13 replies to this topic

[LondonBabs]

Hi, I've been looking for a good, effective and easy to use free vista firewall, anybody has any advices ? (I'm sorry if this has already been discussed or if I'm in the wrong section, but I seem to have a very limited use of the search option and couldn't find anything relevant after an extensive search on the site, please gently move this thread to the appropriate location or direct me to a similar subject if it is the case.) To get back to the main subject, I use to have Zone Alarm working beautifully on XP, so tried it first on Vista, unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work as good and the vista version seems quite unrecommended and unstable at this time. The window vista firewall is quite praised I saw, but it doesn't give me enough control over it and I'm not really inclined to spend so much time setting a firewall's preset. I just found out about vista firewall control, which I downloaded and I will give it a shot. But if anyone knows a free, easy to use, light on resources and controllable firewall (which is how I found Zone Alarm) for vista, please let me share your experiences Thanks

[Doug]

Vista Firewall is admittedly hard to configure for outbound.
Otherwise, it is no better than XP Firewall (until you configure it)

I don't have direct experience with this yet, but will soon.
http://sphinx-soft.c...ista/order.html

It has been recommended and adopted by folks who I respect.

[Ztruker]

I've been using Comodo Firewall on XP for quite a while now (don't have or want Vista) and like it very much. I don't remember ever seeing anything bad said about it.

http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/

It's now part of Comodo Internet Security which is a Antivirus/Firewall suite, but you can select just the firewall piece during the install process. Read all windows completely and uncheck anything you don't want, which in your case would be everything except the firewall.

This site (and others) have some reviews on firewalls and links to many that are available: http://www.firewallg...om/software.htm

[LondonBabs]

Alright, I've starting using the same Doug advised, as I said before this vista firewall control seems interesting enough and the little I have used it is nice enough, does anyone knows if it also alerts or protects me against changes to the regisytry, I will look into it but if anyone already knows about it
As for Comodo, it was actually my first choice, but I found it a little too heavy on resources, I might try it again, I did improve my computer speed since I first tried.
I don't really like the idea of having a windows element as a protection but as far as choices go for now, I must say it looks pretty convenient. I wouldn't mind being proved wrong provided there's a serious alternative being proposed.
I need a little more time to evaluate properly, but it seems to work quite smooth for now.
Also, would it be off-topic to ask for a complementary free antimalware/spyware I could run for Vista ? I mean some live protection kind of thing, I have malwarebyte but it's mainly good to scan, the free version at least, or should I open a new topic for this ? I'm sorry, I just don't seem to see the subject being talked about (I thought I could search again but I must have trouble on this side of my connection and still cannot use the search option)
all I found is this bit : How did I get infected in the first place ? which is, unfortunately, not a great help for vista.
Any proposition and/or review will be appreciated

[Mohit]

Hello LondonBabs. For Vista, I would recommend the Sunbelt Personal Firewall. It is light on resources, provides good protection and is easy to configure. There is also an extensive written guide available that explains the Firewall's various features and how to configure it best according to your needs.

Alright, I've starting using the same Doug advised, as I said before this vista firewall control seems interesting enough and the little I have used it is nice enough, does anyone knows if it also alerts or protects me against changes to the regisytry, I will look into it but if anyone already knows about it

I don't think that it will alert you against internal changes in the registry. Such functions are usually initiated by AntiVirus or AntiMalware programs that provide real-time protection. However, if you still wish to be alerted of the internal changes going on, you could try WinPatrol Free

Also, would it be off-topic to ask for a complementary free antimalware/spyware I could run for Vista ? I mean some live protection kind of thing, I have malwarebyte but it's mainly good to scan, the free version at least, or should I open a new topic for this ? I'm sorry, I just don't seem to see the subject being talked about (I thought I could search again but I must have trouble on this side of my connection and still cannot use the search option)

No, it isn't off-topic. For free real-time AntiSpyware protection, I would recommend Spyware Terminator. Integrated with Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware's occasional scans, it should provide adequate protection to get you running. To be on the safe side, you could also add SUPERAntiSpyware Free to your kit for occasional scans.

Hope, I didn't confuse you further.

-- Mohit

[Abydos]

For further choices, you could take a look in my signature, the link Preventing Malware.

And just a word of caution. If you decide to install Spyware Terminator, be sure to uncheck / untick the option
for installing the Crawler Toolbar. Altho it is a pre-requisite for the web guard. Alternatives to web guard could
be Mcafee site advisor or WoT (Web of Trust). Web Guard is not very good in my opinion.


Cheers

[LondonBabs]

ok then, sorry for not saying much. but alright, thank you all so much, it's brilliant, I put sunbelt firewall and am more than happy with it, it's exactly what I was looking for same for Spyware terminator, very efficient, both light on ressources, I'll stay with that, it's perfect thanks also for the other links, very useful indeed. I'll be good with my quest now, thanks again for all help provided, you guys are ace !! much appreciated

[LondonBabs]

I see that the topic is still open, let me take the opportunity to ask if anyone would know of a free web bug detector for Vista (maybe I should also precise that I usually use firefox) ? I see that Bugnosis is down, that's the only one I knew which I could trust. thanx again for any assistance. Babs

Edited by LondonBabs, 22 April 2009 - 09:57 AM.

[Ztruker]

I don't know what Web Bug Detector is, but Google found this one which is for "Windows All": http://www.softpedia...-Detector.shtml

[LondonBabs]

alright, that sounds about right, and obviously a web bug detector will detect web bugs (!!!) and possibly block or remove them (for anybody who would like more information, check this: http://news.cnet.com...17-243077.html)
I guess I can trust softpedia for clean downloads ? (if I remember properly, I might have had some virus alert from downloading a file from this site in the past) I'm guessing I'll find out anyway.
What about anti-trojan horse programs and/or intrusion-detection/protection systems ? would it be wise to install those as part of my protection ? anybody has some knowledge about those ? and as usual, if they are any good, anybody knows some good ones for Vista ?
I hope I'm not boring everyone with all my security questions, I'm just striving to get my computer as clean as possible right now and I want to try every ways possible.
thanks again for any help

[Doug]

Londonbabs,

Your questions are sensible for setting up and maintaining good internet security.

General guidelines and suggestions are available to our Membership here:
Guidelines suggested by Tallin
Guidelines suggested by Digerati
For a discussion of the differences between virus and other spyware see SpySentinels post

And, of course, each of our Malware Removal Specialists provide recommendations for Members who have been victim of infection and wish to put in place a good plan to prevent re-occurance.

As to "web bugs", the article you link is talking about "cookies" which are both a benefit and a bain to a person browsing the internet.
Cookies help you the user to identify yourself to the website that you are reading or conducting business with.
Without such information, websites would not be able to send the useful information that you desire back to you.
Cookies help websites know who is browsing their site and how they can best serve those interested folks.
Therefore the use of "first-party cookies" is generally thought to be mostly beneficial.
However many websites also allow "advertisers" to place their banners, and sponsored content onto the websites display.
The website itself has little control over the content of advertisers that they have allowed, but most websites make at least a general effort to assure that advertising content is appropriate to their member/visitors, and most of the time prevent malicious advertisement and cookies.
These "advertising cookies (web bugs)" are better referred to as "third-party cookies".

Your browser, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Chrome, Safari, and others have optional settings in Tools - Options - Privacy to allow you to decide for yourself which type of "cookie" you allow to be displayed on your own screen.

Personally, I use MVPS Hosts File, which is a well researched list of sites and addresses that are known to communicate "third-party-cookies" and/or known to push potential malicious content. MVPS Hosts File, when installed on my computer, prevents the loading of the literally "tons" of annoying "third-party" and malicious content.
When using a "blocker" like MVPS Hosts File, the owner/user browsing the internet simply doesn't "see" most of the internets advertising content, because it is blocked. While this may make websites you visit appear a little less "colorful and entertaining" it also increases your security and prevents much exposure that could allow the user to accidentally click on malicious or unwanted content.

SpywareBlaster and Spybot Search & Destroy - Immunize, also provide similar "blocking" of "third-party-content.

When an advertisement is "blocked", your screen will ordinarily "see" a script indicating "IE cannot display this content" or "Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at ..." This does not indicate a problem, rather it indicates that your "blocking program" is at work. I use an additional useful feature called "Homer" by Funkytoad. Homer is a small program that places a neutral color patch in place of "third-party cookies" that have been blocked. Therefore the user doesn't have to see those annoying "Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at ... " messages. Here's where you can get "Homer". Give it a test drive, most folks like it once they discover it. And it actually speeds up website page loading because the adds don't have to load and the "cannot display" notifications don't have to take time to load. There are some other useful internet browsing utilities available from FunkyToad. Read about them from the "Homer" link and decide for yourself which you may wish to use.

It is a fact of life, that the internet has reduced our privacy. Yep, its true. If you browse the internet, there are various ways for websites and others to "know you are there". Most of the time this is useful, when for instance you wish to make an online purchase, or conduct online banking, or gain access to a Forum where you enjoy a membership. But many instances of "being noticed" can be annoying and invasive. Some folks like to use some form of "annoymous browsing" either by browser settings, or using a proxy annonymizing service. Annonymizers generally accept "all" of your browsing requests and then annonymously forward your request for information to the desired website. Then the website returns the information content to the annonymizer, who then relays the information to you. That's great, if you trust the annonymizing service. Otherwise, annonymizers can become a huge reference list of the kinds of browsing habits that you practice. Many "annonymous browsing services" do a good job of protecting your identity, but you have to be careful which service you select and determine its policies and how well it actually functions. I don't use Annonymizers myself.

Another "huge" vector for intruding on your privacy is email. Unwanted email (spam) is broadcast daily to any receiver that is available, including you the home owner of a computer. We "always" recommend that the user "not click or open" unasked for email, even if it seems to be offering an attractive product or service. You didn't ask for it. But they sent it any way. "Spam" is somewhat like advertisements in a newspaper or magazine, if they were able to shout out at you from the pages and demand that you reply. If you "click" on an spam email, the spammer receive a message that you are reading, gets "some" information about you, and may be able to intrude sometimes malicious content onto your machine. Best advice: "Just don't go there". All email clients have some sort of "Junk Mail" file filter such as Outlook Rules. When I receive a spam email in my Outlook, I take a moment to "right-click" and set a new rule to filter any future such spam from that source into my "Junk Mail" folder. There are free and commercial email filters which will generally do that work for you. I like Mail Washer.

You also asked about "trojans" which are a malicious type of content embedded in email and on some websites.
If you have already installed MalwareBytes or SuperAntispyware then you already have good protection. (use one or the other, but not both active at the same time) I add additional protection to my machines with WOT which is a SiteAdviser that will alert you to possibly hazardous browsing and probable safe sites.

Nothing in the above and in the above links is 100% guaranteed to prevent your machine from ever becoming infected. But a good combination of the above will help immensely.
Most important is your own good judgment and careful browsing habits.
The utilities that have been suggested to you will help a lot, as you learn and develop good browsing habits and judgment.

Thanks for your question and for deciding to be an active Member at WTT Forums.

Doug

[LondonBabs]

wow, great and informative answer, thank you so much Doug, I think there's about everything I need to know and so detailed as well, thank you again for taking the time to answer so precisely. I think I have everything I need now, I really appreciate all the help I'm getting here, thanks to everyone involved in helping us all. Babs

[Doug]

everything I need now

The above is a very "transient" condition.

Stay tuned and keep reading.
This field is changing, both from the point of view of the bad-guys and the good-guys, just about as fast as anything I've ever seen in my lifetime.

best regards

Edit: P.S. We haven't even touched on Drive Imaging and Virtualization as potential tools for recovery and protection.
As I said, stay tuned.

[miltonhork]

hi I think you got what you want if don't then go to downloads.com.You will get any free software there,,,,