Looking for a software firewall: BlackICE Defenders, Norton's, Zonealarm? Which is the best?

[Noriaki]

Black ICE has been recommended to me
Zonealarm seems popular (is this just becuase it's free?)
Someone also mention Norton's Firewall
Any other recommendations welcome

What do you guys think is the best one?

 

[DefRef]

I've used all three to different extents.

BlackICE doesn't do much in informing the user WTF is going on. I had to track down a proggie called ClearICE that would create better logs of activity. It did something funky to my system (was a year ago, can't remeber the details) so I ditched it.

ZoneAlarm came highly recommended and I HATED IT!:| It blocked ICQ, AIM, GameSpy and my browsers!:|:| I wasn't in the mood to have to explain EVERY stupid little thing to it, so buh-bye it went.

I'm currently using Norton (Family Edition) and I like it a lot. It tells you what kind of attacks are being made (i.e. SubSeven Trojan, etc.), comes with banner ad blocking, and if you have kids, will block pr0n sites. (This is turned OFF on my rig.) It automatically configures apps as they pop up needing to be cleared thru and has a big database of programs already included, so that online games, browsers, IM clients work right out of the box. Cool.

I'm not saying that Norton is the best (it's waaaaaaay overpriced, a $20-$30 program saddled with a $70 ticket, not that I...well, nevermind...) app out there, just what worked for my needs.

If you have a home network on an always-on broadband connection, you'd be better off getting a hardware router/firewall anyways.

 

[FOBSIDE]

i on the otherhand highly recommend zone alarm. first of all...its free. cant beat that price. i find it very intuitive to use. it will block all unwanted incoming traffic and still allow your applications to access the internet. it hides all the ports that are not in use so people cant even use the ping command to tell if your computer is there.

 

[Noriaki]

I will of course try ZoneAlarm being free it can't hurt to try it.
If I don't like it I can buy Norton Personal FW for $50 later.

Might you by chance point me to where I can download ZoneAlarm?

 

[jaydee]

Zonealarm rules! Again, blocks all intruders. If you have second its not hard at all to set up what to allow internet access, and what not too. Heck, it even blocks my address.com ad banner with their free internet access!

 

[rocmonster]

Noriaki,
you can download the free zone alarm here.

I believe ZA Pro will allow some port setting flexibility if you use ICQ, AIM, Gamespy and such although I have no need for those proggies myself.

Black Ice was cool until it broke down everytime there was (is) an operating system upgrade or update and then you have to wait around for a patch. Also, the BI license is only good for a year so you can only get those updates and patches during that time until you renew.

 

[FOBSIDE]

i have no problems letting zone alarm allowing icq or aim access the internet and i use the free version.

 

[jacobnero6918]

ZoneAlarm is easy, AIM will ask for access once and if you check the box it will never ask agian. I have ZoneAlarm and all the same programs and like that it CAN make programs ask before accessing the net. If you want you can give the programs you use free access to the net. It would only take a 1 minute to go through an entire list.

 

[Homer]

Speaking up for BID:

I've been using BID for almost as long as it's been around. Seems to work just fine. Sites like Shields Up! say it is slightly sub-optimal in that it returns to an attacker the information that a protected system exists at your IP, but nothing else. It was exactly zero problem to install and configure, interferes with nothing on my home LAN, and is reasonably priced. It is probably too simple for a network guru, but for someone like me who needs a "works out of the box" solution it is great.

 

[BCYL]

ZoneAlarm is popular not only because it's free, but because it very good too... many magazines and websites have done tests on different software firewalls, and in almost all of them zonealarm comes out to be one of the best performers...