Jul -- Computers and Technology: Good free firewall software?

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Posted on 11-24-07 07:52:06 PM

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You raise a good point. I'd like to know the same.

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[Posted by Kawa]

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Posted on 11-24-07 08:08:53 PM

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If you have a router (like if you have WLAN, some devices also work as a router) with a hardware firewall included, you don't need an additional software/desktop firewall, as you should not rely on software only to secure your machine.

As for me, I am directly connected to the internet, I closed unneccessary ports (UPnP etc.) and I have Sunbelt Personal Firewall, but only as a monitor to see which software wants to send data. I don't think this thing will prevent anything, as a software-based FW could be compared with a turret; but even the best turret can be beaten if it is built on loose ground (Windows) - hence attacks via tunneling it

After the 30-day trial period, the firewall's features still work, it only shuts down some options like web filtering or password protection for the configuration dialog ... I could recommend it for its easy and helpful interface, which shows additional information below the warning dialogue. It warns you when an application wants to launch another one, when a newer version of a program wants to be replaced and also asks for you, if a program wants to be installed/uninstalled (prevention of infected files, I think)... of course, all these things can be changed - but if everything is shut off, then the usage of a firewall would make no sense, though

You could also use Sygate Personal Firewall, if you are an advanced user. Also has a free version.

BlackNemesis13
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Posted on 11-24-07 08:10:18 PM

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Zonealarm works fine for me, though I'm looking into switching if I can find something better. I've also heard that Comodo is supposed to be pretty good, and possibly better than Zonealarm, but I haven't tried it yet.

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Posted on 11-24-07 09:02:41 PM

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Originally posted by BlackNemesis13
Zonealarm works fine for me

ZoneAlarm is one of the worst firewalls ever created. If you google ZoneAlarm, you'll see all kinds of complaints.

Actually, there is no good software firewall, because they're insecure and can easily be hacked. By all means, get some sort of hardware firewall, it'll actually help.

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Posted on 11-25-07 02:07:57 AM

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Ω > U

I'd have to agree on the ZA = bad complaint. It has a gigantic overhead that bogs down a system and not to mention a large load of false intrusion reports that are usually BS...that said it offers more hurt than help. I guess if you don't want to worry about your system being slow as hell, you could get it...

Since my connection's slow as hell, I don't really need anything more than Avast! to go against it. I'd go with the router deal just as long as you're comfortable with knowing how to open certain ports when you need it if you ever needed to do internet gaming (ZSNES, for instance). At least with ZA that was somewhat easy.

I'd probably agree with hardware alternative. As said, they usually perform a lot better and don't rely on your OS and other internet-prone intrusions to fsck it up.

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Posted on 11-25-07 02:13:26 AM

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	I use Sygate Personal Firewall. After about an hour telling what's allowed to connect and what's not, it'll do it's job well. I've also enjoyed the fact that it reports any changes made to installed programs. For example, Firefox decides to update. Sygate will pop up saying that data has changed, show you the change in hex, and then ask if you want it to allow it to connect. ____________________

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Posted on 11-25-07 09:09:35 PM

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11-25-07 03:09:35pm 776 posts 145 days
Get a Hardware firewall. For a laptop, you can buy a USB-keyized version, but I think they're pricey. Either way, hardware firewalls block out intruders a lot better than software ones. Software ones are best for stopping things that have already infected your system from reaching out to the internet. ____________________
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Posted on 11-26-07 12:00:55 AM

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I've heard good things about Avast! but uh, well it's still only software.

That reminds me, I should probably get a hardware firewall too one of these days...

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[Posted by NightKev]

Drag
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Posted on 11-26-07 03:46:26 PM (last edited by Drag at 11-26-07 01:24 PM)

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Drag's Post #405

I can't use a hardware firewall with wifi.

That's why I need a software firewall, it'll just cover all bases.

I heard sygate was a great firewall, but I thought it was discontinued, or merged into Norton (and thus, discontinued) or something.

And I thought Avast! was an antivirus, not a firewall.

Edit: This kind of thing just really pisses me off. I kept hearing how Sygate was an excellent firewall, and it was free. Then, Symantec acquires it, integrates it into Norton Personal Firewall, and discontinues the free version. I use NPF right now, and I'm really looking to switch away from it when my subscription runs out.

Don't be mistaken, Norton Personal Firewall is a good firewall, but it has several shortcomings that work against it as well, for example:
- Automatic Live Updates, sure they're a good idea, but I hate how ALU interrupts performance whenever it runs. (By the way, Automatic Live Update and Live Update are two different things. ALU updates virus/firewall/intrusion-prevention definitions, whereas LU (which needs to be run manually) updates the actual software. Either way, is it possible to have Automatic Live Updates not open 10 extra processes and hog up cpu performance time?

- Advertising. They *SWEAR* up and down that it's not advertising, but it really truely is. WHY do I need LiveUpdate Notice? All it's going to do is pop up a notification telling me that NPF 2008 is available. Supposedly, a notifications only lasts 10 days (or until I "delete" the notification), but is this notification going to reappear a few weeks later? What kills me is that, until I installed this, ALU kept popping up a notice saying "Would you like to run Live Update to download necessary software updates?" every time it ran. I just did it to make it shut up. Symantec says you can choose not to install it LiveUpdate Notice, but ALU will keep popping up that notice every single time it runs. No.

- Norton Protection Center. Again, why? Windows already has a "security center" that tells me that I have a firewall, an antivirus, and all that stuff. So why do I need another? I mean, all this does is say "You don't have a [software]. This leaves you open for risks. We recommend Norton [software]", and put a useless icon on my tray. Worse, this was actually causing problems for me. For example, several emulators would blank out for a frame or two every couple minutes. I think this was because Norton Protection Center was popping up a notice saying "you don't have an antivirus! blahblahblah" every few minutes, and I had to tell it to shut up. To top it all off, I *DO* have an antivirus. I have to use Symantec AV, corporate edition (the school network *requires* it, I can't avoid it, I don't like it, I'm going to switch to Avast! when I graduate), and Norton Security Center DOESN'T RECOGNIZE IT AS AN ANTIVIRUS. (Well, neither does anything else, but come ON, Norton, SYMANTEC MADE IT for god's sake) Either way, at LEAST you can disable this by disabling the service through services.msc. I did, and I haven't had any ill effects.

- It's not free. Yes, it's kind of a petty thing to complain about, but why did you take a FREEWARE firewall, discontinue it, and merge it with your bloated pay software? I mean, there are some pretty decent freeware firewalls that do the job just as well (or even better), so why pay? Simple solution, just acquire the company, absorb the software, and discontinue the freeware. That way, there's one less good freeware firewall to worry about

. Sorry, no.

Sorry about the nerd-rant, I just had to get that off my chest.

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Posted on 11-26-07 04:39:58 PM

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Well, you could probably find the last version of Sygate and install it, if you can't find anything better.

I hate when good free things disappear.

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Drag
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Posted on 11-26-07 04:45:58 PM

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Drag's Post #407

Yeah, that's what I plan on doing, but I don't know if there are any better ones, which is why I'm asking. Something that's actually still alive and still getting updates would be nice.

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