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View Poll Results: Which is the best Software Firewall Choice?
Zone Alarm Pro 4.0 17 60.71%
Sygate Personal Firewall Pro 5.1 3 10.71%
Other (please recommend) 8 28.57%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

 
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Xyphus
Tech Junkie
Xyphus
110 Posts
18 Jun 2003, 4:16am

Firewalls -- Your recommendations please

Okay... In preperation for my upcoming DSL service, I went out and purchased a D-Link DI-704P Firewall/Router/PrintServer.

Now I know that the router has a built-in hardware firewall, and in most respects it should do me just fine. (has the ability to block/allow ports, set the network as "un-pingable", uses NAT, etc.)

However, as an extra precatution I was considering a software firewall as well. I have been looking into either ZoneAlarm Pro 4.0, or the Sygate Pro 5.1 firewalls.

Which, in your opinion, is the better choice? Do they both offer the same features and bang for your buck?
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panzerkw
Forum Ninja
panzerkw
889 Posts
18 Jun 2003, 4:38am
Well, there is the free version of zonealarm, which offers some good protection.
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Bad_Karma
The Moon In The Stream
Bad_Karma
230 Posts
18 Jun 2003, 5:27am
I use zonealarm myself; the 3.0 pro version. I like zonealarm because it is fully configurable and stealths all known ports on your computer. It also gives you the ability to authorize whcih programs on your computer are allowed to access the internet.

I have never used the sygate or symantec personal firewalls so I can not comment on how well they compare to zonealarm. If they do the same as zonealrm at protecting your computer I'd go with the cheapest out of them.

Edit://
https://grc.com

This site is a great security site. They have a secure online program called Sheilds up which will attempt, in a secure zone, to connect with ports on your computer. Your firewall should block the sites attempts to gain access to these ports. After it tests your firewall it will give you a summary of what ports if any it was able to contact.
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Bad_Karma edited : 18 Jun 2003 at 5:32am .
Clutch
I'm the man in the box
Clutch
4,805 Posts
18 Jun 2003, 6:27am
I have used zonealarm before just because it was free. It did a good job to be a free firewall, it was kind of annoying to me though to go through the settings to allow various programs past, but it did it's job, I wa suprised at how many attempts it would block in a night.
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jono
Icrontic Regular
jono
30 Posts
18 Jun 2003, 9:00am
I also use Zone alarm and would recommend it for your system, even the free one thats available. Its a good idea that you intend to use another firewall as well with the built in one with your dsl hardware as this would help stop trojan horse's from entering your system.
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Necropolis
Back from the wilderness
Necropolis
1,762 Posts
18 Jun 2003, 10:05am
Another vote for Zonealarm Pro.

I have used various software firewall package's, and in my opinion this is the best of the bunch.

I agree with Bad_Karma, have a good look at http://grc.com Its a great site. It has some other applications that come in handy.
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danball1976
Veteran Icrontian
danball1976
2,634 Posts
19 Jun 2003, 4:02am
I have ZoneAlarm Pro. Originally bought ZoneAlarm Pro (last latest version). Upgraded to ZA 4.0
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WuGgaRoO
Rat Catcher
WuGgaRoO
2,351 Posts
19 Jun 2003, 4:15am
zonealarm...and pc-cillin as ur antivirus
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profdlp
Off To The Gym
profdlp
21,407 Posts
19 Jun 2003, 7:34am

Question Related Question:

Since we're on the subject, how foolish am I for relying on my Linksys router to protect me. I also run NAV, check for updated definitions daily, and scan twice a week.

I used to use Zone Alarm (the free version) several years ago, but ran into a spell where on about every third boot I would lose all internet access.

I do use the XPpro firewall, too.

Am I OK, or just lucky?


Prof
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Slick
OMG don't touch the chair
Slick
384 Posts
19 Jun 2003, 2:34pm
Zone alarm get the protection job done but its pretty annoying. I pretty much stoped using it because it caused my computer to freeze so many times. Most full screen games would lock up when the stupid thing went to ask me if I wanted to grant the program access to the internet. I figured as long as I don't go handing out my IP to people I don't want to have it, I should be pretty good.
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Kwitko
Sheriff of Dicktown
Kwitko
6,525 Posts

» Subscriber

19 Jun 2003, 2:42pm
Slick, I know older releases would do that, but version 4.0 is rock solid so far. The biggest thing with having ZA is the outbound protection.

I am paranoid about people getting into my PC, so I've got just about every program you could think of on there. Linky router to start, ZA 4.0, Norton AV, TrojanHunter, Ad-Aware, SpywareBlaster, Script Sentry, and Spybot S&D.
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danball1976
Veteran Icrontian
danball1976
2,634 Posts
20 Jun 2003, 3:50am
Oh, and I use Norton AV as well.
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TekGamer
I used to be an xXUSERXx
TekGamer
102 Posts
20 Jun 2003, 9:30pm
In my opinion Sygate is a better product... I also have Norton firewall as well. I dont use any of them..

And well never been hacked never dos attacked, never been syn flooded etc..

Tek
__________________ Torn between the light and the dark side of the force....
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Slick
OMG don't touch the chair
Slick
384 Posts
21 Jun 2003, 8:12pm
Yea, your chances of getting hacked on a user PC are slim unless someone specificly targets you.
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Dexter
Former SM Staff Member
Dexter
3,580 Posts
22 Jun 2003, 6:51am
If you are going to use a hardware firewall / router, check with your ISP's tech support if they recommend any manufacturer. I found out the hard way that some ISP's gear is not always 100% compatible with all routers. After putting in 2 D-Link DI-604's for a client, and having 2 months of spotty service, one of the tech guys at the cable ISP's said "Uhhh, I think I remember the engineer's saying something about a time-out incompatibiity with some D-link routers...."

We switched to the Linksys routers, and had no problems since. Meanwhile, the D-link 604's work great at 4 locations for another client...on a different cable ISP! So, the hardware at one ISP may be different from the next. Check with them before spending $50+ on a hardware router.

PS - I prefer the Linksys router anyways, so I recommend it if you wish to go the hardware route.

Dexter...
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primesuspect
The Icrontic Guy
primesuspect
27,806 Posts
22 Jun 2003, 6:54am
Slick said
Yea, your chances of getting hacked on a user PC are slim unless someone specificly targets you.
I disagree pretty strongly with this, Slick... Unprotected "home" PCs are usually the first to be attacked since they are the easiest/most vulnerable for the script kiddies to find. They'll scan a whole neighborhood's worth of IPs and find every unprotected computer they can, so they can install IRC zombies on there and use the poor computer as a platform for DDOS attacks. It happens way more often than you think.

Once in a while a customer brings in their home computer to me and I often find a trojan as a result of "home computer" syndrome.
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Dexter
Former SM Staff Member
Dexter
3,580 Posts
22 Jun 2003, 7:50am
Slick said
Yea, your chances of getting hacked on a user PC are slim unless someone specificly targets you.
I totally agree with Primesuspect, Slick. I just ran a quick scan on my cable subnet, and then picked 5 of the active computers on the subnet to run basic port scans. Even on the simple short scan, 3 of those 5 had open ports, even the obvious Windows networking 139 port open. I didn't bother trying to see if they had basic username security, and I bet if I did a full port scan (not approved by most ISP's, by the way...) there would be all kinds of open backdoors and trojan shares.

Don't kid yourself into thinking someone will only hack you if they have a grudge against you. There are all kinds of "kiddie hackers" out there these days who love to find open ports, set up a trojan, and then start using your computer to run their own FTP or download from from Peer-to-Peers on to your hard drive, eating up your bandwidth instead of paying for their own.

Broadband connection + no firewall = stupid. Plain and simple.
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Spinner
Getting it done!
Spinner
5,003 Posts
30 Jun 2003, 3:37am
I use Norton Internet Security, it's comes with a lot of bagage, but it does the job of keeping your computer safe and so much more. However all that comes at a price.

And yes, Prime' is right, basically anything plugged into the 'net is at risk. To go without a firewall in this day and age would be fool hardy to say the least.

Cheers
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Spinner edited : 30 Jun 2003 at 3:40am .
Enverex
~-+-~
Enverex
5,852 Posts
2 Jul 2003, 3:49pm
Tiny Personal Firewall V2
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Black Hawk
Metaphysically wrinkle free
Black Hawk
4,121 Posts
2 Jul 2003, 3:55pm
I never really liked Zone Alarm but if you guys say the latest version is good, I guess I'll try it again.
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Enverex
~-+-~
Enverex
5,852 Posts
2 Jul 2003, 4:07pm
Tiny Personal Firewall is free, has a more professional interface, more advanced options and generally works better, I would give that a look too.

NS
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Slick
OMG don't touch the chair
Slick
384 Posts
2 Jul 2003, 5:00pm
I have never been hacked. Plus what vernabilities are they going to get into. Granted, Windows XP is pretty insecure I have all the security patches and a few 3rd party things that disable UPnP and such. I also have netbios disabled.
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WuGgaRoO
Rat Catcher
WuGgaRoO
2,351 Posts
2 Jul 2003, 5:15pm
blackice was always good to me...but not as customizable as zonealarm
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Slick
OMG don't touch the chair
Slick
384 Posts
2 Jul 2003, 5:19pm
Dexter said


There are all kinds of "kiddie hackers" out there these days who love to find open ports, set up a trojan, and then start using your computer to run their own FTP or download from from Peer-to-Peers on to your hard drive, eating up your bandwidth instead of paying for their own.
[/b]
To set up the trojan on the users system the server file needs to be executed. In my experiences (or my assumptions ), its not that easy to remotly execute something unless some of there are some major unpatched security problems with the OS or other programs running.
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Enverex
~-+-~
Enverex
5,852 Posts
2 Jul 2003, 5:58pm
Bascially, if you are behind a router, you dont need a firewall because everything stops at the router unless you specifically forwarded the port to your PC. Then if you forwarded the port then having a firewall would be pointless because the only ports it could block would be the ones that you have explicitly let through.

Havnt run a Virus scanner or Firewall for years. Keep an AV installed to scan the occasional file though, just incase.

NS
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BLuKnight
Runaway N00bie
BLuKnight
365 Posts
2 Jul 2003, 7:28pm
I myself am a fan of Norton Internet Security.
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GHoosdum
tequilavangelist
GHoosdum
10,277 Posts
2 Jul 2003, 11:45pm
Every tech-based (read: unbiased by the ZA habit) review I've seen states that Sygate's firewall offers better protection than ZA. Even the free version of Sygate beats out ZA's free version and Symantec's pay version.
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danball1976
Veteran Icrontian
danball1976
2,634 Posts
3 Jul 2003, 2:12am
Blackhawk said
I never really liked Zone Alarm but if you guys say the latest version is good, I guess I'll try it again.
Yes it is much better. Its Internet Vector Service doesn't quit for no reason anymore.
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Superducky55
Icrontic Regular
Superducky55
33 Posts
3 Jul 2003, 3:49am
I like norton's latest firewall -- it seems to not use very many resources and you CANNOT beat how easy it is to use.. I especially bought it for my computer-stupid family

I've never been too fond of zonealarm, but i havent used that latest version either.
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primesuspect
The Icrontic Guy
primesuspect
27,806 Posts
3 Jul 2003, 3:53am
Hey SuperDucky... What part of the mitten are you from?
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