free firewalls

wenbo · Joined: Sep 15, 2003 Posts: 367 Location: Ontario, Canada

I desperately need a new firewall. I was using Sygate but it started blocking Firefox and Yahoo messenger all by itself and wouldn't let me unblock them. I uninstalled it and have been trying to download and install the free Zone Alarm. Every time I install it I end up getting the pro 15 day trial version, which I can't afford. I have tried using their chat and they are useless!!! Mad

Does anyone have a direct link to the free version of Zone Alarm or another good free firewall???

Help ASAP as all I'm running now is Windows firewall.

Oh, just so you know I did a virus scan last night and my system is clean so that's not the problem with Sygate.

Thanks

pasquanel · Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 506 Location: Maine

You might check this out Comodo

The firewall is chatty at first but like Zone Alarm it soon learns your preferences.

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 924

This should get ZA free for you. It is the left hand box. (this is the install engine - not the actual program)

http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/zonealarm-pc-security-free-firewall.htm

FYI: unless you have a need for a bi-directional firewall, (or the info it provides) M$'s should work just fine. My recommendation is to use a hardware firewall, such as in a router & have software firewalls on all the computers, even if that is M$'s.

PhotoCarp · Joined: Sep 06, 2007 Posts: 109

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2635

Grab any version you want here http://www.oldversion.com/ZoneAlarm.html
Note the size. You may not want the newest and most bloated.
I run 4.5.594 on windows 2000 and XP. I'm also behind a router so I'm protected by software and hardware.

Wheelgate · Joined: Apr 29, 2009 Posts: 1

If you go to http://www.matousec.com/projects/proactive-security-challenge/results....#firewa where they rate firewalls, you'll find that the top rated firewall is from Comodo, www.comodo.com, and is free.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

The FREE firewall that comes pre-installed on every version of Windows since XP-SP2 is more than sufficient for 99.999% of the users out there.
Definitely, sufficient for a home user.
keep your PC clean of viruses, trojans and spyware and you won't have to worry about some ET wanting to Phone Home.

Cheers,
The Doctor Cool

bob3160 · Joined: Jul 06, 2003 Posts: 211

Firewall protection is a two way street.
1. Keep the bad guys out.
2. Keep you personal information from leaving your system unknowingly.

I happen to like PC Tools Fire Wall Plus (FREE)
http://www.pctools.com/firewall/

DreamingFox · Joined: Mar 07, 2007 Posts: 10

louis-the-cat · Joined: May 13, 2006 Posts: 307

I'm running XP sp2 and I have a router between my computer and the internet.

Personally I like Comodo.

As I understand it, it is well thought of and has been ranked as being more effective and leakproof than many others.

My own experience is that it it is effective.
It's free, so obviously "support" is limited, but they do have a user forum

It is bi-directional, and I find it re-assuring that it identifies programs that want to phone home and/or otherwise connect to the internet. You can respond to these requests by either saying "deny" or "allow"; your "allow" option can be on a one time only basis or you can instruct comodo to remember that "allow" for the future.

Nice thing is, Comodo recognises when an application has been updated or otherwise modified........and asks you again if you want to allow or deny.( you also get info of which ports the program wants to use...so you can keep an eye on that to)

The Franchise · Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 460 Location: Arkansas

Tried the version of ZA Zlim mentioned in her post and it did a number on my pc.A Ghost image restored everything. Just a reminder to be careful when trying any program.You just never know what might happen.
Jimmy

rovingcowboy · Joined: Jan 26, 2003 Posts: 1278

as metioned in my other thread i have only had one or two problems with the zone alarm firewall.

of course if you click on zonelabs.com it now takes you to the new owner's site and then just go to their download for the free version.

or just go to the majorgeeks.com and search for zone alarm then click the download for the newest date of the ones you find.

pasquanel · Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 506 Location: Maine

Hey give this a peek before you go too far......Comodo Wink

wenbo · Joined: Sep 15, 2003 Posts: 367 Location: Ontario, Canada

Hi,

I have COMODO installed and seems to be working but it does confuse me with all the different categories. Also when I bring up the logs and look under firewall there is nothing there, so don't know what that's about.

Does anyone know if it automatically deletes cookies at shutdown??

Every day all the cookies are gone. Usually that's a good thing but I like to keep some of them, like lockergnome so I don't have to sign in all the time. If it's not the firewall can anyone tell me what it might be?

It's not Firefox as I don't have it set to delete cookies. I use AVG antivirus and I can't find anything there that tells it to delete cookies.

Anyone got any ideas?

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2635

Have you tried Cookie Culler? It's a FF addon that allows you to protect certain cookies.
As far as I know firewalls don't removie cookies; their job is to prevent things from getting in and things from going out that you don't want.

wenbo · Joined: Sep 15, 2003 Posts: 367 Location: Ontario, Canada