Anybody recomend a good free firewall.

[magpienja]

Hi all I used to used Sygate....for some reason that I know not...its been un-installed from my PC,

Can anybody recommend a decent free firewall please.

Nick.

[BOAC]

Windows or Zone Alarm

[mixture]

If you are behind a router with network address translation enabled,

NAT is NOT a form of security !

UPnP and reverse proxies are just two ways to bypass NAT.

I seem to recall a PPRuNe user by the name of XV105 discovered the hard way what UPnP was capable of.... and it all happened automatically because he just plugged in a new NAS storage box he bought.

However I do agree that top priorities are (a) running up to date software and (b) running up to date anti-virus.

The problem with many free firewalls are that they're nothing more than packet filters with a GUI bolted on. You want something more intelligent with decent rulesets.

[magpienja]

Just wondering, I currently have the built in Win XP firewall running,

I wonder how effective is that compared to the likes of Zone Alarm etc.

We are using a wire connected virgin modem the PC is running Win XP,

I'm not too technical with PC's and have heard of Zone Alarm so I think I will give that a go,

Many thanks chaps.

Nick.

[green granite]

The main difference is that you can easily prevent programs accessing the internet with Zone Alarm, I consider it the very last line of defence. Don't forget to tick the 'remember this setting' box while you do the training.

[jcjeant]

Hi,

Home of Gibson Research Corporation (http://www.grc.com/intro.htm)

[Bushfiva]

Oh good grief, a bit of knicker elastic could pass the Gibson tests. Everything passes the Gibson tests. It's just testing an extremely limited set of ports, which is not the way most of the world works. If you fail a naff Gibson test, there are a bunch of other things you should have checked a long time ago.

[seanbean]

This article/list/review (http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-firewall.htm) gives you all that most people will need to know.

[magpienja]

Downloaded and installed Zone alarm....got stuck at the first hurdle unfortunately...it asks do I want to set to trusted or public.....with no explanation as to what would suit my needs,

Anybody help on that one....

[green granite]

Trusted is a home type network that you have control over and is encrypted for wireless access, public is just that, a network with access to by anyone with no encryption.

[magpienja]

I see, well its only used at home with a non wireles modem so I suppose I should set it to trusted.

Nick.

[green granite]

Yes..............................

[jamesdevice]

"Downloaded and installed Zone alarm....got stuck at the first hurdle"

hence my belief that for most people, the Windows Firewall is sufficient: adding anything else just adds complexity and is likely to end up with reduced security as people don't understand what they are being asked - and so answer incorrectly

[green granite]

That way you never learn anything jamesdevice

[jamesdevice]

point taken, but the fact remains that the vast majority of home computer users aren't capable of understanding the nuances of configuring a software firewall
lets face it - most have problems formatting a document.
Most home users need protecting from themselves, and the fewer variables you give them to fiddle with, the better

[magpienja]

I'm inclined to agree with you james device....fire walls are the devils work as far as I'm concerned.

Nick.

[Mike-Bracknell]

I'm glad that everyone's finally coming around to my point of view regarding 3rd party software firewalls :)

[jamesdevice]

I've strongly believed it for years Mike. Customers need it simple, or they get it wrong
The Microsoft firewall may not be the best, but its better than the best one not working!

[Mike-Bracknell]

:ok::ok::ok::ok::ok::ok::ok::ok::ok:

[magpienja]

Odd...had Zone Alarm installed for around a week now and not one single message or warning from it...when I was using Sygate we often got a warning along the lines of something want to connect with your computer....do you want to allow it,

Makes me think that ZA is not doing anything....or am I looking at it the wrong way.

[green granite]

It just logs events, it doesn't bother you with them. I you wish you can view the events.

[jamesdevice]

a recent review (i.e. like I read it yesterday) indicates ZoneAlarm has been toned down a bit in terms of what it does.....less capable, but maybe also less intrusive. Maybe an attempt to catch up with what M$ have achieved with theirs???? Maybe you're benefiting from the change