Firewall Software

[yokosi]

Hi all, im in need of a new firewall after two bad incidents I had with zonealarm, im in need of a new firewall.  Anyone have any suggestions on good firewalls that you have installed on your pc's that you are very pleased about and recommend other than zonealarm.

Thanx

[Mark H]

I use Norton Firewall and it works very well for me.

Mark H

[Chandler]

I don't have any recommendations per-se but I can recommend one to avoid:
McAfee Firewall (included with VirusScan) - very buggy software, minor changes to system can cause firewall to block all internet access until it's uninstalled completely.

For now, I'm using the XP Internet Connection Firewall which is basic but doesn't cause me any problems.

Norton's Firewall which can be purchased as part of Norton Internet Security is very good.

[pat]

What was the trouble with Zonealarm?

A couple other ?free for personal use? to consider would be.
Sygate
Agnitum Outpost

[saoirse]

Kaspersky Anti Hacker is another good choice.

You can download a 30 day trial.

saoirse

[Whizbang]

I would be interested too in what problems you had with Zone Alarm.  The only problem I have had was with an older upgrade that locked out some desktop folder shortcuts-->It really hated those.  It probably has been as effective against virus invasion on my computer as the antivirus program.

[marshall834]

You can try BlackIce and Nortan Internet Security

[query]

BlackIce is intrusion detection - it really is not a firewall, though it has some features of firewall software.

If you're in need of antivirus and antispam as well as a firewall, Trend's new 2004 Internet Security is tough to beat for the price.

www.trendmicro.com

[txsidewinder1]

I had Zone Alarm and it would not let me view anything on the internet. All I got was messages saying "you are not authorized to visit this site." I would disable the firewall and get in. It would not even let me use CD games that I downloaded!! I do not have it anymore.

[Hoot]

That means you did not check the box to either (1) let it allow permissions for you, or (2) to allow access as you went along. Something went wrong with your installation. It's very, very easy to configure ZonaAlarm. If it did not let you 'into' a site then you probably had your local network slider set to "high". Even then you could have gone to settings/ and manually allowed any site or application on your PC. Usually it will ask you when it first finishes installation and you lainch the fist app (Internet Explorer) if you want to give (IE) permission to acess the I-Net. You would say yes, and ...  it will ask a few more times, then ask for each program as you lanch them. If you pay attention during install and just allow it to set it for you you should be ok. Also I-Net security slider should be "high" and Local Trusted zone should be "medium".


Zone Alarm is in fact the easiest of all the firewalls to use, and still the best, with Sygate a close second IMO. Norton os also very good and blocks most crucial ports well. You won't find one any easier to use than Z/A.

[Tranquility_Base]

Right on. It must have been a mistake u made in configuration becoz ZoneAlarm is the best and most user friendly firewalls out there. One of those days im gonna get the Pro version as a thank you. Or maybe not. I only need the firewall :p

Anyway theres Sygate, but i didnt like it becoz it was sort of "awkward". Theres also Kerio personal firewall:

http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_home.html

[johnamazing]

I love the free Zone Alarm, too. Have successfully used Norton Firewall, but wanted a free one after the year was done.
I easily configure Zone for the LAN. IP addresses are added manually. Norton has a wizard to ID and add the IP addresses on your LAN.
 Windows 2000 gives up the IP address by: start/ run/ cmd/ ipconfig... then write it down in your notebook!

[johnamazing]

Just checked IP ID while on the internet. Learned that the LAN IP address and the internet IP address are different.
The LAN IP only shows when a LAN card is installed.
The internet IP only shows when actually ON the internet.

I will get on my Juno ISP and see if the IP address is the same as the one generated using this ISP.
Fun with morning java!