Avast! and Firewall

[jkt]

Hello

I'm sorry if this question has been asked many times over by many people, but I just wandered if I could ask a quick question if that the Alwil team has any plans of releasing a version Avast! that has a Firewall built into Avast! anti-virus program so it feels or seems like an Internet Security suite instead of using Windows Firewall or by downloading another Firewall.

Thank you for you time and patience.

Regards.

[onlysomeone]

Well, it is said that a firewall is still in development and probably going to be released somewhen in 2009 after the release of Avast! 5.

But that are just rumors and i think that also the alwil team doesn't now exactly when they finish their products...   

An official comment on this is long awaited but not comeing... 

One thing vlk already said is that they are going with the time and also plan to create a suite (AV + Firewall + ?...)

yours
onlysomeone

[jkt]

Okay that's great, thank you for your reply and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for any future releases.

Regards

[Lisandro]

About the firewall http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=29259.msg240216#msg240216

[Texas-Hansen]

About the firewall http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=29259.msg240216#msg240216

Thanks.  Good information.  But, that was about 14 months ago.  Is it still in development?

[Lisandro]

Is it still in development?

Sure... I hope the team is not (all) the same as the one which is developing avast5. For sure, some of them are... avast5 will be released before the firewall.

[rob24]

So as not to start another thread on Avast! and firewalls can I ask something similar?

Avast! Home was installed when I got this PC by the builder. I was using dial-up to start with and the Windows Firewall. I now have broadband and the router has a firewall built in. As you don't see that working, I installed ZoneAlarm Free firewall. I was gratified to see there were very few intrusions in a few weeks. Then that dodgy Windows update came in July and blocked internet access. I was advised to uninstall ZoneAlarm, which I did which restored internet access. Since then I have not reinstalled the modified ZoneAlarms keeping the Windows Firewall on.

Maybe this isn't really an Avast! question, but seeing as I'm using it, how good are firewalls in routers compared to e.g. ZoneAlarm? I believe both types work differently so for that reason is a hardware firewall better or worse than a software firewall? Sorry same question twice I think!

[DavidR]

Your routers firewall is likely to be very similar to the windows XP one, in that it monitors inbound traffic only (unless it specifically says otherwise), but not outbound traffic.

So in comparison to ZA the router firewall is only doing half of the job and the free version of ZA is crippled in the level of outbound protection it gives in the hope you will buy the Pro version.

Zone Alarm free works fine with avast and has a reasonably friendly user interface, however, the free version is becoming bloated with trial ware and is also crippled as far as outbound protection goes In the Program Control, configuration area, the slider will only goes as far as Medium protection, if you want more you have to buy the Pro version.

[rob24]

Didn't realise router firewalls were limited in that way. Actually my ISP do provide a full McAfee security suite free to use as long as you remanin with them. But it seems it's a large resource hogging program and most (on a broadband forum) prefer the router firewall and, commonly, Avast! Home. I was asked why I wasn't using the suite by the ISP support helpline (when there was the Windows update problem with ZA and told them the above reasons. The operator agreed about the resource hogging.
I see there is a version 8 of ZA out now. Suppose I could bite the bullet and pay for ZA for the full protection. Or uninstall the unobtrusive Avast! and install the supplied McAfee - but I like Avast now that I'm used to it. Had AVG before on the older PC.

[DavidR]

Before you fork out real money for a firewall that IMHO is not as good as some free ones I would check out some things, see below.

Also you could consider a custom install of McAfee but uncheck all other options other than the firewall (so you don't have 2 resident AVs).

There are many freeware firewalls such as, Comodo, PCTools Firewall Plus, Jetico, etc.
See A Forum discussion on free firewalls http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=30808.0
See http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php.

[rob24]

I've just installed Comodo and there is an Avast file in Proactive Defence waiting for review. It is C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA\aswar0.dll. Can anyone tell me what it is please and what it does?

[DavidR]

That file is related to the avast anti-rootkit function so it is fine.

I have that file plus another in my avast4 data folder, see image.

Though you don't say what comodo was concerned about or what the alert was ?

[rob24]

I see yes I have that in my data folder.

Comodo doesn't really say. The attached Comodo.gif is where there is a link (near the bottom) to "waiting for your review", whilst Pend.gif is the file in question.

[DavidR]

Well you first image isn't related to aswar0.dll but the ashWebSv.exe the Web Shield and I really haven't got a clue (I don't use Comodo) if the Network defence blocked intrusion is related to the web shield or just historical data. But I guess it is historical and is only mentioned as it is a part of the summary which shows the Proactive Defence, files awaiting review.

I don't see anything in that second image that would allow you to accept/allow activity for aswar0.dll only to check the box and Submit.. I guess (there I go again guessing). I also don't know what Remove or Purge would do (attempt to delete or just remove/purge the entry from the review section). So all I can suggest is reading the info under the What do these settings do? link.

[rob24]

Having read elsewhere on the forum (from a google link) seems that file changes every time there is a VPS update. So I made it a "My Safe Own Safe File" under "Move To".