Free firewall software?

JohnJSal

JohnJSal

Active Member
Right now I use Avast as my antivirus program, although I never really run the antivirus stuff much. Mainly I want it as a firewall, which I think the "Web Shield" is (but I'm not sure!).

Does AVG come with any type of firewall software?

And my big question, do I *really* need any of this stuff if I'm careful on the internet? I routinely run AdAware, which may find one or two things every now and then, but I'm wondering if it's possible to get a virus/malware/etc. (that a firewall would otherwise catch) if you don't actively do something to get it, i.e. visit a shady website). Can they just be gotten randomly while I'm surfing newegg, for instance? (I know it wouldn't come from newegg, but I mean just by virtue of being online at all.)
 
Well, the free version of AVG doesn't seem to offer anything but antivirus software. Avast has the Web Shield, at least. I think I'll just stick with that.
 
AVG does come with a firewall although i have not used it. I use Avast pro which is very good you should just stick with it. If you really want something different you could go with nod32.
 
g25racer said:
AVG does come with a firewall although i have not used it. I use Avast pro which is very good you should just stick with it. If you really want something different you could go with nod32.
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Yeah, I've never had trouble with it, so no reason to switch I suppose. I just wasn't sure it was doing what I thought it was (firewall), but that's what the description sounds like it's doing.
 
do you have a router? routers can act as a basic fire wall. zone alram is a free windows software firewall. if you have a spare computer and time you can setup a firewall server.
 
diroga said:
do you have a router? routers can act as a basic fire wall. zone alram is a free windows software firewall. if you have a spare computer and time you can setup a firewall server.
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I do have a router and I think I even have the firewall turned on, but I wasn't sure if that was as effective as software, or if it was even doing the same thing.
 
JohnJSal said:
Well, the free version of AVG doesn't seem to offer anything but antivirus software. Avast has the Web Shield, at least. I think I'll just stick with that.
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Agreed. Stick with Avast. It's much better IMO.

As for my firewall, I'm just using XPs firewall, and my Westell 6100 has a built-in firewall. I tested it on HackerWatch, PCFlank, and GRCs Shields-Up...all ports reported secure.
 
A hardware firewall (router) is the best type of firewall. A software firewall can have it's advantages, likewise with hardware, and therefore the best measure of security would be HW and SW firewalls overlayed.. but it's not unnecessary for good protection.

If your router has SPI - NAT support, I wouldn't even worry about a software firewall.
 
Datalyss said:
Agreed. Stick with Avast. It's much better IMO.

As for my firewall, I'm just using XPs firewall, and my Westell 6100 has a built-in firewall. I tested it on HackerWatch, PCFlank, and GRCs Shields-Up...all ports reported secure.
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But since you have two running at once, do you have any idea how effective just one of them is by itself? I wonder if maybe my router firewall would be enough, so I can disable avasts' Web Shield.

EDIT: One reason I ask all this is because I don't like having them running while I'm playing a game, so I disable them. Not sure if it's possible to catch anything while I'm playing a solo, offline game.
 
One post up ^^ :)

The meat of what the avast web shield is doing is already being accomplished by the router firewall. It might have email worm protection, which is implemented in software walls, but that's only a concern if you're using a frontend email client, like thunderbird. The other obvious software distinction, software firewalls monitor outgoing packets, I.E. disallowing your online game unless port forwarded. It also can stop possible malicious software from sending personal information outwards, but if you AV and AS scan on a regular basis, this possibility becomes scarce.

It's okay to shut down any software firewalls if you have a hardware, I've done it, and according to several other threads on this subject, several other members here have too.
 
hermeslyre said:
One post up ^^ :)

The meat of what the avast web shield is doing is already being accomplished by the router firewall. It might have email worm protection, which is implemented in software walls, but that's only a concern if you're using a frontend email client, like thunderbird. The other obvious software distinction, software firewalls monitor outgoing packets, I.E. disallowing your online game unless port forwarded. It also can stop possible malicious software from sending personal information outwards, but if you AV and AS scan on a regular basis, this possibility becomes scarce.

It's okay to shut down any software firewalls if you have a hardware, I've done it, and according to several other threads on this subject, several other members here have too.
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Thanks. Ideally I'd prefer none of this software at all, of course. :) I just hate the idea that it's integrating itself all over my computer. That's why I removed Norton IS -- way too dominating!
 
Yeah, that's a concern. Some software walls can integrate themselves too much, into the kernal and such, causing a ton of problems.. plus It's a big load off not having to allow every single safe application and connection attempt.. I feel much better for it, my click finger thanks me. :D
 
routers only block incoming traffic not out going, that is where software firewalls come into play. Zone Alram tells you what program is trying to access the out side world and where. Zone Alarm also does check incomming traffice.
 
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