Zemana "Anti-Logger": FREE version "discontinued"

I'm with you...seems to work fine for its intended purpose.

I had ZAL Free installed on both my Win 7 and Win 10 systems. The settings were configured to notify me before installing new updates.

Before reading this thread, on my Win 10 system I noticed a new version of ZAL was available via the ZAL Free GUI, which I installed. Unfortunately the new version was the PAID trial version! The alert I had received cleverly did not point this out. Not unsurprisingly, it also uninstalled the Zemana Anti-Malware Free (a nice little standalone on-demand scanner I had been using without any problems for months).

Because of concerns about the Paid version conflicting with my other protection, I uninstalled it via Control Panel>Programs and Features. I tried reinstalling the Free version via the old setup.exe, but it did not install (got an "error code 5"). Obviously uninstalling ZAL was incomplete, and left a lot of remnants behind. Now when I start my Win 10 after a shutdown, I get an obnoxious black popup alert that ZAL is disabled, and a total screen freeze. I had to shut down with a Ctrl-Alt-Delete. I disabled AntiLogger.exe using Task Manager, and after one abortive attempt was able to remove Antilogger.exe from my Startup Programs tab in WinPatrol. (Note: this is the GUI for the Paid version; for the free version it is AntiLogger Free.exe). But it kept coming back. To make a long story short, I was finally able (I think) to remove all ZAL annoyances, but it wasn't easy. I still have a ZAM (Zemana Anti-Malware)  service listed, but was able to disable it. And there are a handfull of Zemana files and folders left.

On my Win 7/sp1 system, ZAL Free is not pushing an update. And when I check for updates, I see that my version of ZAL Free (1.82.320) is the latest. The GUI says both keystroke and SSL Intrusion protection is ON.

But here is the thing: when I hover my mouse over the ZAL icon in the notification tray, I get a message that "Protection is OFF for (explorer.exe)". When I open my default Pale Moon browser, it says "Protection is OFF for (PaleMoon.exe)". Interestingly, when I open either Firefox or IE 11 browsers, I get the message "AntiLogger Free protection is ON" when I hover over the tray icon. When I open most applications (notepad, wordpad, WinPatrol Plus, Sandboxie Control, PSI, MBAM Premium, my Outpost Pro firewall), I find that ZAL protection is off for their respective executables. But not for all programs: Protection is still ON for Microsoft Word, Panda Free AV, as examples. This might not be new behavior, and for all I know is by design.

What seems to be clear is that ZAL Free is no longer available for download, and may no longer be supported by Zemana. I seriously doubt that there will be further updated versions of ZAL Free. All I can suggest for current users who wish to continue with ZAL Free is that you check its settings>update tab, to make sure that the option to "Allow AntiLogger Free to install updates" is NOT selected.

I feel that Zemana pulled a fast one on my Win10, and gave me unforgivable grief. All in the aggressive promotion of their paid product. Needless to say, Zemana has lost my trust. I am seriously considering uninstalling all Zemana products from my PCs. I just have to figure out the best way to do this.

I have my ZAL FREE set to Notify me before downloading updates, and have not been offered any new updates on Win7/XP... the current version being 1.8.2.320, with both Keystroke Encryption and SSL Intrusion Prevention ON.

I'm on my XP system at the moment, and my PaleMoon IS protected (as verified both by using the Zemana KeyLogger Simulation Test Program, as well as confirming ZAL's injection into PM via Process Explorer).   Likewise, I've confirmed it working with (Windows) Explorer and NotePad... but NOT for WordPad nor my new "SafeZone" Browser.   It's entirely possible that SafeZone is actively blocking ZAL, due to its own enhanced internal security, which I believe is supposed to include anti-keylogging protection.   I haven't checked any other programs at the moment, nor have I checked on my Win7 system.

As for disabling ZAL via WinPatrol, in addition to the ZAL Free:  AntiLoggerFree.exe HKLM_RUN startup entry, there's also a "Secret Startup Location (Advanced Mode)"    AntiLogger Free:  KeyCrypt32(#).dll AppInit_dll startup entry, which might have been still loading (unless you also "caught" it).   [Note:  KeyCrypt64(#).dll on an x64-bit system.]

As a follow-up, I checked ZAL with [some of] the programs you listed, on my Win7x64 system:

Protected:   IE, (Windows) Explorer,  PaleMoon, FF, Notepad, WordPad, WinPatrol's EXE, Word

NOT Protected:   PSI, MBAM, Avast's UI, WinPatrol's Explorer

The "NOT protected" list seems to be mostly security programs [avast, mbam] --- which understandably should be resisting injection by any third-party program (lest they become compromised).   Also, these NOT protected programs tend to allow minimal (if any) user input, so it may be moot as to whether or not they're protected against keylogging.

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MajorGeeks offers ZAL here:  http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/zemana_antilogger.html

including both the new version:   Zemana.AntiLogger.setup. EXE (5.04 MB)

as well as the older, free version:  AntiLoggerFree_Setup_1.8.2.320. EXE (3.54 MB)

Thanks for all that info, ky. What you say about security programs and keylogger protection makes sense. I have to wonder though why protection for Pale Moon, notepad and others differs between our Win 7 systems.

My woes with ZAL of course all lay with my Win 10 Home x64 system. And yes, I caught that hidden Zemana KeyCrypt64**.dll startup entry, after I had uninstalled ZAL. I believe it was responsible for the GUI popups that persisted and kept freezing my screen. It was a devil to remove - kept re-inserting itself. After several tries, it changed tack and gave an alert that it was too important, and that removing it might have dire consequences. I removed it anyways, with extreme prejudice. I'm not sure that was the action that solved my woes, but it's a good bet. At any rate, I'm no longer bothered by ZAL or its remnants.

I was wrong about the availability of ZAL Free for download. AntiLogger Free 1.8.2.320 is also still offered at bleepingcomputer (and other sites):
www.bleepingcomputer.com/.../

I won't be trying it again myself on Win 10. On Win 7, for the time being I'll keep it.

seems to work fine but there is at least one "legal" use I know of. We had a 16-year-old granddaughter come to live with us for a few months (long story). Anyway, she was allowed to use my wife's computer (made it abundantly clear she wasn't touching mine) and my wife wanted to monitor what she did with it and where she went on the internet. She keeps track of all the grandkids through Facebook, YouTube, and such.

I purchased and installed a program ( https://www.elitekeyloggers.com/elite-keylogger-mac ) and she used it for a few weeks. Never told the kid it was there. After seeing that the kid wasn't doing anything nefarious or inappropriate, I removed it (an adventure in itself). 

Still the same version about a year later...but it looks for updates!

Hi,

Been using Zemana Anti-Malware and their free Anti-Logger on my old XP Dimension 9150 for a while and they both seem ok.  I did have a problem with their Anti-Malware and mailed them.  They said they'd pass on my concerns to their developers.  That was some weeks ago and I never heard any more about it so it would appear their customer support may be questionable.  I think they are based in Turkey.

I have recently installed the Zemana Anti-Malware free trial on this new OptiPlex and I got a reminder this morning that the free period is coming to an end.  I did try and install their free Anti-Logger but it would not run on the OptiPlex (Windows 10 Pro).  

When my Zemana Anti-Malware trial comes to an end I think I will return to Malwarebytes Antimalware for the OptiPlex.  I've used their products for years and the company has excellent customer support.

Regards.