Best SOHO firewall?

Magicthyse

Golden Member
Aug 15, 2001
1,095
0
0
A friend has just got DSL on a router-based service. The router doesn't do anything but provide an Ethernet jack to plug into. Anyway, she wants to hook up her Mac, a Powerbook and a Toshiba laptop to it. I suggested a hardware based firewall. However in my line of work I don't deal with small firewalls so have no idea what's good. Right now I've got in mind the Watchguard SOHOtc or a Netgear FR314. Any suggestions? Will the FR314 to as good a job as the SOHOtc? (It's certainly cheaper) Is there an auto-update service for the FR314 like the SOHOtc?

And there will be NO pics...
 

daveshel

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
5,453
2
81
I've been quite satisfied with my Linksys BEFSR41. Built-in 4-port switch, NAT, DHCP, sells for $80-90.
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
just use zone-alarm...unless you have an extra pc to serve as a hardware firewall or have the money on buying those you suggested or something greater, a software firewalll on each client will do fine.
 

bigboxes

Lifer
Apr 6, 2002
41,813
12,339
146
I totally agree with the goose on this one. Go with ZoneAlarm and install it on 10 or less PCs for free. It is at the top of performance in firewalls and the price can't be beat! :)