Best Firewall?

[Parabola]

Today I noticed that ZoneAlarm had come out with a new version 3.0 while I wasn't paying attention, so I decided to upgrade from 2.6. Big mistake - the new version is complete crap. Uses more resources and all the useful features on 2.6 are either gone or changed to be harder to use. (for example it didn't show total bytes sent or recieved anymore, something I look at all the time).

This whole thing got me wondering if there are any (free) firewalls out there that are better than ZoneAlarm. Any recommendations?

[BloodySabbath]

AVG and F-secure are two AV apps that are pretty popular (i'm not sure if they're freeware, but i you can just download them and than apply a crack.) but i prefer ZA over both of them. If you're happy with 2.6, just uninstall 3.0 and go back to that.

[Weasel Bomb]

I'd reccomend going with sygate personal firewall. You can get it from cnet's download.com. I made the switch from zone alarm because I couldn't stand it any longer. Sygate is just as good as zone alarm and it has less bugs

[dreams]

I agree, Im running Pro version of Sygate.

[DigitalJunkie]

Are you sure it is version 3.0 not 3.1? I just downloaded today also!

The new version does take a while to get use to it. I also use NetStat from AnalogX which provides more details on how many bytes you receive or sent anyway, so it doesn't matter to me that feature is gone from ZoneAlarm.

If you like version 2.6, you can download it from http://www.oldversion.com

[Parabola]

Thanks for the replies. I'll definitely check out the sygate firewall. In the meantime I have gone back to 2.6 (if it ain't broke don't fix it...).

[cmyden]

You may wanna check out the Gibson Research page on which firewalls are the best:

http://grc.com/lt/scoreboard.htm

Good (never leaked)
----------------------------

McAfee Firewall v 2.15+ — Update to get version 2.15 or later

Sygate Personal FW (FREE) v 4.0+ — FREE for personal use!

Symantec / Norton v 2.55+ — LiveUpdate to get version 2.55

Tiny Personal FW (FREE) v 2.0.7+ — FREE for personal use!

ZoneAlarm (FREE) Never Leaked

ZoneAlarm Pro Never Leaked

Bad
------

AtGuard None Known YES (in same directory)

BlackICE Defender Doesn't block unknown Trojans, Viruses, or Spyware

Conseal Desktop None Known YES (in any directory)

Conseal PC FW No Provision to block Trojans, Viruses, or Spyware

eSafe Desktop YES (stealth) YES (in any directory)

PrivateFirewall 2.0 None Known YES (in same directory)

Lockdown 2000 No Provision to block Trojans, Viruses, or Spyware

Personally
----------------

I find ZoneAlarm to be the best for the inexperienced computer user. (Not to insinuate it isn't a 'powerful firewall', it is excellent, and happens to be user-friendly)

Sygate Personal FW to be the best for the somewhat experienced computer.

Tiny Personal FW to be the best for the advanced computer user.

chris

[bobhss]

I've used Tiny Personal Firewall 2.0.15, it's free and does it's job without being too complicated. Another one I've heard of is Outpost 1.0.1817. It's also free, but I've never used it. Both can be found at www.webattack.com

[comppfl]

I use Norton Internet Security/Antivirus 2002 and it is absolutely wonderful. I strongly recommend this as a firewall. It will set you back about $49.99 for the Regular and about $69.99 for Pro but it is well worth it! Of course, you can also rip it off KL :lol:, which is what i would have done only then one won't have the luxury of the free updates and virus definitions:-\.

[«°¤§téålth§t®îk餰»]

i use zone alarm 3.1 pro, it it works great, even though it has changed quite a bit.

maybe you should go to download.com and see what freeware versions of firewalls there are.

[12345678910]

I Use One Of Zone Alarms' Older Versions. It Works Fine For Me And Gets The Job Done.

[CCSDUDE]

ZA 2.6.88 - TPFW - Tiny personal firewall. Either one is good but ZA is up more then TPFW

[CCSDUDE]

Originally posted by «°¤§téålth§t®îk餰»
i use zone alarm 3.1 pro, it it works great, even though it has changed quite a bit.

maybe you should go to download.com and see what freeware versions of firewalls there are.



Anything over 2 I've had problems with on many PC's it doesn't like most programs or it crashes an lets everything through.

[Parabola]

Hey guys, I went and downloaded the Sygate firewall, and in my opinion it KILLS zonealarm. Smaller, faster, better. Caught a couple things things zonealarm let right through (like the kernel accessing the internet, which I still haven't quite figured out). It also provides way more detailed information than the free version of zonealarm.

[CCSDUDE]

Originally posted by Parabola
Hey guys, I went and downloaded the Sygate firewall, and in my opinion it KILLS zonealarm. Smaller, faster, better. Caught a couple things things zonealarm let right through (like the kernel accessing the internet, which I still haven't quite figured out). It also provides way more detailed information than the free version of zonealarm.


2.0 an below catchs EVERY app trying to get on the net. I've seen it, done it, blocked it. ZA 3 is shit IMHO.




Peace all, Later

[hawkburn]

Zone Alarm Pro All The Way!!

[geffers]

if your using sygate this site is well worth a look at it will
explain the workings/settings forspf v5 it gives you a better idea of just what is going on .

http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=60610&ck=


:fire

[CCSDUDE]

"Also, I am sure you already know this, but when you Dl it from the site, you can rename it so you know what it is later. spf.exe might not look familiar to me 6 months down the road."



THIS HAPPENS WAY TO MUCH! Go DL 20+ app's to check out an forget to rename them from - cache374.4.exe or whatever an now you have no clue WTF it is. So now I rename every file in this format. Program name - version.exe/zip/ect Then place each set of files in a folder dated by day so I know when I got what.

Seem's to keep it all clean.

BTW anyone with swapping problems should check out cacheman I've been using that on older systems for a while now an it speeds them up pretty damn good. Toss in litestep or aston an you can get old systems to run pretty lean.

Peace all, Later