Best Internet Security Program (Personal Firewall)

[VidER]

Hi All..

I have been concerned lately with my personal firewall software. I have been using Norton Internet Security for 3 years now and I get the latest Version Every Year.. But does it really meet my requirements and Provide the Safest Possible Solution?

After I have searched the net for the available solutions I got the following:

1- Norton Internet Security 2003

http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/nis_pe/

This is what I currently use combined with Norton Antivirus 2003 (included)

2- McAfee Internet Security 5.0

http://www.mcafee-at-home.com/products/int...default.asp?m=2

3- ZoneAlarm Pro 3.5

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/cata...zap_details.jsp

4- BlackICE PC Protection

http://blackice.iss.net/product_pc_protection.php

I have used this before Norton but I stopped because of being very annoying and I have seen a friend of mine hacking into a computer while Black Ice icon is working in the system tray without giving any alerts!

Alsp I have found an Article and Comparison on the internet but its kind of old.. it compares between many Personal Firewalls.. Read it here and see the results:

http://pcworld.shopping.yahoo.com/yahoo/ar...430,pg,5,00.asp

as you can see, Zone Alarm Scored better than the other I have mentioned but remmember that it compares relativly old versions.. Maybe the new ones have been updated..

Anyways from the comparison you can see that Sygate has a good program also and it has been awarded as the best product together with Zone Alarm.. so it deserves to be mentioned here also:

5- Sygate Personal Firewall PRO 5.0

http://soho.sygate.com/products/pspf_ov.htm

this one has a good position between my Google search and deserves mentioning also:

6- Tiny Personal Firewall 4.0

http://www.tinysoftware.com/home/tiny2?la=EN

So, what do you use currently?

What are the features you like about it?

Have you used other Programs Before? Why did you stop using them?

What do you think of running more than one Personal Firewall at the same time?

Are there any security tips you know?

Do you use/ have you used Programs that were not mentioned in this post? what are they? talk about them please.

If you have anything to say about this issue please do.. Your Comments will help lots of people.

Thanks everybody. :)

[thingsforjason]

lots of posts on this topic...

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?act=...018&hl=firewall

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?act=...532&hl=firewall

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?act=...=32&t=52309&hl=

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?act=...=32&t=52523&hl=

...etc...

search, baby. :)

[VidER]

Thanks thingsforjason..

But why shouldn't we re-evaluate them every now and then? I was really satesfied with Norton Internet Security 2003 and this post is all about re-evaluating.

The Links you have posted were very useful, I have found new firewalls that I didn't list in my original post but I will in this reply. Hoping that somebody makes use of them.

6- Kerio Personal Firewall 2 (and version 3 beta

http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_home.html

7- Outpost Personal Firewall

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

You can find a comparison with the other firewalls in their website (http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpost/compare.html)

Freesco was mentioned also among the replies. Can Anybody tell us about it please? Its says that it is a router, Its free and can fit into a floppy disk!

• FREESCO
  http://www.freesco.org/
  

So Please Everybody (including thingsforjason).. Tell us about your experience.. What do you prefer and why? What are the ones you used to use and why did you stop?

Edited December 20, 2002 by VidER

[danbalsh]

I kinda like Microsoft ISA Server, but this can only be installed onto a Windows 2000 Server Computer joined to a Domain.... so it's kinda not much use to people here.

But I can say it's VERY secure from experience, very easy to setup filters etc.... and time limits on use, ok it's primaraly used in a Business environment but I find it useful.

[devnulllore]

After trying every one of the programs listed here I went with a combination hardware firewall (router) and Norton Personal Firewall.

This is also a combination reccomended by the likes of TechTV, CNet etc..

Norton PFW was originally not too easy to setup, or so I thought, but after I turned off auto-configuration it's just as easy as all the others.

Once any program requests access you can choose to permit always, permit once, deny or deny always. Basically configuring the firewall as you go along.

SO far all is well.

~dev

[Xahid]

Give a try to McAfee Desktop Firewall.v7.5.1 (for personal computer)

on the corporate side, i'll recommend "check point".

im also using iSA server(& as mention above it is only for 2k server)

[DarkLordSouron]

sorry i choose zone alarm +

because norton slow my computer

and zone alarm doesn't

[VidER]

Thanks Guys for your participation..

Here is a new option:

7- eTrust EZ Armor

http://www.my-etrust.com/products/Armor/

Firewall + Antivirus + Programs and Files Watch

[Dead Messiah]

I use Norton Internet Security 2003, but a lot of hackers I talk to swear by Sygate Personal Firewall PRO 5.0...

[Knight']

I really like Zone Alarm but I also like Norton Firewall, its a hard choice

[tengcm]

I currently using Zone Alarm Pro 3.5.166. Before that, i used Norton Personal Firewall 2003 but it seem norton slow my PC.

I'm still testing ZOne alarm pro, see whether it will slow my pc or not ?

[Jon]

  Quote

im also using iSA server(& as mention above it is only for 2k server)

Or NT4 Server, but obviously that has the same implications (ie: another box + domain needed).

If you've got a household domain setup, and a 2k server routing, ISA is a good choice.

Its insanely expensive compaired to 'personal firewalls', but its in a completely different league. Compaired to ISA, 'personal firewalls' are kids toys. (I'm sure price isn't an issue tho..)

The thing I found most annoying about ISA is the lack of real time logging, simply because it makes me feel a little more confident, actually seeing the firewall doing its job.

[Cody]

  devnulllore said:

After trying every one of the programs listed here I went with a combination hardware firewall (router) and Norton Personal Firewall.

thats what im doing

[Ji@nBing]

i like kerio. give it a try: http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_home.html