Security tab

Indirect Access Control Filter Options Authentication Level Description MailSafe Setting

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

To reach this tab:

1. Go to Program Control /Programs tab
2. Select the program you want to customize
3. Click the Options button.


Security tab

Use this tab to choose the type of authentication to be used for this program, and to set Advanced Program Control and filter options for this program.

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Advanced Program Control

Advanced Program Control tightens your security by preventing unknown programs from using trusted programs to access the Internet.

This is an advanced security feature intended to prevent malicious programs from hijacking trusted programs. However, some legitimate programs use indirect access. By default, the most common of these programs are given permission to access the Internet through other programs. without informing you.

To enable a program to use another program to access the Internet, select the check box labeled This program may use other programs to access the network.

Note By default, the following applications are allowed to use indirect access:

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Filter Options

Use this area to enable or disable Web Filtering and Privacy protection for the selected program.

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Authentication Level

Option

If selected

Authenticate programs and components

Whenever the program accesses the Internet or your local network, ZoneAlarm Pro uses the MD5 signature to verify that it is authentic and untampered with. If the program has loaded any components, ZoneAlarm Pro authenticates them as well.

Authenticate program only

ZoneAlarm Pro authenticates the program, but allows the program to load components without authenticating them.

Use program file path only

Instead of checking the MD5 signature, ZoneAlarm Pro will only check to see that the location of the program on your computer hasn't changed. This is a low-security option, but may be useful for programs that are frequently updated.

Tip Zone Labs suggests using the Authenticate program only option the first two times you use an application with ZoneAlarm Pro. This enables ZoneAlarm Pro to "fingerprint" the programs components silently. After using the application twice, select Authenticate programs and components, so that ZoneAlarm Pro will check all components against their fingerprints when a program accesses the Internet.

When a program accesses network resources, ZoneAlarm Pro uses the selected authentication method to ensure the that the program hasn't been tampered with. If the program has changed, ZoneAlarm Pro displays a Changed Program alert like the one at left.

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Description

The description area provides information about the authentication level that is currently selected.

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Program authentication

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Glossary

MD5 signature
A digital "fingerprint" used to verify the integrity of a file. If a file has been changed in any way (for example, if a program has been compromised by a hacker), its MD5 signature will change as well.