Program Component alert

Use the Program Component alert to allow or deny Internet access to a program that is using one or more components that haven't yet been secured by ZoneAlarm security software. This helps protect you from hackers who try to use altered or faked components to get around your program control restrictions.

By clicking Allow, you allow the program to access the Internet while using the new or changed components. By clicking Deny, you prevent the program from accessing the Internet while using those components.

Why these alerts occur

Program Component alerts occur when a program accessing the Internet or local network is using one or more components that ZoneAlarm security software has not yet secured, or that has changed since it was secured.

ZoneAlarm security software automatically secures the components that a program is using at the time you grant it access permission. This prevents you from seeing a Component alert for every component loaded by your browser. To learn how ZoneAlarm security software secures program components, see Managing program components .

What you should do

The proper response to a Program Component alert depends on your situation. Consider the following questions:

Are any of the following true?
You just installed or reinstalled ZoneAlarm security software.
You recently updated the application that is loading the component (For the application name, look under Technical Information in the alert pop-up.)
The application that is loading the component has an automatic update function.
Someone else (for example, a systems administrator at your workplace) may have updated a program on your computer without your knowledge.
Are you actively using the application that loaded the component?

If you can answer "yes" to both questions, it is likely that ZoneAlarm security software has detected legitimate components that your browser or other programs need to use. It is probably safe to answer Allow to the Program Component alert.

By clicking Allow, you allow the program to access the Internet while using the new or changed components. If you cannot answer yes both questions, or if you feel unsure about the component for any reason, it is safest to click Deny.

By clicking Deny, you prevent the program from accessing the Internet while using those components.

If you're not sure what to do, or if you decide to click Deny, investigate the component to determine if it is safe.

How to see fewer of these alerts

You may receive a large number of component alerts if you raised the Program Authentication level to high soon after installing ZoneAlarm security software. With authentication set to High, ZoneAlarm security software cannot automatically secure the large number of DLLs and other components commonly used by browsers and other programs.

To reduce the number of alerts, lower the authentication level to medium for the first few days after installing ZoneAlarm security software.

If you have been using ZoneAlarm security software for more than a few days, it is very rare to see large numbers of program alerts.