ZoneAlarm Using ''Scareware'' to Sell Firewall
ZoneAlarm's developer is using scareware tactics to force free-version clients into purchasing the full suite.
Firewall developer Check Point Software Technologies has come under fire from consumers using the free version of its popular ZoneAlarm firewall client. According to complaints, the company is using scareware tactics designed to frighten users into purchasing the paid version by flashing fake pop-up warnings.
"So I get this pop-up when I started my computer. I'm used to malware trying this ... junk," said one consumer on the ZoneAlarm forums. "Now I understand that Check Point wants to advertise its other products, but when did they start using these stupid tactics. You may just finally push me into buying a firewall product--from someone else."
Another user thought the pop-up was real and was convinced that the hard drive needed formatting. "ZoneAlarm has popped up with a virus warning me that it will take my personal financial details, login and passwords. I am extremely worried about this I cannot afford to let my information get stolen," the post read.
The pop-up in question--labeled as Global Virus Alert in bold, black letters--insists that the consumer's PC may be at high risk from the ZeuS.Zbot.aoaq Trojan virus. This nasty malware steals banking passwords and financial data that apparently isn't blocked by the free version of ZoneAlarm. The pop-up provides a link to purchase the full security suite which also contains an anti-virus scanner provided by Kaspersky Labs.
ZoneAlarm's "GeorgeV" said that the pop-up is merely information about a new virus, and that it does not indicate that the user's system is infected. "Letting you know that in addition to your ZA Free Firewall," he said. "You also need a good anti-virus program to protect you against viruses. If you already have a good updated anti-virus program installed, then you can just ignore the notice."
According to the company, the full ZoneAlarm suite is the only solution that blocks this particular Trojan--Norton, Free AVG, Free AVAST Free Avira, and TrendMicro apparently do not. The Register said that Check Point culled the data from VirusTotal without permission from Hispasec Sistemas. It's believed that the information is actually outdated.
- Android Continues Creeping on BlackBerry, iPhone
- PlayStation Move Will Turn You Into a Mii Killer
- President Obama Announces Video Game Contest
- Halo: Reach Owners Reporting Disc Read Errors
- Mortal Kombat Developer Already Has a PSP 2
- Verizon, Sprint Not Getting Win Phone 7 Until 2011
- Samsung Galaxy Tab Hitting All Major Carriers
- PS2 Backwards Compatibility Could Make Return
- New Aerogel Supports 400,000 Pounds Per Inch
- Report: There's Danger in Texting While Walking
- EA / BioWare Working on Military FPS, New Game
- Editable Google Docs Coming to Android, iPad
- 4Chan DDoS Takes Down RIAA and MPAA Sites
- Canadian Police: Those Spreading Pics of BC Gang Rape Could Face Child Pornography Charges
- Phonebook? Facebook Denies Smartphone Rumor
- Glu Mobile Added As WP7 Launch Publisher
- Video: HTC Mozart Windows Phone 7 Specs
- MSFT Zune to Act As Windows Phone Sync Client
- Nokia Says Putting Android on Phones is Like Peeing Your Pants for Warmth
Gone are the days when Zonealarm was a Good Free Firewall
Those are my thoughts exactly. I remember this programs far more humble origins.
Bull. They know exactly how the layman will react to such a pop-up. Just because there are computer illiterates out there does not give companies, companies that claim to be protecting them, the right to shuck 'em.
I would think the last thing a user wants is a pop-up advertising, especially one that is capable being misunderstood.
I migrated to Comodo once I moved to Vista 64 (now Windows 7 x64) since ZA didn't support 64-bit systems. Still use it and recommend it as an excellent free FW+AV package.
glad I moved on to comodo after it beat zone alarm on matousec...
Yeah, I ignored it and I'm looking for another firewall tool that doesn't use "malware" style advertising.
And most people fall for this.
ZA was never a good free firewall. Almost ten years ago, it was suspected to be at least malware and certainly bloat-ware. The built-in Windows firewalls are very good, and shouldn't be replaced by normal users with other software firewalls, anyway.
This kind of shit should be illegal under international law and punishable with prinson sentences in complying countries, and treated as an act of aggression to the countries of the UN for any country to house someone doing this absoloute scamming shit!
Yeah... this is free software that people are using. Free, as in, someone else spent money developing it and now other people are getting to use it for free. You don't like pop-ups? Buy something, or use the free firewall that ships with Windows.
If you gave some people a brick of solid gold, they would complain that it was too heavy.
Did I mention it was free?
It's about time microsoft does something to cover their own OS, instead of relying on third-party like zonealarm to do the work. We have to admit that there are tons of users that just want to use their computer for simple tasks without worrying about which programs being blocked when etc. These nasty tactics will eventually drive people off to other options. My supervisor was one, got a malware, too tired to use windows computer anymore, switched to Mac all at once.
"So I get this pop-up when I started my computer. I'm used to malware trying this ... junk," said one consumer on the ZoneAlarm forums. "Now I understand that Check Point wants to advertise its other products, but when did they start using these stupid tactics. You may just finally push me into buying a firewall product--from someone else."
And the folks at ZoneAlarm care about you no longer freeloading off of their hard work because... ???
Who here is glad that Norton Internet Suite comes with your Comcast Internet even if you are NOT glad you have Comcast?!? (Sorry, I have no choice but to go comcast!)
It's about time microsoft does something to cover their own OS, instead of relying on third-party like zonealarm to do the work. We have to admit that there are tons of users that just want to use their computer for simple tasks without worrying about which programs being blocked when etc. These nasty tactics will eventually drive people off to other options. My supervisor was one, got a malware, too tired to use windows computer anymore, switched to Mac all at once.
Your remark is, bluntly, ignorant.
Microsoft Security Essentials
Windows Firewall
Both developed by Microsoft to protect your data.
After set-up, both are quiet and transparent in use.
Guess what OSX does when you install a program or update the OS?
It asks you, at least, if you actually want to install a program,
and requires a password for updates.
This is almost exactly what Windows Vista and 7 does, under similar
circumstances.
I don't know what to tell you other than those truths.
Who here is glad that Norton Internet Suite comes with your Comcast Internet even if you are NOT glad you have Comcast?!? (Sorry, I have no choice but to go comcast!)
Another crap product that is bloated and a nightmare to completely uninstall.
how about comodo, its a good firewall and if you want to you can use there antivirus as well
it is easy to use it is also a hips and any part can easily be disabled by right clicking the icon in the icon section at bottem right
Right there with everyone... used to use Zone Alarm on Win98se and XP.. everything must come to an end at one point or another, I suppose.
Another crap product that is bloated and a nightmare to completely uninstall.
Norton. The only program whose uninstaller actually needs another uninstaller, which you get at Norton. I HATE Norton...
ZA was really not a great option to start, but I agree that this is an egregious offense. Freeware/Trialware is at the heart of capitalism, companies competing for the right to have your business... cheap tricks and misinformation is not. Do the ignorant have the right to be protected from those who would take advantage... the answer is yes in all other sectors of modern life. I work in the food industry, we cannot mislabel our products or intentionally mislead them... why should software companies be allowed to?
My final comment would be to agree with thejerk on his first post. The average consumer has no need to elaborate safety measures (third party software)... windows firewall and online scanners is about all I use for my laptop and I am yet to have a problem.
I've tried the free firewall, and really liked it. So I purchased the retail ZoneAlarm firewall, and it works great. No annoying pop-ups. Though, I don't pay for any Anti-virus software. I just need a good firewall, so programs doesn't send out my usage data without me knowning.
Norton went over a complete overhaul over the past few years. It only runs two processes under windows and for most computers uses under 15mb of ram. Not perfect, but better than a lot of the free ones out right now.
I switched to Microsoft's free Security Essentials when my Trendmicro subscription ran out over a year ago. No problems since then.
how about comodo, its a good firewall and if you want to you can use there antivirus as wellit is easy to use it is also a hips and any part can easily be disabled by right clicking the icon in the icon section at bottem right
But why bother when MS has two excellent (and well-reviewed) products that were developed in-house under the auspices of those who wrote the OS code in the first place? All that's needed beyond the two MS components is a.) uncommon sense about the perils of the Interwebs and b.) a good anti-malware program like mbam as a backup.
Honestly, using anything else (at this point in time) is opening the door for future aggravation. Maybe we'll see more-effective products from 3rd parties in the future, but for now I am entirely confident in my recommendations.
When a company says that their antivirus is the only program that knows how to fix the virus, I just assume said company created the virus themselves and thus knows exactly how to remove it.
ZA is a crappy firewall. Comodo is free, and infinitely better... plus, it doesn't nag you to buy anything. It's a shame more people don't check matousec's ratings, then they'd realize that ZA has NEVER been a good, free firewall. Comodo and Outpost are two of the only ones that routinely beat out everything else, and Outpost's free version is pretty weak, because they update it so infrequently.
This is a surprise to me ZA used to be qutie well recommended back in the day, but I have been using the MS firewall and Router Firewall since 2005 and never had any troubles.
thejerk, Microsoft's Firewall is NOT well reviewed.
thechief73, ZA was recommended by who? When is back in the day? I heard a lot of nonsense about ZA being a good firewall about 7-8 years ago, Outpost was the industry leading competition at the time, and got exceedingly little press by comparison. It's a real shame too, because ZA has simply never compared to Outpost, or the new leaders (Comodo and Online Armor).
ZA was great before that check point brought it and remade it... before it was much easier to control program in and out and ports but then check point comes in and made it almost impossible to do unless you upgrade for finer controls
so they are basically turninging from a legitimate company into a malware company ... glad i don't use thier outdated software anyway
Who here is glad that Norton Internet Suite comes with your Comcast Internet even if you are NOT glad you have Comcast?!? (Sorry, I have no choice but to go comcast!)
I'm not, the last 4 comps I've worked on had the crap Comcast AV on it that did nothing to stop viruses AND slowed the computers to a crawl.