The Definitive "BEST FIREWALL" thread

[MxxCon]

i'm so sick of these threads poping up every single week. so here's the one and only thread you should need untill the end of your life. moderator can modify poll entries to update.

BEST FIREWALL

[thisdude]

wow only 6 people voted for mcafee? their latest Mcafee firewall plus is great! easy to use, lots of information (graphs, pie charts, ip tracking, etc), blocks everything.. and even looks nice! :)

I agree I used to use Zone Alarm, but I like McAfee Firewall Plus much better. It's more informative and the information is easier to understand and configure.

[neonspyder]

i'd have to go with kerio personal firewall since i like its simplicity and ease of use :yes:

[metal_termite]

NIS seriously lagged my boot time, slowed down my browsing and took up too many resources on my pc.

I've tried all those firewalls except Outpost. I use Sygate Pro. It's the only one of the bunch that passed all the leak tests I applied on my computer, and registered as stealth.

http://www.pcflank.com/art21.htm

[random]

anybody have a comparision of those firewalls, from an independent but trustworthy source?

[PseudoRandomDragon]

PCMag did a comparison recently. That is the best source I can think of from a few months ago. There are other sources, but the results are fudged or downright wrong.

[random]

k thx, anybody know any tests like sheilds up? as i passed all of sheilds up tests without a software firewall hehe

[ramian]

I too got a perfect score without a software firewall. I posted something on this in another topic with a list of other sites you could go to check your security.

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?show...50233&st=15&hl=

my post is somewhere near the bottom of that page...

hope its helpful

cheers!

[random]

i'm wondering if theres any other tests like shields up...so i can fully see if i need a software firewall

[g3nu1n3]

^--- He is list of sites i collected over ... dont know if they all work or not

http://www.securitymetrics.com/portscan.adp

http://security2.norton.com/sscv6/default.asp

http://scan.sygate.com/

http://browsercheck.qualys.com/

http://webtest.scanit.be/bcheck/sid-38ba24...9890718fe7701b/

[ramian]

err, aren't these the sites i posted in the linked thread in my last post?

[StevenNT]

as i have a Windows 2000 home Network and use Windows 2000 Server, i use MS ISA Server 2000 :cool:

[g3nu1n3]

err, aren't these the sites i posted in the linked thread in my last post?

Thats why i used the term "collected". I dont know if it was ur thread or some one elses. Sorry about that

[1Neo1]

I have SMC router. So I don't need a firewall software.

[m1k3io]

Why people depend on software firewalls so much, I don't know. Hardware is the best way to go. The only real plus about software firewalls is that they monitor how your programs access the internet. Save your money and get a router.

[sunbiz_3000]

PC-Cillin 2004 has good network virus protection as well as has good port blocking capabilities!

[blue^angel]

Zone Alarm is the best

[Iain]

I use XP built in, because... it's free, nice, simple.

[PseudoRandomDragon]

Always take a "simple" firewall with a grain of salt. Security is not simple.

[Iain]

Well no, but I've been alright up til now with the XP built in one, so I'm not too fussed. Or at least I think I'm ok! lol :)

[CubanPete]

Ive gone for the windows one but only the post sp2 version as that is great! The on ebefore was adaquate and better than nothing.

The best firewalls are more than likely going to be :-

Hardware Firewalls

Corporate firewalls (MS Internet Security & Acceleration Server)

Personal firewalls are not greatly needed. All home pc's need really are DDOS protection and Windows Xp's Builtin, Unless of course people are running services such as web servers or ftp's.

Most people use personal firewalls instead of builtin firewalls purely for phsycological reasons, just like when people add thousands of locks to doors cause they're paranoid

[PseudoRandomDragon]

DDoS protection relys on your ISP. Firewall or not, you will get your connection clogged.

Personal firewalls are not greatly needed. All home pc's need really are DDOS protection and Windows Xp's Builtin

What, in your universe ICF doesn't count as a personal firewall?

[Nforcr]

Zonealarm, very easy to configure...

[drill]

I use XPs built IPSec filters to block those nasty RPC/Microsoft-DS ports and allow everything else.

Just thought I'd add that to the discussion.

[shimon]

the best firewall is one on fire or me

[vacantmind]

I'm using Kerio right now, I was using zone alarm but someone suggested kerio so I thought why not. I might try sygate as well.