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PeerSpot user
Network Engineer at LTTS
Real User
Cost effective, regularly updated, and is very easy to use
Pros and Cons
  • "This antivirus is regularly updated, and the updates can be scheduled."
  • "Currently, the client is only available for the Windows Operating System but it would be good if it were released for Mac OS as well."

What is our primary use case?

We are using ZoneAlarm Antivirus + Firewall for our employees who have BYOD devices. It is implemented at our one small branch office, where we do not want to purchase it because this is a temporary location.

This is a free version that lets us protect our users with CheckPoint security.

ZoneAlarm provides us with very good security and we are using both of the modules. This includes antivirus as well as firewall features, and it is very easy and stable for us.

We are doing regular scanning of our employees' BYOD devices and it's updated regularly.

How has it helped my organization?

Our organization does not want to purchase a new CheckPoint hardware firewall but we still want to protect our users or employees and their BYOD devices with it. This is why we started using the free CheckPoint ZoneAlarm solution.

In today's scenario, it is helpful to have this kind of solution, which is freely available in the market. It is only CheckPoint that offers this type of leverage to secure our organization freely.

What is most valuable?

This Zone Alarm Firewall & Antivirus is freely available, so we can use it without investing dollars or rupees. Once you are satisfied, you can buy additional features because this option also available.

This antivirus is regularly updated, and the updates can be scheduled.

What needs improvement?

Currently, the client is only available for the Windows Operating System but it would be good if it were released for Mac OS as well.

There is no centralized management available, so this is something that I would like to see in the future.

Buyer's Guide
ZoneAlarm
May 2025
Learn what your peers think about ZoneAlarm. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
857,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using ZoneAlarm for more than six months.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

This is the solution only we used for our small office.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

This is a freeware product and I recommend using it.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We did not evaluate other options.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, this is a great solution and I personally recommend it.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
Senior Network/Security Engineer at Skywind Group
Real User
A regularly-updated and cost-effective way to secure against BYOD threats
Pros and Cons
  • "Personally, I find the Game Mode of the Firewall very useful."
  • "Some of our users say that the interface is a little bit outdated for 2020, and want it to be more modern and cozy."

What is our primary use case?

We use ZoneAlarm Antivirus with Firewall software for protecting the Bring-Your-Own-Devices that our employees take to the offices, and for a limited number of teams only since it is not an approved corporative standard software yet. In total, there are about 150 laptops of different kinds with several generations of the Windows operating systems running ZoneAlarm.

Currently, we use the Free version of Zone Alarm and not the Extreme Security edition. As for the free solution, ZoneAlarm provides good security capabilities. We use both Firewall and Antivirus, with regular scans and updates scheduled.

How has it helped my organization?

Our organization does not have a dedicated budget for the BYOD endpoint security software, so we have to stick with the free solutions available on the market.

ZoneAlarm Antivirus with Firewall software is a good match for protecting the Windows-only environments of our company's offices, and now we have been using it for about two years.

It has not only the firewall functions but a constantly updated Antivirus, and even an advanced Anti-Malware blade. Nobody else that we know of provides that for free.

Of course, it does not have centralized management, but that is not expected from the free software.

What is most valuable?

  1. The software is completely free, but you could always buy & apply a license if you feel the need for it.
  2. Despite the name, ZoneAlarm Free Firewall is not just a firewall but has built-in Antivirus as well. The Antivirus databases are updated on a regular basis, and they also provide both on-demand and scheduled scanning of the file system and memory.
  3. Constant updates of the "software blades", per configured schedule.
  4. Personally, I find the Game Mode of the Firewall very useful. When it's enabled, all the scan/updates/alerts are suppressed, and I can enjoy playing without interruptions.

What needs improvement?

  1. Currently, there are only the clients available for the Windows operating systems family. It would be nice to have the software version with the same functionality for the macOS operating system.
  2. There is no centralized management software for the free version of ZoneAlarm.
  3. Some of our users say that the interface is a little bit outdated for 2020, and want it to be more modern and cozy.
  4. Minor issues with the performance have been reported for the really old laptops that lack the free RAM available.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using ZoneAlarm for about two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The antivirus and firewall are stable and work smoothly on the Windows laptops.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Previously, we didn't have a security policy for having the antivirus and firewall on the BYOD devices.

How was the initial setup?

The setup was easy and straightforward, no pitfalls have been met.

What about the implementation team?

The implementation was performed by the in-house team, no special skills or knowledge is required for the Zone Alarm.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We use the free version of the software, but it can be upgraded to the paid Extreme Security edition.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We tried Sophos and Comodo as well, but the users voted for ZoneAlarm after the PoC.

What other advice do I have?

I strongly recommend ZoneAlarm as a simple but efficient solution, especially if your organization doesn't have a dedicated budget for providing a security solution for BYOD devices.

ZoneAlarm Free Firewall is a good choice for protecting Windows-only environments on the user PCs, but you should also have network-layer protection.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
ZoneAlarm
May 2025
Learn what your peers think about ZoneAlarm. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
857,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user1065 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Manager of Data Center at a integrator with 51-200 employees
Vendor
A full package for all your internet security and virus issues

Valuable Features:

Pros of ZoneAlarm are- 1) Two way firewall 2) Antivirus/Antispyware 3) Advanced Download Protection 4) Parental Controls 5) Anti-Rootkit 6) Anti-Spam 7) Trojan, Malware, Keylogger Protection 8) Web and Application worm protection

Room for Improvement:

Few cons of ZoneAlarm are- 1) Updating ZoneAlarm is a problem at times 2) Longer scanning completion times 3) Increased PC shutdown time 4) The interface is inconsistent at times 5) Uses significant amount of system resources while updating the antivirus

Other Advice:

ZoneAlarm is one of the best rated security products from Checkpoint, which comprises of inbuilt antivirus, anti spyware, anti phishing, and advanced threat protection features. It is has few unique features such as virtual and private browsing, hard drive encryption and identity protection. It has very little impact on system resources such CPU and RAM and also has the capability of credit report monitoring.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
it_user981 - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager of Development at a tech company with 51-200 employees
Real User
A simple firewall security solution for personal desktops

Valuable Features:

User friendly design and interface Easy to setup and create rules It is not just a firewall, it provides intrusion detection and web filtering as well It is NAT-friendly, that is it can work behind proxies

Room for Improvement:

It creates a lot of popups, which can sometimes become frustrating Its simplicity makes it suitable for small scale end users, but it is not complex enough for implementing a large scale enterprise security solution The pro version, with many important features, is a bit expensive

Other Advice:

I have used it in the past for personal desktops and for systems at small startups, but I would not recommend it as an enterprise level firewall security solution.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
it_user1068 - PeerSpot reviewer
it_user1068Tech Support Staff at a tech company with 51-200 employees
Real User

There is a time we had a problem with identity theft. One of our company accounts had been hacked and the hacker was using it, posing to be from our company. I tried several firewall programs and antiviruses that did not work. I did a research and found some good articles and recommendations on Zone Alarm system. Luckily for us, it worked and the problem was solved. All we did was change our log in details. In addition to being a good anti-virus, it is also an excellent firewall program for endpoint computers.

reviewer2516481 - PeerSpot reviewer
Technical Engineer - Technical Security at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 5
Provides a valuable threat detection engine, but the initial setup process needs improvement
Pros and Cons
  • "The product's most valuable feature is the detection engine due to its ability to identify threats."
  • "The solution's efficiency in threat containment and overall protection needs improvement."

What is our primary use case?

My primary use case for this solution was managing endpoint security within our organization. I initially deployed it on-premises but later transitioned to the cloud to enhance scalability and accessibility.

What is most valuable?

The product's most valuable feature is the detection engine due to its ability to identify threats. 

What needs improvement?

The solution's efficiency in threat containment and overall protection needs improvement. It should be capable of blocking threats autonomously rather than merely issuing alerts.
Enhancements in the real-time update mechanism, better integration capabilities with other security solutions, and improved threat containment features would be beneficial.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using ZoneAlarm for approximately two and a half years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the product stability an eight or nine out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate the platform's scalability a six out of ten. 

How are customer service and support?

The technical support services need improvement in terms of response time. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I previously used McAfee endpoint security. We switched to ZoneAlarm due to budget constraints and a management decision to try a newer generation of software.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was complex, taking approximately one and a half months to complete.

What about the implementation team?

I implemented the product with the help of my in-house team. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I rate the product pricing a seven out of ten. 

What other advice do I have?

Ensure that the solution can seamlessly integrate into your existing security infrastructure. I rate it a six out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
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Updated: May 2025
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Buyer's Guide
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