Best Firewall... ?

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 3:00 pm

ZoneAlarm? Mcafee Firewall Pro?

I have no clue. I want a good one that doesn't take up resources.

mmione · Post by **mmione** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 5:12 pm

I use Sygate and I love it, easy to use an low on resources.

http://www.sygate.com/products/index.htm

Others use Outpost and I hear good things also.

http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpost/

Those are the best SOFTWARE firewalls, however hardware firewalls are preferred because they require no third party apps. Just find a router with a NAT firewall. I have a cheap Linksys BEFSR41 router that was a NAT firewall, however I don't recommend this router because recently they have a firmware problem that keeps disconnecting me.

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 5:23 pm

Originally posted by mmione
I use Sygate and I love it, easy to use an low on resources.

http://www.sygate.com/products/index.htm

Others use Outpost and I hear good things also.

http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpost/

Those are the best SOFTWARE firewalls, however hardware firewalls are preferred because they require no third party apps. Just find a router with a NAT firewall. I have a cheap Linksys BEFSR41 router that was a NAT firewall, however I don't recommend this router because recently they have a firmware problem that keeps disconnecting me.

Actually, we are in the process of getting a router with NAT firewall and other protection things. I don't even want a firewall, I just want to play with one.

hayc59 · Post by **hayc59** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 10:11 pm

sludge, if you just want to play
with one..then play with the best!!
Outpost by Agnitum
!!PlayHere!!
and then stop by for some more fun here--->
Da PlayGround!!
you will have lots of fun!!

Roody · Post by **Roody** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 6:21 pm

Well I am running a hardware router, but I use ZA Pro behind it and it works quite well.

dom424 · Post by **dom424** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:32 pm

I have to agree with hayc59, try this new version of Outpost. On this XP machine it has been awsome. It has not generated not one error or reboot. Have a problem or a question go to the link he posted, "da PlayGround". Their forum is awsome too.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 3:22 pm

Originally posted by sludge
Best Firewall... ?

Unplugging computer from the internet!

Thcranky1 · Post by **Thcranky1** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 5:22 pm

I am using Zone Alarm Pro personally but the free one is still in a class completely by itself. The sad thing is that the class it is in is the classification "REAL WORKING FIREWALLS."

What I mean is that only Zone Alarm is the only firewall that generates a "Cryptographic Signature" for every permitted program. This signature is then regenerated and compared before any program of that name is again allowed access. This completely prevents those simple forms of trojans that create a trusted program impersonation, but NO OTHER FIREWALLS OFFER THIS CAPABILITY.

Trojans are capable of using names of programs which causes all other firewalls to be fooled.

Please read as much information from this gentleman's website. The first link I'll post is focused on the firewall issue as discussed in this thread and the second will merely be the home page link. I suggest...as you would also after reading through Steve's site, that you post this link to your favorites list for future reference. This guy has the absolute best informational common language website on the internet...as well as all the credentials anyone would need.

PEACE!!

--Thcranky1

Firewall information:

http://grc.com/lt/howtouse.htm

Home Page:

http://grc.com/default.htm

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!!

mmione · Post by **mmione** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 5:57 pm

Actually, Sygate has the same feature listed above. If any changes are made to a program, before you open it/it opens itself it will tell you its changed and you can choose if you want it to access the internet or not. This happens when I update Steam. Get your facts straight before bashing other firewalls.

mmione · Post by **mmione** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 6:04 pm

I tried the leaktest program and Sygate caught it..

Thcranky1 · Post by **Thcranky1** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 9:08 pm

Get your facts straight before bashing other firewalls.

Well it is obvious that you didn't read my post if you think I was bashing a program...and who the hell cares if I was bashing it...IT's a PROGRAM. However go read the links that I supplied and then after viewing Steve's credentials as well as his achievments in the computer world...then come back and start hangin your comments on me...I'll mereley tell you to simply respond to Steve's website with your comments...as you don't know yet due to not reading his site...he will happily reply to your challenge or rebuttle if he deems it so.

It is also apparent by your explaination of how your firewall responds that you don't understand exactly what "that feature" is all about. I stated that a virus (trojan) is capable of using a already allowed programs name and by it doing this it will bypass the firewall protection...this is Steve's discovery...not mine...I merely stated what one of the most highly respectable person's in the tech world said.

PEACE!!

--Thcranky1

mnosteele52 · Post by **mnosteele52** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 12:03 am

Thcranky1 just about every thread you post in you some how tick someone off?

I have tried and tested just about every firewall there is and I can say first hand..... Zone Alarm sucks. The only reason it is so popular is because of Steve Gibson's site and I would put money on the possibility of Zone Labs giving Steve a kick back.

Thcranky1 · Post by **Thcranky1** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:16 am

I wonder what it was exactly that pissed someone off...could it have been my answer to the thread which differs from yours?

You know the thing that seems so obvious to me is that no one in this thread ever stated anything close to a real true technical reason as to why their choice of firewall was their choice. I am the only one who posted real technical reasoning behind my choice. The most comical thing of all is the fact that you having obviously not read Steve's site. You go on saying exactly the opposite of what Steve has already stated upfront to not have been the case. Steve gets no endorsements from any firewall company and if you took the time to research prior to your opinionated responses you could also see the very detailed, well versed "CyberSpace Netiquette 101."

Here let me try to get you to the site one last time so you can review his whole philosophy about morals and values with the internet, technology and those companies that lead it.

http://grc.com/discussions.htm

Scroll till you get to the section you certainly need to read...

For you to think that by your statement, "I have tried and tested just about every firewall there is and I can say first hand..... Zone Alarm sucks." is so egotistical and ludicrous as well as pure conjecture. I'll take your bet that Steve gets endorsments from Zone Labs. You seem to know nothing about Steve and it is apparent by the comment, "The only reason it is so popular is because of Steve Gibson's site," proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have never even researched software firewall history where and how it began. Let me ask you what your credentials are that make you so superior to Steve who has labelled all of his accomplishments on his site. I honestly chuckle at your pompousness.

One more thing your comments lacked one single reason as to why you feel the way you do about Zone Alarm. I think the reason why you did that is because you couldn't figure Zone Alarm out and it became complicated and a chore for you to use it so you concluded since you don't get it...it sucks.

Another funny thing about your claims is the fact that you seemed to have slipped right past the whole idea that Zone Alarm is FREE to the public. Seems to me that this firewall company is so concerned with the publics internet security that they are in fact giving it to people to use. Of course you toss out your conspiracy theories about Zone Lab Technologies need a 'secret endorsement' by Steve.

Go study and do some research on the history of (software) firewalls. To coin a phrase...read and weep. I am willing to wager a fiver that you also think that Symantec's Norton's AntiVirus sucks as well. Is that correct? I wager this due to the historical similarity between Norton AntiVirus and ZA's firewall.

I await your comments which counter not me mind you but a man's claims who will forever be, no matter how hard you try, for the rest of your life...superior to you by leaps and bounds in and to the computer technological industry on a whole.

Wait a second...maybe I missed the episodes of Tech TV that you yourself were on...as well as the world media discussing your findings about spyware within Real Networks Real Player and finally I must have missed Bill Gates comments about the great accomplishments you have made to the world through technology and the study thereof.

I want you to know that if I pissed you off due to my post which not only had the opinion of a technological leader but reasons stating why the leader of technology concludes on the matter as he didthen I apologize. However all you did was tossed out conspiritorial ideologies and gave no reason whatsoever as to how yand/or why ou arrived at your opinion.

Gosh, I hope I haven't made you angry by demanding that you prove yourself or hell man at least tell us WHY you think the way you do for land's sake.

LOL

PEACE!!

--Thcranky1

by the way...if you have a problem with my posts and/or the way I answer...tough!!!

Maybe you can try to get me banned from this chat forum Adolf!

hayc59 · Post by **hayc59** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:22 am

Thcranky1, I have to agree with mnosteele52!!
You amaze me also with your un-informed
post that just go way out of bounds!
You no nothing but what other folks have posted
or stated....please get a life.

Thcranky1 · Post by **Thcranky1** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:27 am

Yeah i suppose I'll have to go ahead and admit it...I learn from others. And as I progress in my learning...please inform me as to how you learn or am i to assume that you already know it all? Maybe you just think you do but guy, your own post counters itself...of course I learn from what i read...LOL...how do you go about gaining knowledge there Einstein?

PEACE!!

--Thcranky1

hayc59 · Post by **hayc59** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:32 am

I am writing this on July 12th, 2000

Not to mention the the kudos you refer to by Mr. Gibson
is like 4 years old!!

hayc59 · Post by **hayc59** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:35 am

Originally posted by Thcranky1
Yeah i suppose I'll have to go ahead and admit it...I learn from others. And as I progress in my learning...please inform me as to how you learn or am i to assume that you already know it all? Maybe you just think you do but guy, your own post counters itself...of course I learn from what i read...LOL...how do you go about gaining knowledge there Einstein?

PEACE!!
Thcranky1

I progress

hardly!! you are and have been stuck on stupid for sometime!!

Thcranky1 · Post by **Thcranky1** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 3:10 am

anyway.........

hayc59 · Post by **hayc59** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 3:17 am

Originally posted by Thcranky1
anyway.........

DUDE!! anyways go play somewheres your wanted!!

Thcranky1 · Post by **Thcranky1** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 3:33 am

yer up in my face because I exceeded your idea of approrpiate reply length...and after running around the chat forum and pasting meaningless things on the threads that I started, you are telling me to go somewhere I'm wanted? Dude you just got done chasing me around this chat forum...how 'bout I say "hey man...or boy or kid...whatever the case may be...leave me alone."

PEACE!!

--Thcranky1

mccoffee · Post by **mccoffee** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 3:35 am

The cranky rofl get a clue i could show post after post where people gain speed and had alot less promblems by removing norton, zonealarm and mcaffee for that matter.

http://news.grc.com/news.exe?cmd=articl ... 6417&utag=

froum gibsons fofum

Why should I download a firewall such as the ones mettioned aboved and kill all my system resouces.

Another funny thing about your claims is the fact that you seemed to have slipped right past the whole idea that Zone Alarm is FREE to the public. Seems to me that this firewall company is so concerned with the publics internet security that they are in fact giving it to people to use.

So is sygate and outpost are free too what's your point???

To sum it up za/norton/mcaffee all take up to much resources i don't know how many times over the years i fixed intenet promblems simply by removing zone alarm. The best way to go is a hardware nat..

mnosteele52 · Post by **mnosteele52** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 7:30 am

Thcranky1 I'm not going to get into with you because you aren't worth the time. My reputation here at Speedguide speaks for itself as does yours.

I will say that you are basing all of your facts and opinions on someone else's recommendation, not your own. How many firewalls have you tried/tested/used? The vast majority of comparison tests are such a sham because one or more companies pay for their results.

One thing I hate to see on forums is the question "what's the best......", because everyone has their own opinion and most are uneducated. Someone states how great a product is but that is the only product they have ever used so they have nothing to compare to?? How can you say what is the best/worst without trying them all?

dom424 · Post by **dom424** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 10:22 am

One thing I hate to see on forums is the question "what's the best......",

I agree, people need to find the firewall, antivirus, etc that best fits their needs and they feel comfortable with.

chpalmer · Post by **chpalmer** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 12:11 pm

Never take one mans opinion over the rest of the industry.

http://www.grcsucks.com/

someone just might have a website about the guy.

Not that I totally disagree with everything he says but, his pushing zonealarm is shameful. Kerio stops programs from replacing ones with the same name also, as many do.

mnosteele52 · Post by **mnosteele52** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 12:31 pm

Great point chpalmer

. I would use and/or recommend Sygate, Outpost or Kerio. While nothing takes the place of an NAT firewall they are all excellent firewalls that offer excellent protection without causing issues as others due. Personally I use NAT & software.... too much important information for someone to get a hold of.

chpalmer · Post by **chpalmer** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 12:36 pm

Being a Kerio user Id probably recomend Sygate or Outpost before Kerio just do to Kerio needing a bit more user imput (writing rules correctly)

Zonealarm Pro however caused a great amount of headaches at my office.

dom424 · Post by **dom424** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 12:54 pm

Zonealarm Pro however caused a great amount of headaches at my office.

Computers are different also. ZAP works great on my 2k Pro machine, no problems ever but causes nothing but errors and reboots on my XP Pro machine. About a week after a clean install the problems start and I just get tired of fooling with it. Outpost did the same until the new 2.0 update came along. On the old 98SE computer I have the kerio 2.15 version because of low resource usage and it does great.

dannjr · Post by **dannjr** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 1:06 pm

HAHAHAHA
You got to be kidding !

Obviois problem with this thread..

Steve Gibson in all his info says Use a Firewall, the fact that ZoneAlarm is the prefured on his site is the fact, that most of his pages he dosnt have time to redo. So he leaves allot in tacked and using a firewall is much better than using none at all. OR it could be what he prefures OR he gets a income from it and it costs allot to run his site. I would have to go with Firewall equils better than none at all..

Zone Alarm is NOT user friendly like one would think.
If you choose to Uninstall it you best be prepared to edit the regisrtry before you reboot. And Remove controll files after the reboot. If you dont you may end up ahving to reinstall ZoneAlarm just to get on line... Well if thats the best then I guess the New user is gonna learn the hard way.. Dont take my word for it look at the advance pages at Zone Alarm on how to completely remove ZA..
Now as Far as a Firewall its been noted all over the web that Zonealarm has a leak in it that crackers could possibly use.

So whats the big deal about using Outpost or Sygate.
Outpost has live help on all there products through there forum with plenty of experianced users "for" when something goes wrong

Sygate and outpost: Simple to use and uninstall for the first time user and at least they have a chance to get back online.

Norton: Giant resource hog and utilizes file locking so it can slow you up to P2 speeds. Definetley not recomended with networks not even the corp editions..

McAfee to busy with Government contracts building spyware for homeland and FBI to work hard enough on general public progects.. Only use for info resources

Norton and McAfee can be used to look up AV definitions and possibly virus removal tools..

I wont get into how bad or good other than to say
ITS real bad to use nothing at all...

Getting back to Steve Gibson grc.com and myself. (my opinion)
Its the best resource for small security tools
ITs also been around since the mid 90s and I read and look through his site on a monthly basis. I totally agree with his opinions on Microsoft security or the lack of microsoft security.
I also beleave its ok to ask whats the best around and that a educated opinion should be posted on the FACTS.

Once you get the opinions do a search in other places not just from one place..
Not all programs you ahve to pay for are the best afteral during the install they tell you there not responsibel for messing up your machine.. Personally I like free
because I have enough money invested in R&D and equiptment.

My solutions is Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware ran once a week on all 75 machines AVG for Antivirus ran nightley Outpost or Sygate depending on the machine and user. Productivity loss per week about an hour.. Productivity loss without them can be $12,000.00 in 3 days you do the math..

Productivity lost to unistall Zonealarm. aprox 1 hour per machine where a software wall is needed...

Everything I do is based on money and time..
I can also proudly say not one system has been hit a virri cracker or trogon since the beginning of last year

Is there enough facts there now..

I cant wait to justify why I stopped using Linksys alltogether and replaced several of them at the end of last year....
I do prefure a router / hardware firewall over software firewalls

Thanks

Dannjr

peace

dom424 · Post by **dom424** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:17 pm

I cant wait to justify why I stopped using Linksys alltogether and replaced several of them at the end of last year....

What did you replace Linksys with and why? I've been thinking about replacing my Linksys for a ZyXEL Router.

Mytflyguy · Post by **Mytflyguy** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:42 pm

Buy that router ....

HArdware = Best form of protection .... ( In my opinion ) You all feel free to jump my **** and spam my post ... I can take it

hayc59 · Post by **hayc59** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:55 pm

Originally posted by Mytflyguy
Buy that router ....
HArdware = Best form of protection .... ( In my opinion ) You all feel free to jump my **** and spam my post ... I can take it

Mytflyguy, would not do that, router is a good choice(for some)

Mytflyguy · Post by **Mytflyguy** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:58 pm

Yep everyone has their different needs and just need to find the best "For them"

Although reading which product has the most fan fair and support is usually a good idea for the person who does not have the time or cash to test the various types....

Mytflyguy · Post by **Mytflyguy** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:58 pm

Interesting read from you guys

I learned a fwew thing in here

j79zlr · Post by **j79zlr** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 3:55 pm

A router is no different than a software firewall, it is just that the software is on and resource usage is done by the router.

And yes ZA is terrible, is causes a lot of problems, after you work on/fix PC's you just notice these things. Norton Antivirus is terrible, NIS is even worse. McAfee is a sugar pill, it doesn't do anything.

Sygate, Kerio for FW and AVG for antivirus, if there is a best, those are it.

dom424 · Post by **dom424** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 4:22 pm

Originally posted by Mytflyguy
Buy that router ....

HArdware = Best form of protection .... ( In my opinion ) You all feel free to jump my **** and spam my post ... I can take it

All I need for my little home network if you can call it a network is a router to share my internet connection easily. That's all I feel I need and am quite comfortable with it. No jumping *** or spamming from me. I'm done with this thread.

Mytflyguy · Post by **Mytflyguy** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 4:41 pm

Originally posted by j79zlr
A router is no different than a software firewall, it is just that the software is on and resource usage is done by the router.

And yes ZA is terrible, is causes a lot of problems, after you work on/fix PC's you just notice these things. Norton Antivirus is terrible, NIS is even worse. McAfee is a sugar pill, it doesn't do anything.

Sygate, Kerio for FW and AVG for antivirus, if there is a best, those are it.

Now I use NAV for my AV needs ... I had never even heard of AVG until today when reading this thread ....What is the advantages and why do you feel it's so much better than Norton or any other AV program ? Does it supply as frequent and as well covered definition updates as NAV does ?

hayc59 · Post by **hayc59** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 4:47 pm

Mytflyguy, My 2cents

Norton is a bloated, bogged down peice of nada!!
AVG has a small foot print and does a very good job.
Updates are very frequent almost two aday(sometimes more)
has save my rear-end more time than i can count!!
right now i am using NOD32 and am very pleased with both.
You can learn more here about AVG--->
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_avg_index.php

mnosteele52 · Post by **mnosteele52** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 4:47 pm

Mytflyguy AVG is hands down FAR better than NAV. AVG has a FREE and Pro version and both have updates daily (sometimes more than that if needed) from AVG. AVG is extremely light on system resources and has a much better detection rate than NAV. In the past few months I have switched my clients from NAV to AVG and on over half of the pcs AVG found viruses/trojans that NAV never found.

mccoffee · Post by **mccoffee** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 4:58 pm

The free verison saved my but from this one virus that norton couldn't find or get cleaned. Also they have a free network edition too.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 5:22 pm

Originally posted by j79zlr
A router is no different than a software firewall, it is just that the software is on and resource usage is done by the router.

Not true at all. While I do prefer using a quality router for my firewall protection, routers with their NAT are only dumb hardware firewalls, preventing only unknown incoming traffic from entering the LAN. They (basic home marker broadband routers) do absolutely nothing to block outgoing traffic. Software firewalls will also filter outgoing traffic to your hearts content.

SG Broadband Community

Best Firewall... ?

Best Firewall... ?

Re: Best Firewall... ?

There is only one true firewall to date...

Well let's see...

let me get this straight...