Best XP Firewall?

[KnickNut3]

What is the best third party firewall for use with XP? I tried ZoneAlarm but even the new version didn't like XP for me. I also tried BlackICE, which was good, but I was told it only worked in one direction. What would be the best one that works well in XP? I'm on a home network with cable access and occationally play a game online, if that makes a difference.

 

[AEboy128]

What about the built in firewall??

 

[KnickNut3]

I believe that's more of an MS snooping device than anything else, or at least that's what I've heard.

 

[btvillarin]

<< I believe that's more of an MS snooping device than anything else, or at least that's what I've heard. >>


I'm not sure if it is, but it does a decent job. (The next sentence or two is gonna start a flame war, maybe, but IMHO, I think this site does a decent job of trying to help protect you.) Shields Up! by Steve Gibson is a good place to check how secure you are, plus if any ports are open to be hacked. With the MS firewall built in, it makes your computer stealth to any port scanners. The thing is that if you try LeakTest (on the same website), the firewall allows things to leave your computer without knowledge.

As for a recommendation, Tiny Personal Firewall is the other one I'd go for, other than ZoneAlarm. I currently use ZA, and it's working fine. TPF is the same, except a little bit harder to understand. Once you do, though, it does a great job.

 

[watts3000]

The best firewall is a hardware firewall if you have more than one system get you a linksys router

 

[jkresh]

I have been using sygate personal firewall since zonealarm started giving me problems in XP, it seems to work fine and shields up has found nothing wrong with it (leak test also worked out positively) so I would try it, also for networking it has slightly more options then zonealarm. Also ZA 3.0 should be coming out soon (It was supposed to be released in November as far as I remember, and it should work in XP) so you might want to use that when it becomes available.

 

[EvilWobbles]

A Linksys router is not a firewall. It does have some functionality that will block very basic attempts to access your systems but it is not a firewall.

I have a Linksys router and use it in combination with ZoneAlarm. ZoneAlarm (once configured) properly runs like a champ and will provide most users will all the protection they need. Plus, it's free.

 

[Insidious]

Another good (free) security check can be found here

edit: ZA 2.6.362 runnin fine here

 

[jfall]

humm.. what sort of problems are you running into with Zone Alarm? are you sure it is the very latest version? I know there was problems with Zone Alarm and XP but the newest version should have fixed all of that. I am running XP with the newest version of Zone Alarm and it is working great.

 

[Migroo]

<< The best firewall is a hardware firewall if you have more than one system get you a linksys router >>



OR get the same advantages with very low initial outlay. Transform an old 486 like PC into a firewall router. SmoothWall

 

[Mem]

<< I have been using sygate personal firewall since zonealarm started giving me problems in XP, >>



I`m using the Firewall that`s in the new Ontrack SystemSuite V4 and it`s a sygate firewall which does a good job, pretty impressed with it on XP .

 

[Technonut]

<< humm.. what sort of problems are you running into with Zone Alarm? are you sure it is the very latest version? I know there was problems with Zone Alarm and XP but the newest version should have fixed all of that. I am running XP with the newest version of Zone Alarm and it is working great. >>


Speaking for myself, I experience some hanging at the Welcome screen sometimes when the latest version of ZA is configured to start with XP. The issue was taken care of by disabling ZA at startup, then enabling it when I want to get online.

I also have been using AtGuard 3.22 for ad and cookie blocking, and additional firewall protection teamed with ZA. AtGuard does load and work well with XP. (I just had a copy around to try )

 

[BUTTUGLY]

<<I have been using sygate personal firewall since zonealarm started giving me problems in XP, it seems to work fine...>>
I found Sygate to really slow down my network performance (I have cable) , I used it before I upgraded to XP and it worked better than ZA but whats confusing is while Sygate claims it's PF is XP compatible, elsewere on it's web siteit apologizes for it not being compatible.
I wish M$ would perfect their OS before releasing another. What the heck, XP is just a service pack anyway.

 

[glen]

So, how do you run the firewall built into XP?

 

[Insidious]

Right Click on My network places then click on properties

then right click on the icon for your internet connection shown in that window then click on Properties

choose the 'advanced' tab and check the firewall box

 

[Tennoh]

For firewall software, I tend to think Tiny Software's Personal Firewall to be the best. Very configurable. Better solution would be to get a cheap ass 486 and install Linux and use ipchains.