Good firewall program?

[harpua]

hi !

harpua: "I just routinely run defense plus in training mode (it just learns everything without alerting you of anything in training mode)"

that´s not a very good idea, because then it "accepts" everything...

it´s only recommended to run i "training-mode" for a short period of time after it´s been installed, or after you have installed new software, that is has to learn the behavior of.

go up 1 or 2 steps to "clean" / "safe" instead, then switch to "training" when you have installed new software, then switch back as soon as possible, after a day or two.

i run in "safe-mode" and i switch to "training" before i install something (to reduce pop-up´s, ) so i don´t see many of them.

Thanks for the suggestion, however, I want it to accept everything so I'm not bothered by it unless and until I'm about to install something new that I don't fully trust and want to monitor what it's doing. I just install and uninstall so many apps on a daily or almost daily basis that, for me, it's more trouble than it's worth most of the time.

But just before I want to install something that I don't fully trust, that's when I turn up the protection level. My reasoning is that D+ cannot have been "trained" to "accept" an app that wasn't installed yet. Works for me. YMMV of course.

Anyway, if I do screw up, I have plenty of recent backup clones and images on detached hard drives to restore from. That (i.e, good system backups), of course, is the ultimate security.

 

[torrentg]

Harpua, Zone Alarm Extreme would suit you perfectly.

 

[torrentg]

hi !

rogermac: "I just ran the windows firewall on Steve Gibsons sight "Shields Up" and it passed with flying colors."

yes, it does.
it blocks incoming connections.
but you should test windows firewall with Comodo´s LeakTest (CLT)....
i have tested a few firewalls the last months, and windows firewall has lots of leaks, meaning it doesn´t block outgoing connections.

It does perfectly well if you configure it so for any said .exe.

 

[hackerman1]

hi !

torrentg: "It does perfectly well if you configure it so for any said .exe."

yes, i know that people say you can make it better, AFTER doing a lot of manual configuring.

but as "standard"...

 

[torrentg]

Right, ya I hear that. Microsoft should make a gui for it along the lines of what ZA is.

 

[Creer]

Windows Vista/7 built-in firewall is efficient, but this fw is not very user-friendly.
You can use 3rd party software to manage this built-in fw - I mean here, very light for resources Windows 7 Firewall Control Windows 7 Firewall Control : Sphinx Software

If you need complex fully configurable pure firewall Look'n'Stop 2.07 http://www.looknstop.com/En/index2.htm
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=255892 is the best choice. Others firewall on the market offers HIPS modules, WWW modules, etc, etc - they are good but since you ask for FW I don't recommend you tandem: FW+HIPS right now.

 

[Snufffed]

I'm very happy with ESET Firewall, I simply turn it to INTERACTIVE MODE.

ea to there own.... I also have found that the Win 7 Firewall is very effective. Mostly GEEKS-NURDs-Pirates-and I want to be's use 3rd party programs.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Why would it be important if the Windows Firewall (or any other firewall) controlled outbound connections if it successfully prevented inbound connections? If a firewall needs to protect against outbound, then it has been compromised by definition.

I'm just asking. Maybe there is a reason.

 

[Qdos]

I find Symantec Endpoint pretty good, albeit the rules section isn't 'novice friendly' to some degree. That said you can block applications from making outbound connections, and adjust hundreds of other parametres.

 

[torrentg]

Why would it be important if the Windows Firewall (or any other firewall) controlled outbound connections if it successfully prevented inbound connections? If a firewall needs to protect against outbound, then it has been compromised by definition.

I'm just asking. Maybe there is a reason.

Not necessarily at all.

Open an app. Apps wants to send packets to developer. Firewall blocks.

 

[ttthomasss123]

Why would it be important if the Windows Firewall (or any other firewall) controlled outbound connections if it successfully prevented inbound connections? If a firewall needs to protect against outbound, then it has been compromised by definition.

I'm just asking. Maybe there is a reason.

I did this on XP. I had an Illegal copy of Photoshop CS3. However, I could not let it connect to the activation server/ update server. So I blocked the outbound connection, problem solved. Also, if you have a virus or something that slips in, my firewall will ask if I want to allow it access to the internet. Outbound control as well as inbound control is a very good idea.

BTW, I dont have photoshop anymore... I figured I would not install it and risk getting my key deactivated and whatnot. Now I use GIMP

 

[Snufffed]

As stated mostly if you use PIRATED - Illegal software then YES you would need a FIREWALL to stop OUTBOUND CONNECTIONS.
since we do not condone the use of ILLEGAL software.
OTHER THAN MICROSOFT FIREWALL WOULD NOT BE NEEDED.

 

[hackerman1]

Why would it be important if the Windows Firewall (or any other firewall) controlled outbound connections if it successfully prevented inbound connections? If a firewall needs to protect against outbound, then it has been compromised by definition.

I'm just asking. Maybe there is a reason.

yes there is, you can get spyware even if your firewall does it´s job, if you download and install some "bad" software, you might get fx. spyware into your PC.

blocking outgoing connections then stops fx. a spyware from "calling home" after it has stolen your private information: passwords, codes to your bank / creditcard etc.

 

[ocadsm]

I'm using comodo firewall pro and the windows firewall is enabled too, it was disabled. Comodo would have enabled? If I disable will be sending me security alerts all the time even with comodo activated and in comodo says it all working. Have a way to configure that I have another monitoring program as it had in xp? Thanks.

 

[hackerman1]

hi !

i don´t understand what you mean, but don´t run 2 firewalls, that´s a bad idea.

 

[Barman58]

I'm using comodo firewall pro and the windows firewall is enabled too, it was disabled. Comodo would have enabled? If I disable will be sending me security alerts all the time even with comodo activated and in comodo says it all working. Have a way to configure that I have another monitoring program as it had in xp? Thanks.

if you switch off the windows firewall Comodo should be reporting to the system that it is protecting the system which should stop the messages.

You may need to Un-install comodo and install the latest version from their site it certainly does not produce messages here

 

[Jaq]

Just a thought - is Comodo´s LeakTest showing the window's firewall in a bad light so you purchase their product?

I've been a Zonealarm (free) user for years, but now use the firewall that is part of Windows 7 with no problems so far.

 

[Barman58]

Comodo is also highly placed on independent tests such as Gibson research's

 

[gamepro127]

Windows Firewall, Kaspersky Internet security 2010 and Norton 360 V4 BETA are all great firewalls. Windows firewall and Norton 360 V4 are the most easy to use (Norton being #1 in being user-friendly)

 

[Jaq]

Personally I avoid any software with the name Norton ever since their excellent DOS software. I find it tries to take over your machine and can be difficult to control and remove.