TESvc service Zonealarm 50% CPU

[Bernardus]

Zone alarm introduced a TESvc.exe sandblast agent.
That service pops up any minute and swallows 50% CPU time and I can't get rid of it.
You hardly can run a video anymore.
Is there a way to stop that service or turn it down?
They also have a EFR Service.exe that pops up and consuming a lot of CPU time.
Than they have a ZAAR service. (Anti ransomware)
Although I've been using Zone alarm for years I got annoyed about this demanding "services".

 

[file3456]

Anti-virus and firewall software of today has grown to fluff and bloat of biblical proportions. Because of that I don't use either types of "protection" and rely on other things instead.

If your computer is behind a router, you already have a hardware firewall of sorts called SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) Unless your router isn't configured properly, traffic should never touch your computer on the inbound if it's unsolicited. I wrote about how to secure your router and modem here.

You're better off ditching that software and if they offer their own uninstaller I'd use that. Upon uninstallation it may take the TCP/IP stack with it. Sometimes the uninstallation of anti-virus software will do the same thing. There is Tinywall that works with the built-in Windows firewall, but in my useage I had issues with it. Another firewall I used many years ago was from Comodo, but I'm sure today is loaded with bloat.

If you REALLY want a firewall then get a mini PC and install Pfsense. You'll need to take the time to learn about it though because it has loads of features. You can test it in the free VMware Workstation Player. I believe you can only run VMware Workstation Player 15 in Windows 7. Newer versions require Windows 10.

 

[file3456]

Okay, there's this. YMMV. Download ZoneAlarm Uninstall - MajorGeeks

Then there's this for version 10: How do I remove ZoneAlarm from my computer (Version 10.x & above) – ZoneAlarm Support Center


I bet she totally works for ZoneAlarm.


Also, their TLS website Cert is from the free Let Encrypt Cert. authority. LOL

 

[Bernardus]

F22 Simpilot Thanks for your reply and humorous reaction.
I'll study that.
I found out that some services of ZA can be stopped with MSCONFIG settings.
But it's sure true that antivirus-software became a pain in the A**. They swallow much of your CPU time.
I'm behind a router. Comodo have I tried in the past, until it got loaded with crap and ads.
Regards and thanks.

 

[file3456]

MSConfig is not what you use to permanently turn off things. That's just for diagnostic usage. Check out Autoruns or StartupCPL instead. I've been using StartupCPL since my XP days and amazingly it still works in 7. StartupCPL will install an icon in the Windows Control Panel.

Download Startup CPL - MajorGeeks

Autoruns for Windows - Windows Sysinternals | Microsoft Docs

 

[Bernardus]

Thanks, good guess and it's even on my PC running. I've been using it also for ages.
It's because ZA installs all in one, I probably allowed it to run those obscure services.
Regards