ZoneAlarm Celebrates ‘Patch Tuesday’ With Free Downloads
Worried you might have some spyware lurking somewhere in Windows XP? Here’s your chance to do something about it for free. Check Point Software, makers of the ZoneAlarm firewall and spyware scanning packages, is offering free downloads of its basic package, complete with a spyware scanner/cleaner and a year of free updates.
The offer is only available until 5PM PST today, November 14, although the download link that is sent out will be valid for a week.
Check Point is promoting the free offering as a reminder that while Microsoft’s monthly updates help fix known problems, it also marks the beginning of a drive to find new vulnerabilities.
The site reads:
Every month, Microsoft offers users patches to update Windows and Internet Explorer to help protect them against newly-discovered product vulnerabilities. But as soon as Microsoft makes their announcement, hackers are already finding ways to exploit users who may not download the patches immediately.
We’re naturally suspicious of software makers who promote OS vulnerabilities when their business models rely on certain amount of user anxiety, but at the same time if you don’t have a spyware scanner this might be a nice way to get a free copy. While I do run the free firewall from ZoneAlarm, I’ve never used ZoneAlarm Anti-Spyware. If you have be sure to let everyone know your experience in the comments below.
[via Lifehacker]
