I currently use ZA Free 7.0.302, but due to the size of it (since the Pro stuff is just turned off) and it possibly acting weird, I was going to use ZA Free 6.5.737 on my replacement laptop coming up instead.

Then Comodo Free FirewallVersion 2.4 was recommended to me. But then I saw that it supposedly has a vulnerability that won't be fixed until the next version (if that even).

I also see that it says "after downloading and installing the firewall, just register with us and you will be sent a free license. After activation, this license will never expire." -- so what information do you have to provide to register?

This firewall stuff kind of makes my head spin since I'm no expert, but I'm trying to decide what I should go with between these two on my replacement laptop. Opinions with explanations understandable by a non-expert are appreciated!

I am also considering buying the AVG Internet Security, which seems to include a Firewall. How does that one measure up?

I'll have Windows XP Pro, I use Firefox for all internet browsing (except for Windows Updates and the occasional Office Updates), and I have dial-up.

Some A/V, antispyware, etc. programs I plan on using are: SpyBot, Ad-Aware SE Free, AVG A/V Free, AVG Antispyware Free, and maybe Comodo BOClean Anti-Malware Version 4.24 and SpywareBlaster.

Thanks for the help/opinions!

The only thing you have to provide is your email address.

If you don't want any offers from Comodo, make sure the the box underneath is ticked. I think it says something along the lines of tick this box if you do not want to receive any other offers from Comodo.

The programs you have mentioned will create no problems as i can see, although you should ensure that the WIndows default fire is turned off when using another firewall.

To turn off Windows Firewall, click start>run and type in firewall.cpl then click OK. Click on the circle next to Off(not recommended) then OK.

Don't worry, using any firewall other the Windows one is preferable, as Windows only protects you from incoming threats, not outgoing threats!

About the vulnerability, there will always be one, no matter what firewall you use, as hijackers and other computer bad guys come up with new tactics....but Comodo has worked fine for me and has even alerted me to the fact i have IRCbot (a backdoor trojan/worm)!!!

But about which firewall is better, i don't know. I can't say so because i haven't used the AVG firewall. Although i would expect Comodo to be better, based on the fact that AVG is mainly an anti-virus program, and would therefore concentrate on the virus side of things. That is exactly why i do not use the Trend Micro firewall i have.

I love Mozilla add-ons, they make me feel safe.......try the add-on found here that heps protect you against keyloggers which basically see what you type and can steal your username(s) and passwords.

Hope my opinion helps! Have a great day

Thanks for the reply! Any info always help! I will keep in mind your thoughts on Comodo. Hopefully others will have some thoughts on the comparison between the three (and/or more thoughts on Comodo, etc.).

Thanks again!

I also just found a link talking about a vulnerability in ZA Free 6.5.737 too.

So now I really don't know what to do. I guess using ZA Free 7 is still an option, but it's so big (because of the turned-off Pro stuff you get along with it) and people seem to have problems with it (and it *may* be doing weird stuff for me too).

UPDATE: Just read on the ZA Board the following:
the vulnerability related to the antispyware driver... if you are on ZA free you can just ignore it since there is no spyware protection on the ZAfree

...so I guess it doesn't apply in this case.

But I'm definitely a layman when it comes to this stuff, so any further help is appreciated on all this -- thanks!

Just as no application can be guaranteed to be 100 percent effective in its functionality, so none will completely safe from vulnerabilities. A cautious and informer internet user, along with applications that are 95-98 percent effective is about the optimum you can reasonably expect.
Your choice between the two firewalls will therefore be decided by other factors: ease of use, file size, amount of processing each takes up. Since both of your choices are free, you can certainly give each (one at a time) a two week trial if you want.
I use and recommend Comodo, but others have had good experience with Z/A.
Regards,
John

Thanks for the post!

So you don't feel that vulnerability in Comodo linked to above is that vital? (Again, I admit I have no idea what it's talking about...)

Thanks!

To the best of my knowledge, the vulnerability has not been exploited. Certainly I am not an expert in this area, but from what I read, it is not serious or real enough to warrant changing firewalls.
Regards,
John

That's good to know -- thanks again!

Ideally, trying using both and making a decision would be best -- but, because of potential problems with uninstalling firewalls and my newbie/layman knowhow, I'd rather pick one and go with that, hopefully based on various pros/cons people may post about both. (I'll also look more closely at the Comodo site where it shows details of the firewall.) So if anybody has any other thoughts on pros/cons of these, I want to hear 'em!

Also, in addition to SpyBot, Ad-Aware SE Free, AVG A/V Free, AVG Antispyware Free, Comodo BOClean Anti-Malware Version 4.24, and SpywareBlaster, I may be also using Superanitspyware and there's a chance I'll use AVG Anti-Malware Pro or AVG A/V Free & AVG Antispyware Pro together instead of AVG A/V Free & AVG Antispyware Free together. Any conflicts with any of that with any of these three firewalls in question?

Thanks!

Never have more than one firewall operating at a time, since they can conflict. Only have one AV and AS application running its real-time protection; more than one is not only redundant but extremely heavy on resource usage, and can be terribly confusing. You may have, certainly, others (particularly AS applications), and run these "on demand."
Regards,
John

I prefer Comodo over ZA. I switched from ZA to Comodo about a year ago. My system became infected or I was hacked, not sure which. I ended up losing my hard drive and soon after replacing it I lost my processor. I now have a new, 1yr. now, computer and since getting it I installed Comodo. It's alot easier to use, they have good support site, and the "Default" settings are usually sufficient for us novices! Good luck!

Thanks for the replies.

jgweed -- Didn't mean to imply trying them out at the same time. Good to know about only having one real-time AV or AS running at one time. But you don't mean that it's bad to have one AV real-time and one AS real-time running at the same time, do you? I mean, you can have AVG A/V Free (which is real-time, right?) and AVG Antispyware Free (which is real time) both running at the same time, right? If you had AVG Antimalware Pro, then they'd both be running at the same time by default, I think...

racingfan -- Why do you prefer Comodo over ZA? What made you switch? Thanks!

You read what I wrote correctly. Remember that your AV and your AS look for entirely different kinds of footprints when they run, so there is no reason for not having one of each providing real time protection.
AVG Free has real-time protection. AVG A/S free allows a one-month free trail of real-time protection, after which it becomes strictly "on demand."

Regards,
John

What would be the difference between having:

Option 1 -- AVG Antimalware Pro (which is basically AVG A/V Pro and AVG Antispyware Pro)

Option 2 -- AVG A/V Free *and* AVG Antispyware Pro (well, free at first, then if I like it, I may pay to keep it)

Is it just that with Option 1 I'd also have the tech support for the A/V?

Or is does Option 1 look/work different in that it's all integrated into one program where as Option 2 would be two separate programs needing to be updated/run/etc.?

Right now I use just AVG Free A/V -- so I'm used to that. Would both Option 1 and Option 2 look/work basically the same?

Option 2 is only four bucks more, but I'm wondering if I were ever to revert to the AVG Free A/V after a year or whatever, if it would be problematic with having to uninstall, etc. etc.

Thanks!

Hi.

If you want my opinion. I am using Comodo Firewall after using Zonealarm Internet Security Suite for a year. I find Comodo does an excellent job! and the upcoming version (3.0) Will be even better!

I am using Comodo Firewall, NOD32 Antivirus, and SuperAntispyware Pro. and I have never had problems. However, AVG Antivirus is an excellent Free Anti virus. Use it :D If you are a freeware user.



But, If you want to pay for Antivirus, and your good with computers, go with NOD32, it is the BEST. Far better then AVG Antivirus PRO if your gonna pay, Read the review!. Or go with Kaspersky AV if your a novice, which is the second choice if you wana pay. Since currently NOD32's UI is very complex. Well, I dont think it is but thats what reviews say.

I would definitely choose Comodo over Zonealarm. Like I said, I even ditched the Security Suite for Comodo & NOD32 :-) Less resources.

Also read this: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic102164.html (I respect what Spy Senty Said here)

goodluck mate.

Josh.

Thanks for the post! So, to dig a little deeper (hope you don't mind), *why* do you prefer Comodo over ZA? What was bad about ZA? Good about Comodo?

Keep in mind that I'm not considering the ZA suite, but Zonealarm Free 6.5.737 (or perhaps 6.1.744.001).

Thanks again!

I switched because ZA got infected/corrupted somehow. Never firgured out what caused it. I uninstalled it and then downloaded a newer version of it and installed it, about a week later I lost everything on my Hard Drive. Replaced that and lost my processor. After buying a new computer I installed Comodo.
I like Comodo better now that I've been using it because it was easy to set it up mainly because the Default settings are sufficient right from the setup. It seems easier to use and understand.

Hmmm.... I've heard that ZA Free is easier to use (though I certainly think the screenshots of Comodo look pretty good/easy). But you were using ZA Pro suite or something, right? Not the basic free version? Maybe that makes a difference...? (Of course, there are all different opinions about anything, I guess... )

Thanks!

No, I was using ZA Free.

See Here:
http://www.matousec.com/projects/windows-p...sts-results.php Comodo is #1

Comodo has a better-looking GUI as well as all the features of a "pro" firewall that ZoneAlarm pesters you about. In all honesty, when I used ZoneAlarm, it was a bad experience (network probs). Comodo is free (www.comodo-group.com) with a life-time license. It's also not a resource hog. very light, very good.

Wow, those test results are a little worrisome to me, since I currently use ZA Free 7.0.302 (which is what was tested).

1. I was considering using ZA 6.5.x instead (as mentioned above), and that one isn't listed as part of the test -- but do you think it would have the same problems/issues as ZA Free 7.0.302?

The main reason I was going to stick with ZA was because I've spent so much time learning about it (mostly because of weird issues), so I'd be starting from scratch with Comodo.

2. Is there a lot of tweaking that needs to be done (i.e. Program Access settings, etc.) or is it just install and let it do its thing on its own?

3. Do any of the following have any issues with Comodo? (Firefox, AVG Antimalware Pro (or AVG A/V Free and AVG Antispyware Pro/Free), AVG Anti-Rootkit Scanner Free, Lavasoft Ad-Aware 6.0 Free, SpyBot S&D, SpywareBlaster, and maybe SuperAntiSpyware and Comodo BOClean Anti-Malware Version 4.24)

3a. Are there any special settings or tweaking that needs to be done to use any of those programs with Comodo?

3b. Specifically about Firefox -- Does it work okay with that? I was looking through the manual, it and only shows IE (and it says something about the updates being done through IE, so does that mean you'd have to set IE Security a certain way? I usually have it set to HIGH because I don't use it except for Windows Updates).

3c. How often are there updates for Comodo? Can you turn off the automatic updater? Is it necessary to check every day?

Thanks again!

Just as ZA-free has no updates, I doubt very much Comodo would have updates. A firewall doesn't need updates until the internet protocols change which is not imminent with the possible exception of tcp/ipv6. A packet is a packet is a packet.
There's a forum over at Comodo. I'd advise you to read it. Lots of very good posts and answers there. BTW, are you ready to work a rule-based firewall? It's probably a great thing (Kerio is), but not exactly the easiest thing to manage. It might have a lighter footprint than ZA-free, which actually has caused me no problems of slowness or size. Works great with Avg, Avast or AntiVir, all free.

There are better places than matousec for testing firewalls. Matousec makes money by extorting it from the companies he reviews and that just doesn't give me a feeling of honesty. See this for one example, specifically posts #4-6
http://www.outpostfirewall.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19438

As the previous poster said, A firewall does NOT need updating all the time. and I can say Comodo is a "set it and forget it" product. It silently blocks hackers, unauthorized connections etc. But it may pester you about (Eg: "Firefox is using THIS IP Address to connect to the internet, etc"- As with every firewall off course!) But hey, It isnt noisy. It doesn't need configuration at all. Just install it and let it do its job... but may below may help you:

You will notice Comodo Firewall has a Component Monitor. After installation of Comodo, and the Component Monitor isn't set on Learning Mode. Please set it on Learning Mode, it will be less nosier and not interfere with your work or games your doing/playing (otherwise, be prepared to be bombarded with pops saying "This Application wants to connect, blah blah blah" all the time!). Just go to Comodo's Main Screen, Click on Component Monitor and click on Learn Mode , Thats just a tip. Comodo Automatically checks for updates, and tells you if there is a new version available. (it checks without you even knowing, which is a good thing). Yes, You can turn it the update checker off in comodo.

I notice you got other security applications on there. Here is a GREAT website for the latest & newest software: http://www.filehippo.com

I check that once a day, very handy. It also has a Update Checker (Currently In BETA)- But its stable. Also the new up and coming BETA for Comodo Firewall 3 will be out hopefully in the middle of Augest (According to the Forums & Comodo's CEO), so stay tuned!

As for Firefox and those other security programs you mentioned, No there shouldn't be a problem at all. Since I have used all of them.

You don't have to do anything with Firefox, IE etc. Comodo works fine with IE. As I said before, No configuration for anything has to be done. Just that little tip to help you :-).

To sum it up: Just play around with comodo, See how you go. Thats what I did when I first got it. Well, bye for now.

Thanks for the heads up on the test results. Hmmm.... Now I don't know... I also heard that those "leaks" aren't that vital/dangerous/important, I guess...?

I will check out the Comodo board...

What do you mean by a "rule-based firewall"? How is this different from ZA? (Everyone keeps saying that you just install Comodo and just let it do its thing... Is that not the case?)

I also don't know what "lighter footprint" means -- just that the .exe is smaller than the ZA one?

Let me know about that stuff -- thanks!

And thanks to Josho for his thoughts!

lighter footprint = less memory when used, though ZA free v6 is rather small as is. It's v7 that's larger.
rule based = while defaults are great, you may want to change things writing new rules, But as Josho said, you might not need it unless want to make things tighter, which might not be possible with dial-up anyway, which in my opinion is your biggest liability = being without a router.
Most free firewalls, ZA or Comodo or old Kerio, are install it and forget it. Really simple unless one chooses to complicate it.
Comodo Learning mode - yes, it can get noisy as I know ZA did for you, but use it (equivalent to "?" + Remember in ZA), but only if the system is clean, otherwise firewall's application/component control learns wrong things.

Put something in, try it, as Josho says. Don't like it? Uninstall, try something else. One thing at a time. You'll get there faster.

So install Comodo first thing on the new laptop, but I should wait until I've got my new laptop totally up and running (meaning, get the crap software off it and all my other software installed) then use the "learning mode"?

I'll also be behind a router on high-speed internet when I install, but normally I'll be at home on dial-up w/ no router. So how will that work? I don't really want to set it up for router/high-speed when I'll normally be using dial-up.

Thoughts?

uninstall ALL Other FIREWALL & Antivirus Software (If you have any installed) then Install Comodo and the Antivirus your installing. Remember: 1 Antivirus, 1 Firewall. You can have multiple Antispyware apps.

Security comes first before anything

Comodo protects Dial Up to. Hmmmm, I'm surprised some people are still on dialup! hehe... You should try and get Broadband.

just play around with it mate...

Let me explain the circumstances with a bit more detail...

I normally use dial-up at home. However, I'll be setting up my laptop at a friend's house, who has a router and high-speed internet. I'll be connected to his internet via a ethernet cable, I believe, and will be behind his router.

I see recommendations about running something called "Learn Mode" and also "Scan for Known Applications".

I also saw something about it being problematic if you're behind a router, and that you have to do some kind of special set-up to get it to work. But normally I'll be at home on dial-up w/ no router. So how will that work? I don't really want to set it up for router/high-speed when I'll normally be using dial-up -- or to allow certain things that I wouldn't normally allow.

I'll also be uninstalling all the crap programs that come on the new laptop, so I wouldn't want Comodo to accept some application that I'll just be removing, right?

Does that all make sense?

So all that has me a bit frazzled and that's why I'm wondering if I should just go with ZA 6.5.x (since that's what I have experience with) and then maybe switch to Comodo when 3.0 comes out. I don't know...

Thanks!

Every firewall will need some setup. It'll ask you about the network, and it'll collect the data about applications. That's what most firewalls do (silently or visibly). I'd worry if the firewall didn't notice that I'm on a different network and I'd worry if it didn't make itself a list of applications in my computer, because then I would have to make that list which would be the day I'd throw computer out the window

Learn mode is like "?" in ZA to a certain extent and SmartAdvisor put together. It's a good thing. You will be telling firewall that it's ok to use explorer, firefox, notepad, winlogin, whatever.

Makes no difference if it's Comodo or any other, but SECURITY does come first. When you begin cleaning out the OEM trash, you can then tell Comodo or ZA or whatever you pick, about it. Firewall doesn't care that you remove a program and you can remove it from the firewall's list. No big deal, delete key just does its thing. Or you do settings for 'no allow' and leave it.

When you get home to dialup, firewall will recognize a new network, and you can provide data that it needs to keep the connections going. If your friend's broadband is working, there's no setup you need really. Ditto at home.

Thanks, tos...

SmartAdvisor is only in ZA Pro, right?

So are you also recommending Comodo for me over ZA Free 6.5.x? You were my one last hold out for feeling okay about sticking with ZA Free 6.5.x for the time being!

SmartAdvisor (or dumb advisor in many people opinion) is in all versions. Comes up on alerts. The OS protection and learning mode might be just in the paid versions (AS, Pro, Suite), haven't used it in a while so I don't recall.

I'm not recommending anything. It's YOUR decision to make. I don't even know Comodo and said so once or twice before. While I'm very comfortable both with the ZA free and paid versions, I know there are alternatives, all worth looking at and trying, and what I may use may change, or what I may use you may or may not like.

You asked earlier about rule-based vs application-based firewall types. The line is blurred somewhat, I shouldn't have dragged that issue in, so I'll leave you with great reading instead
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewall_(networking)
http://www.securityfocus.com/infocus/1867
Enjoy!

I just loaded the latest version of the Comodo Firewall. My PC has really slowed down. With only the firewall the only active application my CPU utilization ranges from 25 to 65 %. The only way the PC work is if I close the firewall. My ZA subscription expired so I tried Comodo .

The program that seems to run all the time is called Cmdagent. Is this normal for the Comodo software ?

Any possible reason why the utilization is so high

Thanks

Possible reason is conflict. If you just removed one firewall without a clean uninstallation, then the second firewall might be conflicting with the first.

Thanks

ZA was not fully removed. Comodo seems to have settled down a great deal. Cmdagent is currently at 0 % utilization

and watch your start up items.

Start>Run> Type "msconfig" and make sure only your Antivirus, Antispyware and Comodo are running.

Josh