Which firewall to use? Advice please.

Mr_Yoda

I need to find some new internet security setup for my parents and wondered if anyone could help out. They are currently using Eset Smart Security but the licence is coming up for renewal and for the amount of time they spend on it it would not really be worth paying for.

I have more or less decided on the anti-virus I'm going to install (Avast free just beat Avira free as my choice). However, I'm still undecided on which firewall to use. I need something which is not too complex and doesn't keep popping up with alerts. I quite like the look of the free Online Armour firewall and was just wondering if anyone had used it and how easy it was. Or alternatively if members have any other suggestions then they would be truely appreciated.

victor2

What version of Windows are they using? Probably the windows firewall will be sufficient with Avast providing other protection.

Mr_Yoda

victor2 wrote: »

What version of Windows are they using? Probably the windows firewall will be sufficient with Avast providing other protection.

They are using Vista. I wasn't sure about the firewall in Vista as I've never really used it (I'm still using XP).

GetRealBabe

Hi

I use Comodo firewall: http://www.comodo.com/home/internet-security/firewall.php . I set it to Safe mode (firewall and defense + security). Don't get that many pop ups mostly when I'm installing something.

SeanM

I like Microsoft Security Essentials (and windows firewall) - does it all and stays mostly in the background...

victor2

Mr_Yoda wrote: »

They are using Vista. I wasn't sure about the firewall in Vista as I've never really used it (I'm still using XP).

It's on by default, but is under Start, Control Panel, Windows Firewall (within System Security if viewing by category).
If they have Vista, you might want to consider upgrading to Windows 7 - chances are the machine's capable of running it and it will be noticeably faster.

Mr_Yoda

GetRealBabe wrote: »

Hi

I use Comodo firewall: http://www.comodo.com/home/internet-security/firewall.php . I set it to Safe mode (firewall and defense + security). Don't get that many pop ups mostly when I'm installing something.

I've had heard that Comodo is probably the best free firewall but not particularly good for novices (which my parents are).

SeanM wrote: »

I like Microsoft Security Essentials (and windows firewall) - does it all and stays mostly in the background...

I had a look at Microsoft Security Essentials but the reviews I read placed Avast as one of the best and I quite like the spyware protection built in.

victor2 wrote: »

It's on by default, but is under Start, Control Panel, Windows Firewall (within System Security if viewing by category).
If they have Vista, you might want to consider upgrading to Windows 7 - chances are the machine's capable of running it and it will be noticeably faster.

I don't really want to be upgrading to Windows 7 due to time and money. I'm not the biggest fan of Vista (it seems quite sluggish) but for what my parents do it works ok. They only really use it for email and website such as Amazon and the local council.

aliEnRIK

Vista firewall is fine

Painkiller

Another vote for comodo here. I put Comodo Internet Security on my parent's computers and run Comodo Firewall + Avira Antivirus on my pc.

closed

Avast free + windows firewall + malwarebytes free. Third party software firewalls slow your pc down with little or no benefit

Mr_Yoda

closed wrote: »

Avast free + windows firewall + malwarebytes free. Third party software firewalls slow your pc down with little or no benefit

I installed MalwareBytes a while back so they are ok there. I just never really thought about windows firewall. I assumed that an independent firewall would be better. Like I said earlier, they are not visiting dodgy sites or downloading stuff (my dad might visit You Tube to watch music videos) so I might go with the windows one.