Best Firewall...

[shadrach84]

Since I've covered the "best AV program" post already, I figured I'd move on to firewall. I want it to be very specific as to who, what, where, and when someone tries to get into your system. I also want something that can manage internet access from programs. I've heard that Zonealarm and Black Ice were good but I want you to let me know what you think is best.

[PresterJohn]

for free, the two choices would be zonealarm and sygate. the zonealarm is the easiest to use...pretty much, "set it and forget it". the sygate is a little more configureable...but that also means it might be a tad harder to use for the non-technical.

commercial, both of the above comein commercial flavors as well.

[tgxiii]

I like Sygate Personal Firewall. It's not too complicated, but I can configure it to my liking. The best part about it is it's FREE!

[shadrach84]

Thanks, I'll try Sygate Personal Firewall. Since it has more options, it's what I'm looking for.

[elroy]

I read a review of firewalls a while back and the author reviewed about a dozen different ones. All of the major brands. Sygate was rated high but the free Zone Alarm was #1 out of all of them, free or paid versions. What was really interesting was how many of them were nearly worthless. Some of the major name brands were garbage.

[Droppyale]

Zone Alarm.... been using it for years with no problems...

[ppelliniq]

Believe it or not, I am using Windows XP Firewall and it seems to be working great. A few tech consultants from Dell and my service provider mentioned they thought it worked great too, and it's free since it comes with XP.

Before I had XP, I did use Zone Alarm, which worked well too. When I upgraded to XP last year and got a cable modem, I was more concerned with security. I ran a test from a recommended website, which claimed that its test woud get through Windows Firewall but not Zone Alarm's. Well, the test found an open port with Zone Alarm, and when I changed to XP's Firewall next day, tried test again and it could not find any open ports.

So my opinion is that Windows XP Firewall is doing a good job, haven't had an attack yet.

[muno]

There will be open ports if you've openened them.
Often it's just a matter of configuration.

zonealarm imo is curing self-made problems. All those messages it pops up are nothing but normal traffic, which it dubs 'critical' and stuff.

[Uncle Bob]

I'm using PC-cillin 2003. Has built-in firewall. Seems to work well.
I also use the new Google tool bar. The pop-up stopper feature
seems towork well also. My only concern is will the firewall in my
router conflict, when I get around to hooking it up.

[nomaxim]

Zone-Alarm Pro for about 3 yrs. now.
I'll give it a thumbs up.

Stay far far away from McAfee's firewall.