Alternatives to Zonealarm?

Acreo Aeneas · 08-13-2007, 08:12 PM

Okay, I've basically had it up to my frontal cortex with my copy of ZoneAlarm Pro. I've been a avid user and support of the product for the past 7 years. It has caused me many headaches and issues ranging from mysteriously eating bandwidth, crashing several games, and now it is interferring with my ability to completely load a website. I've basically brushed off some of the initial problems as attributed to other programs or put up with the constant issues.

Are there any good alternative firewalls to ZoneAlarm anyone can recommend?

**Trooper** · 08-14-2007, 12:01 AM

i run the XP one and have never had an issue. Run the XP firewall and a good spyware program like, adaware or Microsoft defendor and you should be good.

=Sarc= · 08-14-2007, 12:22 AM

I never used the XP firewall but I like the Vista firewall. It seems to provide a bit more flexibility but I suppose they're pretty much the same thing.

When I used XP, I did like Kerio Personal Firewall.

**Apophis** · 08-14-2007, 08:53 AM

XP firewall works good. In conjunction with a hardware based firewall it's not a bad solution.

You could even go download the CheckPoint SecureClient/SecureRemote package. It's actually supposed to be a VPN client for the CheckPoint firewall, but when you install it gives you the option of installing either of those two products. The SecureClient product includes a software based firewall that's halfway decent.

FWIW: I hate ZoneAlarm too.

**Pokerface** · 08-14-2007, 09:43 AM

I use the Kerio/Sunbelt firewall, and it seems to work pretty well. I don't have Apophis trying to stress-test it or anything though, so take my recommendation with a grain of salt.

(No, Apo, that was not an invitation.)

Acreo Aeneas · 08-18-2007, 08:21 PM

Err, yeah, I hope Apo wasn't thinking about bombarding my network...

I think I'm going to go without a firewall for a while. I've used Kerio on another system and the thing has a huge learning curve. I'm just tired of having to set and reset settings for every program manually because the software firewall blocks a program from running properly.

amu107.9 · 08-18-2007, 10:11 PM

I am currently using the Panda AV and FW suite.

**VegaBond** · 08-27-2007, 08:27 AM

Yeah XP Firewall is good, Virus scanner maybe Bit defender to block programs connecting to IPs.. And run both Spybot and Adaware2007 every few days....

Syntonic · 08-27-2007, 04:06 PM

I personally use Outpost Pro Firewall since I normally hate all inclusive AV/FW suites. After testing several firewalls since ZA6 screwed things up badly, I ended up with Outpost but I honestly don't think it's really friendly for the non-tech type person. Kaspersky's FW/AV suite is pretty good however if you want a bundle. I haven't tried Nod32's AV/FW suite which is in beta currently however. Neither have I checked Outpost's security suite.

Acreo Aeneas · 08-27-2007, 04:11 PM

Does Outpost offer any free products?

Syntonic · 08-27-2007, 10:24 PM

Outpost Firewall does offer a version of it's firewall for for free but I do not recommend using that version at all.

For free firewalls, the ones that are mentioned most often I think are Comodo Personal Firewall and Jetico. Both firewalls are rated pretty highly among the software firewall category and are comparable to shareware/retail products available in terms of protection. They are also actively developed but they may lack stuff like parental internet controls however but those can be handled via other means (like using OpenDNS.) I haven't tried any of the latest versions of either but I've definitely been meaning to.

Honestly, I keep coming back to Outpost Pro myself so I highly recommend it if you decide to try it and like it as it offers a great all around protection.

Acreo Aeneas · 08-27-2007, 10:32 PM

Hmm, okay. I've been running Comodo off and on for the last week. I keep turning it off when it annoys me while I'm working.

I'll look at Outpost and Jetico sometime later.

mentholated · 08-28-2007, 01:14 AM

Does anyone know of a very lightweight firewall? I want something which will impact system resources as least as possible, and doesn't have too many bells and whistles. Preferably free, but not neccessarily.

AN508 · 08-28-2007, 04:57 AM

I've used AVG for the last two years. Never had any problems whatsoever, never had anything corrupt my system.

As for lightweight, AVG only takes a couple of seconds at boot to load up on a subpar machine. I'd say it's pretty close to what you're looking for, but it isn't free.

**CingularDuality** · 08-28-2007, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mentholated

Does anyone know of a very lightweight firewall? I want something which will impact system resources as least as possible, and doesn't have too many bells and whistles. Preferably free, but not neccessarily.

I think that Tiny Personal Firewall was designed to fit that bill! http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fil...scription.html

08-13-2007, 08:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Acreo Aeneas Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DePaul University (Chicago) Age: 22 Posts: 4,547	Alternatives to Zonealarm? Okay, I've basically had it up to my frontal cortex with my copy of ZoneAlarm Pro. I've been a avid user and support of the product for the past 7 years. It has caused me many headaches and issues ranging from mysteriously eating bandwidth, crashing several games, and now it is interferring with my ability to completely load a website. I've basically brushed off some of the initial problems as attributed to other programs or put up with the constant issues. Are there any good alternative firewalls to ZoneAlarm anyone can recommend? __________________ Acreo_Aeneas Former 9th MID Member Current Obsessions: Netbooks and other low-cost, small, and portable PCs.

08-14-2007, 12:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
Trooper Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In my wifes house......if she says i can Age: 25 Posts: 8,830	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? i run the XP one and have never had an issue. Run the XP firewall and a good spyware program like, adaware or Microsoft defendor and you should be good. __________________ that sounds like a good idea trooper. -Vulcan

08-14-2007, 12:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
=Sarc= Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 4,600	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? I never used the XP firewall but I like the Vista firewall. It seems to provide a bit more flexibility but I suppose they're pretty much the same thing. When I used XP, I did like Kerio Personal Firewall. __________________ JO Guides & Tutorials Team Element - It's who you game with.

08-14-2007, 08:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
Apophis Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Rhode Island, USA Age: 36 Posts: 8,974	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? XP firewall works good. In conjunction with a hardware based firewall it's not a bad solution. You could even go download the CheckPoint SecureClient/SecureRemote package. It's actually supposed to be a VPN client for the CheckPoint firewall, but when you install it gives you the option of installing either of those two products. The SecureClient product includes a software based firewall that's halfway decent. FWIW: I hate ZoneAlarm too. __________________ Diplomacy is the art of saying "good doggie" while looking for a bigger stick.

08-14-2007, 09:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
Pokerface Join Date: May 2003 Location: MD, USA Age: 30 Posts: 5,773	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? I use the Kerio/Sunbelt firewall, and it seems to work pretty well. I don't have Apophis trying to stress-test it or anything though, so take my recommendation with a grain of salt. (No, Apo, that was not an invitation.) __________________ NS Game Officer. TF2 Admin. BF2 Admin / Scripter. PM with issues. Tempus: Pokerface is nailing it right on the head. Everyone who is arguing against him is simply arguing against reality. <anmuzi> it is not permitted to have privacy or anonymity <LazyEye> yeah when I play on TG the server digs though my trash Arm yourself with knowledge: TG NS TF2 BF2

08-18-2007, 08:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
Acreo Aeneas Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DePaul University (Chicago) Age: 22 Posts: 4,547	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? Err, yeah, I hope Apo wasn't thinking about bombarding my network... I think I'm going to go without a firewall for a while. I've used Kerio on another system and the thing has a huge learning curve. I'm just tired of having to set and reset settings for every program manually because the software firewall blocks a program from running properly. __________________ Acreo_Aeneas Former 9th MID Member Current Obsessions: Netbooks and other low-cost, small, and portable PCs.

08-18-2007, 10:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
amu107.9 Join Date: May 2006 Age: 27 Posts: 1,108	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? I am currently using the Panda AV and FW suite. __________________ "I was about to call a whaaaambulance." -\|SOG\| Vir2L "The Defenders can't go into that building. So I don't have to worry about that side." -Unknown

08-27-2007, 08:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
VegaBond Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: That smelly place called NJ Age: 29 Posts: 1,044	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? Yeah XP Firewall is good, Virus scanner maybe Bit defender to block programs connecting to IPs.. And run both Spybot and Adaware2007 every few days.... __________________

08-27-2007, 04:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
Syntonic Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 27	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? I personally use Outpost Pro Firewall since I normally hate all inclusive AV/FW suites. After testing several firewalls since ZA6 screwed things up badly, I ended up with Outpost but I honestly don't think it's really friendly for the non-tech type person. Kaspersky's FW/AV suite is pretty good however if you want a bundle. I haven't tried Nod32's AV/FW suite which is in beta currently however. Neither have I checked Outpost's security suite.

08-27-2007, 04:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
Acreo Aeneas Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DePaul University (Chicago) Age: 22 Posts: 4,547	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? Does Outpost offer any free products? __________________ Acreo_Aeneas Former 9th MID Member Current Obsessions: Netbooks and other low-cost, small, and portable PCs.

08-27-2007, 10:24 PM	#11 (permalink)
Syntonic Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 27	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? Outpost Firewall does offer a version of it's firewall for for free but I do not recommend using that version at all. For free firewalls, the ones that are mentioned most often I think are Comodo Personal Firewall and Jetico. Both firewalls are rated pretty highly among the software firewall category and are comparable to shareware/retail products available in terms of protection. They are also actively developed but they may lack stuff like parental internet controls however but those can be handled via other means (like using OpenDNS.) I haven't tried any of the latest versions of either but I've definitely been meaning to. Honestly, I keep coming back to Outpost Pro myself so I highly recommend it if you decide to try it and like it as it offers a great all around protection.

08-27-2007, 10:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
Acreo Aeneas Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DePaul University (Chicago) Age: 22 Posts: 4,547	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? Hmm, okay. I've been running Comodo off and on for the last week. I keep turning it off when it annoys me while I'm working. I'll look at Outpost and Jetico sometime later. __________________ Acreo_Aeneas Former 9th MID Member Current Obsessions: Netbooks and other low-cost, small, and portable PCs.

08-28-2007, 01:14 AM	#13 (permalink)
mentholated Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 793	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? Does anyone know of a very lightweight firewall? I want something which will impact system resources as least as possible, and doesn't have too many bells and whistles. Preferably free, but not neccessarily.

08-28-2007, 04:57 AM	#14 (permalink)
AN508 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Colchester, Essex Age: 21 Posts: 25	Re: Alternatives to Zonealarm? I've used AVG for the last two years. Never had any problems whatsoever, never had anything corrupt my system. As for lightweight, AVG only takes a couple of seconds at boot to load up on a subpar machine. I'd say it's pretty close to what you're looking for, but it isn't free.

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