Can someone recommend a good firewall?

[ufcrusher]

I finally got DSL a month and a half ago. Today I realized that I have never installed a firewall to protect my computers. That said, can anyone recommend some good firewall software. Or would I be better off investing in a hardware firewall?

[mechmike0034]

I like ZoneAlarm. I can see what's "going out" as well as blocking what's coming in... And you cannot beat the price...

[Markel]

For anyone on broadband, the minimum (and immediate!) recommendation I would make would be ZoneAlarm.

[zero2dash]

ZoneAlarm is the most-secure-yet-easy-to-use piece of firewall software out there...and (as already mentioned) it's free. Don't waste your money on Symantec/McAfee firewall products; ZoneAlarm will do just as good.

[ramazank2]

I really like Norton Internet Security.

[edge4syn]

I would have to second zero2dash on McAfee Firewall. I installed it on my new Dell System and it became its' own virus. OS errors appeared, software crashed, system slowed down. After two months my drive needed to be reformatted and the system (Win XP Pro) needed to be reinstalled. I contacted my provider and they said they see more problems with McAfee than any other on the market. Since I removed it I've never had another problem. Go zoneAlarm.

[SnowSurfer]

i use norton firewall...never liked ZA, took up so much resources last time i installed it, i was like woa!

[mechmike0034]

Originally posted by DarkFury
Another vote for Zonealarm here (plus it is FREE). :D

But I'd still buy a hardware router/firewall :thumb:

Oh, I've got a router as well, but I still run ZA on the boxes connected to it. Maybe it's overkill, but since I have home users (wife, kids) I'd just as soon have it.

We got Sobig courtesy of my daughter's Yahoo Groups & email the Tuesday morning it hit, and ZA allowed me to identify it and kill it before AVG's update was available later in the day.

I'm veering off-topic, but ZA, AVG, the Google toolbar, and IrfanView go on every box I set up - four FREE things that I cannot see doing without.

[ribitch]

i say stay away from software firewalls unless you are running a system with ipchains or iptables

otherwise, I say go with a watchguard soho6. Its more than software, but well worth it. It even has VPN capabilities.

I have had nothing but problems with software firewalls. Zone alarm can get ugly if you try to uninstall it, and I have seen norton cause a complete loss of internet connectivity because the service became a runaway process. rebooting didnt fix it.

[Nija]

Zonealarm pro. it's like having yur cake, and then eating everyone else's :P

[Aristo]

Sygate Personal Firewall Pro

[ladybegood]

Mechmike0034--what is AVG?

[billxp]

AVG is a free antivirus program and can be found here

http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php

[Renski]

Hands Down Zone Alarm is free and easy to use. NIS is a good firewall as well since its included w/ my Norton System Works