Best Freeware Firewall?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 240Z
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240Z

240Z

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Basically, I'm looking for a software firewall to install on my computer. I tried ZoneAlarm, but I like to have more information, and not just "One click and you're protected!". I don't mind if it needs a lot of technical knowlege to use (actually, I prefer it), or a lot of involvement. So, what other freeware firewall programs are out there?
 
Righty - So I'm, again, the annoying prick who can't understand a simple question :-(

Why not go for the US$ < 30 (with mail in rebate) option, and get a "real" firewall. A much tighter solution IMHO. And you can use your CPU for real work, and not inspecting packets all day...

Netgear Linkage....
 
RX-7_FC_DrIfteR
He already said he doesn't like using ZoneLabs.
Click to expand...

I was answering his first question. It's the truth.


Flerbizky
Righty - So I'm, again, the annoying prick who can't understand a simple question :-(

Why not go for the US$ < 30 (with mail in rebate) option, and get a "real" firewall. A much tighter solution IMHO. And you can use your CPU for real work, and not inspecting packets all day...

Netgear Linkage....
Click to expand...

Don't tell me that you think a router is the answer to this guy's question...
IP Routers are not the best firewalls out there. They are nice, but in no way complete firewalls.
 
toyomatt84
I was answering his first question. It's the truth.




Don't tell me that you think a router is the answer to this guy's question...
IP Routers are not the best firewalls out there. They are nice, but in no way complete firewalls.
Click to expand...

Why not ?...

Unless someone pretty damn clever* has a real urge to get into 240Zs PC, this will do what 240Z asked. I use an ADSL router with built in firewall (albeit a slightly more expensive SonicWall version)..

* And if that someone is that clever, he'll probably be able to dig up some exploit for ZoneAlarm as well - same result..
 
I sit behind a router as well, bud. Believe me, they are far from fail-safe. I use the ZoneAlarm popup to tell me which IP's that try to invade my privacy, and believe it or not, it's common for me to get more than 10 a day. I use the hardwired portion of my Wireless LinkSys router. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice feature for the router to have, but it's in no way complete.
 
toyomatt84
I sit behind a router as well, bud. Believe me, they are far from fail-safe. I use the ZoneAlarm popup to tell me which IP's that try to invade my privacy, and believe it or not, it's common for me to get more than 10 a day. I use the hardwired portion of my Wireless LinkSys router. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice feature for the router to have, but it's in no way complete.
Click to expand...
Neither is a software firewall, however moreso.

We've got a Linksys router running 128-bit WEP encryption for the wireless and Mac addressing for the wired/wireless. What's this mean? No one can get into our network without their MAC address being in the allowed list of the router. Needless to say, I don't have any problems with people trying to hack my computer.

I do, however, use a software firewall aswell. Not to protect from hacking, only for program control. If I downloaded a virus that excecuted itself and tried to access the Inet, my software firewall will tell me, and I can stop it. Of course, having good virus protection nearly eliminates the need for this, but I figure what the heck.
 
The best FREE firewall solution out there is to unplug from the internet. Seriously.... As long as there are firewalls, there will be someone out there who can get past it, ALWAYS. No system is fail safe, but as Flerbizky has pointed out, if you make it difficult for the average user, you will probably be alright.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned SP2 for XP as a firewall solution, not sure what OS your running, but it's a option.

I prefer hardware firewall solutions and use MAC address filters in a Allow list. Regardless of IP address, you have to have a MAC address that's in MY list. You could also get yourself a nice little Cisco router and write your own ACL's to do the job for ya, but I think this is getting a little out of the price range of free.

~Cheers
 
Burnout
Neither is a software firewall, however moreso.

We've got a Linksys router running 128-bit WEP encryption for the wireless and Mac addressing for the wired/wireless. What's this mean? No one can get into our network without their MAC address being in the allowed list of the router. Needless to say, I don't have any problems with people trying to hack my computer.

I do, however, use a software firewall aswell. Not to protect from hacking, only for program control. If I downloaded a virus that excecuted itself and tried to access the Inet, my software firewall will tell me, and I can stop it. Of course, having good virus protection nearly eliminates the need for this, but I figure what the heck.
Click to expand...

Now, that's a choice setup. *Maybe because mine's a similar duplicate* :D
 
I've heard of a basic linux installation that just soley acts as a firewall, so you just install it on any old 486 and voila! Dedicated firewall.

At the moment I just use my router/firewall with wep and mac filtering. I'm not bothered about software firewalls, i'm sure if someone wanted to hack my pc i'm sure they could. Although I don't use my creditcard on my pc and all my data is backed up anway. I suppose if I had to use a software one i'd just use the XPSP2 one because it's not too intrusive unlike MoanAlarm. Although that's moot because i'm still using Win2K.
 
Race Idiot
I've heard of a basic linux installation that just soley acts as a firewall, so you just install it on any old 486 and voila! Dedicated firewall.

At the moment I just use my router/firewall with wep and mac filtering. I'm not bothered about software firewalls, i'm sure if someone wanted to hack my pc i'm sure they could. Although I don't use my creditcard on my pc and all my data is backed up anway. I suppose if I had to use a software one i'd just use the XPSP2 one because it's not too intrusive unlike MoanAlarm. Although that's moot because i'm still using Win2K.
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I've heard of it too and considered using it on an old computer i hve at home. I probably would have done it but the stupid hard drive on the thing died :grumpy:... plus desktop wifi cards seem to have absurdly crappy wireless range and of course, if I build a router/firewall, it's gotta be wireless if i want to use my laptop.
 
emad
I've heard of it too and considered using it on an old computer i hve at home. I probably would have done it but the stupid hard drive on the thing died :grumpy:... plus desktop wifi cards seem to have absurdly crappy wireless range and of course, if I build a router/firewall, it's gotta be wireless if i want to use my laptop.
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Hmm.

But if you have a router already, how would that work. I mean would it go like this.

DSL Modem - Firewall Pc - Router - Other pc's
Or DSL Modemo - Router - Firewall Pc (DMZ?) - Other pc's
 
Race Idiot
Hmm.

But if you have a router already, how would that work. I mean would it go like this.

DSL Modem - Firewall Pc - Router - Other pc's
Or DSL Modemo - Router - Firewall Pc (DMZ?) - Other pc's
Click to expand...
more than likely modem > pc > router configured to operate as a repeater/hub rather than router > other computers... Not sure how well that would work though
 

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