App Review ZoneAlarm Extreme Security Next Gen 2024 - With Malware Tests

[TuxTalk]

Is there a gaming/fullscreen application mode?

Nope not that have seen but again i dont play games.

 

[Trident]

pressing Permanently Delete doesn't actually do anything
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They disappear from the quarantine folder not to take space but remain listed on the client so admins can still see them. The quarantine folder is in Program Data.

 

[TuxTalk]

pressing Permanently Delete doesn't actually do anything
View attachment 284308

Tried it too, does not work, but i dont bother, the files are in Quarantine.

 

[Aggravatorx]

Is there a gaming/fullscreen application mode?

Now, let’s address the elephant in the digital room: gaming.

• Game Mode: ZoneAlarm’s got your back here too. Switch to Game Mode, and it’ll temporarily suspend security alerts, virus definition updates, and automatic scans. No interruptions while you’re slaying dragons or building pixelated empires!

But wait, there’s more! Let’s peek behind the curtain:

• PCMag’s Take: They say ZoneAlarm Extreme Security NextGen has a new look, but it’s like that cool car with fewer features under the hood. It’s still shedding features, like a cat sheds fur in spring.
• Cost: Protecting a single PC starts at $59.95 per year. You can go all out and buy 50 licenses, but unless you’re guarding a digital fortress, maybe stick to a more reasonable number.

So, my friend, if you want solid protection without the fuss, ZoneAlarm’s got your six. Just remember, even digital superheroes have their quirks.

Now, tell me: What’s your favorite game to play while ZoneAlarm stands guard?

To me this is way to busy for gaming!!!! i can not see this program light for gaming without slowing it down seems it is more for protecting NASA!!!!

 

[TuxTalk]

Now, let’s address the elephant in the digital room: gaming.

• Game Mode: ZoneAlarm’s got your back here too. Switch to Game Mode, and it’ll temporarily suspend security alerts, virus definition updates, and automatic scans. No interruptions while you’re slaying dragons or building pixelated empires!

But wait, there’s more! Let’s peek behind the curtain:

• PCMag’s Take: They say ZoneAlarm Extreme Security NextGen has a new look, but it’s like that cool car with fewer features under the hood. It’s still shedding features, like a cat sheds fur in spring.
• Cost: Protecting a single PC starts at $59.95 per year. You can go all out and buy 50 licenses, but unless you’re guarding a digital fortress, maybe stick to a more reasonable number.

So, my friend, if you want solid protection without the fuss, ZoneAlarm’s got your six. Just remember, even digital superheroes have their quirks.

Now, tell me: What’s your favorite game to play while ZoneAlarm stands guard?

To me this is way to busy for gaming!!!! i can not see this program light for gaming without slowing it down seems it is more for protecting NASA!!!!

If you want an AV to use with gaming, pls look furher, i already mentioned this is not included.

I dont care about gaming, waste of time anyways.

 

[Trident]

PCMag’s Take: They say ZoneAlarm Extreme Security NextGen has a new look, but it’s like that cool car with fewer features under the hood. It’s still shedding features, like a cat sheds fur in spring.

Some of these features, such as Program Control have been readded. The features at the moment are perfectly enough to protect a home user, unless you are looking for bloatware like TuneUP, Registry Cleaner, Identity Protection/Breach Monitoring and others.

Cost: Protecting a single PC starts at $59.95 per year. You can go all out and buy 50 licenses, but unless you’re guarding a digital fortress, maybe stick to a more reasonable number.

Not sure where you see this price. I see 5 devices/2 years for £48.

To me this is way to busy for gaming!!!! i can not see this program light for gaming without slowing it down seems it is more for protecting NASA!!!!

A lot of people from my family, as well as friends use this software and play games (sorry but I’m interested in gym, travelling, going out and other games, pc gaming is of 0 interest to me). They have not reported their gaming experience being affected, slowed down or anything. They mostly praise the Zero Phishing, which deeply inspects every website before they start entering info.

Of course, different people may have different experiences.

Wr are enjoying the software here and raising awareness, sharing information. We are not advertising, propagating or enforcing its usage. Everyone should try out and see what works for them.

 

[TuxTalk]

Some of these features, such as Program Control have been readded. The features at the moment are perfectly enough to protect a home user, unless you are looking for bloatware like TuneUP, Registry Cleaner, Identity Protection/Breach Monitoring and others.


Not sure where you see this price. I see 5 devices/2 years for £48.


A lot of people from my family, as well as friends use this software and play games (sorry but I’m interested in gym, travelling, going out and other games, pc gaming is of 0 interest to me). They have not reported their gaming experience being affected, slowed down or anything. They mostly praise the Zero Phishing, which deeply inspects every website before they start entering info.

Of course, different people may have different experiences.

Wr are enjoying the software here and raising awareness, sharing information. We are not advertising, propagating or enforcing its usage. Everyone should try out and see what works for them.

Who takes PCMag serious anyway ? They even prefer ExpressVPN as the BEST VPN out there.....

 

[Trident]

Who takes PCMag serious anyway ? They even prefer ExpressVPN as the BEST VPN out there.....

The protection was praised on this review. Rubenking later on discusses the absence of features. Quite a few have been added since then, including the Application Control, Anti-Bot and Advanced File Protection, but the review hasn’t been updated to reflect that.

 

[TuxTalk]

The protection was praised on this review. Rubenking later on discusses the absence of features. Quite a few have been added since then, including the Application Control, Anti-Bot and Advanced File Protection, but the review hasn’t been updated to reflect that.

I stopped reading anything PCMag related haha

 

[simmerskool]

I stopped reading anything PCMag related haha

I sometimes read PCMag to see their spin, and often conclude their review does NOT match my experience... (fwiw)

 

[Moonhorse]

Tried zonealarm nextgen today and i have really mixed feelings about it.

Installed on 2 different desktops, and on 2 different android phones.

Firstly, on desktop zonealarm will always launch on startup and you cant disable it except from the settings of windows, wich is kinda weird?
Im unable to switch my dns service on chromium based browsers, wich forces me to use isp dns.

i have to keep browser running on all the time, to keep protection on , wich on android makes me to return on web page i visited last time also the history wont reset because of this.

on both pcs none of the malicious/phishing sites are blocked , i have tried several browsers; edge, brave , firefox and the web filter just doesnt work correctly.

TLDR; zonealarm probably is great detecting some unknown malware and the antivirus itself is good, but in overall it just doesnt work, maybe im stupid, maybe in unlucky but it just feels like demo version of software , i just cant get it working

How can some elder people that cant test himself if the web filter works correctly, that the antivirus is working at all?

edit 1: i chatted with the zonealarm support wich was helpful and i could refund my order ( yes i did read that you have 30 days to refund incase youre not happy)

I just expected everything to work correctly, when i install zonealarm on total of 4 devices but every device had some kind of problems and im just too tired to find workaway on them all so im just reformatting every device from now

 

[cartaphilus]

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ZoneAlarm emulation detects stuff like phishing pdf documents, simple PowerShell keyloggers and many others. Stuff that nobody else would detect. At the same time, anti-phishing with real time analysis blocks more pages than big brands like Norton ever will.

Components like Anti-Bot and Behavioural Guard block advanced attacks, the behavioural blocking is based around Mitre tactics and techniques and not just around profiles, like SONAR or ATD (Bitdefender). The level of cleanup after a threat is amazing too, if you have a look at the forensic reports.

All in all, awesome product and all the advanced technology is dressed in a very simple UI with no muss and fuss, unlike Eset for example, with 1000 settings and potential configurations, tweaks and then upon failure, they will turn around and say you don’t understand the software.

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How resource heavy is the suite? I am running it's big cousin Checkpoint Harmony.

 

[cartaphilus]

Sure, I'd be happy to help! Could you please specify your question or the issue you're facing?

My wife states that I never listen to her and fail to see her point of view.

 

[Brahman]

My wife states that I never listen to her and fail to see her point of view.

Yet you are alive! Astonishing.

 

[vtqhtr413]

My wife states that I never listen to her and fail to see her point of view.

Then Adam did eat of the fruit.

 

[TuxTalk]

How resource heavy is the suite? I am running it's big cousin Checkpoint Harmony.

Dunno mate, maybe just install the trial, i can not compare, i dont play games or what, so for me its pretty light !

 

[TuxTalk]

Tried zonealarm nextgen today and i have really mixed feelings about it.

Installed on 2 different desktops, and on 2 different android phones.

Firstly, on desktop zonealarm will always launch on startup and you cant disable it except from the settings of windows, wich is kinda weird?
Im unable to switch my dns service on chromium based browsers, wich forces me to use isp dns.
View attachment 284339

i have to keep browser running on all the time, to keep protection on , wich on android makes me to return on web page i visited last time also the history wont reset because of this.

on both pcs none of the malicious/phishing sites are blocked , i have tried several browsers; edge, brave , firefox and the web filter just doesnt work correctly.

TLDR; zonealarm probably is great detecting some unknown malware and the antivirus itself is good, but in overall it just doesnt work, maybe im stupid, maybe in unlucky but it just feels like demo version of software , i just cant get it working

How can some elder people that cant test himself if the web filter works correctly, that the antivirus is working at all?

edit 1: i chatted with the zonealarm support wich was helpful and i could refund my order ( yes i did read that you have 30 days to refund incase youre not happy)

I just expected everything to work correctly, when i install zonealarm on total of 4 devices but every device had some kind of problems and im just too tired to find workaway on them all so im just reformatting every device from now

All the things you mention, i can not recall, do not experience any of your issues.

You need to install the extension like most AV to block the phising sites, its really awesome ! and blocks all i throw at it.
If you need help, pm me !

@Trident you experience any of @Moonhorse issues ?

 

[Trident]

@Trident you experience any of @Moonhorse issues ?

No, I’ve not experienced any of that. As to the Phishing blocking, recently new AI model was introduced that allows Zero Phishing to learn what makes brands real and pre-index brand spoofing pages. It is very difficult to find a page that requires Zero Phishing now, everything is pre-blocked as soon as you try to open.

https://blog.checkpoint.com/security/deepbrand-clustering-an-evolution-in-brand-spoofing-prevention/

Note: Zero Phishing injects code in the page and requires user to click on a field. At this point, the injected code will start analysing the page and will block the fields, and report it, if it’s phishing.

But then again, what works for us, doesn’t necessarily work for everyone.

 

[Zartarra]

Are the firewall UI and options improved? Last time I test it, it was very disappointing. Also it was very heavy and extremely slow on a VM.

 

[simmerskool]

All the things you mention, i can not recall, do not experience any of your issues.

You need to install the extension like most AV to block the phising sites, its really awesome ! and blocks all i throw at it.
If you need help, pm me !

I concur with @Jengo -- I am using ZA Anti-Ransomware on 2 VM, one with MS Defender & other ESET Nod32. AR has the Harmony/ZA Web Protection. I like it (fwiw). I ran ZANG Extreme and liked it, and replaced it with Harmony. But some machines have issues with various software / av. My pc don't like Avast...