[horsecharles]

Yeah, security is a royal pain... from the get go having to log in is already so annoying. I switched from wireless to wired in order to not have to batten down the hatches so much.

[jpgrapeape]

I would not recommend disabling the Vista firewall and relying on the hardware firewall in your router, that suggestion is ridiculous. If you get infected by any spyware or malware, any traffic it attempts to send out will most likely be done so in such a way it will look like legitimate traffic originating from your machine, so your router firewall will do nothing.

Windows firewall isn't great, but it's better than nothing. I would recommend Kaspersky at the minute as it's Vista compatible, but I would hold off a few weeks to see if ZoneAlarm can make their Q2 release date for a Vista compatible version of it's INternet Security Suite.

Oh, for God's sake, don't get the OneCare from Microsoft. Consistantly testing as the least secure offering out there.

[StellarPlacebo]

Anybody know of any good free Vista firewalls since this last post? I'm waiting for Sunbelt's free Vista firewall that's supposed to come out soon. But no cigar yet.

[sync]

I was using PC Tools and it was mediocre. I recently started using COMODO and it is quite good.

Check this link for firewall leak test results.
http://www.matousec.com/projects/win...ts-results.php

[Muffy7]

Comodo Firewall....Free and i live by it!

[CodeRedMan]

The best firewall is always your router. It is the first line of defense and does not use any system resources. If you setup your router properly you usually do not need to enable a software firewall on your system.

In fact, in Vista I usually recommending turning off the default firewall since it causes errors in a few programs.

[DaveA]

We are using the free version of ZoneAlarm on a couple of machines and it is working just great like it does with XP.

[Squashman]

Originally Posted by StellarPlacebo

Anybody know of any good free Vista firewalls since this last post? I'm waiting for Sunbelt's free Vista firewall that's supposed to come out soon. But no cigar yet.

Looks like Jetico, Comodo and Zone Alarm are your only choices at this point. Or just use the builtin Vista Firewall.

[Spop]

Originally Posted by CodeRedMan

The best firewall is always your router. It is the first line of defense and does not use any system resources. If you setup your router properly you usually do not need to enable a software firewall on your system.

In fact, in Vista I usually recommending turning off the default firewall since it causes errors in a few programs.

Will any router do?

[CodeRedMan]

Just ensure that the router you are looking for includes NAT firewalling. This basically means that the router ignores anything it did not request from the internet.

[Vistdoo]

I tried Zone Alarm V7.1 for Vista back in November. Although the program ran ok, I found that the website www.grc.com reported that it left port 135 open. I and others reporting the same issue were unable to get much help on the ZA forum other than a convoluted technical and registry fix which didn't work.

see: http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/b...d=36210#M18663

I have since gone back to Macafee until my free subscription runs out, but it works.

To DaveA.... could you go to the "shields up" test at www.grc.com and let me know if you get "stealth" reported on all ports after doing a port scan. If so I may consider ZA again.

cheers

Vistdoo

ps. unfortunately I am not behind a NAT router firewall so need the software firewall to stealth all ports.

[Spop]

Originally Posted by CodeRedMan

Just ensure that the router you are looking for includes NAT firewalling. This basically means that the router ignores anything it did not request from the internet.

Alright. Thanks.

[SkyHawks]

Wouldn't buying a Security Suite benefit you more than just getting Freeware that has been stated to be good but doesn't offer that much great protection if you was paying for it?

I mean, They say AVG is excellent but from user reviews on certain sites like Cnet and Zdnet they state it is crappy freeware that picks most things up as viruses...!

Now I will admit I have used such tools but found Trend Micro IS 07 & 08 to benefit me better off. Offer the Firewall that you are talking about and extra tools all in 1 suite

Just telling a story... Won't go on sorry.

[Not2Nutz]

Try FortKnox Personal Firewall 2008

The limited FREE version runs under W2K, XP, and Vista, including X64.


http://www.fortknox-firewall.com/ind...d=19&Itemid=43


Enjoy!

N2N