This is not a/your NewsReader problem

If you decide to disable ZoneAlarm install another product (such as) or switch to their 15 day free trail of their "PRO" version which is not affected (Zone Alarm are working on problem)

Hardware types being the better choice over software ones

ZoneAlarm is a very effective Software choice

read about it here

Yes, it's popular. Yes, it's been recommended for quite a while. But, man, the stuff this last "upgrade" has broken is more than a bit absurd. And then finding out that the "remove / uninstall" pattern provided doesn't go far enough to actually remove / uninstall it .... unreal .... On the other hand, I do have several systems that seemed to take it with no problem (noting that those users don't do newsgroups, so hadn't heard the YENC issue complaint yet <g>

The best approach for firewalls is to have both hardware and software protection installed

ZoneAlarm so far has not had it's security bypassed from outside of one's windows PC (It can however be secretly turned off by programs installed on/to your computer)

Most windows software does not ever completely uninstall requiring one to regularly reformat and reinstall Windows to recover disk space

OK the latest Free edition of ZoneAlarm has the yEnc problem fixed!
Make sure your computer is secure