Need a recommendation on a good firewall to use??
EiS
Hello everybody i was wondering what ppl recommend as a good firewall i will try anything except norton cuz there crap and use to much computer resorses i have been thinking about tiny firewall but not sure so anything out there that has a good recommendation could you plz help me out
Josh
Costs to be safe online.
And in this case, resources are the cost!
You could try ZoneAlarm. (Google it)
And in this case, resources are the cost!
You could try ZoneAlarm. (Google it)
mathewthegreat
Sygate personal firewall has always been a good friend to me, it uses hardly any resources and i have used it for many years and to this day i have never had a virus. However i am sure this is also to do with careful selection of what i download.
It doesnt support x64 architecture though, but if yours till running windows 32 bit with either a 64 bit or 32 bit processor it runs fine.
It doesnt support x64 architecture though, but if yours till running windows 32 bit with either a 64 bit or 32 bit processor it runs fine.
Ghozer
None... I have never used a firewall, and never will, if someone REALLY wants to get in, that wont stop them...
my router has a hardware firewall built in, i left that on for the hell of it (since its there any way) but i diddnt buy it specifically cause it had a firewall..
and "mathewthegreat" - firewalls dont stop viruses :P
but yes... Just be careful what you click/download and use, and you should never need a firewall, (or virus checker for that matter, tho I do run one, beacuse of foreign CD's and things from friends, I cant trust them as some arent as careful as me)
my router has a hardware firewall built in, i left that on for the hell of it (since its there any way) but i diddnt buy it specifically cause it had a firewall..
and "mathewthegreat" - firewalls dont stop viruses :P
but yes... Just be careful what you click/download and use, and you should never need a firewall, (or virus checker for that matter, tho I do run one, beacuse of foreign CD's and things from friends, I cant trust them as some arent as careful as me)
mathewthegreat
I didnt say they did stop virus's, you merely assumed that. Infact if someone wished to hack into your pc via an open port and release a trojan/virus, if you had a firewall would to an extent "protect you from a virus".
So, ghozer if you have a firewall in your router you have used a firewall before.
If someone wants to get into your pc, a decent firewall would show a popup indicating someone was performing a port scan. You can then BLOCK ALL TRAFFIC. Firewalls make it alot harder for hackers.
To say firewalls are to be neglected would be an idiotic comment in my honest oppinion.
Also if you have a router firewall make sure your username password is changed from Admin/Epicrouter.
So, ghozer if you have a firewall in your router you have used a firewall before.
If someone wants to get into your pc, a decent firewall would show a popup indicating someone was performing a port scan. You can then BLOCK ALL TRAFFIC. Firewalls make it alot harder for hackers.
To say firewalls are to be neglected would be an idiotic comment in my honest oppinion.
Also if you have a router firewall make sure your username password is changed from Admin/Epicrouter.
Str0b0
Buy a router. Even if you are the only computer on your connection buy a router. Most Routers today are NAT routers with stealthing capabilities. It's about as safe as you can get. They cloak all your ports so your computer doesn't even show up to ping requests or other traffic solicitations. The only traffic that gets through is the traffic you solicit or allow through. A router is a generally cheaper alternative to purchasing firewall software. You can get away with a good four port home router for about 20-30 bucks where as most firewall software costs about 50 and doesn't do nearly as good a job.
I recommend Belkin. They make good serviceable personal routers with NAT and stealth capability. They also have a gaming mode built into the router to keep it from doing it's microsecond security disconnect.
I recommend Belkin. They make good serviceable personal routers with NAT and stealth capability. They also have a gaming mode built into the router to keep it from doing it's microsecond security disconnect.
EternalTempest
As Str0b0 said, get a router (as long as your on high speed, does not work with dial-up).
I also love and use sysgate personal firewall (Freeware) - http://www.symantecstore.com/dr/v2/e... HE_ID=203890
Don't let the it's discouted scare you, the company just got bought out and they want you to buy the Norton (Bloated in size, and resource usage) soultion. Sometime you only need *just* a firewall.
This is more to check for programs that want to talk out to the internet. Router does a great job or protection inbound.
If sysgate personal firewall is to complicated for you to use (very power but not as "friendly" as other firewalls, try ZoneAlarm (free version) - http://www.download.com/3000-2092-10039884.html
I also love and use sysgate personal firewall (Freeware) - http://www.symantecstore.com/dr/v2/e... HE_ID=203890
Don't let the it's discouted scare you, the company just got bought out and they want you to buy the Norton (Bloated in size, and resource usage) soultion. Sometime you only need *just* a firewall.
This is more to check for programs that want to talk out to the internet. Router does a great job or protection inbound.
If sysgate personal firewall is to complicated for you to use (very power but not as "friendly" as other firewalls, try ZoneAlarm (free version) - http://www.download.com/3000-2092-10039884.html
EiS
oh and BTW its not sysgate its sygate
Xenrath
Yeah Sygate is good, also ZoneAlarm (for free!)
Having a router is a good option, but afaik those don't have application level control. Having a software firewall in addition to a router will give you alerts about which programs are trying to go out to the internet and incoming stuff too (can help spot spyware/malware etc)
Having a router is a good option, but afaik those don't have application level control. Having a software firewall in addition to a router will give you alerts about which programs are trying to go out to the internet and incoming stuff too (can help spot spyware/malware etc)
EiS
Well i do have a router but i always run a software firewall too cuz like you just said Xenrath and also a little extra protection
kvndoom
Quote:
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Originally Posted by EternalTempest
As Str0b0 said, get a router (as long as your on high speed, does not work with dial-up).
I also love and use sysgate personal firewall (Freeware) - http://www.symantecstore.com/dr/v2/e... HE_ID=203890 Don't let the it's discouted scare you, the company just got bought out and they want you to buy the Norton (Bloated in size, and resource usage) soultion. Sometime you only need *just* a firewall. This is more to check for programs that want to talk out to the internet. Router does a great job or protection inbound. If sysgate personal firewall is to complicated for you to use (very power but not as "friendly" as other firewalls, try ZoneAlarm (free version) - http://www.download.com/3000-2092-10039884.html |
fallot
I would advise you not to get a software firewall, they can create a whole host of problems and are somewhat unnecessary. Invest in a router instead.
Teklord
As it would seem the majority in this thread have gone I would agree, purchase a nice little router. Nothing beats a hardware solution, and it will take up zero (0) computer resources. Any of the router/firewall solutions I've seen are fire and forget solutions, save if you want to host any particular services (FTP, TS etc). Software firewalls are a pain in the butt to configure so that everything that needs access has the access, and they eat up system resources which is never a good thing for a gamer.
To comment on the above, yes firewalls can stop viri. Not all though, as keep in mind anything you choose to download could potentially contain a virus. It will block self replicating viri that migrate using open ports which firewalls keep nice and locked down.
That's my take. I've been using only router/firewalls ever since I got my highspeed internet about six years ago. As far as I know I've never been infected, at least not with anything serious enough to notice.
To comment on the above, yes firewalls can stop viri. Not all though, as keep in mind anything you choose to download could potentially contain a virus. It will block self replicating viri that migrate using open ports which firewalls keep nice and locked down.
That's my take. I've been using only router/firewalls ever since I got my highspeed internet about six years ago. As far as I know I've never been infected, at least not with anything serious enough to notice.
Tachyon
This is not a suggestion for the OP, well unless you want to try it that is.
Does anyone here have any experience with the Smoothwall hardware firewall? The reason I ask is that I have an old PIII~700 sitting around doing nothing and I like a challenge. I was thinking about wiping the 30GB HDD on the old machine and installing Softwall and using it as a stand-alone firewall.
What I'd like to know is has anyone tried this and how would it react to my main system, this one, being Windows XP based?
Does anyone here have any experience with the Smoothwall hardware firewall? The reason I ask is that I have an old PIII~700 sitting around doing nothing and I like a challenge. I was thinking about wiping the 30GB HDD on the old machine and installing Softwall and using it as a stand-alone firewall.
What I'd like to know is has anyone tried this and how would it react to my main system, this one, being Windows XP based?
Omega X
Quote:
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Originally Posted by fallot
I would advise you not to get a software firewall, they can create a whole host of problems and are somewhat unnecessary. Invest in a router instead.
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I would recommend getting a router in addition to a nice little software firewall to catch rogue programs trying to communicate to unwarranted sources.
Software firewalls only creates problems when you are too stupid to use one.
koneko
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Azagoth
Does anyone here have any experience with the Smoothwall hardware firewall? The reason I ask is that I have an old PIII~700 sitting around doing nothing and I like a challenge. I was thinking about wiping the 30GB HDD on the old machine and installing Softwall and using it as a stand-alone firewall.
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It would likely be cheaper and less stressful to simply use a cheap "consumer-grade" router instead (Linksys WRT54G, et all) since it consumes less power in comparison to m0n0wall/Smoothwall running 24/7.
/no to the software firewall. If you're smart about it, you won't need one.
SuperNomad
My router has an in built one, but before I used Zone Alarm and my friend used Zone Alarm for quite a while and he says its really good (he has quite a crap PC) you could just buy a router, but that costs money, all depends if your willing to pay to buy a router or a professional firewall.
But I don't think you really need an expensive option. You just have to be slightly careful on what you download.
But I don't think you really need an expensive option. You just have to be slightly careful on what you download.
EternalTempest
Quote:
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Originally Posted by koneko
If you're interested in dedicating a machine to run a firewall, look into m0n0wall also. It's much more "simplistic" than Smoothwall in terms of ease of configurability. It's completely transparent to a workstation, as all routers should be.
It would likely be cheaper and less stressful to simply use a cheap "consumer-grade" router instead (Linksys WRT54G, et all) since it consumes less power in comparison to m0n0wall/Smoothwall running 24/7. /no to the software firewall. If you're smart about it, you won't need one. |
muelon
I use ZONEALARM
works great
works great
Serafita Kayin
Truth from a technician's own computer.
Here goes-buy a router. Use it. It keeps you safe.
Software firewalls-unless you're either A. working for a forum site or B. engaging in illicit activities, you can easily get by with Windows firewall. The SP2 updates actually made it into a viable soluton, in conjunction with a router.
Smoothwall and such? If you devote some initial time, best out there. It's got extra computing capacity to handle all kinds of advanced functions. Real good stuff.
Here goes-buy a router. Use it. It keeps you safe.
Software firewalls-unless you're either A. working for a forum site or B. engaging in illicit activities, you can easily get by with Windows firewall. The SP2 updates actually made it into a viable soluton, in conjunction with a router.
Smoothwall and such? If you devote some initial time, best out there. It's got extra computing capacity to handle all kinds of advanced functions. Real good stuff.
Ghozer
Quote:
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Originally Posted by mathewthegreat
I didnt say they did stop virus's, you merely assumed that. Infact if someone wished to hack into your pc via an open port and release a trojan/virus, if you had a firewall would to an extent "protect you from a virus".
So, ghozer if you have a firewall in your router you have used a firewall before. If someone wants to get into your pc, a decent firewall would show a popup indicating someone was performing a port scan. You can then BLOCK ALL TRAFFIC. Firewalls make it alot harder for hackers. To say firewalls are to be neglected would be an idiotic comment in my honest oppinion. Also if you have a router firewall make sure your username password is changed from Admin/Epicrouter. |
the ONLY reason I have a router is for the Wireless Capability to use my PSP online, If I diddnt have a PSP, I wouldnt have a router, and in return, no firewall..
the reason I never have used a firewall (other than NOW, the one in the router) is because software firewalls are pointless.. they pop up a warning every time a port scan happens (and your ISP can do these legally) and make the user panic, thinking someones trying to get in etc... when really its just a little ping packet sent to a few ports...
Software firewalls slow your PC down, slow your connection down, and can cause no end of problems for other applications on your PC...
EiS
they only slow things down if you don't set them up and just leave them at default settings yes they will slow you connection if you do that but if you set them up right it dosen't slow anything down unless you use like nortons firewall they have to be the biggest resourse users man there programs even use more ram and stuff then most of my games i play only noobs that don't know how to use a firewall correctly will have the problem of the firewall slowing down your connection and also most firewalls have a option so you can turn thoes warnings off so you don't see them everytime someone is trying to port scan you or something like that i could just call you the firewall noob Ghozer
the only problem i had with a firewall was when i forgot to turn off that gay windows built in firewall then installed another one over it but as soon is i turned off that built in one everything was fine and smooth
the only problem i had with a firewall was when i forgot to turn off that gay windows built in firewall then installed another one over it but as soon is i turned off that built in one everything was fine and smooth