Software Firewall, which one?

I am about to set up a computer with broadband using a standard modem(usb)
from the ISP. I have recommended that this PC uses a software firewall, but
having not used a software firewall for some years (I use hardware router
firewall), I am not sure what is best these days. In my experience of some
time ago, I found Zone Alarm to be very good. Is this still the case? Or
should I just enable the Windows XP firewall (Service Pack2) and leave it at
that?
Thanks

Rob wrote:
> I am about to set up a computer with broadband using a standard
> modem(usb) from the ISP. I have recommended that this PC uses a
> software firewall, but having not used a software firewall for some
> years (I use hardware router firewall), I am not sure what is best
> these days. In my experience of some time ago, I found Zone Alarm to
> be very good. Is this still the case? Or should I just enable the
> Windows XP firewall (Service Pack2) and leave it at that?
> Thanks

Ideally you want a hardware and a software firewall. The latter to help
prevent malware connecting from the computer. The freebie Zonealarm is very
good as is the freebie Pctools one. Make sure you also install a decent
virus checker. Pctools do a free one as wells as the firewall.

Peter Crosland

Rob wrote:

> I am about to set up a computer with broadband using a standard modem(usb)
> from the ISP. I have recommended that this PC uses a software firewall, but
> having not used a software firewall for some years (I use hardware router
> firewall), I am not sure what is best these days. In my experience of some
> time ago, I found Zone Alarm to be very good. Is this still the case?

Yes.

> Or should I just enable the Windows XP firewall (Service Pack2) and leave it
> at
> that?

No. It's total rubbish and near worthless.

Graham

Peter Crosland wrote:

> Rob wrote:
> > I am about to set up a computer with broadband using a standard
> > modem(usb) from the ISP. I have recommended that this PC uses a
> > software firewall, but having not used a software firewall for some
> > years (I use hardware router firewall), I am not sure what is best
> > these days. In my experience of some time ago, I found Zone Alarm to
> > be very good. Is this still the case? Or should I just enable the
> > Windows XP firewall (Service Pack2) and leave it at that?
> > Thanks
>
> Ideally you want a hardware and a software firewall. The latter to help
> prevent malware connecting from the computer. The freebie Zonealarm is very
> good as is the freebie Pctools one. Make sure you also install a decent
> virus checker. Pctools do a free one as wells as the firewall.

AVG Free is a very good AV product.

Graham

Rob wrote:
> I am about to set up a computer with broadband using a standard modem(usb)
> from the ISP. I have recommended that this PC uses a software firewall,
> but
> having not used a software firewall for some years (I use hardware router
> firewall), I am not sure what is best these days. In my experience of
> some
> time ago, I found Zone Alarm to be very good. Is this still the case? Or
> should I just enable the Windows XP firewall (Service Pack2) and leave it
> at
> that?
> Thanks

Windows sp2 firewall is fine for many people, especially users who know
little about their system. I have found the vast majority of other
firewalls, when used by average users, are worthless as the user just allows
everything in and out.

Before you hand over the computer install firefox (as it is likely that IE6
would have recieved all the many dozen patches it needs) and make sure you
ahve an up to date version of java, you should be ok.

Gaz

Peter Crosland wrote:
> Rob wrote:
>> I am about to set up a computer with broadband using a standard
>> modem(usb) from the ISP. I have recommended that this PC uses a
>> software firewall, but having not used a software firewall for some
>> years (I use hardware router firewall), I am not sure what is best
>> these days. In my experience of some time ago, I found Zone Alarm to
>> be very good. Is this still the case? Or should I just enable the
>> Windows XP firewall (Service Pack2) and leave it at that?
>> Thanks
>
> Ideally you want a hardware and a software firewall. The latter to help
> prevent malware connecting from the computer. The freebie Zonealarm is
> very
> good as is the freebie Pctools one. Make sure you also install a decent
> virus checker. Pctools do a free one as wells as the firewall.
>
> Peter Crosland

Zonealarm often eats resources of slower PCs, I have repeatedly come across
it hogging 75/100% cpu usage for long periods of time.

Gaz

Eeyore wrote:
> Rob wrote:
>
>> I am about to set up a computer with broadband using a standard
>> modem(usb)
>> from the ISP. I have recommended that this PC uses a software firewall,
>> but
>> having not used a software firewall for some years (I use hardware router
>> firewall), I am not sure what is best these days. In my experience of
>> some
>> time ago, I found Zone Alarm to be very good. Is this still the case?
>
> Yes.
>
>> Or should I just enable the Windows XP firewall (Service Pack2) and
>> leave it
>> at
>> that?
>
> No. It's total rubbish and near worthless.

No. It is perfectly fine for most peoples usage.

Gaz


> Graham

"Gaz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Peter Crosland wrote:
>> Rob wrote:
>>> I am about to set up a computer with broadband using a standard
>>> modem(usb) from the ISP. I have recommended that this PC uses a
>>> software firewall, but having not used a software firewall for some
>>> years (I use hardware router firewall), I am not sure what is best
>>> these days. In my experience of some time ago, I found Zone Alarm to
>>> be very good. Is this still the case? Or should I just enable the
>>> Windows XP firewall (Service Pack2) and leave it at that?
>>> Thanks
>>
>> Ideally you want a hardware and a software firewall. The latter to help
>> prevent malware connecting from the computer. The freebie Zonealarm is
>> very
>> good as is the freebie Pctools one. Make sure you also install a decent
>> virus checker. Pctools do a free one as wells as the firewall.
>>
>> Peter Crosland
>
> Zonealarm often eats resources of slower PCs, I have repeatedly come
> across it hogging 75/100% cpu usage for long periods of time.

For that reason I have just replaced it with Comodo (
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/ ) on my messabout machine (AMD K6/2
450mhz) and my wife's machine (Pentium III 500mhz). Both run noticeably
faster now and boot up much quicker. I am seriously thinking of changing
it on my own machine as well.
--
Keith Willcocks
(If you can't laugh at life, it ain't worth living!)

On Sat, 9 Jun 2007 15:39:40 +0100, "Rob" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I am about to set up a computer with broadband using a standard modem(usb)
>from the ISP. I have recommended that this PC uses a software firewall, but
>having not used a software firewall for some years (I use hardware router
>firewall), I am not sure what is best these days. In my experience of some
>time ago, I found Zone Alarm to be very good. Is this still the case? Or
>should I just enable the Windows XP firewall (Service Pack2) and leave it at
>that?

also have a look at the Comodo firewall (free). I normally use and
recommend Zone Alarm but I recently had a problem computer on which ZA
would not install, just came up with an error. The Comodo firewall
installs just fine.


--
Regards, Paul Herber, Sandrila Ltd.
Electronics for Visio http://www.electronics.sandrila.co.uk/

"Rob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I am about to set up a computer with broadband using a standard modem(usb)
> from the ISP. I have recommended that this PC uses a software firewall,
> but
> having not used a software firewall for some years (I use hardware router
> firewall), I am not sure what is best these days. In my experience of
> some
> time ago, I found Zone Alarm to be very good. Is this still the case? Or
> should I just enable the Windows XP firewall (Service Pack2) and leave it
> at
> that?
> Thanks
>
>
I use Kerio, now Sunbelt, from www.sunbelt-software.com
I changed to this from Zone Alarm because I had update problems with ZA.
Kerio gives you full function for a limited period, and then reverts to
basic if you don't pay, but it is still good enough for the home user.
I also use Avast virus checker, rather than the more popular AVG

Retired