Recommend me a firewall?

[probedb]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend me a good firewall? I'm still using Sygate Personal Firewall which hasn't been updated in years.

I refuse to let Norton near my system and have never been overly happy with ZoneAlarm.

Does anyone have any favourites they can recommend for when I rebuild my system?

Cheers

Paul.

 

[Craig321]

Comodo Firewall with Defense+ off

 

[goujon945]

Comodo Firewall

+1 Not as quick and easy as some though

 

[probedb]

Thanks folks, have downloaded so will give it a try when I rebuild No need for quick and easy, happy to mess with it.

 

[Craig321]

Thanks folks, have downloaded so will give it a try when I rebuild No need for quick and easy, happy to mess with it.

Make sure you turn Defense+ off, I find it's sometimes still half activated even if you uncheck it during install. When it's installed open the program up, click the link under "Proactive Defense", then drag the slider down to disabled:

 

[Deathwish]

I'm still using Agnitum Outpost Pro 4.

 

[Nick1881]

Whats wrong with windows firewall?

 

[LeperousDust]

Thats all i use, that and i'm behind a router anyway. Unless you want to monitor everything that leaves your PC i see very little reason to bother with a software firewall

 

[bledd]

Thats all i use, that and i'm behind a router anyway. Unless you want to monitor everything that leaves your PC i see very little reason to bother with a software firewall

 

[Ratbag]

I think outbound filtering is a good idea. It amazes me how some people are so paranoid about security that they bog their systems down with multiple anti-malware apps yet put their faith in the wretched windows firewall (which doesn't filter outbound by default). Its the surreptitious "phoning home" of seemingly legitimate applications that is more pervasive than actual "spyware". If I want to register a program I'll volunteer my information as and when thanks.

And yeah, Comodo is arguably the best of the freeware firewalls.

 

[LeperousDust]

I don't bog myself down with anyti malware apps either, i've just got an AV which is set about as minimal as it gets. I find commonsense2.0 works quite well for 99% of things...

 

[MarcLister]

Comodo Firewall with Defense+ off

This or just use a hardware firewall.

 

[Craig321]

If you don't want or need control over what accesses the internet from your computer and you have a firewall on your router then you can do without any firewall installed, you only really need an anti-virus.

I would still recommend a firewall though, as mentioned above if a virus does somehow get passed your anti virus then the firewall will block it from the internet (as long as you have it set to block unknown/untrusted apps) so, for example, your keystrokes wouldn't be uploaded.

 

[LeperousDust]

If any virus gets past your anti virus chances are it'll be disabling any generic software firewall too

 

[LoadsaMoney]

Another Comodo vote.

 

[JimAroo]

I vote Comodo too, it runs great on x64 Vista also.

Best free Firewall software out there imo.

 

[eXor]

If any virus gets past your anti virus chances are it'll be disabling any generic software firewall too

Only if you are dumb enough to be running as Admin.

 

[Burnsy2023]

yet put their faith in the wretched windows firewall (which doesn't filter outbound by default).

It does on Vista. The Windows Firewall +NAT is perfectly fine for most people.

Burnsy

 

[Burnsy2023]

Only if you are dumb enough to be running as Admin.

A hell of a lot harder if you have UAC on as well

Burnsy

 

[1337z0r]

I find commonsense2.0 works quite well for 99% of things...

haha

Anyways I just use Avast AV my self no need to really use a firewall when I'm behind a router and I just leave windows firewall turn on, on all my windows machines.