Good free firewall - NOT ZoneAlarm!

[notveryawesome]

Well, I've been unable to go online for nearly two weeks. The culprit? My ZoneAlarm firewall! Does anybody know of a good free firewall other than ZoneAlarm? I don't trust the Windoze firewall, and now I don't trust ZoneAlarm, either.

[Simsbaby]

Comodo?

[Kazzandra]

Comodo Firewall works great for me.

Anyone know a good free antivirus that doesn't run those periodic I ATE YOU PROCESSOR NOM NOM NOM system checks?
I currently use AVG 7.5, but 8.0 is out and it does that active scanning crap, which kills my computer. AVG 7.5's update server will soon be yanked.

Any suggestions?

[Simsample]

I like Avast!, doesn't seem to hog any resources.
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

[lordrichter]

Well, I've been unable to go online for nearly two weeks. The culprit? My ZoneAlarm firewall! Does anybody know of a good free firewall other than ZoneAlarm? I don't trust the Windoze firewall, and now I don't trust ZoneAlarm, either.

Windows XP, I assume.   A Microsoft update 2 weeks ago broke Zone Alarm.  They were apparently dependent on something that Microsoft changed.  Download the latest free Zone Alarm and you will be fine.

[notveryawesome]

Thanks, all. I think I'll try the new ZoneAlarm, since I liked it until it broke.

BTW, you can change the settings on AVG 8.0 to not scan automatically. In fact, the option is included during the setup process.

[Doc Doofus]

I recently gave up on Zonealarm as well, and switched to Avira Antivir.  It seems to have one of the best reputations on Cnet, for what that's worth.  I have it installed on two computers in my house.

[witch]

I recently gave up on Zonealarm as well, and switched to Avira Antivir.  It seems to have one of the best reputations on Cnet, for what that's worth.  I have it installed on two computers in my house.

I switched to Avira Antivir for all three of my PCs a couple of months ago. I have its services disabled so it only runs when I ask it to. My copy says it only gives me 6 months free though. Runs out in November. I'm happy with it so far, it's found trojans that other anti-virus solutions have not. I tested several solutions including Clamwin - which I really liked - but it never managed to successfully update itself in several weeks.

[Lorelei]

ZA and Avast work for me, but I disabled MS auto-updating.

Comodo was the other professional geek-recommended firewall.

[Emma]

I'm currently using F-Secure as it came free for 3 months along with my shiny free Broadband. Before that I had Norton but it seemed too 'Danger, Danger Will Robinson!' I don't think I'll go back I might stick with F-Secure as it is unobtrusive and reliable. I have crappy Windows Firewall too as a backup.

[witch]

Sorry, got side-tracked into virus solutions. I went through an online tutorial to block all the ports in my router that I'm not specifically using. Then you can go to a place to test if you're vulnerable. I should re-check. I don't use any other firewalls except the hardware one in my router.

[Cimaronna]

I'd like to add my endorsement of Avira Antivir. When I downloaded it, my old Norton subscription had expired. I also had Zone Alarm and some other thing (must not have been very impressive, huh?). Anyway, when I ran Antivir, it caught viruses the other three together didn't. I don't think I'll be using anything else. 

[sloppyhousewife]

I changed from ZoneAlarm to avast recently and am pretty happy with it, especially because ZA had more than just a few problems with the latest XP update and wouldn't let me go online. Plus, avast found spyware on my PC that went unnoticed by Antivir as well as AdAware.

[Lord Darcy]

I'm currently using F-Secure as it came free for 3 months along with my shiny free Broadband. Before that I had Norton but it seemed too 'Danger, Danger Will Robinson!' I don't think I'll go back I might stick with F-Secure as it is unobtrusive and reliable. I have crappy Windows Firewall too as a backup.

I liked F-Secure at v6.xx, but since ditched it in favour of Kaspersky. Too much lag in the new version. It was excellent as an AV, but as a firewall it was quite weak.

[Emma]

Yeah, that's why I've enabled the Windows Firewall too.

[J. M. Pescado]

I just use iptables.

[Jess Maree]

I use AVG on the shiny new desktop. I've also got Windoze Firewall as a back-up. I did use Avast! for a while, but I had to take it off for the more "trustworthy" AVG. I don't know if there's a difference anyway.

[dDefinder]

how's online armor? : http://www.tallemu.com/free-firewall-protection-software.html

[BattyCoda]

I changed from ZoneAlarm to avast recently and am pretty happy with it, especially because ZA had more than just a few problems with the latest XP update and wouldn't let me go online. Plus, avast found spyware on my PC that went unnoticed by Antivir as well as AdAware.

Just wanted to point out that:

Zonealarm == firewall  /* New version fixes XP SP3 problem */
Avast == anti-virus /* Does spyware also? */
Adaware == anti-spyware

These are different functionalities; having one will not necessarily negate the need for the others.

[snowbawl]

I have been watching this thread with interest, as Zone Alarm had decided that the interwebz=teh evil after the latest windoze (XP)update.  The update crept in while I was at work, next thing I know...had to turn the firewall down to cruise the internet.  I am happy to say that the latest ZA update does work...and my firewall is back in action where it should be.
I have used spyware doctor in the past for adware/spyware.  I turn it on every few weeks to check the old bitch (pc).  I use the free version, though I have paid for it before.  The free one works just as well, since I am not running it all the time (it is a resource HOG).  I figure why pay?

[Shivani]

I've used Avast! for several years, but I also keep links to online scanners like F-Secure.

And I just switched from Zone Alarm to Comodo as a firewall.  Apparently ZA doesn't support 64-bit, so the hell with them.

[imyourboy]

Thanks, all. I think I'll try the new ZoneAlarm, since I liked it until it broke.

BTW, you can change the settings on AVG 8.0 to not scan automatically. In fact, the option is included during the setup process.

How do you change the settings, I have looked everywhere in it.

Thanks.

[Drakron]

I use AVG on the shiny new desktop. I've also got Windoze Firewall as a back-up. I did use Avast! for a while, but I had to take it off for the more "trustworthy" AVG. I don't know if there's a difference anyway.

Little but Avast! seems to be better that AVG.

[Roux]

Thanks, all. I think I'll try the new ZoneAlarm, since I liked it until it broke.

BTW, you can change the settings on AVG 8.0 to not scan automatically. In fact, the option is included during the setup process.

How do you change the settings, I have looked everywhere in it.

Thanks.

Open AVG 8.0
In sidebar, click 'Computer Scanner'
In the 'Schedule Scans' box, click to highlight the 'Scheduled scan' task
Click 'Edit Scan Schedule' button
Uncheck the 'Enable this Task' box (under 'Task Settings')
Save, etc.

You can then just run scans manually when you want instead of all the damn time.

[jolrei]

Just wanted to point out that:

Zonealarm == firewall  /* New version fixes XP SP3 problem */
Avast == anti-virus /* Does spyware also? */
Adaware == anti-spyware

These are different functionalities; having one will not necessarily negate the need for the others.

True - it would appear that the free version (and the Premium version) of Avira Antivir does not include protection from adware, nor does it have a firewall (according to their website).  Firewall is available with Antivir Security Sweep (most expensive version).