Hi, I updated my free ZoneAlarm recently as I have many times before (I don't know if they changed something, but I did notice that the update proceeded a little differently than usual). Since, some of my programs are causing ZA to alert that "the program has changed since the last time it accessed the Internet!" and none of the possible reasons it lists for this sound applicable *or* harmless. I kind of don't think it's even true, or think it is some kind of meaningless error or something. Guess I don't have concrete reason to assume that, but I haven't changed anything, downloaded anything, updated any of the programs it is alerting about, surfed anywhere "risky," let my AV (free Grisoft version) get outdated... I know anything can happen but just wanted to ask if it is common for ZA to alert for that when there is actually nothing changed or dangerous about the program trying to access the net. This alert has appeared when I am pasting something from the web to Word (in that case, if I "Deny Access" the text still pastes, so it hasn't kept me from doing anything but it still concerns me); and now it has happened when I was going to let Spywareblaster check for updates. I assume it would happen with other programs too if I tested them out. I do want to be able to let my programs access the Internet, but am not, whenever I see this warning. I know you can't know for sure, but is ZA known to cause this alert erroneously? Thanks! 8^ )

Zone Alarm have recently updated and you have probably installed version 5, from the posts on this forum the best bet is to resort back to version 4.5 as there are apparently alot of bugs that need rectifying. v5 would not update at all on my system. Reinstall v4.5 and ignore the update to 5 popup messages until 5 has been sorted. M

Thanks! After posting I did try to find help on ZA's forum and saw there are known 5.0 issues, but they say see the faqs and those don't cover the free version. But I guess you're probably right that all 5.0's are affected. I probably will go back to 4.5, but is that likely to be current enough on protection? (Any chance I should keep 5.0 and just allow the programs access?) How do people know when it's safe to upgrade again? Thanks again, sorry to bother you. I did a search of this site but wasn't finding any related or recent posts on this for some reason.

Discussed frequently over in the Security and Virus forum - a few weeks ago and more recently We have nothing against ideas. We're against people spreading them. - General Augusto Pinochet of Chile

I don't know how I missed those in my search, I kept the keyword(s) very general. Thanks jboy! :^ )

No problem. Always worth taking a peek at the S&V forum, just to stay current. We have nothing against ideas. We're against people spreading them. - General Augusto Pinochet of Chile