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Firewalls

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EnglishInvader
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26 Feb 2010, 2:02 pm

I have just started using AVG Free and MalwareBytes and have the standard Windows firewall on my computer. Can anyone recommend a good FW that is available as freeware?



0_equals_true
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26 Feb 2010, 2:13 pm

EnglishInvader wrote:
I have just started using AVG Free and MalwareBytes and have the standard Windows firewall on my computer. Can anyone recommend a good FW that is available as freeware?

Yes Commodo

When you install it make sure you select only the firewall and not the anti-virus

http://www.comodo.com/home/download/dow ... p?prod=cis

At first it will make a lot of objections to programs but that is it doing its job. Make sure tell what is trusted/allowed.



TheSpecialKid
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26 Feb 2010, 8:24 pm

If you have an old spare PC, and can afford (and tolerate) keeping it running, you can also put up a dedicated computer as firewall.
This is a great security, for example viruses can't be programmed to disable this.

Examples of these firewall-software/operating systems could be: Smoothwall or Monowall.



Orwell
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26 Feb 2010, 8:42 pm

EnglishInvader wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good FW that is available as freeware?

Linux.


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EnglishInvader
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27 Feb 2010, 6:32 am

Orwell wrote:
EnglishInvader wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good FW that is available as freeware?

Linux.


I bought an Ubuntu CD on eBay a few months ago, but I'm still working up the nerve to change the boot order on my laptop. I know a lot of Aspies are good with IT, but I find that computers tend to overwhelm me and it takes me a bit longer to learn new things.

I have discovered a world beyond Microsoft, though. I started using Firefox and Safari instead of Internet Explorer yesterday. Linux definitely sounds a lot more preferable to Vista and Windows 7.



lau
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27 Feb 2010, 2:11 pm

EnglishInvader wrote:
... I bought an Ubuntu CD on eBay a few months ago, ...

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
or, if you don't want to burn the CD yourself, just ask for a free one:
https://shipit.ubuntu.com/
I see little point in buying an undefined CD from eBay.

Also... it may be an idea to consider the netbook version - even if it is going on a desktop...
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download-netbook


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0_equals_true
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28 Feb 2010, 4:08 pm

TheSpecialKid wrote:
If you have an old spare PC, and can afford (and tolerate) keeping it running, you can also put up a dedicated computer as firewall.
This is a great security, for example viruses can't be programmed to disable this.

Examples of these firewall-software/operating systems could be: Smoothwall or Monowall.

No point in doing this for home use. Routers tend to have firewall. Good software firewall is not too much run on your computer anyway.



0_equals_true
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28 Feb 2010, 4:10 pm

EnglishInvader wrote:
I bought an Ubuntu CD on eBay a few months ago

Eek don't do anything with that cd. You shouldn't have spent money on it.



TheSpecialKid
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28 Feb 2010, 7:18 pm

0_equals_true wrote:
TheSpecialKid wrote:
If you have an old spare PC, and can afford (and tolerate) keeping it running, you can also put up a dedicated computer as firewall.
This is a great security, for example viruses can't be programmed to disable this.

Examples of these firewall-software/operating systems could be: Smoothwall or Monowall.

No point in doing this for home use. Routers tend to have firewall. Good software firewall is not too much run on your computer anyway.


Sure. I just pointed it out as an opportunity.



StuartN
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01 Mar 2010, 4:13 am

EnglishInvader wrote:
I have just started using AVG Free and MalwareBytes and have the standard Windows firewall on my computer. Can anyone recommend a good FW that is available as freeware?


I used to use Zonealarm, the free download edition, and it did everything I needed. It was really easy to set up and monitor too - once installed, it pops up a warning about unknown network access and you choose to Always allow, Allow once or Never allow, so it quickly builds a profile of your network.

http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us ... rewall.htm