Windows 7: I need a decent firewall suggestion

You are absolutely right! Antivirus programs can do no more than to alert you that your computer is infected and then try to remove the Malware if they can.

The next step is the evolution towards prevention rather than simple detection and removal only as AV software performs. Very simply what Sandboxie does is to isolate programs like browsers in a separate space on the HDD and does not allow them to make changes to the computer Registry or file system and any malicious code that the sandboxed browser might be infected with will have no access to the computer either and will be destroyed when the sandbox is deleted or overwritten...



As long as everything that is transferred from the Sandbox to the computer is first scanned with Virus Total or any of many available on-demand virus scanners such as Malwarebytes before it is transferred to the computer then the computer will remain clean without the use of a resident Antivirus program.

~Maxx~



.

I don't know where you got this from. My AV programs block the malware - and I have seen that many times. Sandboxie is a nice concept, but for daily fluent operation it is a pain in the neck. I for my part am not prepared to jump thru all these hops for the minuscule chance to prevent an infection.

Except for your currant A/V this seems to be the general opinion ive been reading about for the past few years. I wasnt trying to start a kurfuffle just seems to be more and more the truth.
Lets put it this way, Everytime ive relied on a A/V without Sandboxie, or Returnil, or Comodo D+, or a Geswall type of app, ive been infected. With any of these apps 0. And all have been the free versions.
So basically we have " everytime vs never " I will be going with never untill that changes

[QUOTE=whs;1288998][QUOTE=whs;1288998]If you read carefully you will know that I said...

Taking the time to learn how to use Sandboxie and set it up to use my browsers in its virtual space was well worth the result of having 2 completely clean computers for the last 2 years and was well worth the effort I put into it for me. I simply can not bring myself to use Antivirus software that cleans up after an infection that it could not prevent. I'm sorry if you do not agree, but I was infected 3 times in less than a year while using Norton 2009 and I have since sworn off using any black list Antivirus program which bases its effectiveness on frequent definitions updates since then.

Sandboxie has kept both of my computers completely clean ever since then and I am willing to take your criticism for wanting to prevent yet another Malware infection and keep my computers totally clean from Malware even though it took a few hours of my time 2 years ago on the friendly Sandboxie forums where the creator of the software Tzuk took some of his own time to help me to learn how to use Sandboxie in order to make this level of total prevention possible on my computers.

~Maxx~

I like the word " kurfuffle " - although I can only guess what it means. And you are right, everybody should do what suits him/her best.

Yes, until they happen to find their computer repeatedly victimized by an inept AV Suite and seek a better and more effective solution.

~Maxx~
.

Norton (and others) is more than that these days.

Consider Zone Alarm free firewall

Ok,, some of the information in this thread is just absolutely ridiculous and over paranoia.

1.) Applications like CCLeaner are not phoning home to track your usage. Therefore it IS NOT Spyware.
Prove it otherwise.

2.) No, not everything that does do a phone home for the purpose of checking for an update is considered Spyware. You are trying to change the definition, it's not going to work.

Spyware is software that phones home your usage habits of many things. Which is the sole purpose of Spyware.

Spyware - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

No, not everything is a threat. No matter how much someone wants to try and say so, it just plain isn't.

Anti-Virus software primary function is not there to tell you WHEN you get infected.
It's primary purpose is to prevent infection.
Telling you, you are infected is a Secondary function.

There is no software AV or Firewall suite that is going to protect you 100%, not even Sandboxie.

If you are having to use all that just to stay clean for any length of time, you need to change your surfing habits.

I agree, not all apps are spying when they phone home Or are they?
I agree an A/V's #1 goal is malware preventionHowever most are easily defeated, and its not just a matter of my or your surfing habits. Its part of the new reality of life on the internet, and its getting worse not better Some folks cant or wont see the distant early warning untill its too late Maybe.