Small Firewall?

Kale · Post by **Kale** » Tue May 16, 2006 9:29 am

Anybody got any recommendations on a small unitrusive firewall or firewall-like program? Basically what i need is a program that sits on my laptop and desktop systems and allows me to control what programs have internet access (or not). But still allows the two computers to share data over the LAN. This sounds easy enough but i connect to the net over the LAN too using a wireles router.

Any suggestions?

ta.

Psychophanta · Post by **Psychophanta** » Tue May 16, 2006 11:52 am

I use ZoneAlarm in my notebook, which is connected to inet, and i share resources with my notebook and my regular pc.

Num3 · Post by **Num3** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:22 pm

windows firewall works great too ...

in fact it was a well know firewall that was bought by MS, can't remember it's name...

Kale · Post by **Kale** » Tue May 16, 2006 2:18 pm

I've been using Zone Alarm which is quite nice but i have to exit it in order to share stuff across my PCs.

I've tried ZAhome and an old ZAPro and still no luck.

@Num3
I would use the windows firewall but does it let you configure what program can and can not have net access? i thought it just lets everything have access?

Joakim Christiansen · Post by **Joakim Christiansen** » Tue May 16, 2006 3:48 pm

Kale wrote:I would use the windows firewall but does it let you configure what program can and can not have net access? i thought it just lets everything have access?

When a programs try to access internet the firewall ask you what do do.
But... i've seen programs that add itself to the allowed list... (uTorrent)

josku_x · Post by **josku_x** » Tue May 16, 2006 3:52 pm

Joakim Christiansen wrote:
Kale wrote:I would use the windows firewall but does it let you configure what program can and can not have net access? i thought it just lets everything have access?
When a programs try to access internet the firewall ask you what do do.
But... i've seen programs that add itself to the allowed list... (uTorrent)

That's why the Window$ Firewall sucks. Anyone with a bit of experience could make a program that sends bulk e-mails without the firewall knowing.

techjunkie · Post by **techjunkie** » Tue May 16, 2006 5:36 pm

I vote for Black Ice (Commercial) or Sygate Personal Firewall (Free but not developed any more).

Especially if you have 100 Mbit broadband (WAN) or more, some firewalls can't cope with this speed (you get a lower throughput). For example Norton and ZoneAlarm decrease the WAN speed a lot!

SFSxOI · Post by **SFSxOI** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:54 pm

The last software firewall in the world I would use would be Symantec Nortons products, especially the newest 2006 version. Don't know whats gotten into Symantec but it seems as if every release of their product is taking a step closer to total Symantec PC domination.

Anyway, I use Sygate - the last pro version before they sold out to Symantec. It works fine.

dagcrack · Post by **dagcrack** » Tue May 16, 2006 9:19 pm

Joakim Christiansen wrote:
Kale wrote:I would use the windows firewall but does it let you configure what program can and can not have net access? i thought it just lets everything have access?
When a programs try to access internet the firewall ask you what do do.
But... i've seen programs that add itself to the allowed list... (uTorrent)

Yup, I've used the API. it's easy to add your program to the "safe" list. SO SAFE!