I installed ZoneAlarm due to the rash of nasty people trying to destroy the integrity of the Internet, and perhaps my system. I have had it in place for about a week with no issues. I run it on high security settings. No problems with a wide variety of sites. Also have a 3 PC LAN.Today I was going to download a file from the Library for the first time since installing the firewall. I immediately received a warning as follows:I then could not get beyond the advert page for Real Scene and the probes continued at about 45 second intervals. Each one was targeted at a different port in the 45xx range.I next tried to post this message but the probes continued with the alarm interrupting the typing process. Tried to upload the jpeg of the warning but it just sat there with a blank screen. Had to restart the MS V6 browser.Also, have the message from ZoneAlarm as to the characteristics of the probes as follows:============================ZoneAlarm blocked traffic to port 4270 on your machine from port 20 on a remote computer whose IP address is 205.252.89.42. This communication attempt may have been a port scan, or simply one of the millions of unsolicited commercial or network control messages that are routinely sent out over the Internet. Such unsolicited messages are often called Internet background noise. ==============Is this harmless? How do I allow passage without opening the 4500 port series and becoming vulnerable to the idiots out there?Dick KLBEhttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/39543.jpg

More attempts to download showed Avsim probing ports in the 13xx and 15xx range as well. Not sure why they are doing this but I opened the firewall for the IP address with a full mask and now I can download. I can see no harmful effect but if information is extracted I would certainly not see the harm until it was too late!??Dick KLBE

That's Avsim's server trying to make a connection to your computer and send you the file you requested. Looks like you have Zone Alarm set at a very sensitive setting. Not everything an overly sensitive firewall alerts you about is something bad. You've likely set it to alarm everytime ANYTHING tries to connect to your computer. Obviously there are some connections you are wanting to receive.And, also, there was nothing in the evidence you shared that indicated a 'port scan' was in progress or involved at all. It was merely a connection from their ftp server.

I switch the "Alerts" off .... I find them annoying, and Zone Alarm ALWAYS protects your PC! :) I've been using it since 2000 and an external computer has NEVER penetrated the firewall :)http://album.atomic-systems.com/showPic.ph.../AAV_banner.jpghttp://www.aavirtual.com :)

I run Zonealarm at its default settings. Works great. Blocks all kinds of nasty things that my router firewall lets pass. Also, I just started getting spam emails. Had 329 or em' the other day. Took a look at my program files and found a folder called "save". Tried to delete it. Wouldn't let me. Readme said I'd requested the program. What a bunch of BS. Went to start/run/selective startup and then selected the startup tab. Scrolled down and there it was. Unchecked it. Restarted. Checked the "don't show me this again" box in Windows Selective Startup Notice. Deleted the save folder. Run adaware a couple times. Quarantined the registry entry. So far no more spam emails. They ought to sue these yahoos that send that garbage without permission. I think I got rid of it. Time will tell.

Please see my reply on your OTHER post in the File Library Help forum.Regards,http://saltydogfly2.avsim.net/images/avsim_sig.jpg"Ah, the Luftwaffe - the Washington Generals of the History Channel." - Homer Simpson