Which firewall to use? Advice please.

closed

A router does the main job of stopping people trying to hack in externally, the antivirus dows the main job of stopping infections. If they have a router, a software firewall isn't completely necessary, but a second line of defence.

3rd party firewalls prompt you with xxx is trying to access the net, allow deny etc, or have a list of allowed applications, windows firewall doesn't do that, but it's not needed, and quite intrusive/confusing/annoying for novices.

Mr_Yoda

closed wrote: »

A router does the main job of stopping people trying to hack in externally, the antivirus dows the main job of stopping infections. If they have a router, a software firewall isn't completely necessary, but a second line of defence.

3rd party firewalls prompt you with xxx is trying to access the net, allow deny etc, or have a list of allowed applications, windows firewall doesn't do that, but it's not needed, and quite intrusive/confusing/annoying for novices.

They don't have a router, it's a fixed line broadband.

aliEnRIK

If they dont have a router then I would also advise Comodo (I use it, but I use it to control outgoing connections)

closed

a usb adsl modem or virgin cable?

windows firewall will do, but I'd recommend blagging a free router from the isp as well

Mr_Yoda

closed wrote: »

a usb adsl modem or virgin cable?

windows firewall will do, but I'd recommend blagging a free router from the isp as well

Virgin cable. I'll mention trying to blag a free router to them.

Mr_Yoda

aliEnRIK wrote: »

If they dont have a router then I would also advise Comodo (I use it, but I use it to control outgoing connections)

Is Comodo not for more experienced users? I don't really want them freaking out when things keep popping up.

aliEnRIK

Mr_Yoda wrote: »

Is Comodo not for more experienced users? I don't really want them freaking out when things keep popping up.

There isnt really a 3rd party firewall thats any good thats particularly easy to use

I suggest comodo as its the safest and it will block attacks that a hardware router normally would (which they clearly dont have)


To keep it as simple as possible id advise tunrning off its DEFENSE mode and just sticking with the standard firewall (make sure the anti virus is NOT downloaded with it). Cant recall the option off top of my head, but there is a mode that knows most standard programs so pop ups should be few and far between

My advice is run malwarebytes and avast to make sure its clean. Install comodo and set up as above. Then over the next week just allow everything (that will pretty much cover the operating system and most programs)

Mr_Yoda

Thank you for all the help. Think I'll go with Comodo, if they keep phoning me about stuff I can always uninstall it. I'll probably open up all the installed programs whilst I'm there so I can allow them.

Once again, thank you.

jack_spratt_2

I am on XP and use PC tools firewall free which is very easy to use ! I have tried Comodo firewall and found it a complete nightmare but maybe it was just me . I see no one has mentioned Zone alarm I know there are better firewalls available but maybe suitable

If using Vista I would have thought the windows firewall would do the job .

There are some very knowledgeable members who have posted on this thread and there advice would be probably more appropriate than mine

free4440273

I just use Windows firewall / + mbam + NoScript + Avast//