Merely as a preventive measure, I would like to replace the Windows XP SP2
firewall with a firewall to affords both out and inbound protection. The new
firewall should be free, because the windows firewall is free.

I am looking at ZoneAlarm (free) and Comodo (also free). Which one of the
two is preferable? Are there any other good, free choices?

Thanks for any input.

--
Walter
www.rationality.net
-

Walter R. wrote:
> Merely as a preventive measure, I would like to replace the Windows XP SP2
> firewall with a firewall to affords both out and inbound protection. The new
> firewall should be free, because the windows firewall is free.

Window firewall is not free; it's included in the rip off price you paid
for XP.

> I am looking at ZoneAlarm (free) and Comodo (also free). Which one of the
> two is preferable? Are there any other good, free choices?
>
> Thanks for any input.

Zone Alarm or Kerio.

Alias

Walter R. wrote:

> Merely as a preventive measure, I would like to replace the Windows
> XP SP2 firewall with a firewall to affords both out and inbound
> protection. The new firewall should be free, because the windows
> firewall is free.
> I am looking at ZoneAlarm (free) and Comodo (also free). Which one of
> the two is preferable? Are there any other good, free choices?


I have no experience with Comodo, but I like the free ZoneAlarm.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Walter R. wrote:
> Merely as a preventive measure, I would like to replace the Windows XP SP2
> firewall with a firewall to affords both out and inbound protection. The new
> firewall should be free, because the windows firewall is free.
>
> I am looking at ZoneAlarm (free) and Comodo (also free). Which one of the
> two is preferable? Are there any other good, free choices?
>
> Thanks for any input.
>

Later versions of Zone Alarm use a lot of system resources, so you'll
either need an early version or use something else like Comodo, which
gets good reports all round.

Regards,
John.

Been meaning to test Comodo, just haven't gotten round to it yet. Reports
are good.

Kerio is IMHO the best, but it does require quite a high level of
understanding to use it effectively.

ZA is undoubtedly easier to use.

In article <#(E-Mail Removed)>, (E-Mail Removed)
says...
> Merely as a preventive measure, I would like to replace the Windows XP SP2
> firewall with a firewall to affords both out and inbound protection. The new
> firewall should be free, because the windows firewall is free.
>
> I am looking at ZoneAlarm (free) and Comodo (also free). Which one of the
> two is preferable? Are there any other good, free choices?
>
> Thanks for any input.

Actually, Windows firewall does nothing to protect you from yourself,
but, neither does a third-party firewall solution if you don't properly
maintain it and if you don't properly use it.

As an example, I have a friend, distant, that I use to repair their
computer several times a year, running Windows XP + SP2 with the Windows
Firewall Enabled. After a giving up on them I installed ZA and gave it
back to them. Sure enough, a couple months later they brought it back to
me, compromised. This time I created multiple accounts that were Limited
User accounts, a single admin account with a password, and the set it
all up. I also told them not to permit anything without calling me -
well, in the first month I got many calls about allow/deny, but the
machine remained free of malware, now, in the last year, nothing has
gone wrong and the machine is still free of malware.

If you are not going to pay strict attention to security, well, nothing
will protect you.

I run some machines with ZAP, some with Windows Fireall, and I never
have problems, but, I also know how to protect my systems without a
firewall.

--

(E-Mail Removed)
remove 999 in order to email me

"Walter R." wrote

> Merely as a preventive measure, I would like to replace the Windows XP SP2
> firewall with a firewall to affords both out and inbound protection. The
> new firewall should be free, because the windows firewall is free.
>
> I am looking at ZoneAlarm (free) and Comodo (also free). Which one of the
> two is preferable? Are there any other good, free choices?

Chuckles...you'll get different opinions for sure. I prefer Sunbelt
Software's Kerio Personal Firewall over Zone Alarm. It's not free, but low
cost, 19.95. They do offer a 30 day free trial. I am also testing Comodo
Personal firewall which is free. It more straightforward than KPF but both
seem to work fine. I think the later versions of Zone Alarm are more
resource heavy. Bottom line is any of the three would be fine.

--
Rock [MVP - User/Shell]

I personally use the Jetico free firewall. It is a highly rated firewall,
far above the rating for the free Zone Alarm.

Good Luck,
Ken

"Walter R." wrote:

> Merely as a preventive measure, I would like to replace the Windows XP SP2
> firewall with a firewall to affords both out and inbound protection. The new
> firewall should be free, because the windows firewall is free.
>
> I am looking at ZoneAlarm (free) and Comodo (also free). Which one of the
> two is preferable? Are there any other good, free choices?
>
> Thanks for any input.
>
> --
> Walter
> www.rationality.net
> -
>
>
>

Rock wrote:
> "Walter R." wrote
>
>> Merely as a preventive measure, I would like to replace the Windows XP
>> SP2 firewall with a firewall to affords both out and inbound
>> protection. The new firewall should be free, because the windows
>> firewall is free.
>>
>> I am looking at ZoneAlarm (free) and Comodo (also free). Which one of
>> the two is preferable? Are there any other good, free choices?
>
> Chuckles...you'll get different opinions for sure. I prefer Sunbelt
> Software's Kerio Personal Firewall over Zone Alarm. It's not free, but
> low cost, 19.95. They do offer a 30 day free trial. I am also testing
> Comodo Personal firewall which is free. It more straightforward than
> KPF but both seem to work fine. I think the later versions of Zone
> Alarm are more resource heavy. Bottom line is any of the three would be
> fine.
>

Kerio is free. Full function costs. Trail is for 30 days a which time it
reverts to limited functin unless you decide to subscribe. I've been
using free Kerio for years.

"caver1" wrote

> Rock wrote:
>> "Walter R." wrote
>>
>>> Merely as a preventive measure, I would like to replace the Windows XP
>>> SP2 firewall with a firewall to affords both out and inbound protection.
>>> The new firewall should be free, because the windows firewall is free.
>>>
>>> I am looking at ZoneAlarm (free) and Comodo (also free). Which one of
>>> the two is preferable? Are there any other good, free choices?
>>
>> Chuckles...you'll get different opinions for sure. I prefer Sunbelt
>> Software's Kerio Personal Firewall over Zone Alarm. It's not free, but
>> low cost, 19.95. They do offer a 30 day free trial. I am also testing
>> Comodo Personal firewall which is free. It more straightforward than KPF
>> but both seem to work fine. I think the later versions of Zone Alarm are
>> more resource heavy. Bottom line is any of the three would be fine.
>>
>
> Kerio is free. Full function costs. Trail is for 30 days a which time it
> reverts to limited functin unless you decide to subscribe. I've been using
> free Kerio for years.


Ok, thanks. I didn't realize there was a reduced function free version.

--
Rock [MVP - User/Shell]