What’s been really causing us fits is ongoing problems with our ZoneAlarm (ZA Plus 3.0) software firewall. We have it installed on Margie’s XP machine, since that’s the gateway (via dial-up). Over time, the vsmon process keeps grabbing more and more RAM, going frm 2-3M up into the 40-70M range (before the machine complete chokes). The process is associated with the TrueVector service on ZoneAlarms, and if you terminate it, ZA restarts it and it’s all okay … for a while.
Margie thinks the problem occurs primarily (exclusively) when our wireless stuff is hooked up, as if the increased “local zone” traffic overwhelms it.
I’ve poked around on ZAL’s site, and not really found anything (at all) there. I’ve poked around on comp.security.firewall and found references to the problem, but no solution (aside from the usual Uselessnet flame wars over why anyone who uses Product X is a buffoon). Ditto elsewhere.
So my question is — do any of my Faithful Readers have this problem with ZA? If so (or even if not), do you have any recommendations for an alternative software firewall?
Thankee in advance.
Sorry – I use ZA, but I’m on a Cable feed, not wireless. Hope somebody can help.
I don’t actually think the wireless part (which is the home network, not the Internet connection) is germane; I suspect, though I don’t know for certain, that any sort of local network traffic is contributing to the problem.
I’ve been using ZA for as long as it’s been out. I can’t say as I’ve had the same exact problem, but ZA seems to be getting to be more and more of a pain in the butt as time goes on. (Norton’s 4th Law of Computing: All software gets enhanced to the point of uselessness eventually.)
My technical advisor has been trying to get me to switch to the free version of Tiny Personal Firewall (Kerio), but I’m too lazy.
If I hear anything about your problem with ZA, I’ll let you know! Good luck.
I suspected ZA of causing problems, freeze-ups, cursor craziness, etc. I stoped loading it at start up and the problems are gone….
Well, I’m pretty certain that I could get around the problem by simply taking ZA off. I could also probably get around the problem by simply never connecting with the Internet …
I think it’s pretty critical that I have some sort of firewall in place. If not ZA (and I’m beginning to get the impression that it should be ZA), then something else. Alternative suggestions accepted.
Depending on how much money you’d want to spend, you could get yourself one of those Linksys router/firewalls, though that’s more useful for the broadband bunch.
Unfortunately, I have no experience with ZoneAlarm since none of my Windows PCs ever gets turned on anymore unless I’m digging for old data. Here’s a Uselessnetesque statement: get a Mac. 😉
Have you tried out Black Ice Defender?
No, I’ve not. Unfortunately, any given software firewall seems to get a similar reaction on Uselessnet — either it’s “the most useless piece of freeware crap imaginable, requiring a doctorate degree to make it ineffectually do anything,” or else it’s “a prime example of corporate bloatware, requiring 99% of your system resources to make it ineffectually do anything.”
*sigh*