Looking for firewall

[hogfather 2010]

Hey,


I'm looking for a good free firewall program to protect my new desktop. I've been using Comodo on my (failing) laptop but periodically noticed large slowdown for 10-20 minutes. It could be the laptop or domodo isn't as good as advertised.

Should I stick with comodo or is there a better freeware firewall out there?

 

[saran008]

Windows Firewall is enough if you have the following combo!
After Installing OS don't pay any money for any antivirus programs!

Download & Install the following 3 freewares. It forms a free complete security suite for your system!
1. Avira Anvivir - http/www.free-av.com/en/download/index.html .
Avira is best & light solution for excellent overall system protection & internet security with real time updates, .

2. Malwarebytes - http/www.malwarebytes.org/ .
Malwarebytes is one of the best & effective antimalware tool out there.

3. Ccleaner - http/www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download .
CCleaner is a system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool with an efficient & most useful registry cleaner.

The Best Security & System Optimization combo for all types of systems.

 

[btk1w1]

With Xp the firewall is only one-directional, which means that any infection is able to phone home but shouldn't get there in the first place. It is a well known fact that Xp does get infected so I always erred toward the side of caution and installed a third party firewall. I used to use ZoneAlarm to protect my Xp machines and it done the job well. Software firewalls (ZoneAlarm, Comodo & others) can be resource hungry.

With Vista and Win 7 the firewalls were improved upon greatly and monitor inbound and outbound traffic, I have never felt the need for a third party firewall with them.

An excellent alternative to a firewall (especially with Vista and Win 7) is WinPatrol by BillP Studios (freeware). If you want to see what you allow internet access to it will monitor for you. It is every bit as good as a software firewall, even better and it is very light on resources also. There is much more WinPatrol will do, you can research its functionailty if you wish:

http/www.winpatrol.com/features.html

http/www.winpatrol.com/

With Xp I would still use a firewall though to block any intrusion attempts i.e. Hacking. If you use Xp try ZoneAlarm instead. If you do decide to remove Comodo use Revo uninstaller (freeware) to do the job for you as it is a tricky one to remove completely:

http/www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

http/www.pctools.com/firewall/

BEST FREE FIREWALL..PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ionut19]

On the left you will see the free option of the zone alarm firewall: http/www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/free-upgrade-security-suite-zonealarm-firewall.htm . Click it! It is a good firewall and you can chose witch programs can access the internet or lock it dawn if necessary. Also you can use it for games but the first time you will have to get out of the game to click allow or deny and the remember button also. After that no more problems unless it warns you about stuff(sometimes a second time in a game, that it can ..something with keystrokes assignment..or keyboard..you should always let that one on allow because if not the game will not work..also i do not remember if that is only on the pro version). I am using the pro version now and nobody wrote on my screen "you have bean hacked".
EDIT: spelling
EDIT#2: Check this out: http/personal-firewall-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

http/www.matousec.com/projects/proactive-security-challenge/results.php

look at the second grouping for firewall test results!

 

[ionut19]

Saw that, the article is made in 2008. Is it updated or..?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

this is constantly updated,the list is always current!

 

[TopGun]

Area51,

I see you constantly recommending the pc tools firewall plus. I'm just wondering why you like it (I'm assuming) better than Comodo? What are the differences?

I want to get one or the other, but they appear to both be about as good as the other to my untrained eye.

 

[btk1w1]

You can also decide on which firewall is most effective for you by running them through a free "online leak test". There are plenty to be found now if you google for them. The GRC one was and probably still is the industry standard.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

pc tools is alot less intrusive,and comodo has to many useless warnings!

 

[Bruceification73]

hey area51, is pc tools good/compatible with Norton Anti-Virus? If not, how about Avira personal? I currently have Norton on my XP, but am thinking of switching to Avira. Thanks.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

yes it works with any antivirus!

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

bruce ,please make the switch to avira ,it is much better !avira runs perfect with pc tools free firewall plus!

 

[Bruceification73]

If anyone wants further reason to go for pc tools, I found this site:

http/www.matousec.com/projects/proactive-security-challenge/level.php?num=1

just scroll down. It 100% passed.

 

[graywolf]

I used ZA for many years, but it was having problems with new versions of Firefox. I've been on Comodo for about a year, on a very clean system, but now, every now and then, Comodo doesn't load with Windows. SO OUT IT GOES, not even interested in a fix. Security programs should be silent.

Trying Bony-Face's suggestion of PCTools.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

that site is already posted above ,i posted it!

 

[graywolf]

I know, I'm just saying that I also have faith in your recommendation.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

thanks graywolf!