Firewall Recommendations?

[Hakuryu]

I've been using Zone Alarm, but I'm sick of it doing stupid things seemingly at random like not saving program permissions. I'm using XP's firewall now, but I trust MS software about as much as an electronics dealer in a crack neighborhood.

I do like the alert logs easily checked in ZA, but could do without the added bells and whistles (AV, Popup blocker, etc). Can anyone reccomend a good firewall, preferably free or cheap?

 

[BurnItDwn]

I like iptables ... but you would need a spare box running linux to use it.
as far as a windows firewall is concerned ... I use the free version of outpost. So far so good .... though I really don't need it too much since I have iit behind an iptables nat box.

 

[Davegod75]

http://www.smoothwall.org

 

[Xtremist]

SP2 RTM

I can appreciate your love of MS, but to be quite frank, it works, and it works well.

It's much better than pre-SP2 firewall and will facilitate most things unless you get into some more advanced configurations. I'd suggest giving it a try at least, unless you're so blinded by love towards MS you don't think it'd be worth it 😛

 

[JackMDS]

I use the XPSP2 Firewall for a while on few Computers and it works well as a Firewall. I would probably will use it on any computer that needs firewall only.

Personally I use the Norton Internet Security for one ?Big Reason?, it is a Firewall, Antivirus, Popup Buster, Ad -Buster, and more in one package.

My experience shows that One package is better and less troublesome for the TCP/IP Stack. Otherwise the Stack is intercepted by few programs each doing its own things and sooner or later it goes to the Moon.

XPSP2 Final is probably going to be On this coming week.

:sun:

 

[woodscomp]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
I use the XPSP2 Firewall for a while on few Computers and it works well as a Firewall. I would probably will use it on any computer that needs firewall only.

Personally I use the Norton Internet Security for one ?Big Reason?, it is a Firewall, Antivirus, Popup Buster, Ad -Buster, and more in one package.

My experience shows that One package is better and less troublesome for the TCP/IP Stack. Otherwise the Stack is intercepted by few programs each doing its own things and sooner or later it goes to the Moon.

XPSP2 Final is probably going to be On this coming week.

:sun:

Agreed with the All in One theory, however I use Panda Platinum wirth no issues.

 

[Xtremist]

JackMD5 - I definately agree. At work we use TrendMicro and hand out their Internet Security product that's the equiv of Norton's all-in-one. Products like that are also a good choice if you need to do more advanced firewall config's.

Of course, I'm not sure when those really load, but my guess would be after the TCP/IP stack is loaded by Windows. That's one of the big improvements they've made to the Windows Firewall in SP2. They load a totally restrictive set of rules until Windows loads to a point where it can read the rules it "should" have and then replaces them.