What firewall should I use?

cdfreelancer · 05-27-2007, 11:10 AM

For several months now I've been happily using ZoneAlarm, mostly because it's functional and free. However, I recently discovered that ZoneAlarm was acquired by an Israeli company, Check Point, which is suspected of being an intelligence front for the Israeli Mossad. I heard a rumour that ZoneAlarm compiles information about your surfing habits and uploads it to a database for the use of Israeli intelligence. You can read more about this here.

I'm quite disturbed by this and I've decided to purchase another firewall unless there are any good free ones out there besides ZoneAlarm. What firewall would anyone recommend? I'm presently using McAfee anti-virus. I'm thinking along the lines of simply buying McAfee firewall for compatibility's sake.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

The Gorilla · 05-27-2007, 11:30 AM

You could try Comodo available here it' s free and has a large fan base.

cdfreelancer · 05-27-2007, 06:31 PM

I don't mind paying for a firewall as long as it offers the best protection available.

**koala** · 05-27-2007, 08:04 PM

The freeware Comodo firewall will give you the same level of protection as Zone Alarm. In fact it scores higher in benchmark tests.

As for McAfee, I wouldn't bother. There are much better options available for free.

macten · 05-27-2007, 09:46 PM

I wouldn't buy any McAfee, Norton or Computer Associates products. Free Avast works very well for antivirus.

DiogoPedreira · 05-28-2007, 04:18 AM

Well, bitdefender is one of the best, you could try it out!

cdfreelancer · 05-28-2007, 10:51 AM

But how do you know if any of those 'free' firms aren't owned by security interests? I don't want big brother poking his big nose into my business.

**koala** · 05-28-2007, 11:00 AM

The companies and software recommended by TSF are all checked out to make sure they are safe and do the job they're supposed to. Obviously we can't go into every company's history or financial dealings to see who they are funded by or partners with, but the security team keep an ear close to the ground so any news will be reported here, as was the news about Zone Alarm a few months back.

**Cellus** · 05-28-2007, 03:58 PM

Many of the products recommended by TSF are popular and recognized among the Internet community. Many have been thoroughly tested and reviewed by professionals and websites around the globe, and have been used by many people.

We understand your concerns. We hate nosy software as much as you do.

cdfreelancer · 05-29-2007, 02:50 AM

Okay then, I'll give Comodo a try. Thanks for the heads-up on that!

weirdboy · 05-29-2007, 08:01 AM

PC Tools has a new free firewall. I have been extremely happy with their other products. I downloaded their firewall. Not nearly as high maintenece as Zone alarm.

PC Tools Firewall Plus
http://www.pctools.com/firewall/

05-27-2007, 11:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
cdfreelancer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southwest UK Posts: 332 OS: XP pro 32bit	What firewall should I use? For several months now I've been happily using ZoneAlarm, mostly because it's functional and free. However, I recently discovered that ZoneAlarm was acquired by an Israeli company, Check Point, which is suspected of being an intelligence front for the Israeli Mossad. I heard a rumour that ZoneAlarm compiles information about your surfing habits and uploads it to a database for the use of Israeli intelligence. You can read more about this here. I'm quite disturbed by this and I've decided to purchase another firewall unless there are any good free ones out there besides ZoneAlarm. What firewall would anyone recommend? I'm presently using McAfee anti-virus. I'm thinking along the lines of simply buying McAfee firewall for compatibility's sake. Any help is greatly appreciated! __________________ AMD Athlon 2400+ Radeon 9600 (256MB DDR) DDR-SDRAM PC3200 1024MB 10MB cable broadband

05-27-2007, 11:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
The Gorilla Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: England Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: What firewall should I use? You could try Comodo available here it' s free and has a large fan base.

05-27-2007, 06:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
cdfreelancer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southwest UK Posts: 332 OS: XP pro 32bit	Re: What firewall should I use? I don't mind paying for a firewall as long as it offers the best protection available. __________________ AMD Athlon 2400+ Radeon 9600 (256MB DDR) DDR-SDRAM PC3200 1024MB 10MB cable broadband

05-27-2007, 08:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,350 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: What firewall should I use? The freeware Comodo firewall will give you the same level of protection as Zone Alarm. In fact it scores higher in benchmark tests. As for McAfee, I wouldn't bother. There are much better options available for free. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

05-27-2007, 09:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
macten Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 239 OS: xp	Re: What firewall should I use? I wouldn't buy any McAfee, Norton or Computer Associates products. Free Avast works very well for antivirus.

05-28-2007, 04:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
DiogoPedreira Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 30 OS: Windows XP with SP2	Re: What firewall should I use? Well, bitdefender is one of the best, you could try it out!

05-28-2007, 10:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
cdfreelancer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southwest UK Posts: 332 OS: XP pro 32bit	Re: What firewall should I use? But how do you know if any of those 'free' firms aren't owned by security interests? I don't want big brother poking his big nose into my business. __________________ AMD Athlon 2400+ Radeon 9600 (256MB DDR) DDR-SDRAM PC3200 1024MB 10MB cable broadband

05-28-2007, 11:00 AM	#8 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,350 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: What firewall should I use? The companies and software recommended by TSF are all checked out to make sure they are safe and do the job they're supposed to. Obviously we can't go into every company's history or financial dealings to see who they are funded by or partners with, but the security team keep an ear close to the ground so any news will be reported here, as was the news about Zone Alarm a few months back. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

05-28-2007, 03:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	Re: What firewall should I use? Many of the products recommended by TSF are popular and recognized among the Internet community. Many have been thoroughly tested and reviewed by professionals and websites around the globe, and have been used by many people. We understand your concerns. We hate nosy software as much as you do. __________________ TSF Networking Team Virus/Trojan/Spyware Removal Help Donate!

05-29-2007, 02:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
cdfreelancer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southwest UK Posts: 332 OS: XP pro 32bit	Re: What firewall should I use? Okay then, I'll give Comodo a try. Thanks for the heads-up on that! __________________ AMD Athlon 2400+ Radeon 9600 (256MB DDR) DDR-SDRAM PC3200 1024MB 10MB cable broadband

05-29-2007, 08:01 AM	#11 (permalink)
weirdboy Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 8 OS: XP Pro	Re: What firewall should I use? PC Tools has a new free firewall. I have been extremely happy with their other products. I downloaded their firewall. Not nearly as high maintenece as Zone alarm. PC Tools Firewall Plus http://www.pctools.com/firewall/