sp 2 firewall//vs. norton firewall

i have norton internet security suite 2004

should i disable sp2 firewall
explain please as to why?

 

Hi bear,

Personally, I am content with Windows firewall, but I'm not a hardcore surfer and I am running a TON of anti-crapware.
Not a lot of people like the Windows firewall - If you are happy with Norton, keep using it! Just make sure you turn SP2 firewall off. It is on by default. It is not a good idea to run two different firewalls at the same time.

Take a look at this thread: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=40180

Here is something on Windows firewall: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wfintro.mspx

Happy Choosing

PP

 

Hi Halo,

Thanks for the excellent Flexbeta link! It has me strongly considering Sygate

Apparently the free ZoneAlarm doesn't address the outgoing data issue??

PP

 

Hi PP ZA free does cover outgoing as well as incoming data. IE6 even with SP2 firewall does not.

 

Thanks Bill,

The reason I was wondering is that I went to the Zone Labs site and looked a comparison of their products. "Safely approves programs for Internet Access" was NOT checked for the free version. Although, I imagine that if you're using it, you'd know better

Anyhoo, which would you recommend between ZA & Sygate? Man. . . I came to this forum reasonably content with the Windows firewall. Now look what you guys have done to me!

PP

 

I'd vote ZA, but only because I'm familiar with it (as opposed to Sygate). I particularly like the new GUI in the latest version of ZA; it's much more intuitive. ...I guess I can't really comment on the free version.
Regarding SP2's firewall vs. Windows' Firewall I would certainly TURN OFF Windows' Firewall and use Norton's. I also feel compelled to mention that IMHO Norton's Firewall is bloatware (compared to other firewalls) and untrustworthy, reason being (it's untrustworthy-ness) is that a white-hat told me he could hack Norton, then did; he was unable to do so with ZA.
Yours,
522.

 

Yep, I concur with the bloatware aspect of Norton (and Macafee also). Both are trying to be too many things at once. I had a devil of a time getting rid of Norton when I decided to let it go. So far, ZA has done okay with me and, oddly, the free version keeps testing higher than the Pro version in some firewall tests I have seen. Don't know about the latest pay edition of ZA, they've probably plugged whatever holes they had in the previous versions. You might want to read up on the subject in this thread. You'll find a LOT of opinions there

 

Cannot be said enough. -Also applies to Anti-Virus.
-522.

 

i had za and now i run sygate i like sygate better but it is a info heavy firewall
it tells you every thing .but i like knowing whats going in and out of my computer

sygate showed my a spyware that ad-aware and spybot missed or couldnt remove fully
sygate showed it cause i had everything set to ask and this windows explorer kept trying to go online every time i started my computer so after a lot of work i found one of those " search assistance programs " that i thought i removed was trying to go onlline from inside of explore

so i say sygate once you get every set it rocks

 

Thanks to all for the input. I can always count on getting good info here

PP