Review of Zone Alarm Force Field by Check Point

Zone Alarms and its parent company Check Point Software Technologies are household names in the computer security markets, and with good reason. Check Point's security security products secure 498 of the Fortune 500 and many other well-known corporate and governmental agencies throughout the world and their subsidiary Zone Alarms' consumer brand is one of the pioneers in the consumer IT security arena.

Overview

Zone Alarm's new product Force Field is another stellar offering to the consumer market. The company has made available the beta to the public and I was one of those early beta testers. So, what is it and how can it help you? Its tagline is "protect your turf whenever you surf" and this encapsulates its core benefits to the enduser. Essentially, Force Field protects you while you surf the Web with multiple layers of protection. Some of the malicious Web activities it protects you from include:

• Keystroke logging attempts
• Unauthorized downloads
• Malicious software installation attempts
• Spyware blocking
• Anti-phishing protection
• Suspected phishing sites alerts
• "Virtualizes" Web surfing sessions barring all bookmarks, cookies, and historical traces; all are erased when the surfing session is terminated
• Bullet-proof privacy even when using other computers

Fundamentally, Force Field is a Web surfing software that isolates your browser from the evils of cyberspace. Like an activated force field in your favorite science fiction space ship, the software prevents shots off your computer's bow while surfing, leaving you unscathed. In fact, the product actually displayes an ingenious force-field aura around each activated browser window indicating it's on and working.

Any attempts to breach your security fail as they can't violate your computer's actual files or Registry.

Its system requirements? Force Field will work on any Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista (32-bit) platforms. Full browser protection works with both Internet Explorer (either versions 6 or 7) and the ever popular Mozilla Firefox 2.0. It’s footprint is small, only 20.56 MB, and its installation is simple and quick.

Testing

I tested my copy of Zone Alarm Force Field on two different systems. An older Dell Inspirion 4100 sporting a Pentium III 863 MHz with 1 GB of RAM. I'm running Windows XP service pack 2. Additionally, I tested it with Mozilla FireFox 2.0.0.1.1 and Internet Explorer 6.0. I have a broadband account with Comcast running at approximately 108.0 Mbps. I'm also running McAfee's anti-virus, Personal Firewall Plus, and Privacy Service, which comes with my broadband account.

The other system I tested it on is an IBM ThinkPad with a Pentium M with 1400 MHz and a clock speed of 796 MHz. It also has 1.25 GB of RAM and is running Windows XP service pack 2. The tests here were exclusively done with Internet Explorer 6.0.

Once installed, it appears on your browser of choice as an additional toolbar. With so much screen real estate already taken up with my Google and Firefox's navigation toolbar, I didn't like this. However, in Firefox, it's a simple matter to eliminate its presence on the toolbar and that's what I did. No worries, though. It still was working in the background. Here's how the toolbar looks.

During my testing, I didn't experience any of the known problems. This was a pleasant surprise as almost all beta software has issues, sometimes significant issues. Not Zone Alarm Force Field by Check Point.

I admit I didn't conduct any laboratory testing but simply used it on a daily basis. On my work system, I was able to use without any noticeable delays or impact to system performance. However, with my home system, I did experience delays. One thing I noticed is that it didn't mix well with my McFee security setup. Upon first installing it and approximately 3 out of every 10 Web sessions brought up a McAfee window asking me to either verify my Privacy or firewall service. McAfee's security functions didn't activate automatically either in some sessions. I had to do it manually. Curiously, it eventually stopped asking me to verify the Privacy Service. Weird.

Additionally, on my home system, some web sites did load slower. The more browser tabs I had open in Firefox, the slower it got. System intensive resources like XSite Pro, a Web authoring tool, slowed to a "delay reaction" effect with keystrokes. A faster CPU should eliminate that problem. As I said previously, my work computer didn't register any lagging that I could detect, and I have to attribute that to its superior processing power. So, users of older systems should be prepared.

Some will inevitably argue that most of the functionality already exists in other anti-malware software products, e.g., spyware, download blocking, keystroke logging anti-phishing.  They're right. However, it is an extra layer of security or insurance, which is what computer security basically is. What makes Zone Alarm's Force Field product so unique is its Web session virtualization capability.

When activated from toolbar, Force Field launches a separate browser that is characterized by the light blue color of the toolbar. Here's how it will look:

When activated, the virtualized session will protect your identify, computer, and your online privacy by creating a virtualized Web browser session – a bubble or clone that will isolate any malware attacks. Once the new browser window comes up with the ForceField blue button bar, The following dialogue box will appear.

It's as simple as that. This is the aspect of Force Field that I really was impressed with it. Its "virtual" session thus prevents your local hacker attacker from identifying or targeting your computer. This is especially invaluable to those buying products online or conducting online banking. The Force Field virtual session eliminates or erases all cookies, history and tracking upon the session's termination. (I'm not sure if it masks your IP address but that is irrelevant for your security purposes.)

I like it - a lot. I give it a 9 out of 10. I especially feel safer when I do my online banking and when I buy online. Anyone who surfs, banks or buys online will like this product as it's transparent and does the job. If nothing else, its superb protection against the ever-growing malware activities on the Web is not a luxury but a necessity. In time, most consumers will find such a browsing tool indispensible. I predict this addition to Internet computer security will become commonplace -- in a couple of years at most.

Some may feel the functionality is already being provided by other security software, that the investment may not be warranted. I disagree. If nothing else, the private Web browser session more than justifies the projected price. This private browser prohibits any intrusion while erasing all proof of the surfing session upon its close. That type of security is unbeatable. I use private sessions when I bank online or when I'm buying a product.

Even on sites that certify themselves as "hacker safe" I don't completely trust. It's just an extra layer of protection and added insurance and that is worth a measley $30 to me. I suspect many will also feel that way. That is Check Point's unique selling proposition here and they would be wise to exploit in their marketing.

In closing, Zone Alarm Force Field by Check Point is a solid, well-engineered software product. Ideally, it should integrate with Zone Alarm's Internet Security Suite, including itself as a feature of that package rather than as a separate purchase. Check Point is a smart company --  they won't do that for now. If the product doesn't sell well, I suspect that is Plan B. As for now, they see another revenue stream and it should sell well. The product will be available soon at your retailer of choice for an SRP of approximately $29.95 US.

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