Please tell me about Zone Alarm!

I recently installed the free Zone Alarm firewall on my PC. I have been happy with its performance, except for one thing I do not understand. It is constantly making changes to my registry keys. All of the changes are to the HK - Local Machine and apparently involve the e-mail protection feature.

For example, each change involves the root mentioned above, the key is Software\Classes\exe and the value is ZAMailSafeExt. Each change will show new data zl3, or zlp or zl9.

Are my settings correct? Is anyone else seen this program do this before?

I am running XP MCE SP2. If additional info is needed, please let me know.

Thanks!!

 

First question that comes to mind is from what site did you down load Free ZA, I checked my registry, as I have been running ZA for two years and under the registry headings you gave I have only two or three entries. Suggest you run HijackThis, at http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155 , and then post the log back here. Sounds like you might have picked up some nasties during download. You can also disable ZA’s E-mail protection and see if that stops the problem, there E-mail protection on the Free ZA is limited and mainly for MS’s Outlook.

Best Wishes

 

Maybe, as BCGray suggests, try the download of ZA from MG.
Zone Alarm Free: http://www.majorgeeks.com/ZoneAlarm_Free_d388.html

First, download new version of ZA, as per above.
Second, disconnect from the Internet. VERY IMPORTANT !!!!!
Third, uninstall your version of ZA.
Fourth, run a Registry Cleaner, or CCleaner.
Fifth, install freshly downloaded copy of ZA.
Sixth, connect to the Internet again.

Remember, you may have to tell ZA again, what sites it is safe to connect to.
Like BCGray, I have been using ZA free for years, with no problems that I have noticed.

Bazza

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I will uninstall and reinstall as suggested. Here is my HJT log. A thorough scan was run per the Read & Run Me instructions. No malware was found. If any suggestions per the HJT log, please let me know.

Thanks for the help.

 

I ran the clean removal and reinstall as bigbazza suggested. The constant change in registry keys continues. Any more suggestions?

I also posted my first HJT log. Please let me know if I did not download and post correctly.

Thanks for the help!!

 

Did you disable ZA's e-mail protection as was suggested? That should stop the problem.

 

Yes, I have disabled the e-mail feature, but the problem continues. Is it possible that something was added or changed when I first became aware of the registry keys being constantly changed and the problem will remain?

 

Hudson's Pops I am beginning to wonder if ZA is the problem, as most of us who have posted using ZA, do not have your problem, and if you have disabled the E-mail protection then you have me stumped. Even though I like ZA, I would suggest you try another Free Firewall, after deleting ZA, and using CCleaner available here to wipe out all traces of ZA. If the problem persists then post your Hijack log on the Malware thread. Sorry but thats my best.
Good Luck and keep posting someone will know the cure???

 

Thanks for all of the help. If I do not get it fixed, I will probably remove and go back to Agnitum. Outpost Firewall is an excellent firewall, but I always found it difficult to use.

Anyway, thanks again, and I will let you know what happens.