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

It is advised to take all reviews with a grain of salt. In extreme cases some reviews use dramatization for entertainment purposes.
Product name
ZoneAlarm Extreme Security Next Gen 2024
Installation (rating)
5.00 star(s)
User interface (rating)
5.00 star(s)
Accessibility notes
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.
Performance (rating)
5.00 star(s)
Core Protection (rating)
5.00 star(s)
Proactive protection (rating)
5.00 star(s)
Additional Protection notes
After alot of testing this is one of the toughest, most realiable AV i ever used.
Browser protection (rating)
5.00 star(s)
Positives
    • Many features
    • Minimal setup required
    • Low impact on system resources
    • Lightning fast scans
    • Easy to use
    • Simple and non-intrusive
    • Ransomware protection
    • Strong and reliable protection
    • Detects or blocks in the wild malware
    • Consistently high test scores
    • Accurate results and reliable antivirus engine
    • Effective malicious URL blocking
    • Virus signatures are updated daily
    • Great value for money
    • Effective malware removal
    • Well designed, clear and easy to use interface
    • Multi-layer protection approach
Negatives
    • Can be costly to run
Time spent using product
Reviewed between 1 to 7 days
Computer specs


System Manufacturer Dazen
System Model Dazen Laptop X86
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Celeron(R) N5095 @ 2.00GHz, 1997 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends International, LLC. 5.19, 3/23/2022
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 12.0 GB
Recommended for
  1. All types of users
Overall rating
5.00 star(s)

TuxTalk

Level 12
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Nov 9, 2022
559
Same observation on my VM... so I'm going to postpone the ZoneAlarm test until an update is available...
Can you try again using these settings and download version ?


Thanks !
 

Shadowra

Level 36
Verified
Top Poster
Content Creator
Malware Tester
Well-known
Sep 2, 2021
2,561
Can you try again using these settings and download version ?


Thanks !

The planned version is Harmony (thanks @Trident , I'm waiting for your PM :D ).
ZA NextGen will be released at the end of August when I return from vacation ;)
 

TuxTalk

Level 12
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Nov 9, 2022
559
To make a long story short, i am not going to update this thread anymore, Checkpoint refunded my payment.
Nice software but it needs a lot of tweaks from the developer, it is too buggy. Support was very helpful and they told me they understand , they didnt even bother to solve the issue anymore.
I think they know its buggy but just keep quiet.

I triend different other AV to replace ZoneAlarm

  1. Norton - Nice but its Gen Digital and i really do not like this company
  2. Bitdefender - Too buggy
  3. Avast - Also Gen DIgital so its a No go.
  4. Checkpoint Harmony - Bought a trial and this also does not work like it should on my laptop


So at the end i took out my subscription unitl 2030 and installed :

1721919143317.png


Trend is really for me one of the most reliable, not bloated piece of software and it simply runs great on my laptop.
Just saw a new function in TM, called Notification Scan, i did not see this before.
I follow Trend Micro on LinkedIn and online and they keep developing the software, and its Japanese, i simply love Asia.

So if anyone else has ZoneAlarm installed feel free to update this thread.


Jengo
 

cartaphilus

Level 10
Verified
Well-known
Mar 17, 2023
491
i
was addicted to ZA and AVG years ago. but with everything that they have been going through i am switching between Norton and ZA . Norton is more stable and really quiet . I love ZA but i have to wait another year till things settle . trying it again really slowed my computer down
Yeap I've tried the beta about 1.5 years ago on my i5 laptop and it grinded it to a 486 DX
 

Faxx

Level 1
Sep 7, 2017
13
You get the link from ZA support when dealing with issues of installation or removal of ZA. FAQ and KB at ZA is not yet updated with this one.
 

Faxx

Level 1
Sep 7, 2017
13
..and here you have an updated review of PCMAG on ZA Extreme NG. Performing very well against malware as expected but missing feature as compared to other security suites, like parental control, backup or tuneup registry cleaner. I wonder what security feature is missing to get such an harsh assessment... I am the only one happy not to have those additional essential features in a security tool? Oh well, happy reading. :)

 

lyldz

Level 3
Verified
Well-known
Jun 4, 2016
131
..and here you have an updated review of PCMAG on ZA Extreme NG. Performing very well against malware as expected but missing feature as compared to other security suites, like parental control, backup or tuneup registry cleaner. I wonder what security feature is missing to get such an harsh assessment... I am the only one happy not to have those additional essential features in a security tool? Oh well, happy reading. :)

If a security software is considered incomplete and inadequate without a registry cleaner, driver update, or VPN, then let this product be incomplete as it is..congrat ZoneAlarm!
 

Trident

Level 34
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Feb 7, 2023
2,355
If a security software is considered incomplete and inadequate without a registry cleaner, driver update, or VPN, then let this product be incomplete as it is..congrat ZoneAlarm!
PCMag is owned by Ziff Davis, also owner of Vipre. Vipre got excellent review, despite not being anything highly impressive. Bitdefender, the OEM behind Vipre is also “amazing” as per them, though we all know it comes with quirks. So the review is a bit questionable. ZoneAlarm covers basics such as Phishing and malware (specially when downloaded) equally, if not better than others. For users who need bloatware and half-baked features, yes. ZoneAlarm is not the right product.
 

TuxTalk

Level 12
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Nov 9, 2022
559
..and here you have an updated review of PCMAG on ZA Extreme NG. Performing very well against malware as expected but missing feature as compared to other security suites, like parental control, backup or tuneup registry cleaner. I wonder what security feature is missing to get such an harsh assessment... I am the only one happy not to have those additional essential features in a security tool? Oh well, happy reading. :)

Because Norton, Bitdefender, McAfee, Avast , AVG have all these nonsense inside their products.
And they pay more for a good review ;-)
 

Trident

Level 34
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Feb 7, 2023
2,355
Because Norton, Bitdefender, McAfee, Avast , AVG have all these nonsense inside their products.
And they pay more for a good review ;-)
If Neil Rubenking understood in depth the technology behind ZoneAlarm, I doubt he would state that the product fails to impress. ZoneAlarm takes business-grade technology that requires admins/MSP to manage and monitor round-the-clock, and delivers that in a package that requires 0 intervention. Settings are just some switches to turn stuff on and off. The emulation is capable of detecting a document, just because it contains a link to a malware download (could be 0-day too). Nobody else does that.

I find this more impressive than parental controls (although he did state that “porn” was blocked through web filtering), and registry cleaner.
 

Trident

Level 34
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Feb 7, 2023
2,355
This is a bold statement. AVG/Avast have strong records when it comes to protection. Both signatures and behavioural protection. I do agree they come bundled with bloatware, but this has nothing to do with protection level.
But ZoneAlarm removed the same amount of malware and blocked more phishing than them. Yet, it got 3-3.5 when they got 5. And only an incompetent person can state that ZoneAlarm with business-grade emulation will block the same or less malware than a consumer AV, in an official review.
 

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