wiener_bur
join:2007-03-02
Brooklyn, NY
| Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? I tried all the popular ones which are ZA Free, Sygate Free, Armor2net and BlackIce. I like ZA and Sygate, Armor2net was alright too although slowed me down a little but BlackIce sucked, the engine was always stopped?
Which one do you guys use? And is your firewall user-friendly, doesn't slow down your pc and connection, popular etc. spit it out  | |
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jadinolf
I love you Fred
Premium
join:2005-07-09
Ojai, CA
 ·DSL EXTREME
| Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? said by poppster  :Comodo Pro 2.4 here. No slowdown at all. Try it, you'll like it for sure. I use it and am very happy with it.
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siliconman01
Premium
join:2005-05-08
Saint Albans, WV | And a good hardware firewall/NAT router works wonders as a first line defense...in conjunction with your software firewall. | |
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jsimmons3
join:2006-04-17
San Antonio, TX
| Get a Zywall 2+, and abandon software firewalls forever.
It's the best firewall for the money, and you don't have to worry about clogging up your system(s) with software firewalls. It supports SUA for single ISP-assigned IP's (most people) Multi-NAT for those of us with a block of static IPs. The 2+ allows for (I think) five VPN tunnels, if you need that kind of thing.
If you want to save some money, you can find a used Zywall 2 for as little as $40 (the Zywall 2+ is the updated model, but the Z2 is still a decent solution for those on a more strict budget - I got one on eBay for $60).
Mine has been running for a week with five machines behind it, including a web/email/ftp server, a game server, and three workstations and *nothing* has gotten through. For most home users, it's default firewall settings lock your network down so the only thing you have to configure is your connection to the internet and whether or not you want it to be a DHCP server (and your router's password, of course).
I simply cannot recommend a Zywall product highly enough. It's a better choice than the Linksys/Netgear/D-Link consumer-grade products, and the 2+ is reasonably inexepensive (as low as $150). | |
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| stonecolddsl
Linux Junkie
join:2004-01-07
Sarasota, FL
·Rapid Systems, Inc.
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? While the Zywall 2+ is a great product, if you have a old computer sitting in the closet that has at least 64 megs of ram. I would like to suggest pfsense.com
Amazing firewall with all the bell and whistles of higher end cisco firewalls and routers. Great user support in the form of there forums and there irc chat channel #pfsense at irc.freenode.net
Forget a software firewall and use pfsense box. | |
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JAXx
aka Stephen
Premium
join:2000-03-31
New York, NY | Jsimmons3 are you saying the Zywall 2+ replaces a bi-directional firewall? | |
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| | jsimmons3
join:2006-04-17
San Antonio, TX
| Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? It *is* a bi-directional firewall. You can setup NT rules for WAN-toLAN, LAN-to_WAN, and LAN-to_LAN.
What I was saying was that the X2/2+ is (IMHO) a better choice for a firewall because a) you don't need to install any software on your machine, b) it's locked down by default, and c) it costs less to run 24/7 than a full-blown PC running [insert your favorite os/software firewall here].
I think everyone connected to the internet should buy a decent hardware router. | |
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| | | daveinpoway
Premium
join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA | Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? Are you saying that the Zwall 2+ can be configured so as to block certain programs on your PC from talking to the "mother ship"? Blocking such communications is a strong reason for having a software firewall on your PC. | |
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| | | | jsimmons3
join:2006-04-17
San Antonio, TX | Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? You can block outbound traffic(by default, all outbound traffic is allowed), so if you know the port numbers, the answer is yes. | |
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| | | | | markopoleo
join:2003-04-02
Bonne Terre, MO | Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? Hardware router/switch only I recommend. The next piece of security is the hardest to get, reason and common sense when using the internet. That fails lots of people for some reason. | |
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| | jsimmons3
join:2006-04-17
San Antonio, TX | Typo: "NT" = "NAT" | |
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DaHen
Premium
join:2002-11-08
Brockton, MA | Running Comodo behind a Linksys router here.
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Derspankster
Premium
join:2003-02-12
Marion, OH | Running Linux behind a Linksys router. | |
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fuziwuzi
Not born yesterday
Premium
join:2005-07-01
Atlanta, GA
| Add me to the satisfied Comodo Firewall camp, too. I tried ZA and Sunbelt Kerio, but they just weren't as polished as the new Comodo Firewall, which is free, and has great forums for support. I've had questions there answered either by other users or the people from Comodo within a few minutes of my asking. That's better than most "paid for" support I've received from other software developers. | |
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Bubba17
Less is More
Premium
join:2006-09-21
| Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? Very much appreciate you providing the "Challenge" link. A great read. You're running XP's FW alone or with router?
I recently, as I'd threatened in another thread, bought XP Pro (full) w/SP2, replacing Media edition. Nuked the drive, a complete fresh install. With XP's FW activated and capturing activity to a log, upon re-establishing my satellite link (I also had AV, AS and BOC active) .. I, gingerly, over a period of 3-4 days, drained MS updates and re-installed other software. At no point did I notice anything strange or feel threatened. Course, too, I'm NAT'd from the NOC on satellite. Just recently, prior to reading the linked thread, I installed Comodo Pro. Though I've not had any trouble with Comodo .. I now ponder it's removal and using XP's FW exclusively. What do you think?
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HN7000s|H1(127W)-1110mhz|.98m-2w|Pro+|3.0ghz dual-core|3gig-ram|BFG7800GT-OC-256MB|XP-SP2
"Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything." -- Wyatt Earp | |
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Psicop
More human than human
Premium
join:2005-12-21
| Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? I have only two machines in my network (behind a D-Link router), mine and my wife's. My wife is using only the XP's FW and things have been good since I set up both boxes at the end of november last year. I am using Comodo in mine but the fear of uninstalling and making a mess in Windows registry is far too great to be ignored. Hence, I decided to keep Comodo, but honestly I don't need it. I am planning to run a Linux distro (thing that I have been postponing since mid last year) sooner or later; actually, whenever I get the time to do that. But...I procrastinate a lot when it comes to major computer maintenance.
Bubba, just use XP FW, is more than enough as long as you are behind a solid router. | |
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cork1958
Cork
join:2000-02-26
Fruitport, MI
1 edit | I recommend Comodo too. Don't use it myself, although I have, but that's just me. Router and XP's firewall is good enough for me.
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Yep, we're back to Windows and Opera!! | |
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Mercurybird
Premium
join:2004-06-24
Hooks, TX | If you have some extra hardware laying around collecting dust, build yourself a hardware firewall. Look into Smoothwall. It's free. | |
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geeknik
join:2000-04-30
Luther, OK | I use a hardware firewall and nothing else. I do run AVG Anti-Malware(+Anti-Virus) on all of the machines behind the hardware firewall though. | |
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| sandman7777
join:2003-01-09
Jermyn, PA | Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? Router and ZA Pro 7.0 on XP system and Router and Vista advanced firewall on the Vista system. Will put ZA Pro on the Vista Business system as soon as they have a version that is compatible. | |
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ixNay
Premium
join:2002-04-12
USA
clubs: | Running Comodo here too, behind Linksys Router. | |
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bellgamin
Kachunga
Premium
join:2003-01-12
Ewa Beach, HI | I am behind a router plus I run SystemSafetyMonitor with Network Rules active. Therefore, I don't need any software firewall. However, I still run Kerio 2.1.5 because it is lighter than a flea's fart & -- just in case, wot? | |
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appleAday
@arcor-ip.net | Isn't there a problem or some flaw that makes it unsafe running the Xp firewall for dialup users? | |
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batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs: | Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? said by appleAday :
Isn't there a problem or some flaw that makes it unsafe running the Xp firewall for dialup users?
The built in XP firewall is next to useless; it will let Bill phone home. | |
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goodchefro
join:2007-02-21
Macomb, IL
·Logonix Corporation
| Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? said by batterup :said by appleAday :
Isn't there a problem or some flaw that makes it unsafe running the Xp firewall for dialup users?
The built in XP firewall is next to useless; it will let Bill phone home. So that suppose to mean...what (in terms of a decent answer)?
Care to explain why the firewall is "next" to useless?
tks. | |
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batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? said by goodchefro :said by batterup :said by appleAday :
Isn't there a problem or some flaw that makes it unsafe running the Xp firewall for dialup users?
The built in XP firewall is next to useless; it will let Bill phone home. So that suppose to mean...what (in terms of a decent answer)? Care to explain why the firewall is "next" to useless? tks. It is a one way firewall, it can block incoming but not outgoing. | |
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| Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| said by appleAday :
Isn't there a problem or some flaw that makes it unsafe running the Xp firewall for dialup users?
I hope not as that is what I use when I have to go on dialup because Road Runner is down.
Most of the time I just use a router and ProcessGuard to stop stuff starting up without my permission like IE used to do sometimes until I tied it down. At the moment, I have had to bypass the router for about a week now due to connection problems and needing to rule out the router as the culprit. I use XP firewall when I have to do this.
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"If you want to do DRM on a PC then you need to treat the user as the enemy." Ross Anderson in "`Trusted Computing' Frequently Asked Questions"
»www.msfirefox.com/ | |
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DaMan666
What happened?
Premium
join:2004-09-17
Minneapolis, MN | Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? ZA pro, with a linksys router works for me. Can't afford a sisco router, but this works for me. | |
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Bubba17
Less is More
Premium
join:2006-09-21
1 edit | said by appleAday :
Isn't there a problem or some flaw that makes it unsafe running the Xp firewall for dialup users?
In the thread CJ linked to, "El Cheapo Router Challenge", it was mentioned that this vulnerability was corrected with a patch from MS.
edit: ok, so I'm the 5th to state this .. maybe the poster of the question required additional re-reinforcement.
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HN7000s|H1(127W)-1110mhz|.98m-2w|Pro+|3.0ghz dual-core|3gig-ram|BFG7800GT-OC-256MB|XP-SP2
"Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything." -- Wyatt Earp | |
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batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs: | ZoneAlarm security suit, I even pay money for it. | |
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tmaertin
Crash Into Me
Premium
join:2002-04-03
North Tonawanda, NY
1 edit | another vote for comodo here - i switched and could not be happier.
use it behind a netgear router | |
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gugarci
Premium
join:2004-02-25
Bergen Co | I use ZA Pro but I've been thinking of switching to Comodo when my subscription expires. I've had no problems with ZA Pro. But Comodo is supposed to be just as good and it's free. | |
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webhead
@zmk.fr
 from:
jaykaykay
| In the links posted by CalamityJane, Linklogger says the problems with the XP firewall for dial up users was fixed with an update from MS. So I'm assuming you shouldn't use the XP firewall to protect yourself after you first install Windows XP (e.g. after a reformat) because you won't have the fix till you get the updates and you can't get the updates till you've got the fix, kind of a catch 22. So before you reformat or reinstall Windows I would download another firewall and save it to a cd, thumbdrive, or whatever that you can install and use while you get your Windows updates. After your done you can uninstall that firewall and use the XP firewall again and you should be ok then. | |
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| jsimmons3
join:2006-04-17
San Antonio, TX
| Re: Just dunno what firewall to use...Which one you use? In the links posted by CalamityJane, Linklogger says the problems with the XP firewall for dial up users was fixed with an update from MS. So I'm assuming you shouldn't use the XP firewall to protect yourself after you first install Windows XP (e.g. after a reformat) because you won't have the fix till you get the updates and you can't get the updates till you've got the fix, kind of a catch 22. So before you reformat or reinstall Windows I would download another firewall and save it to a cd, thumbdrive, or whatever that you can install and use while you get your Windows updates. After your done you can uninstall that firewall and use the XP firewall again and you should be ok then. Well, most normal people who are that well-informed about the XP firewall would simply unplug the network cable from their machine before re-installing XP and setting up other (better) firewall software. Of course, if you have a decent hardware firewall, there's no problem now, is there? | |
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