I’ve been using avast for almost a year and I’ve been very happy with the service provided. As my subject points out I am pondering if I should install a Fire Wall.
Computer Specs: Pentium IV with HT (3.2GHz), 2GB RAM (2 one GB RAM memory sticks), Running under Vista Home Basic with SP1.
Problem: Just got intermediate Internet (moved up from dial-up) and am now permanently connected to the net.
Details: I know Vista has its own fire wall but can I rely on it? So far I had no viruses and no problems, but that is due mostly to Avast. I did have some virus detection when surfing the net but these were blocked by AVAST before they even downloaded on my Computer. The Scanner is set to max and I feel comfortable with what I have so far. My issue is that since I don’t know everything I would like to find out if there is a free, and reliable Fire Wall that runs on Vista and complements Avast. (or is Avast behaving like a Fire WALL as well as an anti virus)
Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
While providing complete inbound AND outbound protection, by default, the Vista firewall does not contain any rules for controlling of outbound traffic. That is, every program is allowed to go out.
One thing though. does the Vista firewall, as is, still provides a good enough protection… I’d really hate to have to change settings in my network especially when I have no clue how it works.
The Vista firewall has outbound protection disabled by default, so I would say as is, no it isn’t good enough. If you enable the outbound protection, it is rules based and you have to create the rules, not easy, this is Why he suggests the Vista Firewall Control to make that task easier.
Or there are the other third party firewalls he mentions.
Thanks for the reply. I’m curious though if I should trust freeware like Vista Firewall Control. The other option is tempting but I’m always skeptical about these things. do yo know anything about Comodo? If you have other examples I am more than interested. Thank you again.
At some point you have to trust something, and we wouldn’t recommend software that was ‘untrustworthy.’
I have never used Comodo firewall as I’m very happy with my own Paid option Outpost Firewall Pro 2009, but there are many forum members using it as are there for PC Tools firewall.
It seems like Comodo is a bit like Avast so it’s probably my most likely choice … I’ll ponder a while before installing anything… Can any one who uses Vista Home Basic SP1 and avast as an retrovirus confirm if they had issues or problems with Comodo… Please
Last two days I’ve tried twice to install Comodo in my Vista Business SP1 32 bits… both times I couldn’t even boot
I need to boot in Safe Mode and uninstall Comodo… It’s not the first tentative (and I’ve done twice)… maybe later…
I keep reading similar claims on CNET’s download.com from users. I looked at PcTools and it’s almost the same thing as PcTools (for Vista Users anyway). I tend to blame Vista but then again I never thought I’d have so many issues with this System. Does any one have some suggestion concerning which Firewalls are running well on Vista (and are free).
I think at least some of this has to do with software writers and manufacturers scrambling to include Vista and having to iron out the bugs as they go along. We went through a bit of this with XP (when it came out,) too.
Although they seem to go to extremes. Again thank you all for the support.
Conclusion: While I am not certain of this I believe that I’ll wait a bit before choosing to install any fire wall. Based on my own experience as a home user, utilizing the native Vista Fire Wall along side Avast I have had no apparent issues or problems. The Vista Fire Wall prevents most of the threats out there and avast seems to monitor all activities on my computer with the Standard Shield so I know I’m not at a high risk of infection.
Note: if any one disagrees, please tell me so. I’ll mark the thread as solved in 24-48 Hours
It comes with Ask toollbar that is automatically installed without permission and is notorious in its false positive detection of applications upon installation.
Does anybody have experience with Webroot firewall on Vista?
Tried to install Comodo v3 in my Vista and can’t boot… need to uninstall in Safe Mode.
Online Armor is a beta for Vista and limited to 30 days.
PCTools is not well categorized in tests, is own by Symantec…
Alwil firewall is in a very distant future…
8)
They are free and work great with avast!.