Software Firewall better than Zone Alarm?

[fustercluck]

Is there a software firewall out there that's better than zonealarm? I like Zonealarm fairly well, as it doesn't bug me often. I was thinking about trying something new though. If anyone can make a case about how another software firewall is better, i'm all ears. Otherwise i'll just keep using ZoneAlarm again, which i wouldn't mind.

 

[John]

Kerio

 

[Albatross]

free sygate personal firewall

 

[Frodolives]

Another free one to consider! from Wyvernworks, while you're shopping around

 

[KoolDrew]

Kerio v215

 

[Rottie]

nothing can beat ZoneAlarm Pro Suite 5

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Rottie
nothing can beat ZoneAlarm Pro Suite 5

Kerio v215 can

 

[ttown]

windows 98 and prior

atguard from wrq (product was bought by norton, iirc, gui'ized, and stripped of half it's functionality (and yet grew in size by a factor of ~100!))

lets you build rules easily on the fly for inbound/outbound communication, per app, per address
also has ad filtering and cookie controls

The only unfortunate thing is... doesn't work with XP.

 

[fustercluck]

The latest verison of Kerio is 4.1.3, why would i want to use v215? There have been a lot of security fixes since that version. I don't even know if it's still possible to go back and download v215...

 

[fustercluck]

bump, which version of Kerio should i try?

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: jacktackle
The latest verison of Kerio is 4.1.3, why would i want to use v215? There have been a lot of security fixes since that version. I don't even know if it's still possible to go back and download v215...

v215 - Clean, unintrusive. No nagging popup, and obnoxious disabled menus trying to push you to buy the pro version.

Give me an example to security improvements (not gimmicks) that really affect a regular home user.

Link to download in his page: http://www.ezlan.net/security.html

:sun:

 

[GhettoFob]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
Kerio v215

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: ttown
windows 98 and prior

atguard from wrq (product was bought by norton, iirc, gui'ized, and stripped of half it's functionality (and yet grew in size by a factor of ~100!))

lets you build rules easily on the fly for inbound/outbound communication, per app, per address
also has ad filtering and cookie controls

The only unfortunate thing is... doesn't work with XP.

@guard was great.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: jacktackle
The latest verison of Kerio is 4.1.3, why would i want to use v215? There have been a lot of security fixes since that version. I don't even know if it's still possible to go back and download v215...

v215 - Clean, unintrusive. No nagging popup, and obnoxious disabled menus trying to push you to buy the pro version.

Give me an example to security improvements (not gimmicks) that really affect a regular home user.

Link to download in his page: http://www.ezlan.net/security.html

:sun:

Old versions of kerio don't have application control either...a great way to control any unintentional or devious applications from running or starting other apps/services. You might consider this nagware...I consider it security and control over the computer.

The simplicity of the old Kerio/Tiny was great, but being streamlined means less security features.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: ttown
windows 98 and prior

atguard from wrq (product was bought by norton, iirc, gui'ized, and stripped of half it's functionality (and yet grew in size by a factor of ~100!))

lets you build rules easily on the fly for inbound/outbound communication, per app, per address
also has ad filtering and cookie controls

The only unfortunate thing is... doesn't work with XP.

It's a shame. I used @guard for years and then along came XP.

 

[Cobalt]

Originally posted by: albatross
free sygate personal firewall

Most annoying firewall ever.

 

[MustISO]

I have a router with FW and I use XP SP2 firewall, is it worth it to get something like Kerio and disable the XP FW?

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: MustISO
I have a router with FW and I use XP SP2 firewall, is it worth it to get something like Kerio and disable the XP FW?

It is free and takes two minutes to Install, try it.

:sun:

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: jadinolf

Originally posted by: ttown
windows 98 and prior atguard from wrq (product was bought by norton, iirc, gui'ized, and stripped of half it's functionality (and yet grew in size by a factor of ~100!))

lets you build rules easily on the fly for inbound/outbound communication, per app, per address
also has ad filtering and cookie controls

The only unfortunate thing is... doesn't work with XP.

It's a shame. I used @guard for years and then along came XP.

It is really sad. AtGuard is probably still the best Firewall (and only 3MB in size).:thumbsup:

When WinXP came out AtGuard was sold to Symantec. The Current NIS still runs parts of Atgurad under the Bloat.

:sun:

Link to: Freeware Security suit for Internet Connection Protection.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: jacktackle
The latest verison of Kerio is 4.1.3, why would i want to use v215? There have been a lot of security fixes since that version. I don't even know if it's still possible to go back and download v215...

v215 - Clean, unintrusive. No nagging popup, and obnoxious disabled menus trying to push you to buy the pro version. Give me an example to security improvements (not gimmicks) that really affect a regular home user.
Link to download in his page: http://www.ezlan.net/security.html

:sun:

Old versions of kerio don't have application control either...a great way to control any unintentional or devious applications from running or starting other apps/services. You might consider this nagware...I consider it security and control over the computer.

The simplicity of the old Kerio/Tiny was great, but being streamlined means less security features.

While there is some truth in your argument, you have to take into consideration that Software Firewalls are designed with the idea that a computer is directly connected to the Internet and has a WAN side IP. Many of the security concerns are less of a concern when the Software Firewall is secondary to a Cable/DSL Router (and if some one is still saving the $10 of a Router's cost it is more of a mental problem rather than Internet security). Once you are behind Hardware and software Firewalls, additional security control is actually in the hand of AntiVirus and AntiSpy software.

:sun:

 

[Andvari]

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: jacktackle
The latest verison of Kerio is 4.1.3, why would i want to use v215? There have been a lot of security fixes since that version. I don't even know if it's still possible to go back and download v215...

v215 - Clean, unintrusive. No nagging popup, and obnoxious disabled menus trying to push you to buy the pro version. Give me an example to security improvements (not gimmicks) that really affect a regular home user.
Link to download in his page: http://www.ezlan.net/security.html

:sun:

Old versions of kerio don't have application control either...a great way to control any unintentional or devious applications from running or starting other apps/services. You might consider this nagware...I consider it security and control over the computer.

The simplicity of the old Kerio/Tiny was great, but being streamlined means less security features.

While there is some truth in your argument, you have to take into consideration that Software Firewalls are designed with the idea that a computer is directly connected to the Internet and has a WAN side IP. Many of the security concerns are less of a concern when the Software Firewall is secondary to a Cable/DSL Router (and if some one is still saving the $10 of a Router's cost it is more of a mental problem rather than Internet security). Once you are behind Hardware and software Firewalls, additional security control is actually in the hand of AntiVirus and AntiSpy software.

:sun:

Are you saying that Kerio 215 is only worth it if you have a router in addition to it? If so, the router cost isn't what's kept me from getting one. It's the fact that I know nothing about routers and have been too lazy to learn heh. What's a good brand/model router I can pick up?