Unlike many firewall products, ZoneAlarm products protect your PC from unauthorized inbound and outbound communications.

When a hacker tries to access your PC, that's an unauthorized inbound communication. A hacker can gain access to your Internet-connected PC in several ways, such as through an e-mail attachment or a link included in a phishing e-mail. A basic PC firewall can automatically identify and block such communications.

If a hacker succeeds in accessing your PC, he could install software designed to capture and transmit your personal data (such as online banking passwords). The transmission of that data back to the hacker is an unauthorized outbound communication. Unlike most basic PC firewalls, ZoneAlarm products automatically identify and block unauthorized outbound communications.