Firewall question

BellyBoy · May 3rd, 2008, 03:22 PM

anyone know of a good free firewall? I am using macafee right now but I am getting rid of that and want to get a firewall... any ideas?

DLGinSC · May 3rd, 2008, 04:55 PM

zonealarm

mikespe · May 3rd, 2008, 05:03 PM

If you get a router it should have one built in. However it won't stop programs from calling "out"...it will only prevent someone from getting IN.

Zone Alarm is excellent however it has been known not to play nice with some other programs.

Mark Davis · May 3rd, 2008, 05:30 PM

I just use the stock windows firewall have never got a virus or harmfull spyware

BellyBoy · May 3rd, 2008, 06:52 PM

Thanks guys.....

bassbuster33 · May 3rd, 2008, 07:37 PM

ZoneAlarm works really well.

The built in Windows firewall has one very large flaw. It does not offer any way to control outgoing traffic.

jhundt · May 4th, 2008, 01:19 AM

+1 on ZoneAlarm. I have been using the free version for 4 or 5 years on my Dell PC w/ XP. It has performed flawlessly; it installed quick-and-easy and I have not had any conflicts with other programs. All the free updates have also worked just as well.

alba44 · May 4th, 2008, 01:57 AM

Comodo

Catweazle · May 4th, 2008, 03:19 AM

Both zonealarm and comodo will do want you want. They're both free, have regular updates and function flawlessly with every application that I've ever tried.
As for Windows firewall - no sysadmin that I know would dream of using it.

imwjl · May 4th, 2008, 08:05 AM

Assuming Windows XP or Vista you have a perfectly fine one. What is ideal is to have your computer behind a firewall that is an appliance or different computer. Using what's built in means you wont use unneeded resources, have the annoyance or occasional issues.

I am a trained, certified and practiced network engineer specializing in security and am trying my hardest to spare a rant on the stupidity of buying third party firewall software for desktop operating systems that have firewalls.

mikespe · May 4th, 2008, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imwjl

I am a trained, certified and practiced network engineer specializing in security and am trying my hardest to spare a rant on the stupidity of buying third party firewall software for desktop operating systems that have firewalls.

Probably because Windows Firewall doesn't let you know the OUTGOING traffic like the 3rd party ones do. Windows firewall MAY(question mark) stop incoming traffic.

Boubou · May 4th, 2008, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imwjl

Assuming Windows XP or Vista you have a perfectly fine one. .

My opinion differs, Zonealarm is superior to the XP one. For exemple, you install a filesharing program, unknowingky, you also install 3 to 5 "other" programs. So when one of these starts up and tries to access the net, Zonealarm" pops up and says, "hey this stupid program is trying to access the net and send your personal info" while the Xp firewall is completely oblivious.
Also i am behind a router wchich is supposed to be a physical firewall and i still prefer to have Zonealarm

Reno · May 4th, 2008, 10:27 AM

Zone Alarm has turned into bloatware, with the latest version over 40Mb.

I've been using the top-rated Comodo firewall now for a while and it really is quite good. Free, too.

Be sure to go to the ZoneAlarm website for instructions on how to remove ZA from your computer before installing anything else, and put aside 30 minutes to do the job properly.

Boubou · May 4th, 2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reno

Zone Alarm has turned into bloatware, with the latest version over 40Mb.

I've been using the top-rated Comodo firewall now for a while and it really is quite good. Free, too.

Be sure to go to the ZoneAlarm website for instructions on how to remove ZA from your computer before installing anything else, and put aside 30 minutes to do the job properly.

Hum, i still have a fairly old version of ZA, works well for me

FirstBassman · May 4th, 2008, 10:40 AM

The firewall in Vista is much better than the one in XP.

And, it's not free exactly but Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) is very good.

mikespe · May 4th, 2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstBassman

And, it's not free exactly but Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) is very good.

I use this one on my laptop and love it. The only thing I don't like about it is the anti-virus part. I have been getting a lot of false-positives sometimes even from this site...usually a cookie or something like that.

imwjl · May 4th, 2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikespe

Probably because Windows Firewall doesn't let you know the OUTGOING traffic like the 3rd party ones do. Windows firewall MAY(question mark) stop incoming traffic.

Firewalls do nothing but allow and/or deny TCP and UDP ports.

The Windows netstat command (I think it has been there since at least NT 3.5.1) shows any connection your computer is making via the TCP/IP protocol.

It's a free world. I'll chose to not waste time, money and system resources with crapware that sometimes causes problems.

;)

mikespe · May 4th, 2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imwjl

Firewalls do nothing but allow and/or deny TCP and UDP ports.

The Windows netstat command (I think it has been there since at least NT 3.5.1) shows any connection your computer is making via the TCP/IP protocol.

It's a free world. I'll chose to not waste time, money and system resources with crapware that sometimes causes problems.

;)

Not everyone know or understands how to use command lines. 99% of people want a GUI to make knowing what is going on withing their computer easier to read and understand. Plus it doesn't give you the name of the program connecting only the IP address to and from. Unless you know what you're looking for Netstat is useless.

maestrovert · May 4th, 2008, 01:17 PM

+1 for Zonealarm....

Visit Steve Gibson's site www.grc.com (more security info than you can handle!) and run the "Shield's Up" and "Leak Test" functions.....they'll tell you jes' how effective your firewall is (or isn't)....
Needless to say, i'm completely "stealthed" due entirely to Zonealarm's freeware.

bassbuster33 · May 4th, 2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imwjl

Assuming Windows XP or Vista you have a perfectly fine one. What is ideal is to have your computer behind a firewall that is an appliance or different computer. Using what's built in means you wont use unneeded resources, have the annoyance or occasional issues.

I am a trained, certified and practiced network engineer specializing in security and am trying my hardest to spare a rant on the stupidity of buying third party firewall software for desktop operating systems that have firewalls.

I am all of the things you are, trained, certified and very well practiced. My opinion on the XP firewall differs greatly however. I am not familiar enough with the Vista firewall to comment intelligently.

Firewalls that can't control traffic in both directions are very ineffective to say the least.

I agree with you 100% on the idea that there is no comparison between a hardware firewall vs. a software firewall.

I wouldn't support paying for a software firewall either, but that isn't the discussion on this thread. I certainly support installing a free software firewall.

Boubou · May 4th, 2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikespe

Not everyone know or understands how to use command lines. 99% of people want a GUI to make knowing what is going on withing their computer easier to read and understand. Plus it doesn't give you the name of the program connecting only the IP address to and from. Unless you know what you're looking for Netstat is useless.

You said it so much more politely than what i had started writing and decided not top post.

smitty54017 · May 4th, 2008, 06:48 PM

I've used several, free and otherwise.

I've found the free Zonealarm works well, and is easy to conifgure. Comodo works best (I recommend their older version, v2.4), and you can also download their antivirus, memory firewall, malware, and spam software. They are, however, tricky to configure if you're not the techie type.

Either is also easy on system resources, which was an annoyance when using CA Internet Security Suite.

The built in Windows firewall is ok, but considering the other security issues found in MS products, I wouldn't trust it completely.

May 3rd, 2008, 03:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
BellyBoy Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chula Vista, Ca Age: 48 Posts: 524	Firewall question anyone know of a good free firewall? I am using macafee right now but I am getting rid of that and want to get a firewall... any ideas? __________________ http://www.johnnymannion.com http://www.myspace.com/johnnymannionband

May 3rd, 2008, 05:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 57 Posts: 12,262	I just use the stock windows firewall have never got a virus or harmfull spyware __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

May 3rd, 2008, 06:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
BellyBoy Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chula Vista, Ca Age: 48 Posts: 524	Thanks guys..... __________________ http://www.johnnymannion.com http://www.myspace.com/johnnymannionband

May 4th, 2008, 01:17 PM	#19 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 5,998	+1 for Zonealarm.... Visit Steve Gibson's site www.grc.com (more security info than you can handle!) and run the "Shield's Up" and "Leak Test" functions.....they'll tell you jes' how effective your firewall is (or isn't).... Needless to say, i'm completely "stealthed" due entirely to Zonealarm's freeware. __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

May 4th, 2008, 06:48 PM	#22 (permalink)
smitty54017 Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Richmond, WI Age: 36 Posts: 355	I've used several, free and otherwise. I've found the free Zonealarm works well, and is easy to conifgure. Comodo works best (I recommend their older version, v2.4), and you can also download their antivirus, memory firewall, malware, and spam software. They are, however, tricky to configure if you're not the techie type. Either is also easy on system resources, which was an annoyance when using CA Internet Security Suite. The built in Windows firewall is ok, but considering the other security issues found in MS products, I wouldn't trust it completely. __________________ ----------------------------------------------------- Happy cows (and Packer fans) come from Wisconsin!

May 3rd, 2008, 04:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
DLGinSC Banned TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 64	zonealarm

May 3rd, 2008, 05:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
mikespe Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Western New York Age: 42 Posts: 1,065	If you get a router it should have one built in. However it won't stop programs from calling "out"...it will only prevent someone from getting IN. Zone Alarm is excellent however it has been known not to play nice with some other programs.

May 3rd, 2008, 07:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
bassbuster33 Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Age: 41 Posts: 158	ZoneAlarm works really well. The built in Windows firewall has one very large flaw. It does not offer any way to control outgoing traffic.

May 4th, 2008, 01:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
jhundt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Age: 54 Posts: 2,811 9 Photos	+1 on ZoneAlarm. I have been using the free version for 4 or 5 years on my Dell PC w/ XP. It has performed flawlessly; it installed quick-and-easy and I have not had any conflicts with other programs. All the free updates have also worked just as well.

May 4th, 2008, 01:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
alba44 TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: CA Age: 49 Posts: 15	Comodo

May 4th, 2008, 03:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
Catweazle Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 256	Both zonealarm and comodo will do want you want. They're both free, have regular updates and function flawlessly with every application that I've ever tried. As for Windows firewall - no sysadmin that I know would dream of using it.

May 4th, 2008, 08:05 AM	#10 (permalink)
imwjl Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 1,127	Assuming Windows XP or Vista you have a perfectly fine one. What is ideal is to have your computer behind a firewall that is an appliance or different computer. Using what's built in means you wont use unneeded resources, have the annoyance or occasional issues. I am a trained, certified and practiced network engineer specializing in security and am trying my hardest to spare a rant on the stupidity of buying third party firewall software for desktop operating systems that have firewalls.

May 4th, 2008, 10:27 AM	#13 (permalink)
Reno TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northumberland County, Virginia Age: 57 Posts: 35	Zone Alarm has turned into bloatware, with the latest version over 40Mb. I've been using the top-rated Comodo firewall now for a while and it really is quite good. Free, too. Be sure to go to the ZoneAlarm website for instructions on how to remove ZA from your computer before installing anything else, and put aside 30 minutes to do the job properly.

May 4th, 2008, 10:40 AM	#15 (permalink)
FirstBassman Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,024	The firewall in Vista is much better than the one in XP. And, it's not free exactly but Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) is very good.