Well Protected?
Discussion
Windows firewall is more or less a total waste of space. ZoneAlarm is one of the best, and they have a free edition. I also recommend SpyBot, Adaware SE, Spyware Blaster and any good other anti-spyware products you come across. None of them are perfect on their own but between them the best three or four cover most of the hazards. You also want good anti-virus, Norton has a very bad reputation, AVG seems to be pretty good and is free.
The reasoning behind a hardware firewall is generally because of the fact that software firewalls can be disabled very easily, either by mistake, by the user, or by a malicious process.
Also a hardware firewall means there is at no time when the pc boots that it has to wait for the firewall service to start.
There are millions (maybe thousands) of different firewalls out there, and I think if you want one, you'd be better off looking at replacing your ADSL modem with a router with in built NAT traversal (i.e. any aftermarket ones). These by their very design provide 'firewalling' and are just as good.
A 'proper' firewall behind an ADSL modem probably would be an overkill, so a router would be a good compromise.
Also if you do get one, make sure you don't waste your money by opening up holes in the firewall just because something doesn't work - a classic newbie mistake. Most firewalls come well configured out of the box, but then if you take the Zyxels (like I use) then you need to configure most rules to allow traffic back and forth.
Windows Firewall is a waste of space, only blocking inbound traffic, and not outbound - which is a bit silly, as many compromisations are from SMTP engines being run off home pcs, thus turning them into Spam Relays. By blocking outbound port 25 you stop this (although you also stop email out - but thats easily sorted)...
Also a hardware firewall means there is at no time when the pc boots that it has to wait for the firewall service to start.
There are millions (maybe thousands) of different firewalls out there, and I think if you want one, you'd be better off looking at replacing your ADSL modem with a router with in built NAT traversal (i.e. any aftermarket ones). These by their very design provide 'firewalling' and are just as good.
A 'proper' firewall behind an ADSL modem probably would be an overkill, so a router would be a good compromise.
Also if you do get one, make sure you don't waste your money by opening up holes in the firewall just because something doesn't work - a classic newbie mistake. Most firewalls come well configured out of the box, but then if you take the Zyxels (like I use) then you need to configure most rules to allow traffic back and forth.
Windows Firewall is a waste of space, only blocking inbound traffic, and not outbound - which is a bit silly, as many compromisations are from SMTP engines being run off home pcs, thus turning them into Spam Relays. By blocking outbound port 25 you stop this (although you also stop email out - but thats easily sorted)...
fish said:
Windows firewall is about as much use as a choclate fireguard.
I didn't want to be harsh, but seeing as you started it;
Windows Firewall is of much use as a fridge to an eskimo...
to give you an idea how crap - even Microsoft recommend corporate users (i.e. anyone but they don't like to say as much) to disable Windows Firewall. Yep, even Microsoft think its crap
neil_cardiff said:
to give you an idea how crap - even Microsoft recommend corporate users (i.e. anyone but they don't like to say as much) to disable Windows Firewall. Yep, even Microsoft think its crap
Just to rock the boat a bit, I quite like it - its free, protects against incomming and doesnt produce ten thousand popups per second that nobody understands when you open up notepad.exe, and then again after you apply every monthly patch... (dons flameproofs...)
Go for Zone Alarm Pro, they were bought by one of the best firewall manufacturers around, Check Point last year, and their Smart Defense software is included in the £59.99 package. Consider that this software in a corporate installation costs £000s and you will see the bargain.... It also has an excellent built in spyware removal tool and ID lock- you enter in credit card /sensitive information and it monitors outbound traffic and pops up if this is leaving your pc.
neil_cardiff said:
Also a hardware firewall means there is at no time when the pc boots that it has to wait for the firewall service to start.
The firewall would be higher in the service boot order so it shouldnt matter, if this wasnt so checkpoint would not be accredited to run on windows.
GreenV8S said:
Windows firewall is more or less a total waste of space.
Agreed, I use Norton.
GreenV8S said:
ZoneAlarm is one of the best, and they have a free edition. I also recommend SpyBot, Adaware SE, Spyware Blaster and any good other anti-spyware products you come across. None of them are perfect on their own but between them the best three or four cover most of the hazards.
I used SpyBot and AdawareSE and neither picked up SpyAxe. I needed to download Ewido to do the business there. GreenV8S said:
You also want good anti-virus, Norton has a very bad reputation, AVG seems to be pretty good and is free.
I downloaded AVG some time ago, but I seem to recall that it didn't get on too well with Norton.
What are other people's experiences with Norton? I've been a happy bunny, especially when comparing it to McAfee which I used to use.
I prefer a software firewall because you get an immediate warning if any dodgy spyware tries to phone home. Most hardware firewalls are pretty easy going about outgoing connections which makes them a waste of time for stopping spyware. Windows Firewall doubly so because it doesn't even make a token attempt to control outgoing connections.
I've used Norton and it was a pain. I liked Trend Micro but I gave up trying to renew services with them.
My swedish pc techie says dump Norton, he recommends AVG, Lavasoft, Spybot, Norman virus control and Spam Bully. I like the AVG and Spam Bully, cool. I'll try the Norman in a short while.
Boosted.
My swedish pc techie says dump Norton, he recommends AVG, Lavasoft, Spybot, Norman virus control and Spam Bully. I like the AVG and Spam Bully, cool. I'll try the Norman in a short while.
Boosted.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff