Firewalls which is the best

[JackPike]

Justwondering which firewalls people prefer I have tried zone alarm which isnt too bad but hung up a couple of programs I am now trying Black Ice that is OK but slows down surfing quite a bit all I need is a simple firewall one which isnt too complicated.

[Zinky]

For a freebie it has to be Zonealarm ???

[Newt]

Yup. For a free, software firewall ZA is the pick of the litter.

 

Ideal if you want to avoid speed issues is a hardware firewall like the ones that are built into the router/switches but not sure you want to spend the money (around $40-60 US) unless you need the other features.

 

The "which firewall" question is largely a matter of which features you require though. For instance, Black Ice does add more overhead as you have noticed. But it also gives you quite a few features/options that ZA (free or pay versions) doesn't have available.

 

[ 02. December 2002, 04:19 PM: Message edited by: Newt ]

[chesters1]

i have nortons and set on highest setting its suprising what cookies it intercepts it gives plenty warnings of other attacks by the back door

[JackPike]

I had black ice on my pute i got rid off it when I tried the GRC,s security tests it was full of leaks so I reinstalled zone alarm. I did a posting on my ISP,s news group and found a great programm called Visual Zone in which not only tells you whats being probing your ports also tells what their ISP and even town they are in.

[Jim Roper]

OOPS!!

 

[ 06. December 2002, 12:38 AM: Message edited by: Jim Roper ]

[Jim Roper]

Back to the top in case Newt missed it!

 

quote:

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Originally posted by Newt:

Yup. For a free, software firewall ZA is the pick of the litter.

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Checking my connections with http://grc.com, I am told that Port 21 (FTP) is open and Port 80 (HTTP) is open.

This is using a Broadband connection throgh an NIC.

Using a modem connection, I get a clean bill of health ie. no open ports.

 

The free version of ZA is installed.

 

DISCUSS!!

 

Jim Roper