Freeware Firewall wanted

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Do any of your internet/computer gurus types out there know of a good freeware firewall available on the net?

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

There are a few linux-based ones, like smoothwall. Search for things like "linux" and "firewall" and you ought to find something.

Bird

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I wish I was computer literate enough to use/understand linus/x bird. I'm strictly a windooze user.

[astronut (John)]

Paul, Zone Alarm is very good I've used it for a number of years.

There is a basic level that works very well ( free ) or you can purchase the more advanced unit. Just type in Zone Alarm and it will take you to the site. Cheers, John

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I've used Zone Alarm myself a few years aga John, I should have remembered that. Friday nightitis I'm afraid

[RAJAH235]

Paul, >http://207.33.111.31/spf/spf5.5b2710.exe
This is a free Sygate Firewall that is very stable & easy to configure..Been using it for over 15 mths. np.
Another good one is Zonealarm....HTH. L.

[astronut (John)]

Paul, With a fresh download, it will allow you to use Zone Alarm Pro for two weeks for free. You can then buy it or go back to the basic level

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Cheers guys, that'll get me going. I've used both Zone Alarm (V.4 from years and years ago) and Sygate. Guess I'll download both and see which one I like the best. If I install them both but only have one working at a time will they interfer with each other?

[Starkler (Geoff)]

I use Kerio personal firewall, but its for a more advanced user who knows a bit about internet protocols.

[asimov (John)]

Yup, Kerio is not bad. I've been using zonealarm for 4 years with no problems.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Starkler

I use Kerio personal firewall, but its for a more advanced user who knows a bit about internet protocols.

tony kERIO HAS BEEN BOUGHT OUT BY SYMANTEC AND IS NO LONGER SUPPORTED OR AVAILABLE

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I've taken the easy option. I've loaded Sygate on a laptop and Zone Alarm on one of the desktops. That way I'll can evaluate both over the next few months and see which one I like the best. Thanks Guys

[cjmarsh81]

If you are evaluating Zone alarm you must remember that the latest version while having more features slows the computer down. I am using V4.5 as I found all the newer ones to be too slow.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Does that go for just the basic Zone Alarm V6 as well cj? or for the pro version. I'm only using the free version with just the firewall ability

[cjmarsh81]

Sorry, haven't used the basic one.

[g__day (Matthew)]

I've used zone alarms pro for years. Now I'm on Zone Alarms suite 6 and I swaer by it.

If you are on broadband I'd strongly suggest connect your modem via a NAT router with and in-built hardware firewall ( a $119 D-Link or sysgate is fine) then add zonealarms and finally spybot search and destroy. Also make sure you keep all your windows patches up to date and turn off global file sharing - share particular directories - not entire drives annd enable strong passwords on all accounts e.g not null accounts or password = qwerty or password!

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Bird is right though. If you want a cheap and easy firewall you stick Linux on an old PC and make it your firewall server and connect to the web through that. Stuff running on your windows box is not going to be nowhere near as secure. But any firewall is better than none.

[netwolf]

Paul,

Do you have broadband or a modem dialup?

Regards

[RAJAH235]

Paul, The Sygate 2710 link is very good. Sygate have been bought out by Symantec? As such, they no longer support the free versions. But the later versions were glitchy. Nothing wrong with 5.5.2710. Why upgrade? It's a firewall. It works or it doesn't. Mine does. No bugs here. Ever. Why pay when there's free ones.. L.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Originally Posted by netwolf

Paul,

Do you have broadband or a modem dialup?

Regards

Dialup :shudder: never again. ......Broad band netwolf.