Free Firewall Replacement for ZoneAlarm?

[Frank Hagan]

Anyone have a free firewall replacement for ZoneAlarm? ZoneLabs seems to have converted to "nag ware" with their free product, requiring a large download for each update. I like the product, but the frequent large downloads won't work for me with dial up connections.

Right now, I have reverted to the Windows XP Firewall, but was wondering if there was something out there that was better, and still free.

[ChrisTech]

Is there really that much need for a home connection firewall?

I still don't have one. Used to run one (lockdown2000), but got tired of seeing megs and megs of logs of idiots port scannin me, and whatnot. That was back in 2000.

Got cable modem, then router, then my pc which is dmz'ed. I'm on IRC most all the time (BNC). Was on irc before that without a bnc for approx 3.5 years.

[RwL]

How about:
Sygate

http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm

Outpost

http://www.agnitum.com/download/outpost1.html

Kerio

http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_download.html

Rw

[RwL]

Is there really that much need for a home connection firewall?

When running an xp machine I think yes, even on dialup.

A router will protect from 90-99% of the nasties. My dsl connection does encounter some blocked connections in the software firewall logs on the machines behind a router.

My laptop will receive some blocked items in ZA logs when I used the modem on the road. It is a piece of mind that when I reconnect it to the home network, the chance of propagating it to rest of the boxes is nil.

[Andy]

I think a program like zonealarm is good. I like it for the the notifications it gives you. Routers are good to block incoming, and i like zone alarm for the outgoing blocking and notifications.

You could always check places like tucows.com.

[Jonathan]

I like Sygate Personal (Free) I've been using it
since I got my own PC over a year ago.

[bhills]

Also, from what I have read, Sygate is also considered much lighter on the system than Zone Alarm.

[-Oz-]

I leave it to my hardware firewall in the router. Seems to handle everything just fine.

[Frank Hagan]

For some reason, Sygate and I are having problems. So I'm back to the Windows Firewall, for minimal protection while I sort things out.

[sdjl]

I leave it to my hardware firewall in the router. Seems to handle everything just fine.

Likewise. Hardware beats the software anyday if you have that option

David

[rcohen]

For some reason, Sygate and I are having problems. So I'm back to the Windows Firewall, for minimal protection while I sort things out.

Kerio has my vote! Been using them for 4+ years... since they started out as Tiny Personal Firewall...

I like their older version better than the new, but free is still free...

Cheers

rcohen