Free firewall for Vista, XP & 2000

seaeagle

Hi all -

I'm listening to the computer advice show on the radio, and someone just rang up asking about a free firewall for their computer. The radio host mentioned this free one as being very good, and also the fact that it will work with Vista (unlike several other free firewalls). Even though I don't use Windows myself, I thought this might be of interest to other gnomies who want to beef up the security on their PC.

PC Tools Firewall Plus - Free Firewall Download

Quote:

PC Tools Firewall Plus is a powerful free personal firewall for WindowsÂ® that protects your computer by preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to your computer through the Internet or a network. By monitoring applications that connect to the network Firewall Plus can stop Trojans, backdoors, keyloggers and other malware from damaging your computer and stealing your private information.

PC Tools Firewall Plus is advanced technology designed especially for people, not just experts. Powerful prevention against attacks and known exploits is activated by default while experienced users can optionally create their own advanced packet filtering rules, including IPv6 support, to customize the network defenses. All you need to do is install it for immediate and automatic ongoing protection.

That's how PC Tools Firewall Plus provides world-leading protection, backed by regular Smart Updates, real-time protection and comprehensive network shielding to ensure your PC remains safe and hacker free. PC Tools products are trusted and used by millions of people every day to protect their home and business computers against online threats.

<<-- click to expand

Perhaps someone might want to give it a try and report back on it.

BTW, the radio host also mentioned his own site which has lots of good advice - the links section has some very good stuff in it: PC Rescue

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1134 Location: Central FL, USA

But, why load your PC down with additional software running all the time, when XP and Vista, at least, already come with a great little firewall, that blocks all attempts to enter your PC illegally. It works all the time and requires NO operator intervention.

Keep your computer clean and you won't have to worry about some ET on your PC wanting to "Phone Home".

Heavy Duty Bi-Directional firewalls are only for the lazy and inept.
Those who can't or won't keep their computer HD's clean of malware.

Sorry, that's just one man's opinion.

Doc Cool

BudDurland · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 426

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1134 Location: Central FL, USA

Well, I guess I just don't think that way. Rolling Eyes

Never did! Wink

I run the worlds best Anti-Virus program, Anti-Spyware program and Anti-Trojan program.
And now they're available in just one program. (AVG 8.0 FREE)

And then I keep my Startup folder FREE of all those little performance leaches that want to run in the background all the time and occasionally "Phone Home".

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times.....Computer Security Ain't Rocket Science.

When Microsoft has given me a great little firewall, that makes my PC 100% invisible to the internet, I'm sure as heck not going to further load down my PC with another one, free or not.

There shouldn't be anyone, with enough knowledge to work a forum like this, that can't keep their PC clean of malware. Especially after we talk about it here, day in and day out.

I rest my case......

The Doctor Cool

seaeagle

The problem with using a single-direction firewall like the one that comes with Windows is that you theoretically need to run a full spyware & malware scan after installing even the tiniest piece of software. If a new virus comes out and propagates before the AV companies can get out an effective update, then those with no outgoing filtering risk losing private information, or becoming "spambots". People may monitor their outgoing traffic to see if their PC is transmitting when it should not be, but the problem with that is they only discover that they are sending out spam or a new/updated application is sending information after a lot of stuff has already been sent.

Better to be safe than sorry and use a "real" firewall. I certainly would not feel confident with my PC's security if I was using the Windows one. There is too much reliance on other software for it to really work effectively. Not everyone updates their AV, spyware & malware databases several times a day. I know that when I used Windows & was on dial-up, I used to dread "update time" as it meant I could not use the Internet for a period that could be between 5 minutes and 2 hours or more (depending on the size of the update and if the engine/program was also being updated).

A firewall should really be considered as a stand-alone security application to be used in conjunction with other applications to provide all-round security. It should not be a half-hearted security application that depends upon other security applications to work effectively.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1134 Location: Central FL, USA

In respect and friendship, I'm going to argue with you. Rolling Eyes

Please don't ban me! Wink

Using a heavy duty, bi-directional firewall gives people a false sense of security and encourages them to NOT keep the ET's off of their PC in the first place. Those same ET's can seriously damage a PC, corrupting files and even the OS, till the computer just crashes.

I used to run three types of Software to keep my PC secure, (AV, AS and Anti-Trojan) but now I run only one....... AVG 8.0 FREE.

I still have all the other programs, like Trojan Hunter, and SpyHunter but I've shut down the Live Scanners and only scan with them once a week when I get updates.

Relying on a heavy duty, Bi-Directional firewall and not keeping ones PC clean of Malware is just inviting disaster. Not from without, but from within. Also, that same Firewall, must run continuously in the background, taking up RAM memory and CPU time, thus impacting performance.

On that score, this old tech will never change his mind.

A person with experience is never at the mercy of a person with an argument.

The Doctor Cool

Werebo

As Doc says, there's lots of nastyware around that doesn't bother phoning home, it just trashes your own home!!! No amount of firewalls will stop that happening, irrelevant of cost or quality.

I'm in the fortunate position of not needing any software firewall as it's hardwired into my router/modem Wink

kenmabmcc

Werebo

Oh yes! That was the 2nd thing I did, after getting back online. The 1st thing I did was a little 'Happy Dance' round the room Wink

goretsky

Hello,

I would have to disagree that using a bidirectional firewall causes a false sense of security. In my experience, people who use them are taking a defense-in-depth approach by layering their security.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky