I need a new firewall...

[J-Mag]

That may be true, but the fact still remains. SPI and NAT won't protect you from outgoing threats (i.e. program on your machine sending out your keystrokes or online banking passwords, etc.)... just incoming threats. SPI is virtually useless on soho routers (btw soho = small office/home office), as it eats up valuable resources which are already in short supply.

Outgoing threats aren't a concern if they can't get in in the first place. I would only worry if other people use my machine. Most people can't even turn on my computer let alone use it.

I am running a DL-4300 and performance seems fine to me. I even play BF2142 and download at the same time, on occasion.

[Stoneyguy]

slightly off subject, but is there any Firewall that works with the 680i's network hardware acceleration?

[wnd]

Software firewalls suck for the most part.

Show me consumer-priced hardware firewall and I'll (probably) show you a box running some minimalistic operating system with software firewall. :-)

[cricket]

Hello, Dont know if this has every option you are looking for but have you tried SYGATE Personal Firewall? I use it and it works great. do a search for it on www.majorgeeks.com They have lots of good Downloads there

[LORD-eX-Bu]

that would have been my first choice except that Sygate isn't around anymore. Not using any firewall anymore, just Vista windows firewall and a d-link router:lol:

[cricket]

I just Downloaded Sygate less than 2 weeks ago from here:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Sygate_Personal_Firewall_Free_d3356.html

Be sure to Turn Off the Windowsxp Firewall first before installing, and then also go to START/CONTROL PANEL/SECURITY SETTING'S..and then click on "change the way Security Center Alerts me" on bottom left of opened window, and uncheck check mark in box for "Firewall"..otherwise you will keep getting Red Shield Warning Icon by your clock, saying windows firewal lis not on..very annoying

I'm saving my money for Now and Not buying windows Vista...let the guinnea Pigs test and tweak it all out for next few months so all the bugs are out of it first, But I do have the vista transformation packand my desktop looks just like Vista for free..see pictures..
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/39/sshot41sd7.png

[ViN86]

check out PC Tools Firewall Plus, its free and similar to ZA without all the extra crap. application control (remembers application permissions) and you can set rules on ports and certain packets.

[Dr.Nick]

It's hard to find a a better free firewall than Comodo. Worth checking it for sure
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

[Wolfhound]

Try Look'n'Stop, it block ingoing and outgoing connections and is very lightweigth and non bloated.

http://www.looknstop.com/En/index2.htm

[BlueScreen]

I'm using IPCop for my firewall. It's a linux distro so you need to take out an old pc from the wardrobe and install this. I use my old Cyrix 233 with 64mb RAM.

It does the job very well and it is easy to setup.

http://www.ipcop.org/

[evilchris]

Show me consumer-priced hardware firewall and I'll (probably) show you a box running some minimalistic operating system with software firewall. :-)

Cisco ASA 5505 @400

[evilghost]

Cisco ASA 5505 @400

I know you're a Cisco guy but PIX is very limited in regards to iptables (QoS, packet mangle, chained rules, etc) and the user-licensing is the sucks...

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6120/prod_brochure0900aecd8048dba8.html

[SlieTheSecond]

I like sygate. I use to use zone alarm until it screwed up. Would not run. I had no idea why. Even after a format it still would not run. Kept giving me loading errors.
Unlike windows firewall it blocks applications before asking, then only allows it if you allow it to. It's useful running apps you don't want to be constantly connecting to the internet or even to your own network. Or if you install something you shouldn't have such as spyware. You get some unknown program trying to access the internet you know somethings up (tho you should never have this problem in the first place :P )

If a program has to access your network (say hosting a game and joining it from the same computer) the firewall will catch it and now allow it unless you say so.

Only thing is, it will give you an error and not run if you have no network connected and start it. Or at least it happens to me.

[ninelven]

It's hard to find a a better free firewall than Comodo.
+1, Comodo is the first firewall in a long time that has managed to not piss me off...