which firewall is the best/easiest

ARTHUR

I have been using mcafee personal firewall as I get a free copy for being an AOL customer but I have been a bit unsatisfied as sometimes programs that I have previously blocked still connect to the internet without my permission so after formatting my hard disk and doing a clean install of windows and all my backed up files I decide to change my firewall and try zonealarm free edition but I have since heard that zonealarm is not a very good firewall either and I should go with either comodo or online armour firewalls, so what does everyone think is the best firewall of the four firewall I have mentioned -- mcafee, zonealarm, comodo or online armour, I just really want a firewall that I can set up and then forget about and let it get on with securing my computer ports without nagging me too much.

[Deleted User]

ARTHUR wrote: »

I just really want a firewall that I can set up and then forget about and let it get on with securing my computer ports without nagging me too much.

It's pointless having a software firewall.

Have you got a router?

If yes that's all you need.

If you're adament you want a software firewall then the built in firewall is sufficient for blocking inbound issues.

See here for a discussion why:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1371573

asininity

Software firewalls are worth having for most just incase even with a router. PCTools is one of the easiest ones around and comes with Threatfire. Comodo is arguable better however has a lot more popups and can panick people who dont understand what its talking about, besides which it gets plain annoying after a time.

ARTHUR

Deleted_User wrote: »

It's pointless having a software firewall.

Have you got a router?

If yes that's all you need.

If you're adament you want a software firewall then the built in firewall is sufficient for blocking inbound issues.

See here for a discussion why:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1371573

I have a wireless netgear router which was supplied by AOL when I signed up to them, I wouldn't even know how to start setting up the routers firewall,I would like a software firewall too but I have heard that the built in windows firewall is completly useless

ARTHUR

TorrestheGreat wrote: »

comodo tends to get good reviews around here, although there is no genreal consensus. I personally use no (software) firewall

yes I have heard that comodo and online armour are good firewall from my friends but I really dont know much about firewalls

ARTHUR

asininity wrote: »

Software firewalls are worth having for most just incase even with a router. PCTools is one of the easiest ones around and comes with Threatfire. Comodo is arguable better however has a lot more popups and can panick people who dont understand what its talking about, besides which it gets plain annoying after a time.

one of my friends said that pc tools offered a decent firewall, and a couple of my friends have also said that they have had no problems with their comodo firewalls except that it does a lot of nagging and it can be a pain in the !!!! sometimes, you said that comodo is better than pc tools why is this ?, one more question - what does threatfire do ??

ARTHUR

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to answer my questions any help and advice you can give me is appreciated

[Deleted User]

ARTHUR wrote: »

I have a wireless netgear router which was supplied by AOL when I signed up to them, I wouldn't even know how to start setting up the routers firewall

The chances are the router has a built in hardware firewall already set up. The chances are you're also got NAT as well, effectively hiding your PC from the baddies on the Internet.

ARTHUR wrote: »

,I would like a software firewall too but I have heard that the built in windows firewall is completly uselessl

You've heard?

From who? On what basis do they have this view? Rumours? Hear-say?

Do yourself a favour. Read the thread I've posted above. Read the links on the thread. Then make an informed decision on what best suites your needs. Don't simply be a sheep and do something because someone says on the Internet. Myself included.

icefall

I use comodo and find it very efficient. I used to use zonealarm but got fed up with it.

aliEnRIK

Ive tried quite a few free ones and personally prefer PCTOOLS firewall.

PROLIANT

If you do not have a NAT router then the best Firewall would be one that it can report and control network traffic at a granular level, the Windows Firewall is suffice for most users however if you do have a NAT Router, you can use the Firewall that is built in to the device.
Do not use more than one Firewall as you will cause more problems than you can cope with.