Software Firewalls

I have been using Norton Internet Security 2002 but of late I am having
trouble with it. Seems like it doesn't want to block anything
anymore....

I'm looking for an alternative, so what do you use? Do you recommend any particular firewall?

oh my, haven't given it any thought since i got my router, BUT didn't XP's new service pak incorporate a decent firewall?

i mean, why waste resources on an outside program if MS took care of the issue.

when i used 56k, i had a program, and for my ass i cannot recall its name, but its very popular and common, so i am sure someone will mention it soon.

[edit].. methinks it was "zone alarm"

I use Kerio personal firewall, and am quite satisifed with it. I've
used nearly every major free firewall out there. What exactly are you
trying to block? Kerio prompts you every time an exe is updated or a
program requests a network connection. Crono or Tracer Bullet are the
guys to ask though, they seem to know everything. :smile:

I don't use any firewalls. I hate them. I was using the free version of spysweeper until my free subsciption ended. I managed to get it working a second time for an extra 30 days. It worked great. I'm using the free version of Spybot and Ad-aware right now though.

Dare I ask why exactly you hate firewalls or did they murder your family and it's a touchy subject?

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Spartan 34</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>I don't use any firewalls. I hate them. I was using the free version of spysweeper until my free subsciption ended. I managed to get it working a second time for an extra 30 days. It worked great. I'm using the free version of Spybot and Ad-aware right now though. </DIV></DIV>

i was not aware that firewalls and spyware programs were the same thing.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting TwoKnives</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Dare I ask why exactly you hate firewalls or did they murder your family and it's a touchy subject?
</DIV></DIV>
AHHHH! You make the demons come back in my head!

Sygate personal firewall, free and friendly. Serves me alright :smile:

before that I used Zone Alarm, but it played hell with XP Professional
and ICS settings. That's pretty easy and effective as well.

I just used my router's firewall. Windows XP has a modest software firewall built into it, too.

Anti-Spyware/Adware programs aren't firewalls, but they are a must anymore unfortunately. I work at MicroCenter and Spy Sweeper is the third best-selling SKU in our stores lol

Between my hardware firewall and virus
scanner I don't catch many horrendous things. However, either could
be easily circumvented.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Crono</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>
Between my hardware firewall and virus scanner I don't catch many horrendous things. However, either could be easily circumvented.

</DIV></DIV>

good going miss simpson, no one asked that question yet either :heee:

/runs

whispers
"you deserved that after the stiller comment you butthole"

Crono said:
Between my hardware firewall and virus
scanner I don't catch many horrendous things. However, either could be
easily circumvented.

good going miss simpson, no one asked that question yet either :heee:

/runs

whispers

"you deserved that after the stiller comment you butthole"

Hey, you should pull that crab out of
your ass. You might feel better afterwards.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Crono</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>

Hey, you should pull that crab out of your ass. You might feel better afterwards.

</DIV></DIV>
why, when it looks so well compared to your noggin in youthwacks ensue

[edit] man that was fun, but i need to go back to bed, its a long drive in the morning.. be good crono :smile:

Well, I'm on win 98 and use Zonealarm. With that said, for the first time since I installed both Zonealarm and Spybot, I had a load of .exes on my desktop 2 nights ago.... before that though, Zonealarm pretty much beat all...

My BT router's firewall suffices.

Same here. Using a linksys router, and don't have any problems.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Gwil</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Sygate personal firewall, free and friendly. Serves me alright</DIV></DIV>
Same here, its good.

I'm using Zone Alarm and my routers firewall.

I always use winXP's features

why bother with incompatibilities and 3rd party progs when its INCLDED in your OS. MS has CD/DVD burning, Firewall, password rembembering (DIE Gator!) Even opens ZIP files.

I always use winXP's features

why bother with incompatibilities and 3rd party progs when its
INCLDED in your OS. MS has CD/DVD burning, Firewall, password
rembembering (DIE Gator!) Even opens ZIP files.

Just because it's included with your OS doesn't make it any good. Sure,
the MS firewall is probably enough for the average user, but I doubt
you'll find anyone intelligent with sensitive material on their
computer relying on it.

I'm considering setting up my old P2 400 to run a SmoothWall. Two of the guys from work have one set up and love it.

<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
SmoothWall is intended for use by anyone from home users to systems administrators. It can run on virtually any 32-bit Intel or i386-compatible PC from a 486 to an Athlon or Pentium 4, and it enables that PC to become a dedicated firewall appliance, aka a SmoothWall box. Apart from the PC to run SmoothWall on, all that is required is an Internet connection, some simple networking equipment to connect the SmoothWall box to the rest of your private <ABBR title="Local Area Network">LAN</ABBR>, and the SmoothWall CD image file.

[/quote]

ZoneAlarm is pretty good, although it get annoying sometimes when it refuses to remember your settings. :razz:

Same here. Using a linksys router, and don't have any problems.

Represent.

I
haven't found many routers that have the ease and reliability Linksys
routers have for home networks.

Trend Micro is good. Only problem is, it has the tendency to give you a virus update WHILE I'm in the middle of a C-S game :sad:

+1 for kerio. Good firewall IMO.

About the WinXP firewall: Face
it, it's not that good. You cannot (or it is very hard to) define
specific rules for several ports. Plus: sure, it will protect you from incoming
attacks, but it is no match against trojans already installed on your
system (things that come by e-mail or P2P) finding their way out.

Besides my router firewall, I'm using Agnitum Outpost Firewall.
I have the Pro version, but the Free version does - in fact - the very
same thing, except for the Pro version having more Logging support.

It's a decent firewall, and does more than that: it blocks malicious
code on webpages (dangerous ActiveX controls), filters webpages on bad
words (good for the kids), defeats DOS-attacks, filters ads out of
webpages (In Firefox and IE oh, handy !)

I kinda used most of them free firewalls out there, and Agnitum and Sygate were the best.

Used to use zone alarm, but i've got f-secure now.