Avast Pro 4.6 and lightweight firewall

[agent86oz]

I have Avast Pro 4.6 and am in the middle of upgrading my computer and reinstalling windows. I am looking to minimise my software collection to keep my computer fast and stable. Windows XP Pro SP2 and all updates.

I have read the forums.

I have used Tiny Firewall 2005 from www.tinysoftware.com but it is a big product despite the name.

I have used Zone Alarm in the past and recommended it but it seems to conflict a lot and cause erratic behaviour.

Given the features of pro and it is updated daily and you stay away from high risk sites do you still need a firewall other than the Windows one.

I have a SPI firewall in my router but I am not sure it is configured well but at www.grc.com shields up test I get a stealth test on all ports scanned.

The issue with a firewall for most people is the great deal of time in working out if an outbound application or process is actually valid or not.

This applys to me and I have a lot of computer experience and also for family members and friends. The frustrating thing is that software is so complex to work out that users just turn off the firewall.

In my mind using an average router with firewall (not just NAT) and Avast Pro should keep you fairly safe. Open to any comments.

Thanks

[timcan]

http://www.samspade.org/d/firewalls.html     

In my mind using an average router with firewall (not just NAT) and Avast Pro should keep you fairly safe.

  Please read above article as you are probably right,but I rest easier with a little extra.

[szc]

Also you need something to protect your outbound connection attempts... most of those hardware routers/firewalls won't do anything else except protect your inbound connections. I said most, not all, because there are some nice routhers/firewalls out there that will do both for you.

I have my hardware one as well, but still I like to see some software one along with my avast! antivirus. Just playing on a safe side and common sense... also, not being paranoid by installing tons of other security related programs on my machine. I have my hardware router/firewall, Kerio as a software firewall, avast! Pro antivirus, Spywareblaster and as healing utilities Spybot and Ad-aware personal edition. Nothing less nothing more. I don't even remember those times when we used to find tons of spyware on our machines. Ad-aware and Spybot can't even find anything any more since I run Spywareblaster... just few cookie entries and that's all.

Also, always switch to common sense mode when browsing the internet, do not visit suspicious sites... of course we can not always tell which exactly falls into that category, but still.. those porn sites and casino sites as well as some other sites like crack/patch/serials pages are full of nasty stuff...

Take care and WELCOME to forums agent86oz !

[Lisandro]

The issue with a firewall for most people is the great deal of time in working out if an outbound application or process is actually valid or not.
This applys to me and I have a lot of computer experience and also for family members and friends. The frustrating thing is that software is so complex to work out that users just turn off the firewall.

Well, the majority of the programs have the same name as they're well know. So, when you start a program you'll know if it is or not a legit one.
Some firewalls (for instance, Outpost) have a tutorial intallation that tries to make this process easier for the user, colecting the data and making an automated database of installed programs that connect the Internet. This makes the things easier for users.