNTU My System	Definitely Zone Alarm from my experience and reviews I've read, but you might want to look here http://tooleaky.zensoft.com to see just how secure your firewall is. There's a small program on this site to test your firewall's outbound filtering. It's beyond my level of understanding but you experts might know something about it. From the site: "This software is targeted for security professionals. Unless you have a thorough understanding of software firewalls, outbound filtering methods, and the details of this exploit, there is no need to download this program. It's not going to do anything other than frustrate you. However, that said, it can be lots of fun to demonstrate to your friends how you can get right through their firewall if it trusts Internet Explorer."

04-25-2005, 06:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
JamesO Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fairfax, VA USA Posts: 2,163 OS: 98SE, W2k Pro, XP Pro	Zone Alarm free firewall!!! http://www.zonelabs.com/store/conten...eeDownload.jsp JamesO

05-08-2005, 09:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
waffleweed Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 629 OS: winxp	zone alarm all the way. pair zonealarm up with AVG anti-virus and your good to go. oh yeah that also includes good spyware utilities such as spybot and Adware SE.

12-30-2005, 09:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
windmail Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brisbane QLD Australia Posts: 3 OS: winxp	I think AVG is better than norton. and the most important is that's free software.

12-31-2005, 09:58 AM	#11 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 28,126 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	I've removed all thing Norton from my systems as the updates ran out. I got sick of dealing with the configuration issues, and cleaning them off and re-installing whenever they'd get wrapped around their axles. I think Norton's stuff has gotten so bloated, it's not possible to release a product without at least one major bug or two, and I seem to be able to find them at will. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-31-2005, 04:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
Resolution TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,091 OS: FreeBSD/Win98/2000/XP	I hate Norton as much as the next person, but you can't honestly say that the free version of ZoneAlarm is better (in terms of firewalling capabilities) than Norton Personal Firewall. That's just absurd. The free edition has very little flexibility in terms filtering rules, and it is mostly a "start it and forget it" firewall. If you are going to compare the two, then you should speak with ZoneAlarm Professional in mind. Last edited by Resolution : 12-31-2005 at 04:34 PM.

01-01-2006, 07:32 AM	#13 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 28,126 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	One has to question if 99% of the users have any need for the extra configuration capbility. A big part of the problem with Norton's products nowadays is they're adding every bell and whistle they can think of, that's why they're so bloated. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-05-2006, 01:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
Blitze105 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 557 OS: XP Pro SP2, FC5	zonealarm hands down so far i've had ONE problem with a zonealarm product (i fix a lot of computers) and norton.. yeah i can't count that high sorry -blitze

12-26-2007, 07:46 PM	#15 (permalink)
smu122 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 18 OS: Windows XP Media Center Edition SP 2	Re: Norton vs. Zone Alarm Ive tried both, and Norton takes too much process memory and gets really annoying. It blocks everything, gives a lot of alerts as well. Zonealarm is quiet and does the work well. I'm talking about Zonealarm Security Suite btw, not the free one.