Firewall

Zebra

I have the following security programs on my PC:
McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.0
Spybot Search and Destroy
Microsoft Antispyware
and Windows Firewall

I've been advised that I should use a better firewall than Windows, so I have got a copy of McAfee Personnal Firewall 6.1, which I got free from a magazine.

Is this firewall a good one, or should I use another one that I can download free eg ZoneAlarm or Kerio?

Thanks in advance!

Toxteth_OGrady

Just Google for "firewall software comparison." That'll give you a pretty good idea.

:cool:

TOG

dinkie_2

Hi Zebra

I'd highly recommend ZoneAlarm. When I was thinking of which to use, remember reading that if you choose a firewall that you have the option of 'training', that can often indicate a better firewall program ... with ZoneAlarm you can choose to have the SmartDefence Advisor (accessed via the Program Control tab) decide itself about what is safe to allow, or you can choose to do it manually, where you decide what to allow. There's plenty of instructions within the program ... I haven't read them yet, to be honest!, but that probably conveys that it isn't too difficult to use ZoneAlarm. Really straightforward; highly recommend it.

I'd recommend downloading Ad-Aware too (free and cleans spyware).
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
Also, if you decide to purchase ZoneAlarm Pro later on, it includes a great spyware scanner.

Regards, Cat

Rogerb_2

Zebra wrote:

I have the following security programs on my PC:
McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.0
Spybot Search and Destroy
Microsoft Antispyware
and Windows Firewall

I've been advised that I should use a better firewall than Windows, so I have got a copy of McAfee Personnal Firewall 6.1, which I got free from a magazine.

Is this firewall a good one, or should I use another one that I can download free eg ZoneAlarm or Kerio?

Thanks in advance!

This earlier thread is very useful. PS My Windows firewall was tested using this software and was deemed flawless.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=174360&page=1&pp=10

wolfman

I always use Kerio (now Sunbelt).

It's lighter than most other firewalls and provides great functionality. ZoneAlarm is good although I find it a little bloated and it plays around with your system settings more than Kerio does.