Last week, a reader reached out with an extensive account of her internet woes, prompting a thoughtful exchange. At 75 years old and possessing a moderate level of technical know-how, she found herself grappling with a frustratingly slow internet connection despite her efforts to enhance her setup.
After purchasing a new, faster laptop, she upgraded her Frontier internet service to a 2-gigabit connection and installed a new router. Yet, the sluggish performance persisted, and some websites remained inaccessible. In her detailed email, she mentioned a potential culprit: “The only other thing I can think of on my end is that when I got the new laptop, I downloaded Zone Alarm virus and firewall protection.” Her concern about disabling Zone Alarm stemmed from a fear of exposing her system to hackers.
Assessing the Situation
Upon reading her email, a red flag was raised regarding the use of third-party antivirus software for continuous protection. While these programs can offer benefits, they often introduce complications. Microsoft’s built-in Defender provides robust protection without the performance drain associated with many third-party solutions. Pairing Defender with specialized malware scanning software like Malwarebytes can be effective, but it’s best reserved for instances where malware is suspected.
In my response, I advised her to uninstall Zone Alarm and monitor the effects on her internet speed. The results were promising. She later replied, “Thank you for your advice. I uninstalled Zone Alarm and everything seems to be working fine now! I’m so relieved!”
This experience underscores a crucial point: while third-party security software can be beneficial, running multiple full-time security suites simultaneously can hinder performance. If one chooses to use alternatives like Zone Alarm, McAfee, or Norton, it’s essential to disable built-in protections like Defender to avoid conflicts.
Regardless of the software selected for PC protection, maintaining up-to-date virus definitions is vital for ensuring optimal security and performance.
Jim Rossman is a tech columnist for Tribune News Service. He may be reached at jrossmantechadviser@gmail.com.
