ZoneAlarm, the Firewall program to block outgoing connections

Zone Alarm is one of the oldest (since 1993) and popular Windows computer programs of all time, a software that is often included in the collections of free cd programs in magazines.
ZoneAlarm is a software firewall that is a program that controls and protects the internet connection to allow the user to authorize or not authorize outgoing connections through the various installed programs.
For example, when you open Internet Explorer or Firefox, your computer opens an external connection to download data and send information.
Almost all programs today use the internet connection to receive usage information and to report any updates.
A Firewall therefore allows you to prevent unauthorized programs (such as viruses) from communicating externally via your computer and thus causing damage by sending stolen personal information.
In fact, a firewall protects the PC when you connect to public wifi, free or unsecured so that no one can sniff the data exchanged on the network (see: Entering a wifi network and capturing packets to spy on those who surf.
Best Free Firewall for Windows PC .
ZoneAlarm Firewall Free, the free version can be downloaded for free, in the firewall only version, in Italian .
Simple to use, it is a separate product from the paid suite antivirus, which can really solve the anxieties of those who are afraid that a malware could transmit private information externally from the outgoing connection.
The initial wizard proposes automatic configuration if you prefer to leave the management of the rules to ZoneAlarm and you can perform a scan to find the open programs and add them to the ZoneAlarm rules.
Practically it is said to the Firewall that, for example, Google Chrome is a recognized and authorized program to connect on the internet.
It is important to note that, after installation and initialization, the Windows Firewall is terminated while Windows Defender is not stopped, if it is active.
Note that Windows Firewall on Windows 7 and Windows 10 is already an excellent protection against external intrusions, so installing an additional firewall remains an additional precaution for those who really need it (work PC with sensitive data or for those who browse sites risky).
The latest version of the new ZoneAlarm is light and silent and, thanks to the Italian language, easy to understand and configure but the free version, excellent for the less experienced for its simplicity, offers few advanced options for those who want more control.
It integrates into Windows 10 and Windows 7, protects navigation and also has control over Facebook applications and websites visited.
From the main ZoneAlarm interface you can:
- Have a general overview of the firewall and its activity.
From this section you can access the preferences to set ZoneAlarm as resident on the computer (automatic start).
- In the second tab of the left menu you can configure the security level for the internet connections used.
The home network can be placed in the trusted area that has medium security while if you connect to public or free wifi networks that you do not know, you have maximum security.
Zone assignment is set in the second submenu.
- In the third tab you can check the permissions of individual programs to transmit data externally and to download data.
From here you can also set up an internet block after a certain period of inactivity on your computer which is useful only if you are not downloading something big.
While using the computer, when it is connected to the internet, every time a program is opened a window appears at the bottom right asking to authorize it to exchange data on the network.
Before clicking on Allow, you can put the cross where "store information" is written so that you no longer see that notice relating to that program.
If that window appears without a program being opened manually, you need to check the name of the application and search on Google if it is a normal process or if it is a suspected virus or malware.
The same warning also appears when someone tries to connect to the computer from the outside, for example when sharing files on the home network or if using the remote desktop.
In this case you can read the source IP to recognize who is asking for this connection.
Over the years ZoneAlarm had ended up becoming a large and bulky program, with much lower performance than the competition.
Today we could reevaluate this firewall because ZoneAlarm has become an excellent shield for computers, an important protection, especially for those who often use the laptop by connecting from unknown networks.
As Firewall it is powerful, in direct competition with the other big similar free program, Comodo Firewall .

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