ZoneAlarm Firewall
You can setup ZoneAlarm Firewall to permit Bearshare traffic in two ways : automatic and manual .

Automatic Configuration
When you run BearShare for the first time with Zone Alarm on your computer, you will be prompted with two popup alerts, as shown here:


For each alert, click Yes, and be sure to put a check in the box where it says "Remember this answer the next time I use this program".

If you follow the above steps, you should not see the alerts anymore, and no further configuration should be necessary as long as nothing changes in your current setup.

Manual Configuration
1. To begin, double-click the ZoneAlarm icon in the system tray, found in the right-hand corner of your Windows taskbar.

2. When ZoneAlarm opens, click Program control in the left navigation menu.
   
3. Click the Programs tab, then find BearShare in the list of programs. You may need to scroll a little to see it, as shown here:


4. If you see any question marks in the BearShare row, left-click each one, and click the Allow option, as shown.


5. ZoneAlarm will now allow BearShare full incoming and outgoing activity.

Whenever you upgrade BearShare, an alert will pop up as shown to the right. Simply click Yes to resume normal operation of BearShare.
  

Test your settings
In BearShare, go to the Hosts view, right-click on the screen, and choose Redetect Firewall Status from the menu that appears.If you do not see the Hosts view, make it visible by going to View > Enable Views, and click Hosts in the list.

Give BearShare a minute or so to check, then look at the 4th LED (on the right). If it is green, then you are good to go. If it is yellow, you are still firewalled. Double-check your settings and try again.

Do this extra step only if necessary!

If you are still having problems, or, if BearShare is working properly but you have other firewall problems with your computer while BearShare is running, go back and click Firewall in the left navigation area, and view the Main tab, as seen in this screenshot.


Using the sliders, set both Internet Zone Security and Trusted Zone Security to Med.