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Other => General Topics => Topic started by: Arnold72 on May 15, 2012, 08:04:33 PM

Title: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Arnold72 on May 15, 2012, 08:04:33 PM
hello avast forum.
Im a new member to this forum so a very big hello to you all.
Ive only been using avast for a week now and i must say for a free program it is simply wonderful.
Ive conducted a few personal tests myself and avast has impressed me hugely.
Could anyone recommend a good free firewall please.?
I was using the comodo firewall but i dont like the product and currently am using online armor free version.
Am i ok to carry on using online armor with avast.?

Many Thanks. ;)
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Para-Noid on May 16, 2012, 01:27:25 AM
Online Armor works fine with avast. The only issue with OA is that it is currently blocking Flash Player updates. That is why I switched to Private Firewall. I have provided some links to various firewalls that work well with avast.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_outpost_firewall/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/Comodo-Personal-Firewall.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/Privatefirewall.shtml

I will leave it up to you to do your own research. Hope this helps.  :)
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Mayflower on May 16, 2012, 04:04:55 PM
Comodo Firewall works fine.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/Comodo-Personal-Firewall.shtml
http://www.filehippo.com/download_comodo/
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: bob3160 on May 16, 2012, 04:10:01 PM
PC Tools Firewall Plus is another candidate:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/PC-Tools-Firewall-Plus.shtml (http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/PC-Tools-Firewall-Plus.shtml)
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Arnold72 on May 16, 2012, 06:06:57 PM
hi.
Thank you so much for the replies.
Ive tried private firewall but for some reason it does not stealth my ports like online armor does.
Ive conducted a probe test at the gibson research website and online armor stealths the ports but i cannot achieve the same with private firewall which is the only reason i stopped using it which is a pity as i liked the program.
As for comodo well call me a knit pick but the GUI looks kind of empty without the anti-virus component.
I would like to stick with avast as i think it offers more protection than the comodo product.

thanks again.
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Pondus on May 17, 2012, 07:18:18 AM
I can't pass a firewall test, what should I do?
http://ask-leo.com/i_cant_pass_a_firewall_test_what_should_i_do.html


What is the Shields Up Test?
http://onlinearmorpersonalfirewall.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-is-shields-up-test.html

Quote
The problem is that nowadays many computers are behind modems, routers or even hardware firewalls making it very difficult, or impossible to test.

Quote
So why does my software firewall fail?

Before we start talking about software firewalls failing, how do you know the data is even reaching your software firewall? Remember above where we talked about the pathway that the packets take? There's the problem. If you have a router, or a modem - or your ISP does anything tricky - or, if you are plugged into someone's wirless network in a hotel, the packets may not actually reach your computer.


Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Para-Noid on May 18, 2012, 03:49:03 AM
Try this link. It might help. http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-firewall.htm
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Para-Noid on May 20, 2012, 03:20:53 AM
@ Pondus  I ran the "ShieldsUp" test at GRC with both Private Firewall and OA Free. Private Firewall did better. They both failed at the port 443. Which is a https port/connection not http. Private Firewall was much more stealthy than OA Free. For what it's worth.  :)
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: schmidthouse on May 20, 2012, 04:28:04 AM
My version of Comodo with Defence+ applied stealths ALL Ports and works great with AIS on my XP. ;)
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: avoidz on May 20, 2012, 11:00:52 AM
I don't know what OS you are using, but I still use Sygate Personal Firewall Pro with XP and it still passes tests and works fine (though the signatures no longer update).
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Pondus on May 20, 2012, 11:07:35 AM
i pass the test with no firewall   ;)
the reason......see reply #5
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: avoidz on May 20, 2012, 11:19:26 AM
i pass the test with no firewall   ;)
the reason......see reply #5

Yeah, that's true; my router has some built-in firewall too. Maybe I'm doubling up, but I've kept Sygate around for almost 10 years and keep in installed out of habit :)
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Pondus on May 20, 2012, 11:26:24 AM
i get the same results what ever i do....bc it is the firewall in my ISP box that is tested
i cant remove the box and test, if i do i have no internet
the firewall in my D-Link 635 is also on...by default and i dont see any change when i turn it off

so i dont see any reason for me to use anything other then windows firewall at home
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: bob3160 on May 20, 2012, 03:11:11 PM
Quote
so i dont see any reason for me to use anything other then windows firewall at home

One good reason would be to protect your outbound traffic.  ;)
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: avoidz on May 20, 2012, 03:14:09 PM
Yes, I always prefer to see what programs are trying to transmit information rather than just block unwanted incoming connections.
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Pondus on May 20, 2012, 08:46:17 PM
Quote
so i dont see any reason for me to use anything other then windows firewall at home

One good reason would be to protect your outbound traffic.  ;)
yes, and then you need to understand what the firewall is telling you......and for most users that is the problem...
unless you have a firewall like Panda / Norton that does everything automatic and silent in the background
well Panda can be a nag fo incomming....everytime you connect to like a hotell or airport network it will see all the other computers connect and then ask.....do you want to bla bla bla and if it is 20 other user connected.... well lots of pop ups to click away
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Para-Noid on May 20, 2012, 09:01:26 PM
Quote
so i dont see any reason for me to use anything other then windows firewall at home

One good reason would be to protect your outbound traffic.  ;)
+1
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Pondus on May 20, 2012, 09:15:39 PM
Quote
so i dont see any reason for me to use anything other then windows firewall at home

One good reason would be to protect your outbound traffic.  ;)
+1
i am not convinsed that all home users need it?

and some antvirus vendors seems to also think like that?

Panda antivirus does not install the firewall.... you have to click the firewall after antivirus install, and then it ask if you want to use Panda firewall or windows

F-Secure firewall is installed in Normal mode as default.....meaning outbound protection is off

Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: bob3160 on May 20, 2012, 10:17:07 PM
If you do your shopping and banking online, then you need a software firewall.
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: Para-Noid on May 20, 2012, 11:50:15 PM
If you do your shopping and banking online, then you need a software firewall.
With HIPS.  :)
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: asianmusicguy on May 30, 2012, 05:49:24 PM
Hi guys im new and i would also like something like the OP i am on my summer holidays and just bought a cheap pc for when i spend my time here but i do need a software firewall because I DO alot of online banking im on win7 x64 because im certainly not buying a commercial security sweet for a computer i only use a few months every year
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: CraigB on May 30, 2012, 06:16:30 PM
Hi guys im new and i would also like something like the OP i am on my summer holidays and just bought a cheap pc for when i spend my time here but i do need a software firewall because I DO alot of online banking im on win7 x64 because im certainly not buying a commercial security sweet for a computer i only use a few months every year
If you read through this thread you'll see your questions have been answered.
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: asianmusicguy on May 30, 2012, 06:40:58 PM
ive seen some links and some great advice but i heard that most  of the free ones are not playing nice with avast 7 i just want to know how can i get a smooth experience  with no security holes caused by firewa;;s unwilling to adjust there code to better coexist with avast and id like high security but minimal alerts
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: MoonDragon on March 05, 2013, 06:11:00 AM
Quote
so i dont see any reason for me to use anything other then windows firewall at home

One good reason would be to protect your outbound traffic.  ;)

Windows firewall can be configured to block or filter outbound traffic. Only in it's default setting does it have no rules for outbound traffic...  I still don't see the need to install another firewall....
Title: Re: best free firewall to use with avast.
Post by: CraigB on March 05, 2013, 06:34:06 AM
Windows firewall can be configured to block or filter outbound traffic. Only in it's default setting does it have no rules for outbound traffic...  I still don't see the need to install another firewall....
It pays to check the dates of threads because you to have posted in a 7 month old topic ::)