Anyway that we can get a filter???

[Denhunter]

There are certain know-it-all predictors on this board who's comments I would really rather not see. Anyway we can filter certain people? I realize this guy is popular with the admins, but a bunch of us who really rather ignore him. Can this be done?

I have never been able to get into the chat room because ZoneAlarm keeps me out. Anyway to configure it so that I stop getting the confounded red x????

[Coldstream]

Denhunter, I have zonealarm on my work laptop and getting into chat room is working for me. I think the red x may be a problem with your java installation. I have you tried uninstalling the java application that the browser uses and re-install it?

[Brian McCat]

No offense intended, but uninstall Zone Alarm and get a router if you have broadband. If you have dialup, just enable your Windows Firewall. Software firewalls such as Zone Alarm are nothing but a pain in the patootie if they get hosed up, which happens a lot.

[Denhunter]

no offense taken, Brian, but that's the first time I have ever heard ANYONE suggest that Windows firewall was preferable to ZoneAlarm!! I will not operate a computer without it...I have a router. Stuff still gets through and gets stopped by ZoneAlarm. Windows firewall is like swiss cheese...

I think the Java uninstall must be the answer. I'll try...

[BigBlue75]

Denhunter wrote: no offense taken, Brian, but that's the first time I have ever heard ANYONE suggest that Windows firewall was preferable to ZoneAlarm!! I will not operate a computer without it...I have a router. Stuff still gets through and gets stopped by ZoneAlarm. Windows firewall is like swiss cheese...

I think the Java uninstall must be the answer. I'll try...

Denhunter, if it's not too late, I don't have Zonealarm (it worked okay for me but I upgraded to another web security software) but I did at one time. I can't remember exactly how to do it, but you have to "tell" Zonealarm which software you want to allow access to the internet, and the Java software if one of them. I think it's under "preferences" or something to that affect. It messed mine up for a couple of days until I figured it out. Once you do that, it should clear up the problem.

hope that helps.

[johnkyblue]

Zonealarm is a necessity even with a router. It makes sure you approve of the communication. Trust me, I used to be in the 2400 community. You want Zonealarm.

[Brian McCat]

johnkyblue wrote: Zonealarm is a necessity even with a router. It makes sure you approve of the communication. Trust me, I used to be in the 2400 community. You want Zonealarm.

I'm not sure what the 2400 community is, but Zonealarm is not necessary with a router if you're a careful browser, keep your operating system patched up, and antivirus up to date. Norton AntiVirus 2006 has worm protection to prevent the sorts of outside attacks that are trying to get in.

I work on 30-40 pcs a week, and the majority of them that are having access problems are because of a crappy software firewall, most of the time being Zone Alarm. A correctly-configured Windows firewall on XP will do the job nicely without risking damage to your operating system.

This also assumes that you trust all the pcs behind your router. If you don't, then I can see some validity in what John is saying. Otherwise, step away from the crapware.