AutoHotkey Community

[daonlyfreez]

If you are thinking about protecting your computer from crapware or even more serious issues like virusses, trojans or root-kits, there are many ways, many free - fortunately - many paid, some good, some better.

A software firewall is one of many ways of protecting your system. If you are in a network, or behind a router with built-in firewall, you might not need this (subjectable to debate), but fact stays that at the essence of protection lies the ability to be able to control what connects to what. Sandboxing, HIPS, Anti-Virus/Crapware comes after that...

Here is a good run-down on current versions of Windows firewalls and how they stand up to some realistic threats, not really capturing all features of the software (like stability, resources, user friendlyness, extendability, GUI etcet.), but hardcore security comparison. I have to confess, I have a slight bias for Outpost.

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Edit

+ Added poll to stirr up this subject (and the forums) a bit Got the software names from here

Due to the limitation of the amount of options in the poll, I could not add all I found. I wanted to add these:

BlackICE
Bullguard
CA
Comodo
eSafe
ESET
F-Secure
Jetico
Kaspersky
Kerio
Lavasoft
Look 'n Stop
McAfee
Norman
Norton
Online Armor
Outpost
Panda
Preventon
Private Firewall
Privatefirewall
ProSecurity
SoftPerfect
Sygate
Terminet
Trend Micro
VisNetic
Webroot
ZoneAlarm

Info: The programmer on the mentioned site has shown a bias for Comodo, I can't say the results of his testing disapprove this bias, but, just to let you know.

I can only recommend testing for yourselves.
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[Laszlo]

Firewalls normally regulate the outgoing traffic from your PC, therefore they don’t prevent virus infection, but detect suspicious activity (often caused by malware) and prevent the spreading of them from your PC. I use the built in Windows Vista firewall, which is enough if you have good antivirus SW and spyware detectors.

[m^2]

Firewalls and antiviruses slow down your computer. I use no runtime protection for 1.5 year now and didn't catch any crapware(*). I'm just careful with new software.
(*) I know, I can't be 100% sure. But I'd give 98-99% that my computer is clean.
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[jaco0646]

I completely agree with m^2.
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http://autohotkey.net/~jaco0646/

[Superfraggle]

I also agree with the above.

I have had no protection on my desktop for around 2-3 years. Why??

My router makes any inbound attack very difficult. I am very careful what I download. I occasionally run online spyware/adware/malware/greyware removers, but very rearely find anything.

I have only ever had one incident where my partner decided to click an unsafe link on msn. However I removed the virus manually. Then ran a full online scan just for confirmation of removal.

My main reason for not using them is the amount of low level system conflicts software like that has a tendancy to cause.

My work laptop has to have them, and as such uses Zone Labs Integrity Flex and E trust Antivirus.
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Steve F AKA Superfraggle

http://r.yuwie.com/superfraggle

[adam_]

I haven't used any antivirus/antispyware software for almost a year now. Only have a firewall installed, which is look n stop. haven't had a problem so far and I'm going to keep it the way it is.

in another security board I go to, people seem to frown upon my so called "security" habits, with no a/v. it's nice to see people having the same opinions/habits as I do.

cheers

[Seabiscuit]

Comodo is free and is working on Vista so is v. fit for me
Comodo also has an Operating System Firewall (just like ZA Pro) with auto-learn capability.
Needs ~6MB RAM.

Firewalls' ratings:
http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php
http://www.matousec.com/projects/windows-personal-firewall-analysis/leak-tests-results.php
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GamesGrid was one of the first online web sites to bring Backgammon to the Internet

[Buzcatcher]

Ghostwall, simple, light (less than 3mo), the fastest (the best for online gaming actually), and no active AV/AT scanner ; just on demand scanners.

I especially can't stand web scanners that seem to infest (pun intended) almost every resident AV nowadays.

Besides system hardening, I beef up my security with behavior blockers : Threatfire (and currently trialing Micropoint) for my main partitions, DriveSentry Go Anywhere on my USB sticks/Drive.

I also have kinda "last resort" tools : light OS virtualisation (PowerShadow), and a ironed routine of ISR disk/imaging (via ShadowProtect for me, Paragon for my less computer savvy familly).

If and when I have to set up a windows system for my relatives or co-workers, I might add SSM , some custom rules to Threatfire, and/or I substitute Ghostwall for PCtools Firewall +.

I consider Comodo 3 as interesting but still in beta, personally. I utterly dislike it's way of setting hooks even if you disable it's native HIPS, Defense +, I'm not fond of it's interface and finally it's SPI capabilities have yet to impress me. Leaktests aren't everything (except for marketing purposes, admittedly).

- Buz.

[SKAN]

Zonealarm

[Guest]

you could always run linux, then NO ( MOSTLY ) worries!!!

[Gues(t)Who]

you could always use a nick, then NOone ( MOSTLY ) worries!!!

[_adam]

you'd lose ahk in linux. that to me, is a worry.

[keybored]

I use ZoneAlarm and have for some time. My purpose is to prevent many applications from talking to the internet including Internet Explorer. I think the bigger reason I've been malware free for over 2 years is I run Firefox for my browsing.

Since untrained users don't use my machine I'm at less risk. If I did have other people using my machine I might need other security software.

I also don't use Linux as my primary desktop because AutoHotkey is so darn useful!