XP firewall v. Zonealarm

Osem · 22-10-2006, 16:48

Hello everyone - I'm barely PC literate so please bear that in mind. I've been happily using Zonealarm on this PII, W98 machine for some time and it's worked fine in conjunction with Avast anti-virus.

My other PC is a 1 year old XPSP2 version which I'm told has its own firewall which appears to hide away in the background. Question: is the XP firewall as good as Zonealarm and, if not, how do I disable and replace it?

Any feedback/advice gratefully received !

Osem.

ian@huth · 22-10-2006, 16:59

The XP firewall only blocks access into your computer and does nothing to stop any nasties which may have got themselves installed on your computer from initiating communication from within your computer.

Osem · 22-10-2006, 17:29

Doh !!!! When will I get the hang of this place?

Just found the relevant section for this discussion and some useful information about Zonealarm.

Thanks for your feedback Ian.

SnoopZ · 22-10-2006, 17:36

What Ian says and also ZA is known to be problematic. I'd concider a few free alternatives.

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Kerio.cfm

You can disable the XP firewall by :-

Click Start button
Click Control Panel
Click Security Center
Click Windows Firewall at the bottom of that window then click OFF.

Before doing so make sure you're ready and prepared to install an alternative firewall as you don't want to not be not protected.

ian@huth · 22-10-2006, 17:41

Zone Alarm is a software firewall. You could plump for a router which besides enabling you to connect two or more computers to your cable modem usually acts as a hardware firewall and will help protect all the computers attached to it.

SnoopZ · 22-10-2006, 17:47

Best to have a software firewall running as well because it gives you alot more control on what access rights you give individual programs to the internet. But that's just my opinion.

I currently run a Linksys router and Kerio firewall.

Dad's virus · 22-10-2006, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

Best to have a software firewall running as well because it gives you alot more control on what access rights you give individual programs to the internet. But that's just my opinion.

I currently run a Linksys router and Kerio firewall.

I what way? What can the software can do that you cannot do with the router?

SnoopZ · 22-10-2006, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dad's virus

I what way? What can the software can do that you cannot do with the router?

You have to give permissions for all your software when it first tries to access the internet. So if a virus or trojan tries to access the internet you will know about it when you get the popup dialogue box. With a router you wont see this, so it's likely the trojan will get away with doing all its nasty stuff.

CycoSymz · 22-10-2006, 20:14

I dont use ZA anymore...i found it ate 30% of my bandwidth.

lauzjp · 23-10-2006, 05:37

had to take ZA off as it was deciding itself when it wanted to work... have been contemplating reinstalling it, but have been happy with just the windows thing so far - I guess we should put it back on? I'd probably choose that again as we've only really had trouble with it once, and despite the recommendations its the only one I've heard of!?

Osem · 23-10-2006, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

What Ian says and also ZA is known to be problematic. I'd concider a few free alternatives.

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Kerio.cfm

You can disable the XP firewall by :-

Click Start button
Click Control Panel
Click Security Center
Click Windows Firewall at the bottom of that window then click OFF.

Before doing so make sure you're ready and prepared to install an alternative firewall as you don't want to not be not protected.

TY snoopz - think I'll do just that but try ZA again as I know it and haven't had any probs using it on our other (W98) pc so far.

sherer · 23-10-2006, 13:19

i used to run just the windows firewall and the hardware one in my router but I still got spareware and a virus installed on my machine.. i'd recommend running a software one even if you are behind a router

if the software doesn't find anything you haven't lost out but if it does ..

cookie_365 · 23-10-2006, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherer

i used to run just the windows firewall and the hardware one in my router but I still got spareware and a virus installed on my machine.. i'd recommend running a software one even if you are behind a router

if the software doesn't find anything you haven't lost out but if it does ..

Ok, so reversing the question: if you've got a software firewall, is there any point in turning on the hardware one in your router?

sherer · 24-10-2006, 10:03

yes definately.. the hardware router should give you greater protection than the software one as it will block ALL ports but the ones you open up.. however yu may open up P2P ports and general web traffic so you can still get virus' and adware etc on your machine so i alwats run both.. i'd rather run two and not get a virus than run one and get hit

lauzjp · 24-10-2006, 10:20

*confused* but put ZA back on anyway. its not doing no harm I guess... I had a thought though - what would've happened to the things that were in the virus vault when I uninstalled it?