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Other => General Topics => Topic started by: black_moon on August 20, 2007, 09:23:26 AM

Title: free firewall..
Post by: black_moon on August 20, 2007, 09:23:26 AM
hi! guys what's a good free firewall to replace winXP built-in firewall? given these choices..

zone alarm personal FW
sygate personal FW
comodo FW
sunbelt personal FW(formerly kerio)
PC tools free personal FW

criteria: light on resources(does'nt slow down PC/internet)
            user friendly
            quick start-up
            simple yet effective against attacks
   less or no pop-ups
            does not conflict w/avast


Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: bob3160 on August 20, 2007, 02:19:10 PM
A search of this forum will lead you to many choices.
This is just one of them:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=29448.0 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=29448.0)
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: Lisandro on August 20, 2007, 07:45:38 PM
In order, imho:
1. Comodo
2. PC tools
3. Zone alarm
4. Sunbelt (kerio)
5. Sygate

criteria: light on resources(does'nt slow down PC/internet)
user friendly
simple yet effective against attacks
I've not tested PC Tools.

quick start-up
Comodo is not very good on this point.

less or no pop-ups
Comodo has a configurable option for this.

does not conflict w/avast
None will. avast is not a firewall, just an antivirus.
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: FreewheelinFrank on August 20, 2007, 07:54:23 PM
You'll never get no pop-ups, if you want to control outgoing traffic, which is the whole point of a third-party firewall.

Here are my recommendations, in order of what I think will fit the bill.

ZA Free:
+ Few, intuitive pop-ups, user-friendly, works with avast! (Free version)
- Latest version drops internet connection after hibernation on my computer. Re-connection causes BSOD's. (May be working fine on other systems.)

http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/support/zasc/gettingStarted.jsp?anchor=alerts&lid=zasupp_u (http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/support/zasc/gettingStarted.jsp?anchor=alerts&lid=zasupp_u)

Kerio:
+ Few, intuitive pop-ups, user-friendly, works with avast!
- Need to block some incoming connections to system processes to get a pass at Shields Up! (All ports stealthed), GUI locks up with multiple connections (eg P2P), doesn't seem to be being updated very often by Sunbelt, latest version seems to have turned into nag ware (frequent reminders that you're using the free version, and would you like to get the paid version?)

http://www.geocities.com/dontsurfinthenude/kerio_setup.htm (http://www.geocities.com/dontsurfinthenude/kerio_setup.htm)

Comodo:
+ Nice GUI, seems stable, network shield and application control, customisable rules, more control over what an application can do on your computer.
- A bit less user friendly, for the novice at least. Requires a bit of research at the Comodo forum to understand what it is doing, more pop-ups, more occasions where you think 'I'm not sure what I just did by clicking 'accept' there', requires special rules for P2P programs.

PCTools:
Never tried this one, so can't really comment.

Sygate:
Now defunct and unsupported. Still works, but had the most incomprehensible pop-ups I've ever seen.

You can always try different firewalls until you find one you are comfortable with, but be sure to have only one installed at any time.
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: rdmaloyjr on August 20, 2007, 10:49:36 PM
I think PC Tools Firewall Plus (http://www.pctools.com/firewall/) or Ghostwall (http://www.ghostsecurity.com/ghostwall/) will best fit your description.

I don't recommend comodo to anyone!
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: bob3160 on August 20, 2007, 11:10:09 PM
Quote
I don't recommend comodo to anyone!
That is quite obvious unfortunately you have yet to offer any proof why
Comodo shouldn't be used.
Personal dislikes without proof are totally useless. IMHO
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: drhayden1 on August 20, 2007, 11:36:59 PM
sounds this is turning into this firewall 'vs' this firewall thread part 4 i think bob ??? ::)

 (http://i19.tinypic.com/4t5l85c.gif)
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: rdmaloyjr on August 20, 2007, 11:55:24 PM
sounds this is turning into this firewall 'vs' this firewall thread part 4 i think bob ??? ::)

 (http://i19.tinypic.com/4t5l85c.gif)
No its not!  At least not with me!

Bob,

Look under a bridge if you want to play with trolls!  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: drhayden1 on August 20, 2007, 11:59:59 PM
Quote
I think PC Tools Firewall Plus or Ghostwall will best fit your description.

I don't recommend comodo to anyone!
just seems that way ::)
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: bob3160 on August 21, 2007, 12:00:11 AM
sounds this is turning into this firewall 'vs' this firewall thread part 4 i think bob ??? ::)

 (http://i19.tinypic.com/4t5l85c.gif)
No its not!  At least not with me!

Bob,

Look under a bridge if you want to play with trolls!  ;D ;D ;D
Still waiting for your proof.   Still haven't seen any.


To be a troll, you need to at least use the product which I currently don't.  ;D
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: drhayden1 on August 21, 2007, 12:02:40 AM
 (http://i14.tinypic.com/52xf1va.gif)take care of this thread Garfield ;D

Quote
Still waiting for your proof.   Still haven't seen any.
nope-probably won't ;)
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: rdmaloyjr on August 21, 2007, 02:18:09 AM
(http://i14.tinypic.com/52xf1va.gif)take care of this thread Garfield ;D

Quote
Still waiting for your proof.   Still haven't seen any.
nope-probably won't ;)
Dan is stirring up the toilet bowl like a bad little troll, trying to get stuff started.  I bet he plays under bridges with mastertech poptech. ;D ;D ;D

It won't work!

Dan,

Give it a rest. ::)
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: bob3160 on August 21, 2007, 03:16:39 AM
In the mean while, you still haven't presented any proof.
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: drhayden1 on August 21, 2007, 10:26:53 AM
Quote
I bet he plays under bridges with 'mastertech' poptech

 (http://i15.tinypic.com/52us6r4.jpg) ;D

 http://www.matousec.com/projects/windows-personal-firewall-analysis/results.php and where's pctools firewall plus on this list ???
 from here.... http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=29259.60 ....thanks!!
 
Quote
Dan is stirring up the toilet bowl

 (http://i10.tinypic.com/68laryw.gif)

For those who want a really nice Firewall......
Build one yourself!  FREE! http://www.itpeer.dyndns.org/dtae_Firewalls.htm
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: black_moon on August 21, 2007, 03:56:07 PM
thanks guys. really appreciate your replies, i think i'm gonna try either sunbelt or comodo. hopefully avast will launch its own free FW.  :D
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: drhayden1 on August 21, 2007, 04:07:55 PM
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Home-Home-Office/Sunbelt-Personal-Firewall/Download/
Free 30 day full featured evaluation
For Windows
- 2000 Professional (desktop version)
- XP Home
- XP Professional
- XP Media Center Edition  Download Sunbelt Personal Firewall
We plan on releasing a Vista compatible version in the near future
Sunbelt Personal Firewall 4 can run in a free mode vs. a full (paid) mode. Install it now, and for the first 30 days it will run in 'full' mode. After that, it shuts down selected features, but will continue to run in 'free' mode".
don't know how much you get as far as protection in the free mode ???
comodo is free and full protection ;)

 (http://i11.tinypic.com/662qefl.gif)
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: Spyros on August 21, 2007, 04:25:46 PM
don't know how much you get as far as protection in the free mode
Almost as much as the pro, without the bells & whistles.

comodo is free and full protection
Sunbelt PF is MUCH easier than Comodo & more user friendly (in my opinion, off course).
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: FreewheelinFrank on August 21, 2007, 04:44:15 PM
Quote
don't know how much you get as far as protection in the free mode

Exactly the same firewall protection, just without all the BSOD's the HIPS module gives you, and the web filtering capability, which the evil Adblock can provide in Firefox. (Muahahah!)
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: FreewheelinFrank on August 21, 2007, 04:48:32 PM
Sunbelt are practically giving the firewall away at the moment anyway: 10$- that's two beers in the pub here.
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: drhayden1 on August 21, 2007, 05:06:46 PM
Quote
10$- that's two beers in the pub here
what's it filtered with-GOLD(http://i17.tinypic.com/504x2xv.gif) ;D

 (http://i11.tinypic.com/6f956pt.png)
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: DavidR on August 21, 2007, 05:31:11 PM
No just the usual Pub prices in some areas of the UK and they wonder why they don't do much trade ;D
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: drhayden1 on August 21, 2007, 09:37:23 PM
http://www.whatprice.co.uk/beer-prices.html
why so high over there ::) ???
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: neal62 on August 21, 2007, 10:10:01 PM
Just my opinion on a Firewall. I am using P.C.Tools Plus F.W., version 2.0.0.25 and am very pleased with the program. Very user friendly and not alot of popups etc.  Does well at the grc site also.  :)
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: drhayden1 on August 21, 2007, 10:19:30 PM
Quote
Just my opinion on a Firewall. I am using P.C.Tools Plus F.W., version 2.0.0.25 and am very pleased with the program. Very user friendly and not alot of popups etc.
not a bad firewall at all-used before-pctools makes good software-its just seeing some of those leak test reports and others had me go back to comodo ;)

 (http://i12.tinypic.com/524i7iu.jpg)
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: neal62 on August 21, 2007, 11:46:49 PM
That's strange. I had already subjected PC tools PFW to the grc "leak test" and got these results:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/otis62/2007-08-21_164215.png)
Title: Re: free firewall..
Post by: drhayden1 on August 22, 2007, 12:33:20 AM
Quote
I had already subjected PC tools PFW to the grc "leak test" and got these results:
and the shieldsup  https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 also its all green-but this is the one i meant neal....
http://www.matousec.com/projects/windows-personal-firewall-analysis/leak-tests-results.php towards and near the bottom....