Which Firewall To Use In Windows 7?

[V Bot]

I have Win 7 and want to know what you guys use as your firewall? Other than Windows Firewall. I use to use Sygate in Vista, is there anything for Win 7 similar?

[jman98]

After doing some investigation on this very subject I found so many people who just used the default Windows firewall on Win 7 that it's what I've been using too. I suppose if I was going to use something else I'd probably use Zone Alarm's free one.

[V Bot]

I'll have to look into that one. My computer has the firewall on, but it does give me this message about "The Windows Security Service center can't be started". I have to do some investigating aka Google what that means.

[johns0]

I use windows 7 firewall control.

[V Bot]

Okay, after a quick search, I got my problem fixed as far as the Security Service Center goes. It looks as though the Windows firewall is the one to use. Just had to type Services in the Search box and Enable the SSC. Wow, that was tough. Okay, what about a good Registry Cleaner? Is CCleaner still tops for free software?

[Cauptain]

I use windows 7 firewall control.

I agree. Easy to use and very good soft and freeware (no ads or limitations).

Try it: Windows Firewall Control

[Cauptain]

I'll have to look into that one. My computer has the firewall on, but it does give me this message about "The Windows Security Service center can't be started". I have to do some investigating aka Google what that means.

Windows key + R key, on RUN Windows type services.msc and ENTER, will open a services config , search for Firewaal Windows and initialize type , choose AUTOMATIC, press OK and restart your PC.

[usually_quiet]

I have Comodo's free firewall installed. Avast users sometimes find there is a conflict between Comodo and Avast that causes a BSOD on startup. That is what happened to me after using Avast and Comodo together without issue for a few years. Others apparently never have problems using them together. I use Microsoft Security Essentials as my antivirus now.

[redwudz]

I use Comodo, along with Avast and no problems on several PCs.

In the past, at least with Vista and earlier, the Windows firewall was about useless. It blocked some incoming packets, but NO outgoing packets by default. So if you get malware, it's free to 'Phone home' whenever it wants. I don't know if that's was corrected with W7, but I doubt it. I don't think MS wanted to hear complaints from their users about firewall popups all the time.

Comodo can be a bit irritating at first till it learns your system. But it has blocked quite few problems on my PCs that the MS firewall completely ignored. When I install new programs, it's surprising how many of them get on line to check with the software manufacturers site. I want to know when they try to do that and why.

If you also have a hardware router, most all of them also have a firewall that can be configured.

How much of a firewall you need depends on your internet habits. If you go to a lot of questionable sites or have frequent malware problems, you need a strong firewall. But they do take a bit of work to set up to secure your system.

[lacywest]

WIN XP and WIN 7 ... I use the free Zone Alarm ... works just fine for me ... I like being about to select what programs I want to allow to have access to the Internet.

Awhile back ... it popped up a message ... asking what to do with this program file wanting to startup ... I didn't recognize it ... it was in the Temp folder section ... it was not something I wanted and I deleted it. I sometimes go to this ... not so nice website and it gave me something I didn't want to keep.

[budz]

using Comodo for years now on W7 & XP pro.....

[guns1inger]

Long time Comodo user here. Found ZoneAlarm clashed with too many programs.

[Poppa_Meth]

Yep Comodo here as well. Ditched ZA a long time ago. I had issues with Avast as well when the new Avast 6 came out. I had to exclude the Avast folder from Defense + monitoring and all was well again.

[mazinz]

I have Win 7 and want to know what you guys use as your firewall? Other than Windows Firewall. I use to use Sygate in Vista, is there anything for Win 7 similar?

I need to ask, did you mean to say Sygate on windows XP not Vista? It (back then) was a known issue that Sygate would not run on vista (these inc test I tried myself). If you did get it to work on there, please tell me how, would also love to know if it could work on win 7 as well

[dessieclive]

rising firewall is very good wooks well on wn 7 64bit

[V Bot]

I have Win 7 and want to know what you guys use as your firewall? Other than Windows Firewall. I use to use Sygate in Vista, is there anything for Win 7 similar?

I need to ask, did you mean to say Sygate on windows XP not Vista? It (back then) was a known issue that Sygate would not run on vista (these inc test I tried myself). If you did get it to work on there, please tell me how, would also love to know if it could work on win 7 as well

Yes, I did mean that. I'm still using the Win firewall.

[edDV]

IMO firewall issues sort into network based and free range laptop issues (e.g. public WiFi).

Behind a network you are largely protected by the router with Windows firewall as a second level protection. If your router has a configurable firewall for opening game ports, DMZ etc all the better.

The grc Shieldsup test is good to show port fulnerability.
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

My concern is more for laptops on public networks (WiFi or hotel Ethernet). In those cases, the Windows firewall offers thin protection. It will block most incoming attacks but if your machine is already infected, it won't block outgoing data dumps. That is what ZoneAlarm is supposted to block but configuration training adds frustration.

I'm still looking for something better than Zonealarm for my laptop. Lacking that I'll just use encrypted https web sites and store nothing valuable on the laptop drive.

[Noahtuck]

[aedipuss]

we use the avg internet security 2011 firewall here on xp vista and 7 computers. works well and is nice in that it asks whether or not to allow incoming and outgoing traffic - either as a 1 time exception or as a constant rule.

[deadrats]

I have Win 7 and want to know what you guys use as your firewall? Other than Windows Firewall. I use to use Sygate in Vista, is there anything for Win 7 similar?

the truth is that for most people a firewall is not necessary, it just fills people with a warm, fuzzy feeling. as edDV pointed out a router offers all the protection you really need, even with a cheap ass $50 linksys router it's almost impossible to bypass it if it's properly configured.

then there's the reality that a properly configured firewall, like comodo's, can result in the pc being a complete pain in the ass to use as it asks for permission or denial of practically every event, same holds true for a properly configured and running UAC.

having said that, and despite knowing this and being behind a router, the certified unix admin in me (which never actually worked in the field) can't help but configure my 64 bit vista with the windows firewall turned on, microsoft security essentials installed and running, windows defender up and running, clam antivirus, anti vir on with all security settings maxed out and spybot up and running as well as peer block, which also acts like a very good firewall if you know how to configure it.

[El Heggunte]

The best firewall is a frugal install of Puppy Linux.

[deadrats]

The best firewall is a frugal install of Puppy Linux.

and that does what exactly? i mean that any other linux distro or bsd variant or even a properly configured windows install can't do?

hell, if one was really paranoid, they could install kde on windows, use kde as their desktop for running a browser when they are surfing or doing online banking and use explorer when they need to run windows software that relies on that framework.

the reality is that linux in many ways is over-rated, if you had to pay as much for a distro as you do for a legit copy of windows as well as having to abide by a 1 install per license eula and it also had activation like windows does, i honestly think only the most pimple faced, parent basement dwelling, loser of a virgin would use it, just so they could feel "1337" and tell themselves how much more tech savvy they are compared to the rest of us slobs.

[V Bot]

[Attachment 7091 - Click to enlarge]

Beautiful, kind of like my Houston Texans Defense.

[V Bot]

[QUOTE=deadrats;2082419]

I have Win 7 and want to know what you guys use as your firewall? Other than Windows Firewall. I use to use Sygate in Vista, is there anything for Win 7 similar?

as edDV pointed out a router offers all the protection you really need, even with a cheap ass $50 linksys router it's almost impossible to bypass it if it's properly configured.
having said that, and despite knowing this and being behind a router, the certified unix admin in me (which never actually worked in the field) can't help but configure my 64 bit vista with the windows firewall turned on, microsoft security essentials installed and running, windows defender up and running, clam antivirus, anti vir on with all security settings maxed out and spybot up and running as well as peer block, which also acts like a very good firewall if you know how to configure it.

LOL at the $50.00 Linksys comment and I think you need just one more line of defense.