Hi,

THIS BUG IS SERIOUS as it prevents AV, antispyware, and many applications from working properly!!!

Ever since I installed the ZAP 65.700.000, when I modify a file and save it to back to my computer the Date Modified remains unchanged (*)

The same happens sometimes with the Date Accessed. The Date Created is always accurate.

DETAILS

Each file and folder on my computer is listed in my Windows Explorer with three dates attached to it:

Date Created (when was the file or folder created)

Date Accessed (when was the file or folder last accessed)

And Date Modified (when was the file or folder modified)

The problem most commonly occurs with Outlook Express .eml files and with HTML files modified by FrontPage.

This started only after I installed ZAP 65.700.000. I didn't have this problem with the previous revisions of ZAP.

Many AV and antispyware programs use the Windows time stamp in "smart" scanning. If the time stamps don't change - the files don't get scanned!

Additionally, many software applications rely on time stamps for a variety of functions.

This bug is REAL BAD NEWS and must be fixed super-urgently.

Thank you for being there.

Yarok

(*) Example:

The file's date modified is June 5, 2006.

On June 11, 2006, I modify it by adding new text to it and removing old text and so on.

I save it to my computer.

The Date Modified remains June 5, 2006.

Someone sent me a link to the same thread, but over at the ZoneLabs forum.

I think this may be a case of your security is turned down too tight. I recently had a problem with Electron Microscope III which monitors the folding@home console clients running on both my machine and the other one on my network. Turned out to be the problem was I had settings incorrect. This newest incarnation of ZoneAlarm has really gone a long way in securing your computer both internally and externally. So my suggestion is one of two things,

If you do not use the expert rules, then reset your settings database for ZoneAlarm by first turn off ZA (turn off your internet connection if it is on) by right clicking on the ZA icon in the system tray and selecting shutdown then go to c:\windows and create a new folder named oldlogs then go to c:\windows\internet logs and then move all the files that have an RDB or ldb extension to the oldlogs folder that you created. Now start ZA again and see if ZA is working correctly now, especially the date problem. Leave the program control on medium for a while so it will learn your habits. Also I suggest using the settings suggested by the smart defense advisor, it has gotten to be a lot better the longer it is used, and the more data ZoneLabs can compile.

If you do use the expert rules for programs in ZA, go to the program list in ZA and select all the programs in ZA that do not have customized expert rules for, and then click delete, the go to the components tab and select everything there and then select delete. Set the program control on medium for a while so it will learn your habits. Also I suggest using the settings suggested by the smart defense advisor, it has gotten to be a lot better the longer it is used, and the more data ZoneLabs can compile.

In both cases, you can backup the settings in ZA so you will have something to go back to. If you do either set of instructions, please post the results so we can refine the instructions so such drastic actions will not be necessary. You can post either her or over at ZoneLabs Forum in the thread http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=gen&message.id=34210

I tend to answer more here than over there, as I can turn more graphics off here, so pages load faster. Hopefully I will be getting my wireless soon, they have some setbacks, and it will be sometime in the next 2 weeks, if all goes well.

Good to hear from you, again, Hoov.

Uninstalled ZA. Clean installed it and changed all the settings to minimum!

Problem persists.

Thought you may wish to know.

G.

PS:

ZA Free doesn't have this problem - only ZAP.

What settings did you change to minimum?

There is a newer version 6.5.714.000 available for download; it fixed some problems that I had with the initial 6.5 version. Maybe you should try this?

Hi, PWillener,

As I told Hoov, just installed the new ZAP 6.5.714.000 (trial version) on three computers.

Same problem on all three.

(All three are Windows XP Pro SP2, fully patched).

The Date Modified does not cahnge.

That's a serious problem!

Thank you all for taking the time to respond.

Sam

PS:

There are two threads on this issue over at the ZA forums where other users describe the same problems.

If you don;t mind, backup your settings to an XML file and then post it up so I can get it. There has to be a setting problem. This will be the quickest way to see what they are.

Hi, Hoov,

Sorry, I can't send the settings over. Two of the three computers belong to my publisher and the third belongs to a friend who happened to be visiting.

BUT

1. I installed the ZAP 6.5.714 (trial version) on these two PCs and one laptop. They are very different machines. Two of them are Windows XP Pro SP2 (English language). The third is Windows XP SP1 and Hebrew language Windows.

On all three machines, I relaxed the control settings as much as I could without turning off ZAP completely.

On ALL THREE there is the same problem

When you modify files (Outlook Express, Frontpage HTML, and Adobe PDF and maybe others) - the Date Modified (timestamp) does not change.

PLUS

On the two threads over at the ZA forum, OTHER USERS are complaining of the very same issue.

So, the problem is not with the three computers I tried it on. It is a ZAP bug that has to be ZAPped...))

Take care and thank you for your great support.

G.

PS:

I informed Tech Support but surely if it comes from you, it will have a far greater weight.

I have found out that ZoneLabs is most definitely aware of this problem, and a fix is being worked on post haste.

Great news, Hoov, thanks!

G.

There is a fixed version released. Backup your settings, then do a clean install. Just to make sure its working properly. Once that is done, if you want to restore your settings, go ahead.

Help icon
Overview > preferences tab has a Backup settings button.