can anyone suggest me a good firewall. Freeware only?

Question

I recently had some major problems with Norton security services on my Pc. Their effectiveness caused me to have to reboot my entire pc and lose all data plus some interesting software.
This has lead me to find a good free security kit. I already downloaded AVG antivirus and now I'm looking for a good firewall that's either free of charge or available for pennies. If anyone can recommend a spyware blocker I would be greatly interested too.
Best suggestion wins him/herself 10 points

Answer 1

You need to install one firewall.

The Windows firewall doesn't stop malware on your pc from dialling out.

http://www.zonelabs.com Zone Alarm firewall OR

http://www.comodogroup.com/ - Comodo firewall.



You need to install one anti virus;

http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/ -AVG anti virus or

http://www.avast.com - Avast Antivirus



You need all three anti spyware programs;

http://www.ewido.net - AVG(Ewido) anti trojan.

http://www.lavasoft.com - Ad-Aware SE Personal anti adware

http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search and Destroy anti spyware. Use the Teatimer settings to protect Internet Explorer, and the Immuniser to stop malware getting on your pc.

Also use Microsoft Defender and their online scans.



And these are useful utilities;

http://www.mozilla.com/ - Firefox web browser.

http://www.ccleaner.com Cr*pcleaner Registry cleaner and privacy tool

Winpatrol is a handy utility that manages cookies on your pc and stops unwanted changes to your startup folder.

http://www.winpatrol.com

Spywareblaster works with Internet Explorer and Firefox. It won't uninstall spyware that is already on your pc, but it will prevent hijacks and other malicious changes to your browser.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com

http://www.siteadvisor.com -MacAffee Site Advisor warns about malware on sites you are about to visit.



http://spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - The Spyware Warrior site identifies fake anti spyware programs.

https://www.grc.com - Shields Up security site, check your firewall works.



Remember to update and run all of you anti malware programs at least once a week.



Other software;

http://www.sys-shield.com - AbsoluteShield File Shredder

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader_2/down_reader.htm - Foxit pdf reader.

http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/ -Paint.net Paint with layers.

http://www.irfanview.com - useful graphics tool

http://www.download.com/Deep-Paint/3000-2191_4-10398243.html - Deep Paint

http://www.gimp.org - Like Photoshop 7

http://www.inkscape.org - vector image tool

http://www.blender.org - professional 3D rendering software plus manual.

Answer 2

Everyone has given good suggestions however my personal reccomendations are:



Firewall: Keiro - A very effective firewall, easy to set up and I have used this for over two years with no problems or conflicts and the personal version is free

Spyware: Ad-Aware-SE which is very good scanner for spyware Spybot Search & Destroy which locates Spyware diallers and programs Spyware Guard - This is a Spyware firewall which also blocks your Browser Homepage being hijacked. Spyware Blaster which prevents Spyware being installed on your sysyem in the first place. I also use CCleaner to clean out any loose registry enteries that can exist from Spyware and Ewido(now AVG) is also excellent.

All these programs are free but be careful of using fake spyware programs as this can be spyware themselves. For a full list of free genuine antispware and rogue spyware programs which should be avoided go to http://spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

All of the following are freeware:



Registry Cleaners: CCleaner

Eusing Free Registry



Spyware/Adware Cleaners: Spybot Search and Destroy

Ad-Aware SE Personal



Firewalls: Zone Alarm Personal Firewall

Kerio Firewall Engine



Antivirus: AVG Free Antivirus

Answer 4

The best is the simplest.



Your broadband modem will have a Firewall.



Combined with the Firewall that is a part of Windows XP SP2



It's all you need.



See the shields up website to test your security.



https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2



Then click Proceed at the bottom of the page.



While free Spyware "catchers" such as Ad Aware are available the blocker versions have to be paid for.

Answer 5

1.FIREWALL

> Comodo Personal Firewall



http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/



2.ANTI-SPYWARE WITH REAL-TIME PROTECTION

> Windows Defender (for genuine Windows XP)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=435bfce7-da2b-4a6a-afa4-f7f14e605a0d&displaylang=en



> Spyware Terminator (in case you don't have genuine Windows)

http://www.spywareterminator.com/



3.SUBSTITUTE ANTI-SPYWARE

> AdAware SE

http://www.download.com/ad-aware-se-pers...



4.SOME OTHER USEFUL FREEWARE

> CCleaner (multi-utility trash file cleaner)

http://www.ccleaner.com/



> SnoopFree Privacy Shield (anti-keylogger)

http://www.snoopfree.com/



>PCSleek Free Error Cleaner (registry editor)

http://www.pcsleek.com/





Here are some security tips you may require:

1.Never use more than one anti-virus or firewall. There is a good possibility that they will fight each other. However, you can use as many anti-spywares as you wish (2 are recommended).

2.Always keep the real time scanning/resident shield of your anti-virus and any one of your anti-spyware active.

3.Keep all your security software updated, and scan your computer for spyware every 4-5 days and for viruses every 8-10 days.



You have done a good job by switching over to free security options!

Answer 6

An excellent free and very strong firewall is Comodo Personal Firewall. It can pass firewall "leak tests" that even most of the "paid-for" firewalls cannot pass.



And Comodo has a great support forum. Where the CEO / President of the company (Melih) might even himself answer your question! Check it out at:

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/



------------------------------------



Or if you prefer a good and free firewall that is extremely easy on using your computers system resources, then Kerio 2.1.5 is just about the lightest firewall there is. Uses about 4 MB RAM on my machine.



Although it is no longer officially supported by the makers of Kerio, there is a great Kerio 2.1.5 support forum at

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/kerio

to help and guide you if you have any problems.



2.1.5 is availible for free at:

http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page7.html

Answer 7

Zone Alarm Free is a good one, as is SyGate Personal Firewall. For spyware, I use SpyBot S&D in conjunction with AdAware.



ZA Free: http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp



SyGate: http://www.tucows.com/preview/213160



AdAware: http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html



SpyBot S&D: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Answer 8

Zone Alarm

Answer 9

ZoneAlarm from Zone Labs

Answer 10

for spyware

adaware se personal

www.lavasoft.com

get update, reboot and do a full scan



spybot also is a good choice

both are free



zonealarm

www.zonelabs.com

has a free or paid version

Answer 11

if you are sitting behind a router and are confident that your av software works and have ms updates then the built in xp firewall is fine.



less resource hungry than 3rd party firewalls.



would recommend running fsecure's rootkit revealer 'blacklight' periodically.



personally leave my av- 'avast' turned off most of the time and only scan incoming files from emails/bittorrent etc then do the free online virus scans every couple of months

Answer 12

This one is good (and free):

http://www.comodogroup.com/



A good anti-spyware, Pareto Logic also free is to be found at :

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Anti-Virus_Utilities/XoftSpy_Download.html

which I find more effective and gets better support than Ad-Aware (also free) :

http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html

Answer 13

Zonealarm is the only good free one left, since Norton took over Sygate.



http://www.zonelabs.com

Answer 14

Zonealarm

Answer 15

Zone alarm

Answer 16

Hey,



If you want a free Firewall just look on www.download.com

Answer 17

ZoneAlarm is best on the market. Free

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp

Answer 18

hi regarding great firewalls ashampoo do a great free one download from themselves or cnet.com

Answer 19

zone alarm will block everything so i dont think its a good choice because it will block almost all your program from accessing the net. i think the best one would have to be AVG.

Answer 20

zonealarm

Answer 21

check download.com they have heaps.