Best firewall non winxp...

snowdog · 11 Nov 2006 at 16:32

Hello

1st of all ive tried search and faq but failed to find any thread about wich firewall is best to use. (EDIT: looked in wrong topic, insetad of this one i looked in networking etc...)

Im behind a router but manually opened some ports for stuff like utorrent and gaming, and want my home network to be protected, atm im using winxp firewall (both sp1 and sp2) on all 4 pc's but the damn thng blocks off my own network, i can see but cant browse other pc's in network because the damn firewall is blocking my own network ( yes im sure its the fw, because i have to disable it for copying/printing/etc..., and then it works...).

Whatever the case i need to have a good firewall from wich i can identify my own ''attempts to connect'' and allow them, and block anything else ( exept program exeption then...)...

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: checked, only sp1 firewall blocks off network connection, the sp2 runnign pc's allow it, i suppose ill upgrade to sp2... ( the pc i need to connect to is sp1, it has the printer...)

However still interested wich firewall most people use....

snowdog · 12 Nov 2006 at 11:16

Anyone?

I still domt know wich firewall to use...

tolien · 12 Nov 2006 at 11:20

The SP2 firewall does me. I can (loosely) trust what's on the inside, and my router keeps me safe from attacks on the outside.
The reason you haven't found many threads is because the place for them (including this thread) is in the Windows forum.

Berserker · 12 Nov 2006 at 11:37

Indeed, I've gone for the same conclusion - especially behind a NAT router.

I used to use ZoneAlarm Pro, and it's good, but recently I've taken the decision that it's an unnecessary burden for a PC behind a router. I may still install it on Laptop(s).

bledd · 12 Nov 2006 at 11:40

have you added file and printer sharing to the exceptions in the firewall settings? (control panel, firewall, exceptions)

if the pc's are on the same subnet they'll be able to file and printer share, edit the rule or create a new rule in the xp firewall

Berserker · 12 Nov 2006 at 11:59

None of my PCs have Firewall as an option in Control Panel (either SP1 or SP2).

Anyway, the SP1 firewall doesn't have options like that. In fact, the SP1 firewall isn't very good at all.

bledd · 12 Nov 2006 at 12:48

Windows Firewall :rolleyes:

Berserker · 12 Nov 2006 at 12:59

I'll let that rolleyes slide.

Still only applies to SP2 though, and the OP states the troublesome machine in SP1.

bledd · 12 Nov 2006 at 13:12

pity the fool using sp1

sorry i didn't read that part of the post

btw, what does OP mean? i know it refers to the thread starter..
-original poster?

Gommsta · 12 Nov 2006 at 13:28

Original Post(er)

snowdog · 12 Nov 2006 at 14:04

OK thanks people,

Ive done sp2 on the pc i was talkign about and finally i can print again without disabling the firewall...
Sp2 also happened to fix another problem on that pc ( error sound when trying to search for pc's in workgroup, couldnt connect to other pc's from that pc at all...)

So zonealarm and winxp firewall are the most used, ahwell ill stick to winxp (+sp2) firewall then on my home network..

Also, is it really unneeded, a firewall behind a router i mean, because i have manually opened some ports, and im unsure if i can be attacked through them or not...
One of the pc's (my dads) is used for company records (he builds pc's) and online banking etc..., would it be needed to keep winxp firewall runnign there or just disable it on all 4 of our pc's?

bledd. said:
pity the fool using sp1

sorry i didn't read that part of the post

btw, what does OP mean? i know it refers to the thread starter..
-original poster?

We just didnt come to update it ok, our winxp copy only comes with sp1 pre-applied, and never bothered doing sp2, as for me exept for the firewall, i find it pretty useless (even annoying actually, the security center annoys me as hell, i knjwo its disableable, but still thats extra work wich i dont want)...

I mean i like having everything updated, but my dad isnt bothered with security, and doesnt like stuff like updating , wich means i end up securing all pc's, but he just never installed sp2 cos he didnt really care...
Anyhow i just dont want anything to happen to his pc, so i end up doing av, anti spyware and firewall stuff ...

To repeat question for people who dont wnat to read my whole post:

Is a firewall needed behind a router if you have opened some ports on the router???

Oh and ehh thx for reply so far and for moving thread ... I though firewall was supposed to be in networking etc...