Can someone recommend a good firewall?

ufcrusher · 08-29-2003, 04:34 PM

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 · 08-29-2003, 04:43 PM

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 · 08-29-2003, 08:28 PM

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

zero2dash · 08-29-2003, 11:23 PM

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 · 08-29-2003, 11:44 PM

I really like Norton Internet Security.

edge4syn · 08-30-2003, 01:26 AM

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 · 08-30-2003, 06:30 AM

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

mechmike0034 · 08-30-2003, 08:49 AM

Quote:

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

But I'd still buy a hardware router/firewall

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 · 08-30-2003, 05:33 PM

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 · 08-30-2003, 07:03 PM

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

Aristo · 08-31-2003, 09:15 PM

Sygate Personal Firewall Pro

ladybegood · 09-03-2003, 07:15 AM

Mechmike0034--what is AVG?

billxp · 09-03-2003, 07:24 AM

AVG is a free antivirus program and can be found here

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

Renski · 09-03-2003, 10:20 AM

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

08-29-2003, 04:34 PM	#1
ufcrusher Admiral Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Boca Raton, FL: By way of: Poway, CA; Gainesville, Fl; Penn Valley, Pa. Posts: 5,680	Can someone recommend a good firewall? 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? __________________ Welcome my son, welcome to the machine...Where have you been? It's alright we know where you've been....

08-29-2003, 04:43 PM	#2
mechmike0034 aka the keg killer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ala-effin'-bama! Posts: 2,738	I like ZoneAlarm. I can see what's "going out" as well as blocking what's coming in... And you cannot beat the price... __________________ "The price of progress is trouble." (C. F. "Boss" Kettering) "50% of the American public has below-average intelligence. 70% of the American public now has regular access to the Internet. Do the math." (unknown)

08-29-2003, 08:28 PM	#3
Markel Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 11,733	For anyone on broadband, the minimum (and immediate!) recommendation I would make would be ZoneAlarm. __________________ stay low... keep moving...

08-30-2003, 07:03 PM	#10
Nija Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2001 Location: City of The Dead Posts: 13,552	Zonealarm pro. it's like having yur cake, and then eating everyone else's __________________ "Nija is the dark soul of gotapex. We don't like to talk about him." - LPMiller

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08-29-2003, 11:23 PM	#4
zero2dash Commander Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fenton, MO - but I wish I was at the beach. ANY beach. Posts: 1,367	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.

08-29-2003, 11:44 PM	#5
ramazank2 Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 1,295	I really like Norton Internet Security.

08-30-2003, 01:26 AM	#6
edge4syn Ensign Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: LA, CA Posts: 7	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.

08-30-2003, 06:30 AM	#7
SnowSurfer Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,616	i use norton firewall...never liked ZA, took up so much resources last time i installed it, i was like woa!

08-30-2003, 05:33 PM	#9
ribitch Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,672	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.

08-31-2003, 09:15 PM	#11
Aristo Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,581	Sygate Personal Firewall Pro

09-03-2003, 07:15 AM	#12
ladybegood Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 78	Mechmike0034--what is AVG?

09-03-2003, 07:24 AM	#13
billxp Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NY Posts: 518	AVG is a free antivirus program and can be found here http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php

09-03-2003, 10:20 AM	#14
Renski Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Culver City, CA Posts: 577	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

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