problem with zone alarm

i reacently installed zone alarm & im realy happy with it apart from one problem im having. when i boot up the pc & sign on to the net everything works fine. the problem is! if i sign off' leave the pc sitting idle for a few hours' sign back on ZA blocks my commection to both firefox & IE. i get an error message saying cannot find server. i have to either shut down ZA or reboot to get it to work again. i hope this is a common problem and you guys know the fix. thanks for any help.

 

I recently had the exact same experience with ZA. I'm running XP Pro which is a very recent purchase. I tried the uninstall/reinstall route with no change. I'm now running Outpost with no problems. I did a post on this and those trying to help suggested going into the ZA log to find the error. Perhaps there is a fix, but for me, it's not worth the trouble. Maybe ZA is working on this glitch.

 

Just an idea:

Doesn't ZA have an option that locks down the internet if your computer is idle ? You'd probably just need to right click on the icon in the tray and unlock it after returning from idelness.

 

Hello Matt. I've run ZA with 2 other systems I've had and never had this problem. Is this internet lockdown something new?

 

No idea, I know it has a lockdown feature that will basically turn off the internet on the machine, Im just wondering if it has a setting to do it when its idle.

 

Well, I guess I'll reinstall ZA and take a look. I prefer this firewall as I've used it for years.

 

More advice:
When you reinstall, do a CLEAN install. Zone Alarm seems to get 'messed up' if you have too many entries in the 'Program Control' portion. Removing entries doesn't seem to have any affect. A clean install always fixed it for me.

 

Here's the automatic lock mentioned:

 

hi, i run za and i only have program control and automatic lock, is your za the pro version

 

Same here hawklord, but I have ZA Free, and I believe that Toni is running ZA Pro

 

Not Pro by itself. I run Zone Alarm Security Suite.
http://majorgeeks.com/ZoneAlarm_Security_Suite_d4238.html

It's got everything I need and want. It costs $, but it's a dynomite program and I have not had any security problems or breaches, spyware or adware, I shop online with confidence and feel very safe and secure since I've been using it. If you get a chance, read up on the features. It's AWESOME!

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/appli....skuList&dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=ho_zass

...and I don't work for them!

 

hi matt. thanks for you'r advice. i had a look and found the internet lock you mentioned. next time i have the connection propbem i'l check if it's the lock thats doing it and repost. hope it is that easy to fix..........

 

I just reinstalled ZA and the internet lock was not enabled following installation. Somehow this option must enable itself. I'll keep my eye on it. I've had ZA for years and never had this before where the system was locked out of the internet. Hence, I didn't know this option existed. I wonder what the security significance of this is. Does this block a hacker from gaining access to your system and should this option be used by the average internet user?

 

There is something else envolving ZA that is preventing internet access. I have the "internet block" disabled and it still prevents access after the system sits idle for a couple of hours. Any other ideas?

 

same here jud. internet lock is disabled & im still getting cannot find server error after my pc has sat idle for a while. it's really starting to bug me now. no one appart from us two seam to be having this problem lol. any more ideas guys????

 

What I'm trying now, Wildwolf, is enabling the internet block and moving the time interval to 500 minutes (under custom). Perhaps that will keep the block off as I never have my system on for that long a period. If that doesn't work, I think I'll go back to Outpost. Out of curiosity, are you running a brand new system. I'm running XP Pro which is new. Also, I wonder if it is a bug in the new ZA download. I have run ZA for years with my old Win '98 and never had this problem.

 

Have you granted Generic Host Process For Win32 Services 'server' rights in the Trusted zone? About Generic Host Process For Win32 Services , go to your Zone Alarm Program Control > Programs list and look for the application. The first 3 columns should have green checks next to Generic Host Process For Win32 Services.

In your Firewall > Zones panel, do you have your LAN in the Trusted zone? It should look something like this 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0 ?

Have you added your DHCP server IP to the Trusted zone as well? Finding DNS and DCHP servers, etc

1. Go to Run type in command , hit 'ok', and type ipconfig /all then press enter. In the returned data list will be a line DNS and DHCP Servers with the IP address(s) listed out to the side.
2. In ZA on your machine on the Firewall>Zones tab click Add and then select IP Address. Make sure the Zone is set to Trusted.
3. Click OK and then Apply and see if that works to fix it.

 

hi jud149... my sysyem is xp home & is about 2 years old. i had ZA on my last pc & had no problems with it at all. when i bought this new one it came with norton firewall & antivirus but i got rid of it because i heard bad things about norton. my pc slowed to a crawl using it but got back up to speed once i had removed it. thats why im back to ZA. this is what i have done now!!! i totally removed ZA... ran ccleaner... then reinstalled it. i have followed NITE CRAWLERS advice ( thanks very much for that by the way) & done all the things listed. added the IP address. added the DNS servers. and the generic host process. if this has'nt sorted it out im going to change to another firewall ( dont know what one yet) no point keeping this one if you have to reboot anytime you want internet access. i will repost if it is working ok now. hope you get yours sorted out good luck......

 

The last change I made where I enabled the block and moved the time interval to 500 minutes did not help. Also, in booting up just now, Firefox wouldn't allow internet access although IE would. In any event, I going back to Outpost as this is not worth the agrivation. Keep me posted, wildwolf and thanks for the info.

 

hi jud... no im still getting blocked out on both IE & firefox after making the changes nite crawler suggested. still cant understand why it's just the both of us having this problem. im going to change firwalls. i have never used outpost. can you recomend it? i dont know which one to change to. thanks...

 

I just started using Outpost because of the ZA problem and because it's an option suggested here by MG's. I don't know much about it other than that. Take a look here for info on it, item 3, and others if you haven't already done so.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=44525

There has to be others affected by this ZA problem but perhaps they don't know it because they don't leave their computers on while off the net. I would think more info will come to light about this problem before all is said and done. Thanks again, wildwolf. Let me know what firewall you decide on.

 

i installed outpost to give it a go but im not sure i'l keep it. when i updated it it installed the pro version on a 30 day trial. does this mean im going to have to pay for it after the trial? there is so many firewalls to chose from im at a loss lol. just wish i could of got ZA to work properly.....

 

I must admit it is not the normal procedure nowadays, to leave your system running without the network connected....do you do this because you are still on dial-up?
Perhaps you should consider broadband which is not that much more expensive if your not a download junkie?
I suppose the question remains....why do you do this?

 

i have broadband. if im not going to be using the pc for a while i tend to sign it off the internet. i know with broadband you can leave it connected all the time but im uneasy to leave it on when im not there for my own security. maybe this sounds stupid but im thinking better safe than sorry. as for my ZA problem even if i left the internet connection on. when my pc was left idle for a short while it blocked both IE & firefox connection to the server even tho the internet lock was disabled. do most people leave there internet connection on all the time?.

 

This is what i do.....when leaving my PC for a long period of time, i set my firewall to 'block all'. This allows nothing through whilst your not in the seat....including software updates. However this does not fix your problem with your ZA and i must admit its got me stumped too!
If its any help....i use Agnitum Outpost Firewall Pro and do not have a worry in the world, but this prob with ZA is really bugging me because it has a good reputation as per system security goes......anyone?

 

I'm using the free version of Outpost. I'm fairly certain that you'll have the option to choose either of the 2 when the 30 days are up. If you find something that you like better, let me know.

 

I have a similar problem with zona alarm and it's been going on for quite awhile.

A lot of times when I am doing different things on the computer, like closing my browser, or opening a second tab/window, my computer will start to freeze. When I click on the Ctl+Alt+Del, it shows that Zone Alarm is not responding.

If I try to shut it down, the whole computer freezes on me, and I have to reboot (Which I don't like doing).

When the computer restarts, I get an "X"d out zone alarm. I have to shut down zone alarm and restart my computer normally.

This problem just started about three months ago, I think when I upgraded or downloaded the current update.

I don't have internet block enabled.

What do you think

OS Name - Microsoft Window ME
Manufacture - Dell Computer Corp
Model - Dimension 8100
Processor - Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1300 MHz GenuineIntel 1296Mhz
BIOS Version - Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10.A02
Total Physical Memory - 127.04 MB
Available Physical Memory - 204.00 KB
Total Virtual Memory 2.0 GB
Availalbe Virtual Memory 1.69 GB
Page FIle Space 1.68 GB

Also, even though I don't have that many programs open, look at my physical memory being used.

aj
The Gambling Cowboy

 

try sygate personal firewall. although za has the appeal of a perfect firewall for me

 

It just did it again.

This time when I was browsing, I had to look for a file that I was going to upload.

When I went to open Windows Explorer, it didn't respond, and everything stopped running with the exception of my mouse and keyboard.

When I hit the ctl alt del, it showed that Explorer was not responding, and Zone Alarm was not responding.

When I tried to end task for the Windows Explorer, the whole computer froze up uncluding the mouse and keyboard.

I had to to a reboot, and when it booted back up the x appeared on zone alarm. When I clicked on zone alarm, it said system error, please reboot.

When I rebooted, it was ok.

 

hi jud.. after installing outpost i found it had slowed my system down. pages were taking an age to open so i uninstalled it again. after reading the numerous opinions people have posted on MG! about the firewalls they use i installed comodo firewall. fingers crossed it is working great at the minute. it is as easy to use as ZA which i find handy. think i'l stick with it for a while & see how it goes. let me know if you ever get ZA working again. thanks for the advice everyone...........

 

Thanks for the input on Comodo. I'm going to try it. I still think that the problem we have with ZA is just a glitch in the program that will soon be fixed. I'll chat with you later, wildwolf. BTW, it's funny that you mentioned the slowness with Outpost. The same thing happened to me with my new system when I installed ZA. Then I uninstalled/reinstalled it sometime later and it was fine. Who knows.

 

hi jud a quick update. i went to the zone labs forum & it seams we are not alone in this problem. a lot of people are having the same problem. adding the IP'S nite crawler mentioned has helped some people but not all. think you are right and it is a glitch. here is the link hope it works. http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=access&message.id=23053 let me know how you get on.

 

Thanks for the info, wildwolf. It's good to know that we're not alone on this. I bet they have a fix soon. Let's keep each other informed.