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Other => General Topics => Topic started by: MrCK on August 03, 2004, 11:33:38 AM

Title: What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: MrCK on August 03, 2004, 11:33:38 AM
Hi everybody.......  :)
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Speaking of a WISHLIST:

I know, I would you like a build in firewall   in my Avast version (the free Home Edition)?? What about you???

                                MrCK
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: Stephan123 on August 03, 2004, 11:44:38 AM
maybe.But i think this is not a good idea.I have my personal firewall
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: MrCK on August 03, 2004, 12:05:53 PM
ok... but I just think less icons and more ram... I use sygate and it's very good, but I think that a "one-in-all" product would be better if Avast! could hold the current level they are at now....

Yesterday I tried Etrust. They've got both antivirus and firewall, but I switched back... Avast! is in a class of its own... With a firewall, they could rule "the software world of security"  ;)

               MrCK
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: DavidR on August 03, 2004, 12:16:41 PM
Hi MrCK, welcome to the forums.

I think you gave answered your own question.

Quote
Yesterday I tried Etrust. They've got both antivirus and firewall, but I switched back... Avast! is in a class of its own...

It is definately the Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None. With specialist tasks I'd much rather have a piece of specialist software.

Yes you might lose one icon (you can always hide it from view) but you are still doing the same number of tasks, antivirus and firewall protection, so you won't necessarily save any ram or system resources.

I for one don't want to see avast become a piece of bloated software like NAV or Etrust (that you tried and dumped).

HTH David
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: lee16 on August 03, 2004, 12:16:59 PM
No, i think its better with them apart, lets not go turning avast! into bloatware now, plus if it fails you have no protection, if there apart you will always have protection.

--lee
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: MrCK on August 03, 2004, 04:41:56 PM
Thanks  :) ... I've never seen it that way: That Avast! could become less of a product if brought together with a firewall... Perhaps that is right... But the idea of Avast! with a build in (and proberly working) firewall is still working in my mind......

Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: Delta on August 03, 2004, 08:00:58 PM
No, I would hate to see the Alwil team side-tracked away from virus detection, also there are already many excellent hardware and software firewalls available.
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: RejZoR on August 03, 2004, 08:59:51 PM
Hm i have a idea. What about internet program blocker? Something like very very simplified firewall. Program requests connection to internet,avast! intercepts this and asks you if you wanna allow it or block it. If Allowed it will have full access to internet and if Blocked it will be fully blocked. No per packet/rule based traffic filtering,just program internet access control. I belive this could stop certain worms/trojans. With simple name blocking could also prevent false programs to block them from accessing net (for example iexplorer.exe instead of iexplore.exe). And if iexplorer.exe file requests access to net it will be automatically blocked because its false program that mimics legitimit filename. Normal iexplore.exe will give you option to block or allow. Quiet simple and effective.

I'll add this to wish list :) Maybe this will be interesting to Alwil team :)
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: MrCK on August 03, 2004, 09:47:02 PM
........... good idea.......... try that :)
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: Eddy on August 03, 2004, 09:54:42 PM
It is a fact that a router with hardware firewall offers better protection than a software firewall. If you look at the prices of so called "home routers" who have a hardware firewall they are about the same as a paid software firewall. Depending on where you life they are about 40 euro ((convert to your curreny) (http://www.onlineconversion.com) So in my opinion there is absolutly no reason to implement a firewall into Avast or any other application.

And for "implementing it into Avast home", you know what they say. You get what you pay for!
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: RejZoR on August 03, 2004, 10:12:53 PM
But hardware firewall cannot provide program control :P
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: Jeccu on August 03, 2004, 11:41:45 PM
I think RejZors idea is interesting and very good. In my opinion this would be very good feature especially when using a hardware firewall. Then you don't have to install sofware firewall to block unwanted outbound connections.


-- Jeccu --

Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: RejZoR on August 04, 2004, 12:00:19 AM
Indeed. Sometimes you don't need (or don't want) per-packet filtering which consumes alot of memory and CPU power,but you need just a simple program control. Usually you don't want some program to connect to net at all or you totaly allow it. Name recognition of scum files would enhance blocking very much too. Just my "theory"...
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: DavidR on August 04, 2004, 12:28:06 AM
As far as I am aware this type of program is already available as a small freeware standalone program.
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: Jeccu on August 04, 2004, 03:40:58 AM
As far as I am aware this type of program is already available as a small freeware standalone program.

DavidR,
Do you know the name of that program or a link perhaps?
Thanx.

Though, I still think it would be better integrated with avast! if it was "small" enough (something like behavior blocker for instance).  ;)

Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: bob3160 on August 04, 2004, 04:28:38 AM
Jeccu,
Quote
Though, I still think it would be better integrated with avast! if it was "small" enough (something like behavior blocker for instance).  
If you feel that strongly about it, the why not post it where it belongs! ;D
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=57;start=495 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=57;start=495)
I might not agree with it but, you have a right to voice your opinion.
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: Staind on August 04, 2004, 05:08:00 AM
It would be cool if Avast! could team up with a firewall company to produce Avast! Firewall Edition // what not. But honestly, I'd rather have them working alone on Anti virus, unless they want to expand their team.
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: Eddy on August 04, 2004, 09:21:45 AM
Program control is not really needed in a firewall. A firewall is basicly only for keeping your doors (ports) closed and nothing does it better than a hardware firewall.

Tip: If you install a firewall (hardware or software) close ALL ports and open only those who are really needed such as 80 for webpages, 21 for ftp and such. Leave ALL others closed untill you really have to open them for the system to work. And don't open udp and tcp at the same time if not needed for a port.
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: DavidR on August 04, 2004, 01:50:09 PM
As far as I am aware this type of program is already available as a small freeware standalone program.

DavidR,
Do you know the name of that program or a link perhaps?
Thanx.

Though, I still think it would be better integrated with avast! if it was "small" enough (something like behavior blocker for instance).  ;)

I have never sought one (I can't access broadband, so no router/firewall option), although they have been discussed here, but I don't think names were named.

They are only of use for outbound program traffic, otherwise they become a more bloated piece of firewall software.

So unless you have a hardware router with firewall properites you would still be vulnerable Or a software firewall to protect against inbount traffic, in which case the program access software is redundant.
Title: Re:What about a build in firewall in Avast!?
Post by: Jeccu on August 04, 2004, 05:05:25 PM
So unless you have a hardware router with firewall properites you would still be vulnerable Or a software firewall to protect against inbount traffic, in which case the program access software is redundant.

Yes I know and I have a hardware firewall. That's why I'm interested in this kind of solution.
Well, I have to start looking...  :)