Can anyone recommend a good personal software firewall?

[woody]

I used to supply the free version of Kerio personal firewall when staff wanted some protection on their home PCs but I have today visited the website http://www.kerio.com and I couldn't find the download anywhere. It looks like kerio have done a deal with mcafee and now they don't offer the free home version. There where some betas you could try, but not a goor idea for the average teacher to use.

 

SO, can anyone suggest an alternative? A search in google brings up thousands, but I would prefer to go of your recommendations.

 

 

Thanks!

[browolf]

i've always preferred sygate personal firewall over kerio

[wesleyw]

Zonelabs - Zonealarm or Prevx aren't bad and they're free!

 

Wes

[woody]

@ browolf when you click on that link you posted, it tells you that sygate personal filwall has been discontinued.

 

Thanks anyway!

[daverage]

Have a look at http://www.netveda.com/consumer/safetynet.htm

Loads of configuration options. I use this at home instead of zonelabs.

[Geoff]

Here's a link to Kerio v2.

 

http://www.kerio.com/dwn/kpf2-en-win.exe

 

[CheeseDog]

Never had any probs with ZoneAlarm. It's very straightforward to use.

[woody]

Thanks folks. Plenty to look at!

[daverage]

Prevx isnt free

[Wizzer]

I've been using the free version of Outpost for a while with no problems.

 

http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpostfree/index.php

[OutToLunch]

It looks like kerio have done a deal with mcafee and now they don't offer the free home version.

 

It's actually been flogged on to Sunbelt software, who are definitely still providing it in free and paid versions... You can find their info page here :

 

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

 

If that's what you were happy giving staff before, you might as well carry on... I find that without a helping prod in the right direction, most non-techies can't cope with a firewall - in particular choosing between good and bad things to allow access to.

 

"Why, freescreensaverandgiantmalwarepack.exe wants to access the internet! I want my screensaver so I'd better say yes!"

 

*Clunk*

 

For this reason, I generally just recommend turning on XP firewall or installing a decent inbound only firewall like Ghostwall.

 

Maybe if you've created some kind of crib sheet for beginners with the basics of scanning their machines for viruses, spyware etc and installing/using a firewall they'll cope ok, but otherwise if their machine is already bogged down with malware they're going to get so annoyed with all the popups asking for outbound connections when they first install a new firewall they just quietly (or loudly!) disable or uninstall it.