Thanks for the info, gg. Yes, it claims to be a 'spyware blocker'.
I guess I must have thought it a 'jolly good idea' at some upgrade stage of ZA - it seems to run in FF ok, but was crashing ie8
My files sit in a folder called 'ZoneAlarm' next to the usual 'ZoneLabs' folder and the install log shows it went in on 2 July so I guess it must have been an M$ update wot done it since ie had run ok until around 2 weeks ago..