Stonker
Registered user
I've just uninstalled Zonealarm and need to reinstall either that or something else. I'm running windows 7. Any recommendations and why?
Which Firewall?
- Thread starter Stonker
- Start date
Fanum
Toubab
I still use Zonealarm....its free and effective, so why not 
Grey Beard
Registered user
I still use Zonealarm....its free and effective, so why not
+1 for Zone Alarm
Grey Beard
gwigglesworth
Registered user
Ask yourself why you need it? Windows has a built in firewall... and if your virus checker is good....
Dean
Registered user
BT throw in MCaffee Free with some packages 
the one that comes with windows.
Stonker
Registered user
I've installed Comodo at the moment but will watch this thread with interest....
Deleted account 190920001
Registered user
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2009
- Messages
- 3,368
- Reaction score
- 0
Zone alarm is a PITA these days and Comodo even more so. Windows firewall with advanced security is all you need. Its easy to use and does everything that Zonealarm and Comodo does. It also has the advantage that its part of the base operating system so doesn't slow the system down unlike the others. I use it to secure enterprise lever servers at work and if that isn't a good enough recommendation for you then nothing is. If you also install security essentials you will have a system that is about as secure as you will get and still be usable on a day to day basis. All of which is free so cant be a bad deal.
Yep, it does the job and is less annoying than many, before Windows included a decent Firewall I found Zone Alarm pretty good.
Not forgettng you should also have a firewall on your router (unless your crazy) and be hidden behind NAT so all should be pretty good.
99% of troubles these days come from accepting something dodgy, the bad guys have pretty much given up on hacking since people switched from Modem's to Routers and Billy G put a Firewall on every PC
Stonker
Registered user
Maybe I'll try the windows one then. Does the same apply to Vista?
Much of my surfing is done through a datacard on a laptop though not a router
I do have a wifi router at home (netgear). I'm not aware that it has a firewall though
Much of my surfing is done through a datacard on a laptop though not a router
I do have a wifi router at home (netgear). I'm not aware that it has a firewall though
rce
Registered user
Depends on the phone company, most mobile broadband is NATed, eg you don't get an internet addressable IP, the exception is 3 who assign an internet IP address so you are pretty vulnerable.
For mobile broadband from a PC the best bet is not to use a USB dongle directly connected to the PC, instead get one of the new mobile broadband routers that you then plug the USB dongle into. The PC is then connected to the router by ethernet cable of WiFi, and is hidden behind the router.
The MiFi type devices do away with having a separate USB dongle, instead the SIM fits in the router, and the router does all the work.
the windows firewall is crap, it prevents incoming but not outgoing which if you happen to get a virus you may want.
for standalone then the zone-alarm one is pretty however I would get an internet security package lots are ok but I like kaspersky got a 3 licence version from COSTCO for £18
for standalone then the zone-alarm one is pretty however I would get an internet security package lots are ok but I like kaspersky got a 3 licence version from COSTCO for £18
my opinion: if you need to ask, you probably don't want to fuck about with something like zone alarm.
Stonker
Registered user
I've used 3 for both dongle and router, never had any suggestion from my firewall that either was letting naughty stuff through. Yet BTinternet really seems to need a firewall, plenty of port scanning and other nefarious goings on.
I suspect that 3 have a firewall or two in their network, partly because they filter traffic to stop port scans etc, and partly because they offer (or did) a setting on your account to limit access to 'unacceptable" sites. It might be they also use proxy servers to cache common sites like the Beeb, and the proxies would intercept everything as well.
Might have a go at seeing how secure a 3G connection is if I get some spare time this afternoon.
I think the Windows 7 firewall is fairly good, ok it might not catch all outgoing undesirables, but the Microsoft Security Essentials stuff seems to catch attempts to install/run stuff that might behave like that.
I suspect that 3 have a firewall or two in their network, partly because they filter traffic to stop port scans etc, and partly because they offer (or did) a setting on your account to limit access to 'unacceptable" sites. It might be they also use proxy servers to cache common sites like the Beeb, and the proxies would intercept everything as well.
Might have a go at seeing how secure a 3G connection is if I get some spare time this afternoon.
I think the Windows 7 firewall is fairly good, ok it might not catch all outgoing undesirables, but the Microsoft Security Essentials stuff seems to catch attempts to install/run stuff that might behave like that.
i use norton 2011 internet security (NIS) its not free but you get for what you pay for in my book
Windows 7 firewalls can do inbound and outbound rules - but a commercial package is a bit easier to use.
Although in my experience people soon find saying no to prompts stops some things working, so they get used to saying yes and when a prompt comes up relating to a virus trying to go out they allow it anyway
Although in my experience people soon find saying no to prompts stops some things working, so they get used to saying yes and when a prompt comes up relating to a virus trying to go out they allow it anyway
Although in my experience people soon find saying no to prompts stops some things working, so they get used to saying yes and when a prompt comes up relating to a virus trying to go out they allow it anyway
very true.
...or they ask me how to remove it.
Similar threads
