Main tab (Privacy panel)

Click the numbers to learn about specific controls, or read an introduction.

Main tab (Privacy panel)

Use this tab to select general settings for cookie control, ad blocking, and mobile code control.

Note If you did not enable privacy during setup, the sliders on this panel will be set to Off rather than to their default settings. To enable privacy protection for your browser, raise the Cookie Control and/or Ad Blocking sliders to the level of protection you desire. To enable privacy protection for other programs, use the Programs tab.

Cookies

	Use the slider to select a global setting for cookie control. ZoneAlarm Pro provides two preconfigured cookie control settings: High and Medium. The default Medium setting provides an optimal balance of security and convenience for most situations.
	Click Custom to open the Cookies tab, where you can customize cookie control settings.

Settings

• High blocks persistent cookies and third-party cookies; but allows the use of session cookies.
• Medium blocks third-party cookies; but allows the use of session cookies and persistent cookies.
• Off Allows the use of all types of cookies.

Note If you have customized your cookie control settings, the slider control is disabled. To abandon your customized settings and return to preconfigured settings, click the Custom button again, then click Reset to Default in the Cookies tab.

For more information about cookie control, see the related topic Privacy Protection.

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Ad Blocking

	Use the slider to select a global setting for ad blocking. ZoneAlarm Pro provides two preconfigured settings: High and Medium. The default Medium setting provides an optimal balance of security and convenience for most situations. If Medium ad blocking is selected use the spin box to set a time limit for banner and skyscraper ads to download.
	Click Custom to open the Ad blocking tab, where you can customize ad blocking settings.

Settings

• High blocks common types of ads (pop-up, pop-under, animated, and banner/skyscraper), whether they affect the speed at which Web pages load or not.
• Medium blocks pop-up ads, pop-under ads and animated ads, but blocks banner and skyscraper ads only when they slow down the performance of the Web sites you visit.
• Off allows all advertisements.

Note If you have customized your ad blocking settings, the slider control is disabled. To abandon your customized settings and return to preconfigured settings, click the Custom button, then click Reset to Default in the Ad Blocking tab.

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Mobile Code Control

	Use the radio buttons to turn mobile code on or off.
	Click Custom to open the Mobile Code tab, where you can customize mobile code control settings.

Settings

• On Blocks scripts, MIME-type integrated objects, and embedded objects.
• Off Blocks no mobile code. This is the default setting, allowing the Web interactivity supported by active controls.

Note Blocking mobile code may disable some interactive features of Web sites you visit. To abandon customized settings and return to preconfigured settings, click the Custom button, then click Reset to Default in the Mobile Code tab.

Related Topics

Ad Blocking tab
Cookies tab
Mobile Code tab
Privacy Control

Glossary

cookie
A small data file used by a Web site to customize content, remember you from one visit to the next, and/or track your Internet activity. While there are many benign uses of cookies, some cookies can be used to divulge information about you without your consent.

ad blocking
A ZoneAlarm Pro feature that enables you to block banner, pop-up and other types of advertisements.

mobile code control
A ZoneAlarm Pro feature that enables you to block active controls and scripts on the Web sites you visit. While mobile code is common on the Internet and has many benign uses, hackers can sometimes use it for malevolent purposes.

persistent cookie
A cookie put on your hard drive by a Web site you visit. These cookies can be retrieved by the Web site the next time you visit. While useful, they create a vulnerability by storing information about you, your computer, or your Internet use in a text file.

third party cookie
A persistent cookie that is placed on your computer, not by the Web site you are visiting, but by an advertiser or other \'third party.\' These cookies are commonly used to deliver information about your Internet activity to that third party.

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session cookie
A cookie stored in your browser\'s memory cache that disappears as soon as you close your browser window. These are the safest cookies because of their short life-span.

pop-up ad
An ad that appears in a new browser window that 'pops up' in front of the window you're looking at.

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pop-under ad
An ad that appears in a new browser window that opens under the window you're looking at, so you don't see the ad until you close the original browser window.

animated ad
An advertisement that incorporates moving images.

banner ad
An ad that appears in a horizontal banner across a Web page.

skyscraper ad
An ad that appears in a vertical column along the side of a Web page.