@Al Iguana: You'll end up hacked before I do, and you'll ask why you did while I have no anti-software. Really, all you need is a router and knowledge.

Things like not clicking on "Click here" or "Click here to see sexy, single women in *your region*," really help.

What I mean is that you don't need all that bullshit activated, with a firewall router you'll be protected from keyloggers and spyware. That is, if you can only enter on your router config internally.

As for viruses, old ones are already known, and new ones won't be catched by your anti-virus anyway...

Cidinho

"I am surprised that zone alarm would go that route."

Don't be. Like all software firewall companies, ZoneAlarm is being hit by the fact that most users have figured out that software firewalls are worse than useless. They bloat, cause system instability, and can be defeated with some ease by high-quality malware attacks.

A hardware router-NAT/firewall for $100.00 or less is a way more effective tool.

Yes, Avast! is free, light, and great for antivirus.

YachiraG

I've used ZoneAlarm for years and I have been very happy with the firewall portion of the application. I can't speak to how accurate/reliable the AV and Spam portions are.

Whenever I build a machine, ZoneAlarm firewall is the first app that goes on. Having control of inbound/outbound activities on the network is awesome.

I've downloaded some other free firewall apps, but I haven't tested them out yet.

Anyone know of other good/free firewalls that control inbound/outbound communication as well as ZoneAlarm?

Thanks!

spuddude

Regarding bloat: In the days of Windows 95 I used Norton until it got bloated. I used Microsoft Office until it got bloated (after 97). In the days of Windows 98 I used Zone Alarm until it got bloated. I'm thinking of swearing off of Microsoft Money (stuck at version 2005 for me) for the same reason...
It seems that some open source projects have more success than these commercial products at keeping their software focused and unbloated.

Regarding the free anti-spyware offer and any other "free one-year trial" offers: it's more trouble than it's worth because I'm not going to pay to continue a year later for something that can still be had for free.

Posco Grubb

@GregH: I use Windows Firewall on my home server, but not on my workstation which is primarily for web, gaming, and media.

pokysharpy

for me it worked like a charm and i used 2prong.com

i went to the free-offer-site and registered there.
went there couple of times again and loged in there again and again. and clicked around a bit and then i found a link and a key in "my" email-deposit :-)

rayser

@pokysharpy: Good advice for more tech-savvy folks, if people can follow it. I don't clutter up my system with any anti-virus or anti-spyware on my Windows either (or even a software firewall), but I lock down the outgoing ports in the router to cut down on all unnecessary phone-homes. I do use ZoneAlarm, haven't deleted it yet as it's interesting to see what tries to get out, and ZoneAlarm is easier than netstat or exhaustively scouring my router logs. I've never had any kind of infestation or intrusion on any platform since the original Microsoft Word macro virus about a decade ago.

Logical Extremes

About 2 years ago I tried zonealarm firewall and loved it. But then I just decided to try some other security programs. Later about 6 months ago I tried there paid suite, firewall, virus and spyware and it is complete crap now. I am sad to say zonealarm has gone in the wrong direction.
Reasons I would advise you not to use it.

1) it was incredibly bloated, and slow

2) it fried my system, I got the lovely Blue Screen of Death

3) now they are doing gimmicking advertising

4) Once I uninstalled there software they left things behind that kept running, I had to manually find them and get rid of them.

The Only thing I might touch for a PC would be there Free Firewall and that is it.

GeorgiaBoot

Agreed that Zonealarm is now just more trouble than it's worth.

@Pokysharpy: do you run Windows firewall or nothing at all?

GregH

doesnt work with VISTA~!

they must be in stone age.....

redindian

I agree with POKYSHARPY and STEVENM. I've used ZoneAlarm in the past and it is not worth it. I use avast! now.

Hoppes

What was once decent software has now moved into bloatware. No thanks

radink

@stevenem: Or, you could do the following...

1) Have a broadband NAT router (which you mentioned)
2) Use Firefox
3) Ignore unsolicited email attachments
4) Use shared-passkey WPA on your wireless network to keep out the riff-raff
5) Enable Windows automatic updates to patch critical vulnerabilities

... and then you never have to bother with ANY of those overlapping, bloated 3rd-party security apps.

Haven't had a virus since the DOS 6.11 floppy-swapping days, never had a spyware infestation since the Windows 98 days when IE was your only real browser choice.

I haven't run full-time anti-spyware or anti-virus software protection in years. I do a monthly sweep "just in case" but otherwise I don't have stuff always running, always chewing up my RAM.

This is why I laugh when people say how fragile and insecure Windows is. It's only as insecure as the behaviors of the person sitting at the keyboard.

pokysharpy

i used to like zomealarm before their software got all bloated.

cazoo

Never tried Zone Alarm, happy with Sygate PF AVG AV and Spybot on my XP. Also installed is AVG Anti-Spyware and Lavasoft Ad-aware. Do I need another one?

What I'm really waiting for is Komodo FW for Vista. The lack of outbound blocking on the Vista firewall gives me the twitches (not that I'm paranoid about stuff sending out my personal info, just I'm a control freak). And don't say "Advanced Vista Firewall"to me, because I don't have a degree in networking ;)

Al Iguana

So I checked out this free spyware, turns out you have to sign up for one of there "offers" and then if you complete them you get the free software.
Kinda of like those free offers you get in the mail.
I am surprised that zone alarm would go that route

sly100100

it's great that they are offering it free for one day, but I have used their software and it has been a... let's just say it was a less-than-satisfactory experience. For windows users, a great, free antivirus program that I like is AVG Free Edition. I've been using it for about 4 months now and I love it. As far as a firewall goes, I suggest just using the built-in firewall distributed by Microsoft. It works and is fairly reliable (and free for legit windows users!).

And for those of you who are security freaks (like me, haha) you can use it along side other free programs like Norton Security Scan (which I got through the Google Pack), Lavasoft Adaware (free edition of course), and finally (my favorite) Spybot Search-and-Destroy. Between all of those you're bound to be spyware/virus free. I hope.

stevenem

@siblog: This is for the Anti-Spyware, not the firewall. There is a FREE firewall all the time, which has less features than the full (pay) version.

xrobevansx

@siblog: the firewall is free always, but not the anti-spyware program which is what is being offered.

noasalira

be nice if it wasn't a puzzle (that i still haven't figured out) how to actually download for free. when you enter the email information request at the (get this free) section, you are taken to an image to buy(not free) another product, and clicking on the anti-spyware program link takes you to a page asking you to buy it (full price).

noasalira

I have this free firewall on my computer and it works great but I thought it was always free??

siblog

if you have a router, you dont really need a firewall, except for the builtin Windows one. And thats really just to protect from people who bring stuff inside the network.

holymogwai

@GeorgiaBoot:

Agreed.

ZA is one of the WORST apps you could possibly install on your computer.

Slows the sh*t out of your PC...and GOOD LUCK trying to completely uninstall it.

All I can say to anyone even thinking about letting ZA into your PC...HAVE FUN!! ;-)

winexprt

I've been using the ZA suite for a while and haven't had any problems with it. I'd like to say that it's the reason I've never had a virus or malware... but the fact that I don't go to "those" web sites, don't click on "those" ads and don't open "those" attachments is probably much more responsible for my pristine computer.

Oh, and using Win2K probably helps, too, because the malware writers tend to expend most of their energy on bombing the latest and greatest.

infmom

Well, I have been using their Firewall + Anti-Keylogger(www.anti-keyloggers.com) + AVG Anti-Virus(www.grisoft.com) and had no problems for almost a year... So I don't know why are you guys not satisfied with their firewall...

NIck_Johnstone

@pokysharpy: Allelujuah brother. People think I'm crazy when I say that I don't have anti-virus software on my computer, especially when they know I work in IT. I've found almost all of them to be resource hogs and the best solution is just to run Firefox and not open weird attachments or download pirated software (though even that's safer than people think.)

Then again, I don't have anti-virus because I know what I'm doing. For Aunt Gladys, I'd recommend a MAC if she's well off or Ubuntu and a used PC if she's penny-pinching. They tend to take care of the problem in front of the keyboard 'bug' that newbies are prone to.

tommertron