Windows SP2 & Free Version of Zone Alarm

I have been using the free version of Zone Alarm for the past few years and have installed oall the upgrades - currently running 5.1.001.000.

I have my XP firewall disabled. I think it is because I had some kind of conflict with Zone Alarm with the XP firewall enabled - really can't remember back that far.

I have been reading about Windows SP2 which is soon to be released.

I'm not a guru, but it seems like the upgrade works like a firewall.

Has anyone tried the beta version of SP2 with the free Zone Alarm?

So far, I haven't found an answer at the Zone Labs site. I "m still looking.

I want to be prepared before downloading SP2.

Thank you.

 

I've

been using Zone Alarm and the SP2 RC2 firewall on a home computer and an office computer and have noticed no problems.

 

I also use both, but i've turn off SP2 firewell.

PC working ok this way

 

Secrity with XP Firewall off

Do you feel secure with the XP firewall off. It seems the whole purpose of the Windows SP2 upgrade is for security and makes use of added protection.

I did find some answers at Zone Alarm. I don't completely understand all of it yet, but one person posted and said that in Zone Alarm under the Firewall panel , Advanced settings there is the option to disable Windows FW at reboot and that option can be unchecked so that Windows FW will be enabled.

I don't have that option in my version of Zone Alarm. I have the latest upgrade 5.1..011.000.

I am wondering if it is because I always choose to upgrade to keep my current settings and have never done a clean install.

Would you check to see if you have that option in your Zone Alarm.

Thank you.

 

When I wrote that I can't find the option to enable or disable Windows FW, I meant in Zone Alarm. That option is suppose to be there.

I'm not running either build of XP SP2. I'm just trying to prepare for conflicts.

I remember now that the reason I turned off the XP firewall may have been because of Norton Anti Virus and not Zone Alarm. Now I read that for Norton to work properly as far as updates, etc. you have to configure XP Firewall with exceptions to allow all the Norton services to run - 11 of them.

The way I read the article there is suppose to be a place in settings to add exceptions in the current XP, but I can't find them. Do you know if that option is just going to apply for SP2.

 

Thanks for the URL. I guess I'll have to wait until I get the SP2 to see if I have conflicts and figure it out then.

 

From my reading about SP2's FW, it will shut itself upon detecting a 3rd party firewall. That happens now BTW.

Not in the free version. In the ZA's paid security suite.

When the time comes, if the new ICF doesn't shut down by itself, you simply shut it down yourself.

Is ICF running now?

Regards - Charles

 

ICF is not running now. I think I had to shut it down for Norton AV.

I suppose I'll have to enter the Norton services as exceptions with SP2.

I don't know what to do about Zone Alarm.

I just don't see the point in downloading SP2 if I'm going to keep the firewall shutdown.

I read on one of the Zone Alarm boards that the FREE version had the option to enable/disable the XP firewall - the discussion topic is the Free version and XP firewall????

I have tried registering with that Zone Alarm board, but it has been hours and I haven't received the confirmation e-mail to activate my registration so I can post. I was going to ask about that option because I sure don't have it in my free version.

 

If you had to shut down ICF for NAV - there is something wrong with NAV. But if you're running ZA - you're protected.

There's a whole lot more to SP2 than just the FW - for a lot of people not even interesting because they are running 3rd party firewalls.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2netwk.mspx#XSLTsection130121120120
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

Regards - Charles

EDIT: Not clear on exactly what your worry is

 

Absolutely. The new firewall is a high-vis part of SP2 but overall, a fairly minor piece of the upgrade.

 

Sorry, I haven't been clear.

And, I do not have ICS setup. I thought you meant the firewall. I just learned that ICS is Internet Connection Sharing.

I just have the XP Firewall shutdown.

I'm glad to learn that there is more to SP2. I have kept XP updated with all the updates. No use stopping now unless SP2 turns out to be like the first release of SP1 and crashed a bunch of computers. I waited on that one.

Thanks for your help and advice.

 

I did mean the firewall, ICF - Internet Conection Firewall

General advice from the ZL forum on what to do when installing SP2:
http://forums.zonelabs.com/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=inst&message.id=18179#M18179

Regards - Charles

 

O.K. I know the difference now and I went back to your post and you did write ICF.

But, I'm pretty sure I had to shut down ICF because it interfered with NAV updates, etc.

Here is info from Symantec:

Symantec Norton product update for Windows® XP Service Pack 2

Situation:
You would like more information regarding the Windows® XP Service Pack 2 release from Microsoft and whether your Symantec Norton products are compatible with Service Pack 2.

Solution:
Windows® XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) is a major security-focused operating system upgrade that includes an enhanced Windows firewall and a utility (Windows Security Center) that monitors the state of your computer's security.

Symantec will release a product update to provide native support for the Windows Security Center status utility found in SP2. This update will be available worldwide over the coming weeks and will enable Symantec products to communicate their status to the Windows Security Center utility.

Symantec encourages its customers to install the product update prior to installing SP2 in order to avoid incorrect reporting from Windows Security Center. Symantec’s consumer customers will receive notification from their Norton product when the update is available. Consumers will be able to download the SP2 product update by clicking the LiveUpdate icon found in their Norton security software.

The SP2 product update for English versions of Norton products will be available beginning August 10, 2004. At that time, Symantec will provide detailed information about SP2 and compatibility with Norton products, including frequently asked questions (FAQs) and support documentation. Please check back to http://service.symantec.com/xpinfo on August 10, 2004.
____

This is what I read that started all this - also at Symantec:

Situation:
You enable Internet Connection Firewall on a Windows XP computer, or install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (which enables the firewall automatically). You need to create exception for Symantec AntiVirus services, so that the Symantec Antivirus components can communicate.

I interpreted this to mean SP1, too - it says on a Windows XP compter, OR install...

But, I have SP1 and I can't find an exception tab. That's probably why I had to shutdown the Firewall for NAV.

I think even with the Norton update, Norton services will have to be added as exceptions.

Thanks.