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    Free firewall for free antivirus?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by juice4dman, Nov 4, 2010.

  1. juice4dman

    juice4dman Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have been using Win XP, and it comes with a firewall, which I have never really done anything with.

    I recently found this overview of firewalls on ZoneAlarms site:

    ZoneAlarm by Check Point - Award winning PC Protection, Antivirus, Firewall, Anti-Spyware, Identity Protection, and much more.

    They clearly know there stuff, so I am thinking about getting their free firewall.

    It seems if you want a completely free anti-virus solution, then the ZoneAlarm free firewall would significantly increase your security.

    I also heard that if you are using free anti-virus software, that it is better to use the free Zonealarm firewall then the WinXP firewall.

    Is it because the Zonealarm firewall is more configurable or user friendly?

    Is this also the case for Win 7?
     
  2. JKleiss

    JKleiss Notebook Evangelist

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    Just use microsoft security essentials, its free, light and as good as you need
     
  3. booboo12

    booboo12 Notebook Prophet

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    Couldn't agree more. Windows Firewall combined with MSE is all a home user needs. :)
     
  4. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    The only benefit of Zonealarm or other free non Windows firewalls is that you can control which programs make out bound connects.

    This does not really increase your security but some people like to stop programs calling home.
     
  5. nemt

    nemt Notebook Deity

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    I like the network shield module in avast antivirus.
     
  6. booboo12

    booboo12 Notebook Prophet

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    Windows Vista can do this as well, but in both cases, it isn't really exposed in a consumer friendly way.