Zones manage firewall security

Zone Labs security software uses security levels to determine whether to allow or block inbound traffic from each Zone. Use the Firewall panel, Main tab to view and adjust security levels.

High security setting

High security places your computer in stealth mode, making it invisible to hackers. High security is the default configuration Internet Zone.

In High security, file and printer sharing is disabled; but outgoing DNS, outgoing DHCP, and broadcast/multicast are allowed, so that you are able to browse the Internet. All other ports on your computer are closed except when used by a program that has access permission and/or server permission.

Medium security setting

Medium security removes places your computer in component learning mode, where Zone Labs security software quickly learn the MD5 signatures of many frequently used program components without interrupting your work with multiple alerts. Medium security is the default setting for the Trusted Zone.

In Medium security, file and printer sharing is enabled, and all ports and protocols are allowed. (If Medium security is applied to the Internet Zone, however, incoming NetBIOS traffic is blocked. This protects your computer from possible attacks aimed at your Windows networking services.) At Medium security, you are no longer in stealth mode.

We recommend that you use the Medium security setting for the first few days of normal Internet use after installing Zone Labs security software. After a few days of normal use, Zone Labs security software will have learned the signatures of the majority of the components needed by your Internet-accessing programs, and will remind you to raise the Program Authentication level to High.

No security level is necessary for the Blocked Zone, because no traffic to or from that Zone is allowed.

Advanced users can customize high and medium security for each Zone by blocking or opening specific ports. For more information, see Blocking and unblocking ports .