Easiest to use software firewall?

CyberGhost

Which is the easiest to use firewall?

When I say easy I mean that it basically just sits in the tray and auto-controls applications(that are registered in it's database of allowed apps), and doesn't ask user anything.

Laguna

When you configure the programs that you want to access the internet and the ones you don't, ZoneAlarm pretty much leaves you to get on with whatever it is you're doing..

aidan_walsh

Sygate is the same, but you have much faster access to running programs from the tray (all listed in the main app window) if you need to change your mind about one.

robio

dont use zonealarm, if ur on eircom broadband it causes loads of problems, didnt cos me any tho on ntl but its generally crap
u get what u pay for so u might aswell go with norton, its the best in my opinion, if u pick up a copy of internet security 2003 it runs about the best (uses less memory) and works! easy to use aswell. an if u run into trouble theyre based in dublin and the support no is a local call

conzy

Norton is rubbish, its overpriced and runs around 10 processes and slows down the computer, Zonealarm uses 1 or 2 processes and is very user friendly and once configured will never bother you again unlike norton:

"virus.exe is attemptng to access the internet"
"allow" "decline"

aidan_walsh

robio wrote:

u get what u pay for so u might aswell go with norton

Yeah, buy crap, get crap.

Gandalf23

I used ZoneAlarm for about 2 years without any problems. I changed to Sygate about 6 months ago because ZoneAlarm and Azureus dont really like each other. Both are excellent firewally... either will do the job.

Stay away from Norton... overpriced rubbish imho.

FrankGrimes

Just want to add my voice in support of Sygate - Norton IMO just simply takes up too much PC resources and is just a pain in the ass. I have moved to a combination of Sygate for firewall, AVG for antivirus and Ad Aware for anti-spyware measures. I have had absolutely no problems with this so far as I regularly update each product and run full scans regularly.

Norton is not the only product which can fully protect your machine so do not succumb to the marketing - you will find plenty of hardcore IT users who successfully use alternatives.

Opening up ports for specific traffic is p*ss easy on Sygate wherease Norton makes an unnecessarily big deal of this imo. In fact when I was installing my Media Center Extender it couldn't get through the firewall even though I opened all the correct ports. At this stage I had had enough of Norton as it was just the last in a clutch of annoying glitches so I replaced it with Sygate, opened the exact same ports and it worked first time.Save yourself the cash and go with an alternative to Norton - you'll find plenty of feedback on the alternatives here.

dalk

Sygate or Zonealarm are the best out there. And the free versions are excellent.

Will agree with everyone else (bar Robio) and say Norton is a bloated, horrible and annoying program.

Capt'n Midnight

Zonealarm - older versions nag less.
Outpost is not easy.

Norton - I've had to remove so many pre-installs that there is no way I would pay money, they should pay me for the waste of my time /RANT

Static M.e.

Zonealarm is piss easy to use and works fine. I never have a problem with it.

CyberGhost

Thanks for advices guys, but I've tried SFP, and ZAP, they both pop up some random crap from time to time which requires at least some knowledge, and the guy I want these for doesn't have much knowledge of computers.

I'll give this one a try and if this isn't "automated" either, I'll just leave him without a firewall.
http://www.download.com/Filseclab-Personal-Firewall-Professional-Edition/3000-10435_4-10421598.html

DemonOfTheFall

If you've got an nVidia motherboard the nVidia hardware firewall is pretty good. I dno if many people would agree with me on this, it might be utter ****e for all I know. But it didn't slow down my PC and seemed to be very friendly as far as configuration goes.

Rollo Tamasi

robio wrote:

lol, u idiot go ahead and use zonealarm
lets see how safe ur pc really is I bet ur comps are already filled with crap....blaahhhh....bhlaaahah blaahaahhb blaa..........

anyway..:rolleyes:
the only experience i've had with norton have been horror stories. I had to re-format my Hard drive just to uninstall Norton fully. The thing wouldn't give me back my Recyle bin for some strange reason after i uninstalled it. Norton is a massive process as mentioned already. I don't know of anyone who has ever had a positive experience with Norton (besides from Robio, but i have a feeling he is one of those bot things.....:) )

dalk

CyberGhost wrote:

I'll give this one a try and if this isn't "automated" either, I'll just leave him without a firewall.

Dont think this is a good idea.

You can turn off most of the 'alarms' on these products.

Think its better for your friend to be occassionally confused, than for his/her PC to be riddled with spyware/trojans/virri/worms etc

What were the latest figures? Only takes 20mins after connecting to the net, for 50% of vanila XP box's to be compromised? Something like that...:eek:

Just think of the future calls "When i connect to interweb, my PC gets really slow etc.."

ambro25

CyberGhost wrote:

(...) I've tried SFP, and ZAP, they both pop up some random crap from time to time which requires at least some knowledge, and the guy I want these for doesn't have much knowledge of computers. (...)

TBH, if you don't want to end up providing 24/7/365 support to your mate (like I and I'm sure others already do for their parents, in-laws, etc. :rolleyes: ), get him to understand that, from time to time, browsing the Interweb does require a bit of effort, notably to ensure that his PC doesn't get infected. There's Google, free and user-friendly FAQs from most freeware and $ware providers of security software, most software has auto-updating features etc, etc. - it's one thing to want a turnkey 'puter to "do this Interweb thing", it's another to look after your investment... /rant

I have used AVG free since day one, Sygate FP for at least 3 years, and Spybot & AdAware (MS' own Antispyware Beta is not too shabby either) + connection through a router. Never a bother.

A reasonably cheap HW solution could be a second-hand router, or if you're capable, set his PC up with 2 LAN cards and configure one as the HW f'wall. If not, don't forget to set it up so you can VNC it from yours, it's cheaper than long phone calls to technophobes

DemonOfTheFall

As long as you've got NAT in your modem and an up to date virus checker a firewall really imo. 2 and a half years on my PC, 2 and a half years on the PC downstairs. No firewall on either. Bog basic Zyxel (BT) modem. Not a single hint of trouble out of them.

As long as he isnt using internet explorer, runs the occasional spybot/adaware/whatever and has fully up to date decent anti-virus he doesn't need a firewall. Unless of course he's on dialup or his modem doesn't have NAT, then he's a sitting duck.

Khannie

robio wrote:

lol, u idiot go ahead and use zonealarm

robio wrote:

either u never used it or ur an idiot (conzymaher)

Banned for a week for personal abuse. Play nice.

smeggle

CyberGhost wrote:

Thanks for advices guys, but I've tried SFP, and ZAP, they both pop up some random crap from time to time which requires at least some knowledge, and the guy I want these for doesn't have much knowledge of computers.

I'll give this one a try and if this isn't "automated" either, I'll just leave him without a firewall.
http://www.download.com/Filseclab-Personal-Firewall-Professional-Edition/3000-10435_4-10421598.html

Whatever you do - don't leave him with just nothing! A firewall is a requirement these days. If your setting this up with the knowlege that this person is not an 'Advanced' user then find out what programs he uses most often for the Internet. Configure these to be 'Allowed' in Zone Alarm. In most cases it's a maximum of half to one hours work - tops, for most end users.

Commonly they will use I.E. (I know - but they do use it - no matter what you say :rolleyes: ) , outlook express (What I call The Virus Downloader for obvious reasons), windows media player, Anti Virus updater, anti spyware updater and any other program you can see that would require access.

Just in case - you explain 'I have put this on your computer' - 'You need it so it will stop nasty things happening'. It may from time to time pop up a request for a program you may have just started to use or installed. If your not sure just give me a call and I'll talk you through it - which is either Yes - Allow or No - disallow.

But please don't leave them without a firewall even if it's that feeble attempt by microsoft.

Of all the firewalls mentioned though (Excluding Norton as it doesn't work - niether does there AV but thats a seperate issue) Zone Alarm is the easiest to use for an end user especially as you will have pre-configured most stuff to work.

As stated certain 'P2P' software has problems with ZA but I'm ignoring that due to the 'Legallity' of it's use.

btw - I've used ZA now for going on 3-4 years with no problems...

jc94062

nVidia firewall = terrible idea.

I was running that one along with zone alarm and even when switched off it'd screw up various things! It was when it also started causing BSOD every 5 minutes - 2 hours that I removed it and haven't BSOD in 3 weeks or so since, running 4-16 hours a day.

Also haven't had problems updating virus protection, checking email, accessing the web or anything else since.

Zone Alarm works fine, Kerio seems to be okay as well if your as paranoid as me (don't forget the one in the router :P).

DemonOfTheFall

You sure your BSOD problem wasn't because you were running 2 firewalls at once? If they're anything like AV they won't like having another one to keep em compnay

Matthewthebig

Isn't zonealarm nigh on impossible to remove, if one wished to do that?

aidan_walsh

Matthewthebig wrote:

Isn't zonealarm nigh on impossible to remove, if one wished to do that?

Never had a problem...