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ZoneAlarm Antivirus + Firewall 2013

Neil J. Rubenking
 & Neil J. Rubenking Principal Writer, Security

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall 2016 combines most of Kaspersky's powerful antivirus protection with a top-notch personal firewall. It's an excellent choice if you don't want to install a full security suite. - ZoneAlarm Antivirus + Firewall 2013
3.0 Average

The Bottom Line

As the name suggests, ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall 2013 adds antivirus protection to Editors' Choice ZoneAlarm Free Firewall 2013. Unfortunately, the antivirus's quality doesn't match that of the firewall.

Pros & Cons

    • Top-quality firewall protection.
    • 5GB hosted online backup.
    • Free credit protection.
    • Facebook security check.
    • Do Not Track Me toolbar button.
    • Marks unsafe links in search results.
    • So-so antivirus.
    • Difficult installation on malware-infested systems.
    • Antiphishing component less effective than Internet Explorer alone.
    • Measurably slowed boot time.
    • Behavior-based OSFirewall flags both good and bad programs.

ZoneAlarm Antivirus + Firewall 2013 Specs

Free: Yes
OS Compatibility: Windows 7
OS Compatibility: Windows Vista
OS Compatibility: Windows XP
Tech Support: Forum.
Type: Personal
All Specs

How much security do you need for your PC? Do you want a full-blown security suite with dozens of modules? Or would you be happier with just antivirus protection and a firewall? If you tend toward the minimalist approach, Check Point's ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall 2016 may well suit your needs. Its firewall component is an Editors' Choice, and its antivirus protection is licensed from security giant Kaspersky.

In the past, I've treated this product as a very small suite. However, quite a few antivirus products now include a firewall component, among them Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus (2015)£22.49 at Webroot UK, McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2015£24.5 at McAfee UK, and Panda Antivirus Pro 2016. Going forward, I'm going to treat this product as a free antivirus that happens to have an excellent firewall component.

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Final Thoughts

ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall 2016 combines most of Kaspersky's powerful antivirus protection with a top-notch personal firewall. It's an excellent choice if you don't want to install a full security suite. - ZoneAlarm Antivirus + Firewall 2013

ZoneAlarm Antivirus + Firewall 2013

3.0 Average

As the name suggests, ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall 2013 adds antivirus protection to Editors' Choice ZoneAlarm Free Firewall 2013. Unfortunately, the antivirus's quality doesn't match that of the firewall.

About Our Expert

Neil J. Rubenking

Neil J. Rubenking

Principal Writer, Security

My Experience

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that fateful meeting, I’ve become PCMag’s expert on security, privacy, and identity protection, putting antivirus tools, security suites, and all kinds of security software through their paces.

Before my current security gig, I supplied PCMag readers with tips and solutions on using popular applications, operating systems, and programming languages in my "User to User" and "Ask Neil" columns, which began in 1990 and ran for almost 20 years. Along the way, I wrote more than 40 utility articles, as well as Delphi Programming for Dummies and six other books covering DOS, Windows, and programming. I also reviewed thousands of products of all kinds, ranging from early Sierra Online adventure games to AOL’s precursor Q-Link.

In the early 2000s, I turned my focus to security and the growing antivirus industry. After years of working with antivirus, I’m known throughout the security industry as an expert on evaluating antivirus tools. I serve as an advisory board member for the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), an international nonprofit group dedicated to coordinating and improving testing of anti-malware solutions.

The Technology I Use

Much of the testing I do, particularly testing with real-world ransomware, is just plain dangerous. To perform such tests safely, I sequester them inside virtual machines managed by VMWare Workstation. For cross-platform testing, I use a MacBook Air, a Google Pixel 4, and a 6th-generation iPad.

I rely on my Delphi coding skills to create and maintain small applications. These include programs to check whether an antivirus correctly handled the malware it detected, launch dangerous URLs and record the security program’s reaction, and analyze the malware that I collect for use in testing. I also wrote a tiny browser and text editor for use in testing security apps that have predefined reactions for known products.

I do my writing and research on a Dell OptiPlex desktop, relying on Microsoft Word (my fingers know all the shortcuts). Many of my articles include charts and analysis; Excel is my go-to for those. When work hours end, though, I escape the bounds of Microsoft and Windows. There’s an iPhone in my pocket, I relax with my oversized iPad, and my Kindle Oasis is always loaded with the best science fiction and fantasy.

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