Zone Alarm Problem

Self | 15 Sept. 03 | Self

[Grut]

I notice that Zone Alarm sometimes takes forever starting on my computer (running Windows 2000 Pro) and causes long delays (up to 45 seconds) when I shut down. Disabling ZA makes the problems go away.

This doesn't always happen and usually only slows things down, but every so often it hangs up solidly, either coming on or going off. This has happened on two different computers running W2K. On one of these computers, Zone Alarm worked fine under NT4 (and yes, when I changed over to W2K I downloaded the W2K version of ZA).

The only advice I've seen so far is to disable email protection, which I've done, to no effect. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Alternately, is there another firewall program I can download that's as effective as Zone Alarm?

[Gorzaloon]

You would not by any chance be running McAfee antivirus or Norton AV and Security, would you?

The Truevector software ZA uses has serious conflict trouble with some Norton apps.

[shadowman99]

Install Ad Aware and run a scan. You may have spyware attacking Zone Alarm.

You could try uninstalling and re-installing Zone Alarm. You may have a corrupted file.

Check you network connection. If your using DHCP try releasing and re-aquiring you IP.

Hope this helps.

[doodad]

Don't let it autoload at startup, manually start it and shut it down when needed.

[boris]

I run ZA (commercial) with McAfee anti-virus and see no problems. I also own Norton Utilities but never use their firewall and anti-virus.

Under Win XP, home ed, ZERO problems.

--Boris

[Littlejon]

I have it on my system at home as well (free version) and have noticed it is slow at startup. I upgraded a Win98 system to W2K and it got worse. Seems to be something there that bogs the system down, but I have not seen a W2K patch from them. I run AdAware regularly, so I know I don't have spyware.

Sorry I can't help you out, as I am having the same issue and haven't found a solution yet.

[snopercod]

The Truevector software ZA uses has serious conflict...

You got that right. I use the McAfee anti-virus software that came with my Dell. I installed Zone Alarm later, rather than renew the McAfee firewall.

I have to shut down ZoneAlarm in order to update my McAfee anti-virus files. Even though I have customized ZoneAlarm to allow ALL cookies and mobile code from site www.mcaffe.com, I still get privacy alerts saying "Zone Alarm has blocked cookies".

[snopercod]

Any comments on my #7? I'm running XP Pro. Are you able to update McAfee virus files with Zone Alarm running?

[raybbr]

I am running on Windows 89SE and have no problems whatsoever and I run Norton at the same time.

[boomop1]

I haven't had problems with Zone Alarm lately I have w2kpro what I would do is delete and reinstall ZA.

[AppyPappy]

The Truevector software ZA uses has serious conflict trouble with some Norton apps.

And Apache webserver, dang it

[raybbr]

In case your wondering Windows 89SE is a hybrid program that only I have. :}

I need my eyes checked.

[Cicero]

I'm running Windows XP on two computers, which both use ZoneAlarm and Norton Antivirus.

When I boot the computer I've noticed that these two programs load last, with a considerable delay. I haven't timed it, but it must be close to a full extra minute.

I've accepted the delay, because both programs seem to work well at what they do. But if there's some kind of workaround to get rid of the delay, I'd love to hear about it. It's not disabling, but it's annoying.

So, to answer your question, yes, I think the problem is probably the combination of ZoneAlarm and Norton AV.

[boris]

"Any comments on my #7? I'm running XP Pro. Are you able to update McAfee virus files with Zone Alarm running?"

Yes.

--Boris

[boris]

"Any comments on my #7? I'm running XP Pro. Are you able to update McAfee virus files with Zone Alarm running?"

Yes.

--Boris

[lodwick]

Same here with Win2000Pro: I finally went to Sygate's free personal firewall - end of problems.

Good luck with it.

[stainlessbanner]

ZA 4 has an issue with the vsmon.exe process running away. Check your Task Manager and look at the vsmon.exe process in the tree. You'll see it's sucking up memory and not releasing it. Get off the web, shutdown ZA and watch the process release memory.

Looking for a patch or solution to this. Anyone know how to fix?

[BullDog108]

I have Zone Alarm Pro loaded on a WinXP Pro box. When I had DSL service last year, ZAP took two minutes to load. No problem shutting down. I am now using Cable Broadband, and the problem is GONE! I have no clue as to why, I am just glad I switched to cable. (I don't have any Norton or other type utilities installed).

[newgeezer]

Even though I have customized ZoneAlarm to allow ALL cookies and mobile code from site www.mcaffe.com, I still get privacy alerts saying "Zone Alarm has blocked cookies".

Well, perhaps if you spelled it correctly... ;O) ;O)

[stainlessbanner]

vsmon - vsmon.exe - Process Information

Process File: vsmon or vsmon.exe
Process Name: True Vector Internet Monitor
Description: The True Vector Internet Monitor is a component of the ZoneAlarm Personal FireWall which monitors internet traffic and generates alerts