Reply #44: When you first load Zone Alarm it disconnects EVERYTHING....

[ParanoidPat]

....from the Internet until you give each program permission to access the web. :)
The 'pop up' box lets you know when a program is trying to access the Internet or when someone on the Internet tries to access your computer.
Read the information in the warning pop up window, if you know that the program that is trying to connect is OK, click the 'remember this decision' check box and then click the OK button. That program will be allowed to connect in the future without generating a warning screen.
That is how Zone Alarm writes the 'rules' for your computer. Expect to see those prompt boxes each time one of your programs attempts to connect to the Internet for the first time. If you find programs that attempt to connect and you are not sure if they're safe, do a web search at Google to find out more about that program before allowing the firewall to 'remember this decision'! Your firewall is only as good as the rules you set to allow access!
Have fun! :evilgrin: