9 replies to this topic

[musicman]

I really feel that I need to set up a firewall. I've installed Win SP2 twice on my comp. - mainly for the firewall and popup protection - and it's screwed up my machine both times. I had to completely re-load XP. I now use Netscape, and have Norton AV, Spy Sweeper, and Spyware Blaster installed now.but I still feel that I need a firewall. What do you recommend?
Musicman

[guamos]

[quote name='musicman' date='Oct 23 2004, 08:29 PM']
the best firewall to use is zone alarm..but dont forget do download the latest version of zone alarm..

[shame about jane]

Zone ALARM FREE VERSION 5.1.033 000 seems to be working very well since i downloaded it on friday last,easy to setup,install and good tutorial to take you through most things you need to know,it is auto configuring is recognised in the XP 2P2 Control Centre and monitores your anti-virus too,as i said easy to understand-which will not blow your mind- too much!,also nice easy presentation control panel.
Previous to that i had KERIO PERSONAL FIREWALL version 2.1.5 also excellent,you could see all the ports that were being listened and also much more info,that was a good firewall no problems and FREE too,good luck.

shame about jane

[musicman]

Well, I've downloaded & am running ZoneAlarm. So far so good. Hopefully it'll continue to run ok.] Thanks for the info.
Musicman

[shame about jane]

Well,  I've downloaded & am running ZoneAlarm. So far so good. Hopefully it'll continue to run ok.]   Thanks for the info.
Musicman

glad you are happy with ZA,pleased i could be of help

regards

shame about jane!

[robin850]

Sygate's personal firewall is free for non-business use. Work's great.

http://smb.sygate.co...pf_standard.htm

[JRosenfeld]

Zone Alarm 5.5 has just been released.

[floored]

Please excuse my ignorance, but doesn't a router act as a firewall? Having had some issues with firewalls in the past (disrupting printers, faxes, etc...), I've been reluctant to install another. Whatever someone can teach me about this, I'd appreciate.

[Tuxedo Jack]

A router acts as a hardware firewall.

Personally, I use a router and disable software firewalls on my machines, since I check all the machines for crapware once a week, and my machine gets checked nightly.

If you're a new user or don't know what to do, use both software and hardware; if you're advanced, take your chances, but be able to monitor what your machines do.

[floored]

A router acts as a hardware firewall.

Personally, I use a router and disable software firewalls on my machines, since I check all the machines for crapware once a week, and my machine gets checked nightly.

If you're a new user or don't know what to do, use both software and hardware; if you're advanced, take your chances, but be able to monitor what your machines do.

I wouldn't consider myself advanced by any means, but the software fiirewalls so far have caused me far too many problems to re-install any at this time. I've been loading up with lots of protection though (Ad-AwareSE, Spysweeper, Spybot S&D, SpywareBlaster, CWShredder, HijackThis, Firefox) and doing lots of scans. I also seem to be quite sensitive to changes in how my computers are running, and watch my router lights for communications. (I believe you helped me last time I got bugged. Thanks again.)
In the software forum I've been trying to find out what else I may need, in case you have any other recommendations.