Installing a software firewall.

[mossief1965]

Hi.

I just upgraded my computer and since I did so I cannot get any
software firewall to work, or in some cases even to install. Just to
give a few examples: Comodo blocks all network traffic and shows it's
network firewall as not working properly. PCTools firewall and
Outpost fail to load their drivers and ZoneAlarm or ESET Security
won't even install. I am using Vista Firewall Control but would
prefer to use a more secure FW. Can anyone suggest what might be
happening, please?

My system:
Vista Ultimate 32
Core2 Quad 6600
Asus P5N-E SLI Motherboard (nforce 650i SLI)
XFX Nvidia 8800GTS 640MB
4GB RAM
D-Link DIR-635 router.

Thanks.
Mossie

 

[Mick Murphy]

Just because Vista firewall does not "pop up with fancy allow/ deny" does not
mean it is not secure.
It is a very secure firewall, that "knows" what should ber allowed.

 

[Kayman]

Hi.

I just upgraded my computer and since I did so I cannot get any
software firewall to work, or in some cases even to install. Just to
give a few examples: Comodo blocks all network traffic and shows it's
network firewall as not working properly. PCTools firewall and
Outpost fail to load their drivers and ZoneAlarm or ESET Security
won't even install. I am using Vista Firewall Control but would
prefer to use a more secure FW. Can anyone suggest what might be
happening, please?

<snip>

You are not going to find anything better than the Vista FW and Vista in
itself due to the advanced features the FW and Vista are using.

"Personal Firewalls" are mostly snake-oil.
http://www.samspade.org/d/firewalls.html

Jesper's Blogs-
At Least This Snake Oil Is Free.
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2007/07/19/at-least-this-snake-oil-is-free.aspx
Windows Firewall: the best new security feature in Vista?
http://blogs.technet.com/jesper_johansson/archive/2006/05/01/426921.aspx

Exploring The Windows Firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2007/06/VistaFirewall/default.aspx
"If you try to block outbound connections from a computer that’s already
compromised, how can you be sure that the computer is really doing what you
ask? The answer: you can’t. Outbound protection is security theater—it’s a
gimmick that only gives the impression of improving your security without
doing anything that actually does improve your security. This is why
outbound protection didn’t exist in the Windows XP firewall and why it
doesn’t exist in the Windows Vista™ firewall."

Tap into the Vista firewall's advanced configuration features
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877-6098592.html
"...once you discover the secret of accessing its advanced configuration
settings via the MMC snap-in, you'll find it to be far more configurable
and functional. At last, Windows comes with a sophisticated personal
firewall that can be used to set up outbound rules as well as inbound, with
the ability to customize rules to fit your precise needs."
Or
Configure Vista Firewall to support outbound packet filtering
http://searchwindowssecurity.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid45_gci1247138,00.html
Or
Vista Firewall Control (Free versions available).
Protects your applications from undesirable network incoming and outgoing
activity, controls applications internet access.
http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/

 

[mossief1965]

<snip>

You are not going to find anything better than the Vista FW and Vista in
itself due to the advanced features the FW and Vista are using.

"Personal Firewalls" are mostly snake-oil.http://www.samspade.org/d/firewalls.html

Jesper's Blogs-
At Least This Snake Oil Is Free.http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2007/07/19/at-least-th...
Windows Firewall: the best new security feature in Vista?http://blogs.technet.com/jesper_johansson/archive/2006/05/01/426921.aspx

Exploring The Windows Firewall.http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2007/06/VistaFirew...
"If you try to block outbound connections from a computer that's already
compromised, how can you be sure that the computer is really doing what you
ask? The answer: you can't. Outbound protection is security theater--it's a
gimmick that only gives the impression of improving your security without
doing anything that actually does improve your security. This is why
outbound protection didn't exist in the Windows XP firewall and why it
doesn't exist in the Windows Vista(tm) firewall."

Tap into the Vista firewall's advanced configuration featureshttp://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877-6098592.html
"...once you discover the secret of accessing its advanced configuration
settings via the MMC snap-in, you'll find it to be far more configurable
and functional. At last, Windows comes with a sophisticated personal
firewall that can be used to set up outbound rules as well as inbound, with
the ability to customize rules to fit your precise needs."
Or
Configure Vista Firewall to support outbound packet filteringhttp://searchwindowssecurity.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid45_gci124...
Or
Vista Firewall Control (Free versions available).
Protects your applications from undesirable network incoming and outgoing
activity, controls applications internet access.http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/

I accept this is probably true, and I have no problem using Vista
Firewall. I just would like to have the option of installing an
alternative firewall and for some reason this is impossible at this
time. Info is appreciated.
Mossie