Since there haven't been any, why change? I love Sygate.
There have.
I'll spell it properly; not new ports but new exploits, but do note that
there are thousands of ports on a Windows machine, and it is a labour of
love to check them all. Do you use a variety of freeware sites to scan
your machine? I do. An exploit that ab/uses a dll previously thought to
be safe is one example of a former exploit du jour.
In addition to using a hardware firewall, on my main machine I use the
latest version of Outpost pro (for which I've got lifetime upgrades as I
was there at the beginning).
Watching its evolution has been informative. Some of the changes include
intercepting launching the browser from a link. Sygate doesn't do that,
does it? It's also got anti spyware/anti Trojan ware built in, and the
ability to intercept as well as scan.
It monitors for the aforementioned dll abuse, and a few other things
besides. It monitors all activity inside and out, including POP3, and is
probably the best of its kind. That's why it is not free. I cannot speak
highly enough of Agnitum, and what drew me to them was their excellent
freeware v 1, flaws in Zone Alarm (which have probably been fixed,
though freeware back up sucks) plus the dispute that tore Kerio to
pieces. So you can see how I got to non freeware for that part of my
security.
Note; I dumped Norton because it's bloatware and seems to be less
enthusiastically developed than Avast, which is a marvellous package.
I don't think that the Sygate firewall can match what I have, and it
certainly won't be improved in response to new exploits, which brings me
back to my two word response; "new exploits", which, in spite of my
subsequent wordiness, should speak for itself, though clearly it did
not!
When I use the machine with Sygate on, very few programmes are allowed
carte blanche - and notice that it like free Zone Alarm is relatively
un-selective, whereas if you pay for something like Outpost you can use
very specific rules as well as having variable polices - so that, when I
update the free anti spyware, Sygate is set to always ask me to specify
what level of response. 'Always ask' is norm for that machine.
I would not entrust my primary machine to software that is not
continuously being developed in response to new exploits. So while I do
use the Sygate firewall on one machine, I have absolutely nothing of
value on it. Even so, I am reviewing the position, as you may have
inferred from the link that I posted.
I will probably stick to freeware because I have other means of
countering a take over of my equipment, including a bootable DVD-RW that
has a back up image of my system, and the software to restore it, to say
nothing of the DOS and XP bootable USB sticks, and a backup of my
hardware firewall configuration on a disc (with a different password),
in case I have to press the rest button. You see, my stuff is precious
to me (LOL).
I have a slow burning passion for freeware. There truly can be a free
lunch, but it needs to be assessed before it is consumed. Free does not
always mean good or convenient, although there are some excellent
freeware items to be had, as this group regularly proves.
Please think twice before committing your security to a package that is
not subject to continuous development, in response to new security
exploits. They can and do happen. Just as burglars evolve techniques to
get past security systems, so your system will be vulnerable to newly
developed exploits, faults in MS ware, and whatever packages are
installed on your system.
Why do I take the time to tell you this, am I wasting effort? No.
Because if we all take care of our security we reduce the number of
machines that can be hijacked and turned into offensive weapons.
I am not concerned about your personal information, fiscal and other
wise; it's not just you who suffers if you **** up. We all do; it puts
up the cost of security in ISPs, it costs net-related companies money in
increased down time, it increases the number of zombies, and on it goes.
Just like piracy, failure to pay attention to your security feeds a
number of other things, including organised crime, terrorism, and so on.
I'm sure you can see the implications without further adumbration, so
I'll leave it there.
