New Firewall

feriso · 5 Dec 2006 at 22:32

ZoneAlarm is doing my head in with its problems atm - can anyone recommend a good replacement.

david334 · 5 Dec 2006 at 22:47

Windows firewall :cool:

How is it doing your head in the does the balloons pop up in the corner all the time?

David334

feriso · 5 Dec 2006 at 22:49

Oh it keeps stopping access to the 'net except if you use an ip address - e.g. bbc.co.uk won't work but the relevant IP will - same if you try and access my router . If i turn ZA off it is then fine and is OK for a while when I restart ZA.

david334 · 5 Dec 2006 at 22:56

feriso said:
Oh it keeps stopping access to the 'net except if you use an ip address - e.g. bbc.co.uk won't work but the relevant IP will - same if you try and access my router . If i turn ZA off it is then fine and is OK for a while when I restart ZA.

i used to have the same problems when i used ZA was really annoying.

thats when i started using Widows firewall

David334

img · 5 Dec 2006 at 23:05

stopped using za years ago when it bloted up. really windows firewal or even better just get a router and dont worry.

feriso · 5 Dec 2006 at 23:09

Well using a Speedtouch 585v6 atm with its firewall setting at standard - is that good enough? I'm not sure I would trust it tbh

img · 5 Dec 2006 at 23:14

well you could always get isa, checkpoint or a cisco ASA if you want something better

Tony Williams · 6 Dec 2006 at 07:09

TBH I liked ZA, woked perfect apart from the fact it sent my computer into a 'lock' every so often prolly some config, I was told that firewalls were for wussys and I shouldn't use them so I stoped using them.

Nah seriosuly I just use Windows, seems to like sitting there.

Daegan · 6 Dec 2006 at 10:17

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Best free software firewall.

ruffneck · 6 Dec 2006 at 10:55

windows firewall with your routers firewall = win

TheVoice · 6 Dec 2006 at 12:48

I've been having lots of issues lately with ZA too, ever since moving my PC from a CAT5 connection to the internet, to wireless. It'll deny some (not all) internet traffic if the PC hasn't been used. God knows why.

If you guys say the Windows Firewall is sufficient, that's good enough for me. Been using it on my notebook, but prefer having a 'proper' firewall on my main PC. Had enough of ZA now though.

img · 6 Dec 2006 at 12:54

your router will be a nat firewall for you. really only need better if you want to control outbound programs on your pc id say.

Uhtred · 6 Dec 2006 at 12:55

ruffneck said:
windows firewall with your routers firewall = win

they do the same thing, no point in running both...

TheVoice · 6 Dec 2006 at 13:26

Zap said:
they do the same thing, no point in running both...

Depends on the router, I personally think. When I had a Netgear router ZA would essentially never report any intrusions etc. Now I'm on a Belkin one (not by choice, I assure you) the number of intrusions it showed went up. Don't trust that thing as far as I'd like to throw it.

Dangerous · 6 Dec 2006 at 13:59

Zap said:
they do the same thing, no point in running both...

Your router wont stop and malware/spyware programs running on your PC. Thats why you need to use both.

Uhtred · 6 Dec 2006 at 14:11

Dangerous said:
Your router wont stop and malware/spyware programs running on your PC. Thats why you need to use both.

nor will windows firewall...

Dangerous · 6 Dec 2006 at 14:13

Zap said:
nor will windows firewall...

Yes it will - It pops up a box asking to allow said program access to the internet

http://www.bluni.com/images/WinFirewall1.png

Curiosityx · 6 Dec 2006 at 14:31

img said:
well you could always get isa, checkpoint or a cisco ASA if you want something better

Dont be silly..

If your looking for a hardware based applicance there are many smaller units avaliable on the market aimed at small businesses or individuals.

Cisco Pix 501
Watchguard Firebox® SOHO 6
Watchguard Firebox® X Edge
Sonicwall TotalSecure

Have a look on the auction sites and youll get a bargin specially for last generation models

If your after a software solution the Windows firewall behind any NAT enabled device does a very good job.

Uhtred · 6 Dec 2006 at 14:36

Dangerous said:
Yes it will - It pops up a box asking to allow said program access to the internet

http://www.bluni.com/images/WinFirewall1.png

"Windows firewall has blocked this programme from accepting connections."

Doesn't mean it can't make them aka outbound blocking. NAT, by its nature, blocks incoming connections but doesn't block outgoing so there's little point in running both.

Wyvern971 · 6 Dec 2006 at 17:02

Curiosityx said:
Dont be silly..

If your looking for a hardware based applicance there are many smaller units avaliable on the market aimed at small businesses or individuals.

Cisco Pix 501
Watchguard Firebox® SOHO 6
Watchguard Firebox® X Edge
Sonicwall TotalSecure

Have a look on the auction sites and youll get a bargin specially for last generation models

If your after a software solution the Windows firewall behind any NAT enabled device does a very good job.

I'd go with this, these days a 501 costs peanuts and does a fantastic job for what it is (using 2 at home) but may require a bit of knowledge to get it running well (not much mind).

If you're after a software app i find Kerio works reasonably well, but had real issues with checkpoint VPN client software (at least it did when I last tried to install it, threw a right hissy fit)