Firewall

[askanison]

Hi guys,
I downloaded a firewall onto my computer this past weekend.
i know i could never use it beacsue i am always downloading stuff from internet, irc, etc. but i just wanted ot test it out and then take it off. but anywho, when i loaded it the internet programs wouldn't work till i gave the firewall permission to pass info. no big deal right. but then the internet programs would not work anymore. they came up with errors when i tried to open them. i uninstaleld the firewall and the prograsm worked again. can anyone explain what happend and a way to fix this? thanks in advance.

[Riot_Inc]

What firewall did you get? i currently have Zonealarm, and i have to make sure that i don't have the internet lock on, programs that require internet are allowed to access, if i want them to act as servers i have to let them, and i have all the security settings to high, and it doesn't give me any problems at all...

[gambit32]

Askanison were you by chance using Norton Personal Firewall? I used to use Norton, but they want you to configure to many rules. I switched to Black Ice and it works great. Real user friendly.

[Dave B]

Configuring firewalls can be a complex and time consuming task. Good firewalls are configurable on Port numbers, Port types, direction, Packet filters and more.

Chances are that your internet applications needed to access a specific port which was not open or one in which you had opened but not in both directions. I doubt there would be packet filtering on a personal firewall but I don't know the product so there might be.

Best bet is to shop around and try some out. I've heard Tiny Personal firewall is the easiest to configure and takes up virtually no system resources.

And remember... the more applications you run on your computer (and open ports for), the less effective a firewall becomes.

[Riot_Inc]

*makes mental: more applications you run, the less effective the firewall is*

[vanillabox]

The two best firewalls in my opinion are Zone Alarm ( http://www.zonealarm.com/ ) or Sygate Personal Firewall ( http://www.sygate.com/products/shield_ov.htm ). Both are available for download off the internet, free for personal use, and very user friendly. I use Zone Alarm and it has never given me any problems. This considering that I am a network administrator and have some programs that allow me to view the network content, take control of P.C.s and interface with servers. I have yet, after small changes to the configuration, not been able to run my apps. This includes VNC ( http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/index.html ) which allows me to use my computer from any system on my network.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: vanillabox on 2001-07-13 12:38:52 ]</font>

[askanison]

I am using, or tried to use unsuccessfully, Sygate personal firewall. Downloaded it form there website. Installed it and all the problems occured. Might try zone alarm if no one can help with thsi firewall problem. Thanks for replies. Anymore help would be appreciated.

[Tommy]

I would go with zone alarm. Its easy to use and it works.