What firewall to use with XP -- With Fast user switching (a must)

Shudder

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May 5, 2000
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If you just use a firewall and you're the only user or you don't have multiple users, please don't comment here because you'll not experience the problem that exists :) Thanks.

I've tried zone alarm, but it seems there's a new version out today or yesterday.. any luck with it?

I used sygate personal firewall, but it's a confirmed bug with Sygate that it doesn't work yet with fast user switching.

Thanks a lot
 

Nothinman

Elite Member
Sep 14, 2001
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Honestly I would wait a while before I expected one to work properly, Windows programmers are lazy and don't think about anything other than what they have infront of them. This is best illustrated by all the software that doesn't work on Terminal Servers, even though regular good programming practices make your app compatible, no special cases needed. Windows was never a real multiuser environment, it's still debatable, and it's going to be a long time before the programmers get used to that.

Possibly the built in firewall works better.
 

Shudder

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May 5, 2000
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The built in firewall isn't that great. It doesn't block outgoing, first of all, secondly, it can't be turned off at will like ZA or Sygate can. I prefer sygate, simply because you can disable it without exiting it (ZA makes you quit the program, at least it did). Or you can't set any ports/programs to have the full access they may require.

Thanks for the tip on the new ZA, I'll give that a shot
 

Nothinman

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Sep 14, 2001
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The built in firewall isn't that great. It doesn't block outgoing, first of all, secondly, it can't be turned off at will like ZA or Sygate can

I realize this, life's full of tradeoffs ya know. I choose a firewall on it's ability to protect me from the outside, not from stuff I've downloaded. But I guess if you're running Windows anymore you have to be suspicious of everything now a days...
 

Shudder

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May 5, 2000
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Looks like the new ZA is working.

However, if the second user doesn't have a program set up already, when they go to use it online the popup box will actually come up in the first person's screen.. which of course you can't see.

But for now, that'll only happen a few times and I think as long as IE is taken care of my roommate should be set.

I'm just curious now though if it loads up with the first user.. so if he loads windows first will ZA be in his logon? Probably.