A good Firewall that doesn't take a lot of sys resourses?

[KBD]

I'm currently using ZoneAlarm Security Suite firewall that also comes with antivirus and antispyware and it seems to be taking a lot of my system resourses and slowed down my pc by a bit. Granted, i have it set to auto-learn programs which it does for the 1st 21 days, i heard that after that period it starts taking up less resourses, i have 5 days of auto-learn left, so i guess will see. But if it won't i'll consider another firewall, thats why i brought this up. By the way, i'm not paying for ZA, my dad got a 3 pc license which cost almost the same as getting it for 1 pc. Also, i've heard that antivirus software built into ZA is not that good, i wouldn't mind going back to AVG. So what firewalls are considred the best, among both free and paid ones?

 

[Ripper3]

I've got Comodo Firewall Pro, works well, has a seemingly quick auto-learning period, and doesn't at first appear to have affected resources much yet.
Plus, tis free.

 

[KBD]

I've heard of Comodo, and i actually installed it on my old PC a few months ago after my Sunbelt Kerio Firewall subscription ran out. Kerio was actully a good firewall, but it was a bit tough to navigate it and take advantage of it's features, i had to spend several hours reading the help/readme file just to learn to use it properly.. Anyway, going back to Comodo, i kept failing their security test after install so thats why i wound up unistalling it. One other thing i should mention is that i need a firewall that is relatively easy to use, this is why i like ZA cause its not complicated and it also has that game mode thing which i like. How complicated is Comodo anyway, i hadnt really had the chance to explore it?

 

[xvi]

My firewall doesn't take any system resources and it was only $60. It looks like this:

Seriously. Unless you're using dial-up, invest in a router. You can usually find one as cheap as $20 USD.
If you are using dial-up, I'd just use the firewall that's built in to Windows XP. It's free, it's not bad on resources, and it does the job (not to forget that it's already installed).

 

[Ripper3]

I find it pretty simple, but then again, I like getting into software, and don't mind something complicated.

EDIT: Oh yeah, forgot about routers. Those are definately not taxing... definately simple, but mine does suck, so, buy a good one.

 

[KBD]

Well, i already have a router, not me personally, but my dad's pc has one, it lets mine go on the web. So its like a network, this arrangement saves me some cash as i don't have invest into my own internet connection and pay a monthly fee.

 

[Ehstii]

I'm currently using ZoneAlarm Security Suite firewall that also comes with antivirus and antispyware and it seems to be taking a lot of my system resourses and slowed down my pc by a bit. Granted, i have it set to auto-learn programs which it does for the 1st 21 days, i heard that after that period it starts taking up less resourses, i have 5 days of auto-learn left, so i guess will see. But if it won't i'll consider another firewall, thats why i brought this up. By the way, i'm not paying for ZA, my dad got a 3 pc license which cost almost the same as getting it for 1 pc. Also, i've heard that antivirus software built into ZA is not that good, i wouldn't mind going back to AVG. So what firewalls are considred the best, among both free and paid ones?

1. zone alarm in itself is spyware...its a garbage program.
2. there is no "good" firewall out there...they are all memory hogs and dont really do much but give you problems.
3. i agree with xvi, if you got a router then your set, thats all you need. and seeing how you already have one, so you say, then just get rid of any firewalls you installed.

 

[DaMulta]

My firewall doesn't take any system resources and it was only $60. It looks like this:

Seriously. Unless you're using dial-up, invest in a router. You can usually find one as cheap as $20 USD.
If you are using dial-up, I'd just use the firewall that's built in to Windows XP. It's free, it's not bad on resources, and it does the job (not to forget that it's already installed).

/

 

[xvi]

If you're already behind a router, then I highly recommend you uninstall every software firewall you've ever tried and instead run free and easy.
Router's are what we call "NAT Firewalls". They're simpler than most firewalls, but they still very effective for protecting your PC from "hackers". No software, no subscription, no hassle, no problem.

 

[bassmasta]

get the killer nic network card. it improves fps, and comes with a firewall that only uses the adapter's core resource

 

[KBD]

So from what i understand i should just drop the firewall idea altogether and jusy stick to the router. I'm not exactly sure if my router has the NET Firewall in it though, it is a wireless router made by ActionTek and was given to us by Verizon after they set up the fiberoptic wireless internet connection in our house. I should read up on that in the manual and see exactly what the deal with that is. In regards to a Network Interface Card, what exactly does it do and what are the benefits of it?

P.S. Should i use Win XP firewall when behind the router or use nothing at all?

 

[erocker]

Sure, the XP firewall is good for something and doesn't take up enough resources to be concerned with. That plus your router will be fine. This is what I use:
Avast Virus protection
spybot s&d
router
windows firewall
that's it.

 

[AT-2500]

i agree with xvi, if you got a router then your set, thats all you need. and seeing how you already have one, so you say, then just get rid of any firewalls you installed.

bah, i cannot agree with that. the ONLY function of a software firewall can be stopping programs and trojans get connected to the internet... this is really important.

i use za at the moment, normal version without spyware or anything. i like it. another nice software firewall is the sygate personal firewall.
and if you like to be fully protected against viruses and trojans, get linux or buy you something like the gData virusscanner. nice one, has 2 scanners built in, and does of course affect the system speed. (it does scan every file you use for spyware and viruses...)