Best Firewall cum Proxy Software???

[Srikanth]

What are the best firewall cum proxy softwares,both freeware as well as otherwise, available? I need something through which I can block a particular port as well as view what sites are being accessed.

Thanks in advance.

 

[n0cmonkey]

PacketFilter with logging turned on for port 80

 

[wlee]

The only "free" one that I can think of is SQUID.

http://www.squid-cache.org/



If ya want content filtering.

http://dansguardian.org/?page=whatisdg

 

[whalen]

cum...that looks dirty

 

[Srikanth]

Squid and dansguardian are not Win2k or Win98se or other windows platforms. My Server has Win2k pro.

What about Winproxy and Wingate? I tried installing Wingate but I couldnt connect to my DSL line. It says the line is busy. But when I uninstall it, everything works fine.

 

[EricT]

Not free but with a very good price vs functionality ratio is KERIO's Firewall version 5.

This is a full-blown firewall with an interface to create rules that is similar to Checkpoint's.
IF you want/can spend the extra money then the version with built-in McAfee Virus scanner and COBION content filters is a real bargain. I don't think you can find another product with either COBION or WEBSENSE content filtering that does not cost at least twice as much...

I am currently using version 5.04 with integrated McAfee but without the content filtering. Content filtering is a bit over the top for home usage, especially since my children are not yet of a surfing age (-3). I use it together with an Alcatel Speedtouch Home ADSL modem on Windows XP Pro and it works like a dream.

Your DSL problem with Wingate may be related to the PPPOE support in XP : it is not very well implemented and various firewall/routing products have difficulties with it. RASPPPOE is a very good alternative which I have used on WinXP, NT4 and even Millenium without a hitch.

Kerio can be found at www.kerio.com an RASPPPOE is here.

Download the product & it is fully functional for 30 days...

 

[Srikanth]

I don't have WinXP. I have Win2KPro. But I couldn't connect through Wingate even though it was the latest version.

 

[mboy]

Altho certainly not free, I would go with this 9as a matter of fact, I do

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3033708375&category=3706

that and running syslog on one of your LAN pc's and you have a mighty fine security solution on the cheap. Can do content filtering, create in/out ACL's, even use 3des VPN

Aside from mine cutting thruput on my 8mb cable connection (down to about 3.5mb :-(, I luv mine.

Oh, the LAN ports are only 10mb so, u may want to pick up a 5-8 port 10/100 switch for your LAN, then plug one of the LAN ports from switch to LAN port of Firewall.

Not free, but relatively cheap for what u get. Search the hot deals archives, you used to be able to get them for $20 + shipping (then needed to upgrade the users/vpn for like $30 or so).

OOps, I just caught the SOFTWARE, well, this is better then software based stuff (software running ON TOP of your OS for those smart alecs who will say that a hardware based firewall is run on software (which it is, just embedded, not on top