Firewalls

[nöyd]

What are the best (free) firewall alternatives to XP SP2's firewall?

Just tried to download and install Zone Alarm but after clicking the .exe it comes up with an error message, something about it not being a valid win32 application. I went to the Zone Labs forum and there was nothing there but people pissed off about how Zone Alarm doesn't work, won't update, automatically uninstalls after a reboot, or they can't access Windows at all. :?

Am I safe enough just with the Windows firewall alone?

 

[[furrycat]]

Broadband or 56k?

56k - you should be fine with your windows one
Broadband - if you haven't got a router with an inbuilt one - get a firewall. Blackice has a free one I think

 

[wittyfan]

I just use the XP one for my cable modem. Does it's job!

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I've got a Cyberguard SG300 router/firewall appliance protecting my whole network so my household is locked down like fort Knox, and I don['yt bother with the inbuilt firewalls in XP and OS X. If you don't have something in the same clas (and you probably don't) then make sure your XP/OS X firewall is turned on, and RUN YOUR SOFTWARE UPDATES REGULARLY!!!. If you do that you should be fairly safe.

 

[Soi_Cowboy]

Try Sygate, I think they have a free version, but for the sake of a few bucks, firewalls are one of the most important pieces of software you can have running on your PC, its just not worth risking it. I recommend Agnithum Outpost. Off memory they might also have a free version, but it won't have all the features the full blown version has.

 

[shadow grinder]

sygate is good....