• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Software based FIREWALL???

W

WayneTeK

Golden Member
Do you guys have any recommendations on the best type of Software based firewall program?

Ie: Blackice, Zone Alarm Pro, etc...

Thanks
 
I use a firewall made by Sygate ,a free version is available from here .ZoneAlarm,Tiny are the other free ones,in the end it`s what you prefer (ease of use,layout etc) .
 
Ditto, heard recommendations for all those ^.
Sygate from a very reliable source, but stuck to Zonealarm which tbh does the job really well and its easy. The loadup ad for Pro version is mildly annoying, but watching it always re-ask to allow a program access after patching is reassuring - not many firewalls detect more than filename or at best location; ZA checks if the file is the same. This is important as otherwise it ain't going to detect any app that has modified an existing program you've allowed to access 'net. Tiny also seems to be well recieved, Blackice is more conflicting, i heard (just romour) that it can stop some things some fw cant, but otoh fails at least one major fw test (unfortunately i forget name).
 
I tried the freeware from Download.com on Zonealarm and i have to say, even though it is free, it has improved a lot of the junk i used to get through WIN XP (there would be warning windows popping up w/ spam and junk..).

Well, I sitll don't know which one to try. I'm gonna try Sygate now. Any other recommendations? And nope, i'm not gonna go with Norton. They install too much excess junk. Waaay too much junk.
 
Well, I sitll don't know which one to try. I'm gonna try Sygate now. Any other recommendations? And nope, i'm not gonna go with Norton. They install too much excess junk. Waaay too much junk.
Click to expand...

Wayne, I'm biased as NIS is from my company, but that said I'd like to know what you consider to be excess junk in NIS (serious question, your feedback is important to us)
Bill


 
I am using ZA Pro 3.0 and it works fine but it is hard to learn to tweak....I leave default setting anyway.
 
I've been using Kerio (a spin-off from Tiny Software) and it's very easy to customize the settings. Very straight forward setting options.
 
imo ZA doesnt need to be customisable much, it just sits there doing whats needed without getting in the way. If you're doing some serious networking shizz then probably sigate more for you but for "1 min install & forget", ZA wins for me. Note no FW can protect you from everything, fiddle your OS and keep windows uptodate too.

e.g.:
If this looks familiar;
Go to IE tools > internet options > security > internet > custom > "allow paste operations via script" > change to "prompt".
story

also might want to rename the file: " C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\System\DFS\uplddrvinfo.htm" though dont think the flaw for that exists after SP1.
 
I'm trying to decide which firewall to use. This thread mentions Outpost. I've also read other people suggesting it in the past.
wilders.org is one site that tests firewalls, anti-virus, etc. However they don't list Outpost, and don't have a test for ZoneAlarm.
Also they don't list Norton in their anti-virus list. Anyone know how to get in touch w/ someone there?

I messed w/ a version of Zonealarm (version from beg. of 2002) on a friend's machine, but it kept forgetting that I'd told it to allow net access w/ certain programs. We upgraded to the latest, but it's quite different. I don't like it. And seems like when you just want to shut it down, you have to go through extra steps, or it blocks net access period. I don't think I'll use it.

Deciding which firewall, defrag, FTP, file compressor, cd copier, anti virus, anti trojan, graphic viewer, file sharer, WinXP tweaker, spyware remover, video card drivers and tweaker, refresh fixer, partitioner and boot mgr, disc imager, etc, etc, to use is like...hard and stuff. 😕
 
BlackIce Defender is what I use, not sure how good it is though, didn't have any hackers when I used it, now that I have winxp pro I just use the built in firewall. I think that I will have to get rid of it and use another one though, just cause I can.
 
zonealarm, sygate, norton, all these are bushleague compared to Kerio Personal Firewall 3 which gives you way more customization ability than each of them and also monitors anytime a program tries to open another on its own, perfect for halting any trojans or devious programs. Seriously, check it out, and its still free. Its in beta form still (rc5) but is very stable (an occasional wierd message but thats it). They took Tiny and really ran with it.
 
Slightly OT --

Davegod:

The loadup ad for Pro version is mildly annoying
Click to expand...

Doesn't the -nosplash switch work? You might try adding that to the end of the string in the Target field of the ZoneAlarm startup shortcut's Properties dialog. I've got rid of the splash screen (which is what I suspect you mean by "loadup ad") for several friends by adding that switch.

- prosaic
 
Is wilders.org a reputable site to go by?


Originally posted by: jjsole
zonealarm, sygate, norton, all these are bushleague compared to <a class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.kerio.com/us/beta_section.html" target=blank>Kerio Personal Firewall 3</A>
Click to expand...
Have you tried all these? What about Outpost?


Originally posted by: prosaic
Slightly OT --

Davegod:

The loadup ad for Pro version is mildly annoying
Click to expand...

Doesn't the -nosplash switch work? You might try adding that to the end of the string in the Target field of the ZoneAlarm startup shortcut's Properties dialog. I've got rid of the splash screen (which is what I suspect you mean by "loadup ad") for several friends by adding that switch.

- prosaic
Click to expand...

Was thinking about trying that to a friend's machine. Does that make it load quicker? In other words, when it is showing the splash, is it actually loading that whole time, so even w/ the splash turned off, it takes the same about of time?
 
I can't say that I ever benchmarked it. 😉 But it appears that the startup is quickened by a few seconds when you use -nosplash. I suspect that the routine that displays the splash screen may deliberately may actually incorporate a small, but discernible, delay to be sure that onlookers get to see the that this machine is, indeed, protected by ZoneAlarm. I think they're cool to have included the ability to turn that splash screen off. I don't see a need for splash screens, though I understand the motivation for creating them, and I always appreciate it when the option to avoid it is supplied.

Try it and time it. It doesn't do any harm, and you can always reverse it.

- prosaic
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top