I would like to install a Firewall ( never had one except the XP Firewall ) and I would like to know which ones are working the best. I have read a few threads about firewalls and I am quite confused. One is praised by some but sent in the recycle bin by others. Are the differences between those considered “the best” , so huge or is it more a matter of personal preferences like ease of use ? Since I use eMule and I am online quite a lot a Firewall seems important but how can eMule work well with a Firewall installed ?
If I understand VRDB will allow me to repair files that were present when I ran the VRDB. Files of programs that I installed after I ran VRDB of course will not be included. What I do not understand if why the VRDB once it is created, is updated each three weeks if I can with one click update the VRDB whenever I want , for example when I install a new program ?
The question of too-frequent VRDB’s has been raised here before – perhaps someone else would be kind enough to provide a link to the appropriate topic(s), pretty please? I think the recommended absolute-minimum interval is one week, if I remember right.
Among other things, you want to avoid winding up with VRDB “backups” of files that are already infected – it’s essentially the same problem as having a virus onboard that’s affected a few of your system-restore points.
Anytime you do want to do a “generate now”, for whatever reason, make sure you’re starting clean. Run a thorough scan first (preferably a boot-time scan, if your system supports that), and it wouldn’t hurt to also run an online scan too just to be sure.
Hardware firewalls are more “powerful” then software firewalls, and there are less vunrabilitys in them, also a software firewall sits “on top” of your computer, but a hardware firewall sits in front of your pc like a gateway, so to speak.
My suggestion is to get both hardware and software firewall, main reason for a software one for the application and dll authentication.
For hardware firewall i have only ever used my zonet router with build in SOHO hardware firewall which works well.
For software firewalls i would recomend one of these:
Sygate firewall (my personal favorite), which works well by default and very stable, also uses few resorses.
Zonealarm, which is very good, stable, i personaly don’t like the interface it has, but still a good firewall.
Outpost, very good and stable but is more complicated to use becuase it uses rules rather then the usaul authentication way.
People will point you toward these three mainly, but it all comes down to personal opinon, you can’t go wrong either way really.
BTW sygate, zonealarm and outpost all have a free version of there firewall aswell as a paid version.
Oops, yes kerio is another commonly used firewall, i had some trouble with a beta version in the past, but it seems to be fixed now, it is a good firewall also.
