Is ZoneAlarm required when I log off?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Larry Langrehr
  • Start date Start date
L

Larry Langrehr

I am new to XP (Home edition) as of a few days ago.
I have a cable Internet connction (always on) with ZoneAlarm as my inbound
and outbound firewall. When I logoff and log back on to my account I notice
ZoneAlarm is re-started. My question: Is XP "brain-dead"enough after logging
off that I don't need a firewall or should I be worried about vulnerability?
Thanks for any help offered.

Larry
 
Larry,

With ZoneAlarm, there is a service called "True Vector service" which will
be running even if you log off. (to protect you from internet)
To achieve maximum security run ZoneAlarm as a service. I use Firedaemon pro
and configured ZoneAlarm to run as a service.

--
Regards,
Ramesh
(e-mail address removed)


I am new to XP (Home edition) as of a few days ago.
I have a cable Internet connction (always on) with ZoneAlarm as my inbound
and outbound firewall. When I logoff and log back on to my account I notice
ZoneAlarm is re-started. My question: Is XP "brain-dead"enough after logging
off that I don't need a firewall or should I be worried about vulnerability?
Thanks for any help offered.

Larry
 
I too am using Zone Alarm (free version) in XP Home, and though I did not
notice the behavior Larry described, I would like to ask

1. what the difference is between running ZA as it is and as a service?
What is a service and what are its advantages?

2. What is Firedaemon ?

Thanks.
 
Running it as a service ensures that the application runs even if a user
logs off. Secondly, it provides fault tolerance.
 
Cz,

Yes! it does. As the true vector service is running, it blocks access.

--
Regards,
Ramesh
(e-mail address removed)


logs off. Secondly, it provides fault tolerance.

Ramesh:

Just ran a test:
ZA free continues to block even when the user logs off via Start: Log Off
per port scanning.
When the user logs back on, the ZA log file will show the blocks.

What I used:
ZA free v3.1.395 per normal installation.
Ports scanning TCP 139 from another computer in same subnet.
 
Comments in line:

Larry Langrehr said:
I am new to XP (Home edition) as of a few days ago.
I have a cable Internet connction (always on) with ZoneAlarm as my inbound
and outbound firewall.
Click to expand...

You still need protection with cable (always on)

When I logoff and log back on to my account I notice
ZoneAlarm is re-started. My question: Is XP "brain-dead"enough after logging
off that I don't need a firewall or should I be worried about vulnerability?
Thanks for any help offered.
Click to expand...

I think you have answered your own question i.e.
It has nothing to do with XP, zone alarm is designed to protect your PC from
the "outside".
fwiw my WinME (cable) still runs Zone Alarm Pro when I am "Logged Off", you
can still send and receive without being "logged on" to your cable ISP.
(FTP for starters)
 
You should update to the free 3.7.202 version, it is still
free and runs better on XP than earlier versions.


| >> Running it as a service ensures that the application
runs even if a user
| logs off. Secondly, it provides fault tolerance.
|
| Ramesh:
|
| Just ran a test:
| ZA free continues to block even when the user logs off via
Start: Log Off
| per port scanning.
| When the user logs back on, the ZA log file will show the
blocks.
|
| What I used:
| ZA free v3.1.395 per normal installation.
| Ports scanning TCP 139 from another computer in same
subnet.
|
|
|
 
Running it as a service ensures that the application runs even if a user
Yes! it does. As the true vector service is running, it blocks access.
Click to expand...

Ramesh:

Agreed, so re: logged off protection what value is there to running it as a
service?

TIA
 
You should update to the [ZA] free 3.7.202 version, it is still
free and runs better on XP than earlier versions.

Jim:

I reviewed v3.7 when it was released, and I did not care for ZoneLabs
approach to auto-updating:
"The ability to turn off the automatic Check For Updates is now only
available to paid users (ZA Plus and ZA Pro)."

I could block it via a hosts file entry, but v3.1.395 has worked w/o
problems.

Does the version you are using support disabling auto-updating?

TIA
 
Jeff said:
I too am using Zone Alarm (free version) in XP Home, and though I did not
notice the behavior Larry described, I would like to ask

1. what the difference is between running ZA as it is and as a service?
Click to expand...

Not really any - the True vector engine, which is the 'works' is a
service and will run as such.
What is a service and what are its advantages?
Click to expand...

A section of code that is interfaced directly into the system (through
the svchost.exe program) so it can be called on by the system or by
programs: Services are either loaded automatically at Start (as True
Vector is) or may be loaded 'manually' which really means when some
application program, or other service, calls on it to do something
 
CZ said:
Agreed, so re: logged off protection what value is there to running it as a
service?
Click to expand...

I am not really clear what Ramesh thinks he is talking of. Installing
ZA sets up its true vector service (which is what matters) to run (as a
service) when the system loads. Then in Startup you run the Zone ALarm
interface and control program. Which as far as I can see is not
necessary to provide the protection, and there is no need to take any
steps to load it through the svchost rather than by normal means
 
I already realized that ZA has its own True
Vector service and further app>service is not required. What I did was, I
converted vsmon.exe to run as a service for fault tolerance only.

Ramesh:

Some comments:

The default setup on my computer for ZA free v3.1.395:
CPanel: Admin Tools: Services shows following for "TrueVector Internet
Monitor" server:
Service name: vsmon
Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe -service

So what you did was use the Recovery tab to select "Restart the service"?
 
So, if the ZoneAlarm program is not running but the TrueVector service
is, what if a program needs permission to access the Internet?

Bloke:

Per a test, if a user selects "Shutdown ZA" via the tray icon, programs that
are set to "Ask", should not be able to access the Internet.
(tested via ZA free v3.1.395 and MSIE)
 
Yes!

--
Regards,
Ramesh
(e-mail address removed)


Vector service and further app>service is not required. What I did was, I
converted vsmon.exe to run as a service for fault tolerance only.

Ramesh:

Some comments:

The default setup on my computer for ZA free v3.1.395:
CPanel: Admin Tools: Services shows following for "TrueVector Internet
Monitor" server:
Service name: vsmon
Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe -service

So what you did was use the Recovery tab to select "Restart the service"?
 

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