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Thread ID: 39980 2003-11-24 01:48:00 firewall effie C (772) Press F1
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194284 2003-11-24 01:48:00 Hi,
Recently I discussed via this forum, the need to install a firewall that might be better than my XP inbuilt one- and I was advised- it was up to me.
Discussion this morning made me wonder whether I, in fact, am guilding the lily by having a downloaded one as well as the activated one in my Windows XP
I am reaching the end of a 30 day free trial of Zonealarm Pro- and of which I have nothing but praise.
The XP firewall stops any access to my computer, I am told - - if so is it a waste of time and space. Zonealarm Pro supposedly allows me to back track an intrusion and oother things- and no doubt XP would not do such.
effie c
effie C (772)
194285 2003-11-24 02:14:00 Its very much like asking which is the best car, there is no right answer.
Everyone has a favourite for a different reason.

I am sure any available one will be adequate.

I am surprised that none of the free ones appeal to you though, their price is "so much better"

I use a hardware firewall (ADSL NAT Router) so its not a decision I need to take. I occasionally turn one on (Kerio PF) to check for outgoing traffic however.
godfather (25)
194286 2003-11-24 02:14:00 I guess it's better to be safe than sorry (even on dial-up). Zone Alarm Pro is a good firewall.

If you don't want to pay for the Pro version there is a free version of ZA which you may or may not already know of. (and is good)

Turn off the XP firewall if you keep ZA. You don't need both.
Archibald (180)
194287 2003-11-24 02:47:00 The free version of Zone Alarm should be perfectly adequate for you. Remember that you will need to completely uninstall the Pro version prior to installing the free one. Fire-and-Ice (3910)
194288 2003-11-24 03:25:00 Kerio is free, and very easy to set up.
Bye
Peter H (220)
194289 2003-11-25 01:06:00 I'm currently deciding about a firewall too. Am mostly protected by a router like Godfather but that doesn't stop spyware sending info out to the net.
Tending towards Zonealarm (Basic) at the moment.

Cheers
Winston001
Winston001 (3612)
194290 2003-11-26 11:58:00 I have free Zone Alarm on my ME- very good,
Also Sygate Pro on XP- also very good.

You must switch off the XP built in Firewall. It is no good and allows Bill to receive messages! It only stops things coming in.
Mzee (158)
194291 2003-11-26 13:46:00 I use Kerio Personal Firewall from http://www.kerio.com it's the best software based solution that I know of. Free for personal use. The new version is even less n00b friendly than the old one though in my opinion.

Haven't tried any other ones lately to compare.
-=JM=- (16)
194292 2003-11-26 21:18:00 Just to put my two cents worth in - be aware that the XP firewall is only for incoming attacks, scans, etc. If you already have a backdoor or porn dailer etc on your pc (without you knowing, of course!!) it is not gonna stop them from accessing the net or other pcs on your network.

Definelty use zone alarm free or sygate free, as they will protect you from both incoming and outgoing attacks.
slave1 (1022)
194293 2003-11-27 04:03:00 > I use Kerio Personal Firewall from http://www.kerio.com it's the best software based solution that I know of. Free for personal use.

I agree and use Kerio myself but it does need time to configure it properly if used on a network.


> The new version is even less n00b friendly than the old one though in my opinion.

Agree with that also. I tried it for a week and went back to the older version because I felt that I could not see enough of what was going on with the newer version like you can with the older one.
Susan B (19)
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