I've always used Windows Firewall that comes with
Service PK. 2 or 3 from Microsoft. If you have either one go
to your Control Panel - and look for the little brick wall Icon. I've never had any problems from my use of it.
Have you been doing your Updates?
cg

Windows firewall only stops incoming on XP, it does not stop phone home spies that are already on your computer.

A few months ago I had a small issue with Zonealarm that I could not resolve so I swapped over to PC Tools firewall and have been very happy with it. During the install you are also offered Threatfire which is a free anti spyware program. I have both on 2 of my computers.

I had tried Comodo but it seems to require a lot of input and I seemed to be forever allowing things and that had not happened happened with Zonealarm.

Here is a link that might be useful: PC Tools Firewall

I use the Ashampoo firewall, I was so impressed with the company, I bought the anti-virus. They have an offer for a free firewall , anti-virus and a CD burning program. I am a satisfied customer of the the site. I am do not have any connection to the company other than a customer of their product.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ashampoo site

I went to their forum and posted the problem. Here is the reply I got:

"1. right click the ZA icon near the clock and choose 'shutdown ZA...'
2. Start --> Control Panel --> add remove programs --> Uninstall ZA
3. Download the ZA downloader from here:
http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/free/1025_update/zaSetup_en.exe
4. When asked choose: Zonealarm FREE firewall and NOT ZA free firewall with trial of ZA Suite."

I haven't done this yet as I've been busy. But I would suggest you turn on Windows Firewall before you shut down ZA. If I have a problem with this, I'll switch Firewalls to one of the suggested. I'm so upset about this as I've never had a problem with ZA and have it running on my 3 computers. Just more wasted time...

Jane

Thanks to all for the quick response. I'm going to try one of them, now i have the windows firewall but had heard it wasn't enough. Jane, that is the one i had downloaded and it is the one that is locking up the computer.When i turn on computer it takes forever to load and then another four minutes till i get my desktop icons. the minute i uninstalled zone alarm computer is back to normal. I had always used ZA before.

Are there any GOOD and fair/objective studies available online as to the effectiveness of these various firewalls ? (I mean, the free editions, not the premium ones with all bells and whistles.) If I do a search for such myself I can already anticipate getting gobs of websites claiming to have fair analyses, but I'm wondering which ones you more knowledgeable computer people would consider worth looking at.

Thanks !

Scott

"Fair/objectives studies" Any study can be claimed to be flawed, so much depends on the criteria used to create the study questionnaire.

Personally I like to Google a program that interests me then look for forums such as this where the program in question is being discussed. That way you can get the real feel from users who have tried the program. I never read reviews on web sites that offer the program as a download because they have a financial interest in getting you to download from their page. There are a few exceptions and those are download sites I trust.

Personally I like to Google a program that interests me then look for forums such as this where the program in question is being discussed. That way you can get the real feel from users who have tried the program.

Hi, owbist

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I would tend to do it that way myself, but I just want to avoid installing a smooth-working firewall (based on user opinions) that, in fact, isn't as efficient as another one which might also 'work' well. And sometimes there are a lot of subjective "I like such-and-such" comments, which are, of course, nice to read (since they confirm the user-friendly nature of some software), but they aren't as informative as actual (and hopefully honest) tests that offer the 'objective' side of the coin. I like to have both wherever possible.

I never read reviews on web sites that offer the program as a download because they have a financial interest in getting you to download from their page. There are a few exceptions and those are download sites I trust.

What would those exception be ? Cnet ? Major Geeks ? Sites like that, or are you thinking of others ?

Thanks for the comments !

Scott

Scott,

You have touched on something I have been thinking about for a while now. Whether it be here or on other forums I visit I am seeing more and more users only concerned about two things: Free! Easy! The quality and the effectiveness of an application is rarely ever addressed.

Someone will post asking for a "good" this or a "good" that. Since "good" is arbitrary what may be satisfactory for the newer user it may not be the best suitable for someone else.

Many applications are currently living on their past successes, i.e. Symantec and Ad Aware. Users have heard of these products and are easily convinced that these are the cornucopia of satisfaction. In reality there are other less bloated more successful, and yes free, applications available.

Finally, I do feel spyware, AVs, trojans and such are serious issues. However, it appears to me that too many users are running around as if the "sky is falling". They have layer after layer of protection and multiple detection applications. Innocent paranoia might create the need to do scans every day. If their system burps they think "bug".

Is all this prophylaxis necessary or is all this the result of a hard sell by software manufacturers?

DA

damcoy wrote and I fully agree.
Finally, I do feel spyware, AVs, trojans and such are serious issues. However, it appears to me that too many users are running around as if the "sky is falling". They have layer after layer of protection and multiple detection applications. Innocent paranoia might create the need to do scans every day. If their system burps they think "bug".
------------------------------------------------
Maybe I've been lucky or
maybe I'm not prone to downloading just anything.
Unknown email usually get deleted.
I may try owbist suggested Firewall.
cg