Zone Alarm Pro Firewall Software
(Download Zone Alarm Pro 5 - Zone Alarm Security suite)

The Proven Internet Security  personal  firewall

Why  you need an Internet Firewall for you PC security

Every minute that your computer is connected to the Internet, through a dial-up (modem) connection or a broadband (DSL or cable) service, it is potentially vulnerable. 

Without firewall protection, it is at risk.

If you use a dial-up modem the level of risk will depend on how long a day your are connected,
but in the case of always-on broadband your PC is at continual risk.

Without a firewall or personal firewall software, your computer is operating under an "open door" policy. Bank account information, Passwords, credit card numbers are all at risk.

Information about hacking is freely available on the internet. Hackers can get in, take what they want, and even leave open a "back door" so they can turn your computer into a "zombie" and use it to attack other computers. 

Computer firewall protection should be a vital part of your computer internet security defenses. 

Not so long ago firewalls were only available as expensive pieces of hardware that required extensive setting up. However modern personal firewall software, such as Zone Alarm Pro,  is not expensive and is easy to use, taking only take a minute or two to install and setup.

What if I already have anti-virus software ?

Antivirus software comes installed on most new PCs, and most people think that it protects them completely from Internet-borne threats. This is only partly true, as virus protection is only as good as the latest virus definitions, which are created in response to the latest viruses.

However anti virus computer security software does nothing to secure your computer against direct hacker attacks via an open internet connection.

So what exactly is a software firewall ?

A software firewall is a piece of computer internet software that monitors all incoming network traffic and allows in only the connections that are known and trusted. 

Your internet connection actually consist of a series of "ports".

There are a number of standard port numbers for the most popular web uses, e.g. port 80 is open so that you can browse web pages; port 1863 allows you to engage in instant messaging with friends; port 443 gives access to secure web pages used by online merchants to encrypt purchases.

You could manually grant or restrict access to each of the 65,535 ports available under the Internet Protocol. Every time you add a new program that requires Internet access, you would need to determine which port(s) it uses, and reconfigure your computer accordingly. 

You've likely got better ways to spend your time.

Firewall software takes on this burden for you, allowing access to the ports you need open, and closing off those you don't. It also makes your computer "invisible" on the Internet; if hackers can't find you, they will have a hard time attacking you.

However hackers can find out about you by arriving via a legitimate route such as being hidden in email as an attachments. 

More advanced firewall software also monitors outgoing traffic. This is crucial since malicious code spreads by accessing the Internet and pushing copies of itself to other computers defined in your address book(often those of your friends and family !). Outbound protection can keep even brand-new Trojan horses and spyware from doing their damaging work. The ultimate protection is program-level control, so that only those applications that you trust are allowed to access the Internet. 

Note: Freeware products, of dubious heritage, used to share MP3 files often have spyware bundled in with them. Currently these have all been used to relay back pure marketing information, but that might not always be the case. 

Zone Alarm firewall software - A proven solution

Zone Labs have been around since 1997 and have won some of the industry's most coveted awards for internet security software. 

Recent Industry Awards  

• PC World - World Class Award 2002, and Best Buy
• ZDNet - Editors' Choice 2002
• Network Computing - 2002 Well-Connected Award
• Frost & Sullivan - Product of the Year Award 2002

Zone Labs offers a complete range of firewall security products, from the free firewall ZoneAlarm for a individual home PC or a home network, to the ultimate privacy and security tools in ZoneAlarm Pro 5. 

Zone Alarm Pro

• A strong firewall for your PC
• Protection against multiple types of email-attachment viruses
• Up-to-the-second information on threats to your PC's security
• The ability to track and map suspected hackers, to determine the source of attacks
• Protection of your online privacy by controlling "cookies"
• Control over ads and annoying pop-up windows that take over your web browser
• Control over the scripting code (JavaScript, ActiveX) that websites try to run on your PC
• One-to-one technical support when you have questions about using your firewall
• Wireless Network protection detects wireless networks for instant protection on the go