Setting program permissions manually

If you want to assign permissions to programs on your own, or if ZoneAlarm security software was unable to assign permissions automatically, you can set permissions manually by using Program alerts, or by setting permissions for specific programs on the Program Control | Programs panel.

Program alerts

When a program requests access for the first time, a New Program alert asks you if you want to grant the program access permission. When a program is detected to be listening to the ports on your computer, a Server Program alert is displayed.

Suspicious behavior alerts inform you that a trusted or unknown program on your computer is trying to perform an action that could be considered suspicious.

To avoid seeing numerous alerts for the same program, select Remember this setting before clicking Allow or Deny. ZoneAlarm security software will continue to apply your Allow or Deny setting (without issuing alerts) unless you set SmartDefense Advisor to Auto and it has a setting different from yours.

Because Trojan horses and other types of malware often need server rights in order to do mischief, you should be particularly careful to give server permission only to programs that you know and trust, and that need server permission to operate properly. Several common types of applications, such as chat programs, e-mail clients, and Internet Call Waiting programs, may need server permission to operate properly. Grant server permission only to programs you're sure you trust, and that require it in order to work.

If possible, avoid granting a program server permission for computers in your firewall Internet Zone. If you need to accept incoming connections from only a small number of machines, add those machines to your firewall Trusted Zone, and then allow the program server permission for the Trusted Zone only.


	You also can allow ZoneAlarm security software to automatically allow or deny all new programs without displaying an alert. For example, if you are sure you have given access permission to all the programs you want, you might automatically deny access to any other program that asks for permission. For more information, see Setting permissions for specific programs .

Programs list

The Programs list allows you to set or customize permissions for specific programs based on your individual needs. For more information about using the Programs list and customizing permissions, see Using the programs list .