SP2 and Firewall.

[Jack]

Hi, I need a recommendation for a good, simple to use firewall. I have been
using Sygate Pro for quite some time. Just recently they came out with a
new upgrade, and it has been causing all kinds of problems, crashes,
unending boot up loops etc. Finally uninstalled it, problems went away. So
I need to replace it, your recommendations please. Jack

 

[Quaoar]

Hi, I need a recommendation for a good, simple to use firewall. I
have been using Sygate Pro for quite some time. Just recently they
came out with a new upgrade, and it has been causing all kinds of
problems, crashes, unending boot up loops etc. Finally uninstalled
it, problems went away. So I need to replace it, your recommendations
please. Jack

You might just stick with the Windows firewall for a while until the SP2
third-party firewall updates are fixed/finalized. Kerio personal
firewall works for me under SP2, ZoneAlarm has been fixed for SP2.

Q

 

[Unknown]

Why not just use windows firewall? It is more than just capable.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Why not just use windows firewall? It is more than just
capable.

That isn't very good advice, as you well know, having been
repeatedly so informed by many more knowledgeable users than yourself.

WinXP's built-in firewall is adequate at stopping incoming
attacks, and hiding your ports from probes. What WinXP SP2's firewall
does not do, is protect you from any Trojans or spyware that you (or
someone else using your computer) might download and install
inadvertently. It doesn't monitor out-going traffic at all, other
than to check for IP-spoofing, much less block (or at even ask you
about) the bad or the questionable out-going signals. It assumes that
any application you have on your hard drive is there because you want
it there, and therefore has your "permission" to access the Internet.
Further, because the Windows Firewall is a "stateful" firewall, it
will also assume that any incoming traffic that's a direct response to
a Trojan's or spyware's out-going signal is also authorized.

ZoneAlarm, Kerio, or Sygate are all much better than WinXP's
built-in firewall, and are much more easily configured, and there are
free versions of each readily available. Even the commercially
available Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall is superior by far,
although it does take a heavier toll of system performance then do
ZoneAlarm or Sygate.

--

Bruce Chambers

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[CS]

Hi, I need a recommendation for a good, simple to use firewall. I have been
using Sygate Pro for quite some time. Just recently they came out with a
new upgrade, and it has been causing all kinds of problems, crashes,
unending boot up loops etc. Finally uninstalled it, problems went away. So
I need to replace it, your recommendations please. Jack

I've had good luck with Sygate and no problems with their latest
update, however, you might wish to try Zone Alarm. Go to
www.zonelabs.com and download their free firewall. Should be around
version 5.1. The XP firewall is good but does not offer outgoing
protection.

 

[Rock]

Hi, I need a recommendation for a good, simple to use firewall. I have been
using Sygate Pro for quite some time. Just recently they came out with a
new upgrade, and it has been causing all kinds of problems, crashes,
unending boot up loops etc. Finally uninstalled it, problems went away. So
I need to replace it, your recommendations please. Jack

I use Sygate Personal Firewall Pro both with SP-1 and now SP-2 with no
problems. I did need to uninstall/reinstall it after SP2 because it was
slowing down boot up by about 60 seconds but now works fine. Have you
posted to the Sygate tech support user group. They are pretty good.