Folks, there seems to be different opinions of firewall usage here at the forum. I would like to start a thread here and see what folks have to say about the firewalls they have tried and most of all which one(s) you like the best and why? If you can list the one(s) you have tried.... the one(s) you like the best.... include the make and the version(s) of the ones that were successful to you. It has come to my intention that often some versions of a product are good and then some versions are not so good... Feel free not only to list the ones you like but also the ones you feel are garbage as well so we can get an idea what to stay away from etc.
I myself am looking for a simple light firewall that will give me adequate protection with DSL access and not cause me a lot of headaches....simple to install, simple to use etc.
anyway feel free to jot down your experiences with different firewalls and the conclusion of your searching.
Not all of us have the time to try everything out there so reviews and comments from others can be very helpful to help us find one that does a good job.
As in my previous thread, I am having problems with the newest free version of Zone alarm. This is version 5.1.011.000. I had started using the free version of Zone Alarm when it first came out and had been using version 2.1 for some time. I had a couple of upgrades since then and they all worked fine. I don't know what version I was up to when my HD went south. I DL's the latest version but I believe I still have Ver 2.1 somewhere on a CD rom I burned of downloads. I have downloaded Keria but after reading some reviews, have not installed it. I have also just Downloaded the free version of Sygate and have not installed it either. I am trying to decide whether to go back to Zone Alarm ver 2.1. I don't like the interface menus of the new Zone alarm and like Gabru am looking for something simple and free of conflicts. I look forward to reading further responses in this thread.
I have used Sygate for several years, with no problems, was on dialup now on DSL, the thing I like about it dosent load down your machine and screw up Like Zone Alarm did on mine. Im sure I will catch flak on that, but thats the way it affected my machine.
There's an issue with DSL and a software firewall that may or may not concern you. I don't know the technicalities, but how a swfw acts before the gui is available at boot-up could leave you unprotected for a short time. This is a concern for some, but not others, and I don't know anything about how the various ones behave.
I'm a happy Outpost user, after ZA and Tiny. Setting it up is as simple or as complicated as you want to make it, and the plugins are nice - not so useful in Moz, but very useful for IE I would imagine.
I'm using the latest version of ZA Proand ZA Free on various computers. No pproblems whatsoever on any machine. ZA is still the top rated firewall by many experts, and nothing is easier to install, configure, and use. They had some real problems with the first release if version 5.1, but that is behind us now with the latest release. There are many added capabilities in the new release that you can choose to use or not. I don't use most of them because they are redundant with other programs I have so I don't need them.
I didn't know there was a Version 2.7 of Kerio Personal Firewall. Anyway, what t_bare said applies to Kerio 2.1.5, which I have used for years. The newer versions of Kerio are bloat. Other bloatware products include Zone Alarm, Sygate, Outpost, and the current Tiny Personal Firewall builds. Why do you need to install a 5MB-8MB firewall, when a 355KB firewall (Look n Stop Lite) does the same thing? A firewall should be just that...a firewall, and shouldn't include everything but the kitchen sink.
>Kerio 2.7 > >Ive tried ZA and a few others, and I have always come back to >kerio. > >Light footprint, stable, quite secure, non invasive and easy >to configure. Tried the newer versions of Kerio and they were >somewhat disastrous for me. > > >ZA was a bit tough to configure and was forever blocking me >from what I need to do. >
#9. "RE: Firewall Poll" In response to KJT (Reply # 7) Wed Sep-01-04 06:00 PM by Acadia
In the past I have used Norton Firewall, 2001 or 2002, I forget which one, then LooknStop and now ZA Free 4.5. I have liked them all. I am now using ZA Free because I simply wanted an easy (and cheap) firewall to use behind a router now that I've switch to cable broadband two months ago. ZA matched up perfectly with the router and needed no configuration, some software firewalls will need some tweaking to work correctly behind a router. Norton gave me many more options, options that I simply don't need anymore. LooknStop was an interesting product, not too many people know about it, they have a good tech support forum over at Wilders. Oh yeah, one other thing sold me on ZA ... Shelly recommends it!
#13. "RE: Firewall Poll" In response to garbru (Reply # 0) Thu Sep-02-04 03:52 AM by therube
ZoneAlarm (free).
From versions, oh, probably 2.6 up to the current 5.1. No problems with either dialup or DSL.
I actually prefer the older versions that were, well, just a firewall. But "supposedly" there are improvements with the newer versions, & so that is what I use - again, solely as a firewall.
#16. "RE: Firewall Poll" In response to sandycodder (Reply # 15) Wed Sep-01-04 08:58 PM by Pilgrim
I started with ZoneAlarm a few years back and had multiple problems with it. I'm sure it has been significantly improved over the years, but I really have no desire to try it again. Why? Because I found what works best for me is Outpost Firewall Pro 2.1. Eventually, I was able to be accepted as an official company Beta Tester for Agnitum and I can tell you that this firewall is unsurpassed in every way, not excluding the support when/if needed.
I started with Sygate,and have yet to see a good enough reason to change.I once had a problem with it loading at startup,which was so long ago and quickly remedied,I don't remember what the glitch was.Hence,my loyalty.
Sygate...almost a 9MB file. It'll probably blow up to 20MB or more when installed, add about 3 or 4 more Services, a couple of drivers, and a few startup entries. All for the sake of a pretty user interface with a scrolling network traffic meter, etc. Sygate... 20% firewall, 80% eye candy, 100% bloat.
Seriously, if that floats your boat, more power to you.
>Sygate...almost a 9MB file. It'll probably blow up to 20MB or >more when installed, add about 3 or 4 more Services, a couple >of drivers, and a few startup entries. All for the sake of a >pretty user interface with a scrolling network traffic meter, >etc. >Sygate... 20% firewall, 80% eye candy, 100% bloat. > >Seriously, if that floats your boat, more power to you.
I have only used Norton Firewalls and I am happy with anything Norton. I've also combined an ALPHASHIELD with my Norton and my system has never been more protected. Used Zone Alarm Pro on my Dad's computer for the last couple of years but with the version 5 release it caused too many problems so I uninstalled and bought him Norton Internet Security 2004 for his birthday. He'd been using AVG up until then.
i've used AVG for some time and I like their virus stuff too. plus the price is right..... Now with XP SP2 makes the firewall load on default and it's keptme going quite well and the free virus sent out by Ms is starting to time out gotta make a change there also probably Be AVG or Norton.....
first, I paid for Zone Alarm 2, then also for Zone Alarm 3.
I never did really like them, too much hassle.
Then I read a post on theis here forum that a new firewall was released, this was a year or more ago. I had a look at the trial version, man, I was hooked. immediately "dumped" ZA and paid for Outpost. I've never regretted that move.
Outpost is so easy to use, you cna use the default settings and let it run. I check the Attack detection boxes, in content filtering I disable pop ups and a few other things and that is really that.
Yup, I have been runnning stygate for a bit now and I am happy with it. Seems less buggy and runs quicker than ZA so far. I like the interface and it seems to just do what it is supposed to do.
As DOC mentioned above I have some gigs to spare so 9MB or so for firewall installation is not a big deal.... a firewall is a pretty important thing IMHO.
Anyway I am liking the stygate and am sticking with it. I think ZA got a little lost when they started to add stuff that really isnt needed in a firewall. Seems to have just gotten a bit bloated and buggy, just my 1 cent Garbru
ZoneAlarm won't run on my system without blue screens. I love Sygate, but it doesn't work with a local proxy. I use Proxomitron. I have been running the new McAfee 6 for a couple of weeks (my ISP gives it for free) and so far I love it.
I'm using ZoneAlarm Free version 5.1.011.000 with XP Home Service Pack 2 installed from a slipstreamed CD... no problems whatsoever. The inbuilt XP Firewall is turned off of course.
#37. "RE: Firewall Poll" In response to giseuda (Reply # 36) Thu Sep-02-04 07:00 PM by Acadia
Normally it is not a good idea to have two software firewalls enabled at the same time but the WinXP firewall appears to be an exception, appears to play nicely with others. I do not know about the beefed up SP2 firewall. Good luck.
#47. "RE: Firewall Poll" In response to Acadia (Reply # 37) Sat Sep-04-04 01:29 AM by Carl D
>Normally it is not a good idea to have two software firewalls >enabled at the same time but the WinXP firewall appears to be >an exception, appears to play nicely with others. I do not >know about the beefed up SP2 firewall. Good luck. > >Acadia
I accidently had the XP firewall (SP2) running at the same time as ZoneAlarm a while back... caused a huge slowdown in my ADSL connection.
>I accidently had the XP firewall (SP2) running at the same >time as ZoneAlarm a while back... caused a huge slowdown in my >ADSL connection.
Interesting, I just downloaded SP2 yesterday and noticed that somewhere (was it the Security Center?) Microsoft warns about having two firewalls operating at the same time. SP2 was able to detect the fact that I had another FW and kept the XP firewall disabled automatically.
>Interesting, I just downloaded SP2 yesterday and noticed that >somewhere (was it the Security Center?) Microsoft warns about >having two firewalls operating at the same time. SP2 was able >to detect the fact that I had another FW and kept the XP >firewall disabled automatically. > >Acadia
I was using a little tweaking utility called xp-AntiSpy at the time, unfortunately it has a tendency to enable or disable things you haven't ticked the boxes for when you click Apply. I was changing a couple of things with it and it decided to turn the XP Firewall on even though I didn't ask it to... I didn't get any messages from Windows or ZoneAlarm about both firewalls being on.
It was only when I noticed the consistent slowdown in my ADSL speed that I investigated and found the XP firewall was on when I wanted it off.
>I used ZA until the latest one came out and had problems with >it. > >Switched to Sygate, and it was okay for a while, but found >out it would not let me update SpyWareBlaster and another >program I don't recall right now. > >Switched back to ZA and things have been rosie since. >Hauxfan!
It has never stopped me from updating SpywareBlaster,or any other program,for that matter. Did you possibly say "NO" when prompted to allow the application and/or DLL,and check the box within the same window to "Remember my answer"?
>>I used ZA until the latest one came out and had problems >with >>it. >> >>Switched to Sygate, and it was okay for a while, but found >>out it would not let me update SpyWareBlaster and another >>program I don't recall right now. >> >>Switched back to ZA and things have been rosy since. >>Hauxfan! > > >It has never stopped me from updating SpywareBlaster,or any >other program,for that matter. Did you possibly say "NO" >when prompted to allow the application and/or DLL,and check >the box within the same window to "Remember my answer"?
No, we tried everything. Plus I put the question on this forum, and no one had the answer. Finally while trying another program that gave me the same "can't update" answer, did it dawn on me that I had installed Sygate. Plus, forgot to mention, it made my computer reboot as much as 5-6 times, and it popped up a window that said something about recovering from a serious error.
After I uninstalled Sygate and went back to ZA, I could do updates the way God intended, and the reboots were back to normal.
We figured it was just one of the mysteries of life. Or computers if you prefer. Hauxfan!
#44. "RE: Firewall Poll" In response to agb (Reply # 41) Fri Sep-03-04 08:21 PM by Grogan
You were wondering how that attachment ended up in your post. The text that you intended to be in the Subject, is in the Attachment field instead. So there's no attachment, but it shows that there is one simply because there is text in that field.
Click on Edit for this post, to see what I'm talking about.
Sygate for me as well... I had used ZA(free) before..just seemed to make everything to slow. Sygate has been just fine. Give it a shot. Have a good one.
previously, i used Zonealarm version 3 (it happened 3 yrs ag0) but i found that zonealarm always caused errors, especially its Truevector service there are 2 occassions whereby i can't even connect to the internet
now, im using Sygate Personal Firewall Pro, which is more informative and has more functions than zonealarm i believe i have made a wise choice
But I agree with your post. I used ZA for a long time, but I never liked how that true vector engine ran. Its slow to start and can be problematic if you need to remove it or upgrade it.
I used to like ZA until they started throwing in all kinds of extra stuff and it just got a bit bloated and buggy for me. I am really HAPPY with stygate 5.5 Awesome firewall.
I use the included firewall with XP first off because it's free and SP2 defaults with the firewall ON....other wise I liked AVG's stuff the price is right and kept me out of trouble with these last few worms went around................
