What's a good firewall and anti-virus software?

[tacticaldawg]

Apparently a trojan snuck in and did some damage before I can kick it out. I used the built in Windows XP firewall but I don't think it did much. So what's a good firewall software, and also anti-virus software? I don't mind paying for good stuff so they dont' have to be free. Thanks in advance.

[okie]

I use Online Armor for my firewall and AVG for anti Virus:wavey:

http://www.tallemu.com/free-firewall-protection-software.html

http://free.avg.com/

[gwalchmai]

AV - ESET NOD32

Firewall - Linksys WRT54G

[okie]

Firewall - Linksys WRT54G
I need to get one them:supergrin::wavey:

[IndyGunFreak]

Apparently a trojan snuck in and did some damage before I can kick it out. I used the built in Windows XP firewall but I don't think it did much. So what's a good firewall software, and also anti-virus software? I don't mind paying for good stuff so they dont' have to be free. Thanks in advance.

Dump the idea of a software firewall, get a good hardware firewall(The Linksys suggested above is a good choice).. If you don't go w/ it, just make sure you look for Stateful Packet Inspection, etc. If you don't need the wireless aspects of the router, thats fine.. Just disable the wireless signal on it.

Then just use a good virus scanner, like AVG or Avast, and you should be fine(at least I always was)

IGF

[gwalchmai]

Another thing I recommend to my friends who sometimes venture into questionable areas of the WWW is "prophylactic" anti-spyware software, like SpywareBlaster, Spybot S&D, and AdAware. They redirect a lot of known spyware urls to never-never land so you don't get to them (and they don't get to you).

Also take a look at finjan secure browsing (http://securebrowsing.finjan.com/).

[scwine]

Anti-virus>> Avast! (http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10019223.html)

Firewall>> ZoneAlarm (http://www.download.com/ZoneAlarm-Firewall-Windows-2000-XP-/3000-10435_4-10039884.html?tag=lst-0-9&cdlPid=10864451)

These are FREE, and have automatic updating as well.

[Soujurn]

Zone Alarm and AVG.
If someone who knows what they are doing, a software firewall won't keep them out.
A hardware firewall is the best way to be as secure as you can be.

[ToddHibbs]

OSX.


Sorry...couldn't resist.

:upeyes::rofl:

[RyanNREMTP]

Anti-virus>> Avast! (http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10019223.html)

Firewall>> ZoneAlarm (http://www.download.com/ZoneAlarm-Firewall-Windows-2000-XP-/3000-10435_4-10039884.html?tag=lst-0-9&cdlPid=10864451)

These are FREE, and have automatic updating as well.

+1, this is what I use on both of my computers at home.

[IndyGunFreak]

OSX.


Sorry...couldn't resist.

:upeyes::rofl:

Well, that should go w/o saying, but he didn't ask for a solution to all his computing woes.. :)

IGF

[gTWO]

I spent a lot of time researching security.

Comodo Firewall, also does HIPS. Free, rated #1 or 2 in most tests.
NOD32 AV, subscription (it's worth it). Also rated #1 or 2.
SpySweeper, subscription, and, yes, #1 or 2.

You also really want to scan for rootkits. See the links for tests.

http://www.av-comparatives.org/
http://www.antirootkit.com/software/index.htm
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/
http://www.anti-malware-test.com/

RE: hardware vs. software firewalls, after spending many hours doing online research, and talking to my work network admin, no definitive reason why hardware is better than software.

[MtBaldy]

IRE: hardware vs. software firewalls, after spending many hours doing online research, and talking to my work network admin, no definitive reason why hardware is better than software.


Ok, so if you have a network admin ask him if the business network is protected by a software or hardware firewall. I'll be surprised if it just has a software firewall.

[IndyGunFreak]

RE: hardware vs. software firewalls, after spending many hours doing online research, and talking to my work network admin, no definitive reason why hardware is better than software.

Sorry.. not buyin that. Its best used in conjunction w/ a software firewall. However, I have voiced my disdain many times here, for software firewalls. Many of them are resource hogs, and with a properly configured router and a little common sense, I've found a software firewall completely useless.

IGF

[Atlas]

Sorry.. not buyin that. Its best used in conjunction w/ a software firewall. However, I have voiced my disdain many times here, for software firewalls. Many of them are resource hogs, and with a properly configured router and a little common sense, I've found a software firewall completely useless.

IGF


"little common sense".... that's me!

[HerrGlock]

RE: hardware vs. software firewalls, after spending many hours doing online research, and talking to my work network admin, no definitive reason why hardware is better than software.

If your hardware firewall is broken they still cannot get to your network. If your software firewall is broken, they're already on your desktop. That's only one reason it's better. Never, EVER, have information you don't want published on the front page of the NY Times and Washington Post on the computer that touches the internet. Perhaps you can afford the time to recover from identity theft but the rest of us would prefer eliminating one very good way for someone to get all the information necessary to do it at once.

A butter knife makes a decent screwdriver in a pinch but do you fix your car with it or do you get tools that are actually made for the job you're going to do?

Oh, I do computer security and forensics for a living. I've run across many a person who will go into painful detail about why they'll never depend on a software firewall again.

[FastDraw McGraw]

Avast works well for me........

[WINGS]

I just added an Alpha Shield personal hardware firewall to my network that already has the ZoneAlarm software firewall and BitDefender antivirus.

Alpha Shield http://www.alphashield.com/

[gTWO]

If your hardware firewall is broken they still cannot get to your network. If your software firewall is broken, they're already on your desktop.
-snip-
Oh, I do computer security and forensics for a living. I've run across many a person who will go into painful detail about why they'll never depend on a software firewall again.

OK, so which HW FW do I want for a cable modem?

[BManoftheyear]

komodo and avg. thats what I use and I haven't had any problems in a while (knock on wood)

[misskitty5077]

Anti-virus>> Avast! (http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10019223.html)

Firewall>> ZoneAlarm (http://www.download.com/ZoneAlarm-Firewall-Windows-2000-XP-/3000-10435_4-10039884.html?tag=lst-0-9&cdlPid=10864451)

These are FREE, and have automatic updating as well.

I have been running Avast for several years now. I love it.

For firewall, get a router like the guys suggested. Even if you aren't wireless in the house, it will work and it's much better than software. I haven't been router shopping in a while so I don't really know what is out there. Any of them will be better than software though.

[BadAndy]

Ugh...I don't even want to THINK about firewalls and AV stuff since I'm in charge of testing and implementing Symantec Endpoint Protection for my company right now LoL!

[Tennglockgolfer]

One Word...... LINUX!!!!!!!!!!!

[Peace Warrior]

Zone Alarm and AVG.
If someone who knows what they are doing, a software firewall won't keep them out.
A hardware firewall is the best way to be as secure as you can be.

People on GT know what they are doing.

[HerrGlock]

OK, so which HW FW do I want for a cable modem?

Just about any of the firewall/router combos out there that have the words "Stateful Packet Inspection" or SPI on the box. If it doesn't say that, put it away and look at another type.

Linksys, 3Com, Netgear, I don't believe I'd get too wrapped up about which brand name it was as long as it's a stateful firewall. Then set it so you are stealth and make sure nothing can connect to it other than the computers inside your network. I used to be a big Linksys fan but their stuff has not been all that great lately so I'm running Netgear for just about all my network hardware at home.

[Ljay]

Anti-virus>> Avast! (http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10019223.html)

Firewall>> ZoneAlarm (http://www.download.com/ZoneAlarm-Firewall-Windows-2000-XP-/3000-10435_4-10039884.html?tag=lst-0-9&cdlPid=10864451)

These are FREE, and have automatic updating as well.

My son is a graduate of the Geek squad and this what he put on mine,, For 4 months now no problems.

[IndyGunFreak]

Just about any of the firewall/router combos out there that have the words "Stateful Packet Inspection" or SPI on the box. If it doesn't say that, put it away and look at another type.

Linksys, 3Com, Netgear, I don't believe I'd get too wrapped up about which brand name it was as long as it's a stateful firewall. Then set it so you are stealth and make sure nothing can connect to it other than the computers inside your network. I used to be a big Linksys fan but their stuff has not been all that great lately so I'm running Netgear for just about all my network hardware at home.

Wise words.. I personally like Linksys.. I think the hardware firewall is easier to setup, and has more options, than the Netgear... I agree though, wouldn't get hung up brand, as long as it has stateful packet inspection.. you're gonna be pretty good...

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1533857&CatId=584

Or, if youu want to save some money.. Even if you don't use wireless, its no big deal, just disable it.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3984786&CatId=2667

[GLOCK30JOHN]

Antivirus= Kaspersky

Firewall= Linksys router

[goatranch]

AV - ESET NOD32

Firewall - Linksys WRT54G

If you were to get one of these routers, how/what is the adjustment needed?

[gwalchmai]

If you were to get one of these routers, how/what is the adjustment needed?

It's pretty much secure as a router out of the box. If you want to use wireless follow the instructions to setup WPA security, and we can help you if you need it. As Dan mentioned, the thing you need is stateful packet inspection, which this one has. I don't know of a consumer router that doesn't have SPI, so any of the major brands should work fine. I've installed a couple of Netgear Wifi routers in the last couple of months and they're great. I have the Linksys at home and it's a couple of years old, and that model is pretty cheap (~ $50).

ETA: You mean what to do with it? It sits between your PC and your internet connection (DSL or cable modem). You plug the cable that now goes into your PC into the input (WAN) jack on the router and connect another (supplied) cable from the output of the router to your PC. Or connect wirelessly.

ETA2: Many cable modems (the Westell that Bellsouth - AT&T gave me with my DSL, for instance) have an SPI firewall built-in. So you may not even need a router if you're only connecting one PC to the net.

[gTWO]

Well, after 6 hours of additional internet research, I found out some interesting things about hardware firewalls.

I found ONE mention about using only software firewalls, and not having protection during boot-up and shutdown. I had wondered about this in the past, but made the assumption that windows wouldn't be ready for network traffic that quick, anyway. At any rate, I'll be powering off the cable modem unless I'm on the net.

I wandered all over www.newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com), reading firewall reviews. The conclusion? Almost all <$200 HW FW suck. Lots of unreliablility. Bad support. Difficult setup. Lost settings when power is lost.

I *stumbled* on the Zyxel Zywall 2 Plus "internet security appliance". It wasn't listed under firewalls nor routers with SPI. It had better reviews, and seems to me to be a quality product. I'll be ordering one tomorrow.

[gwalchmai]

I wandered all over www.newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com), reading firewall reviews. The conclusion? Almost all <$200 HW FW suck. Lots of unreliablility. Bad support. Difficult setup. Lost settings when power is lost. Most experienced users will disagree with your conclusion. ;)

[IndyGunFreak]

Most experienced users will disagree with your conclusion. ;)

Yeah...

I personally have never used Zyxtel, so I know nothing about them. I personally would be very cautious..

However, I will tell you, I've never spent more than $90 on a router, and I've never had a problem(other than one getting zapped in a storm)...

IGF

[gwalchmai]

Zyxel is a well established networking company with a good reputation. I'm sure their suff is as good as any of the major brands. But to say all routers under $200 suck is unrealistic. One could say that all personal computers under $5000 suck because they suffer from many of the same issues gTWO noted. Truth is, research at NewEgg suffers from the fact that dissatisfied owners are far more vocal than satisfied ones. The vast majority of <$200 router owners won't post any feedback on that site, or anywhere, for that matter.

[paynter2]

Zyxel is a well established networking company with a good reputation. I'm sure their suff is as good as any of the major brands. But to say all routers under $200 suck is unrealistic. One could say that all personal computers under $5000 suck because they suffer from many of the same issues gTWO noted. Truth is, research at NewEgg suffers from the fact that dissatisfied owners are far more vocal than satisfied ones. The vast majority of <$200 router owners won't post any feedback on that site, or anywhere, for that matter.

I'll post - I have a cheap D-Link router. IIRC I paid about $40 for it. I've used it with no problems for 6 years.

I have more power spikes than you can imagine. A refrigerator lasts about 3-4 years where I live. My cheap router just keeps working. I have to admit that I bought a battery back-up surge protector about a year ago.

I use Trend-Micro with the router. I don't know how TM measures up against other virus protection products, but I get it free from my office so I use it. TM seems to work fine - no problems with virus or malware.

I also run Spybot - though it's been so long since it found anything I question if it still works! :shocked:

[WINGS]

Antivirus= Kaspersky

Firewall= Linksys router

BitDefender is rated higher than Kaspersky AND less money.

[glockophilic]

+1 AVG, just about any modern router is a good firewall, they all do statefull inspection now...they all do WPA-PSK with AES encryption now... They all turn off brodcast net id. they all mac address filter....just buy the $20 one when bestby or comp usa has a sale day.

[djf]

I use this for a firewall:

http://m0n0.ch/wall/

It's FreeBSD running on a small x86 single board computer. It will also run on a regular PC.

Most "hardware" firewalls are nothing more than Linux or FreeBSD running on small single board PCs.