free firewall..

General Topics
1

hi! guys what’s a good free firewall to replace winXP built-in firewall? given these choices…

zone alarm personal FW
sygate personal FW
comodo FW
sunbelt personal FW(formerly kerio)
PC tools free personal FW

criteria: light on resources(does’nt slow down PC/internet)
user friendly
quick start-up
simple yet effective against attacks
less or no pop-ups
does not conflict w/avast

2

A search of this forum will lead you to many choices.
This is just one of them:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=29448.0

3

In order, imho:

  1. Comodo
  2. PC tools
  3. Zone alarm
  4. Sunbelt (kerio)
  5. Sygate

I’ve not tested PC Tools.

Comodo is not very good on this point.

Comodo has a configurable option for this.

None will. avast is not a firewall, just an antivirus.

4

You’ll never get no pop-ups, if you want to control outgoing traffic, which is the whole point of a third-party firewall.

Here are my recommendations, in order of what I think will fit the bill.

ZA Free:

  • Few, intuitive pop-ups, user-friendly, works with avast! (Free version)
  • Latest version drops internet connection after hibernation on my computer. Re-connection causes BSOD’s. (May be working fine on other systems.)

http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/support/zasc/gettingStarted.jsp?anchor=alerts&lid=zasupp_u

Kerio:

  • Few, intuitive pop-ups, user-friendly, works with avast!
  • Need to block some incoming connections to system processes to get a pass at Shields Up! (All ports stealthed), GUI locks up with multiple connections (eg P2P), doesn’t seem to be being updated very often by Sunbelt, latest version seems to have turned into nag ware (frequent reminders that you’re using the free version, and would you like to get the paid version?)

http://www.geocities.com/dontsurfinthenude/kerio_setup.htm

Comodo:

  • Nice GUI, seems stable, network shield and application control, customisable rules, more control over what an application can do on your computer.
  • A bit less user friendly, for the novice at least. Requires a bit of research at the Comodo forum to understand what it is doing, more pop-ups, more occasions where you think ‘I’m not sure what I just did by clicking ‘accept’ there’, requires special rules for P2P programs.

PCTools:
Never tried this one, so can’t really comment.

Sygate:
Now defunct and unsupported. Still works, but had the most incomprehensible pop-ups I’ve ever seen.

You can always try different firewalls until you find one you are comfortable with, but be sure to have only one installed at any time.

5

I think PC Tools Firewall Plus or Ghostwall will best fit your description.

I don’t recommend comodo to anyone!

6
I don't recommend comodo to anyone!
That is quite obvious unfortunately you have yet to offer any proof why Comodo shouldn't be used. Personal dislikes without proof are totally useless. IMHO
7

sounds this is turning into this firewall ‘vs’ this firewall thread part 4 i think bob ??? ::slight_smile:

http://i19.tinypic.com/4t5l85c.gif

8

No its not! At least not with me!

Bob,

Look under a bridge if you want to play with trolls! ;D ;D ;D

9
I think PC Tools Firewall Plus or Ghostwall will best fit your description.

I don’t recommend comodo to anyone!


just seems that way ::slight_smile:

10

Still waiting for your proof. Still haven’t seen any.

To be a troll, you need to at least use the product which I currently don’t. ;D

11

http://i14.tinypic.com/52xf1va.gif
take care of this thread Garfield ;D

Still waiting for your proof. Still haven't seen any.
nope-probably won't ;)
12

Dan is stirring up the toilet bowl like a bad little troll, trying to get stuff started. I bet he plays under bridges with mastertech poptech. ;D ;D ;D

It won’t work!

Dan,

Give it a rest. ::slight_smile:

13

In the mean while, you still haven’t presented any proof.

14
I bet he plays under bridges with 'mastertech' poptech

http://i15.tinypic.com/52us6r4.jpg
;D

http://www.matousec.com/projects/windows-personal-firewall-analysis/results.php and where’s pctools firewall plus on this list ???
from here… http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=29259.60 …thanks!!

Dan is stirring up the toilet bowl

http://i10.tinypic.com/68laryw.gif

For those who want a really nice Firewall…
Build one yourself! FREE! http://www.itpeer.dyndns.org/dtae_Firewalls.htm

15

thanks guys. really appreciate your replies, i think i’m gonna try either sunbelt or comodo. hopefully avast will launch its own free FW. :smiley:

16

http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Home-Home-Office/Sunbelt-Personal-Firewall/Download/
Free 30 day full featured evaluation
For Windows

  • 2000 Professional (desktop version)
  • XP Home
  • XP Professional
  • XP Media Center Edition Download Sunbelt Personal Firewall
    We plan on releasing a Vista compatible version in the near future
    Sunbelt Personal Firewall 4 can run in a free mode vs. a full (paid) mode. Install it now, and for the first 30 days it will run in ‘full’ mode. After that, it shuts down selected features, but will continue to run in ‘free’ mode".
    don’t know how much you get as far as protection in the free mode ???
    comodo is free and full protection :wink:

http://i11.tinypic.com/662qefl.gif

17

Almost as much as the pro, without the bells & whistles.

Sunbelt PF is MUCH easier than Comodo & more user friendly (in my opinion, off course).

18
don't know how much you get as far as protection in the free mode

Exactly the same firewall protection, just without all the BSOD’s the HIPS module gives you, and the web filtering capability, which the evil Adblock can provide in Firefox. (Muahahah!)

19

Sunbelt are practically giving the firewall away at the moment anyway: 10$- that’s two beers in the pub here.

20
10$- that's two beers in the pub here
what's it filtered with-GOLD http://i17.tinypic.com/504x2xv.gif ;D

http://i11.tinypic.com/6f956pt.png